EP0274087A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer human interface
Assignee: Computer X Inc
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Filing: 1987-12-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-12-14
Abstract
Abstract In a computer human interface an adjustable "window" (177, FIG 4) enables the user to view a portion of an abstract, device-independent "picture" description of information. More than one window can be opened at a time. Each window can be sized independently of another, regardless of the applications running on them. The human interface creates a separate "object" (represented by a process) for each active picture and for each active window. The pictures are completely independent of each other. Multiple pictures (170, 174) can be updated simultaneously, and windows can be moved around on the screen and their sizes changed without the involvement of other windows and/or pictures. Images, including windows, representing portions of any or all of the applications can be displayed and updated on the output device simultaneously and independently of one another. All human interface with the operating system is performed through virtual input/output devices (186, 187, FIG. 5), and the system can accept any form of real input or output devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Charles Kolnick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0485; G06F3/04855; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04845; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A human interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising: means for representing information in at least one abstract, device-independent picture (343, FIG. 18); means (330-334) for generating a first message, said first message comprising size information; and a console manager process (340) responsive to said first message for creating a window (363) onto said one picture, the size of said window being determined by said size information contained in said first message.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A human interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising: means for representing information in at least one abstract, device-independent picture (343, FIG. 18); means (330-334) for generating a first message, said first message comprising size information; and a console manager process (340) responsive to said first message for creating a window (363) onto said one picture, the size of said window being determined by said size information contained in said first message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The human interface is recited in claim 1 and further comprising: means (330-334) for generating a second message, said second message comprising size information; and said console manager process being responsive to said second message for creating a second window (367) onto said picture, the size of said second window being determined by said size information contained in said second message, the sizes of said window and said second window being independent of one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The human interface as recited in claim 1 and further comprising: means (330-334) for generating a second message, said console manager process being responsive to said second message for creating an additional picture (342).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The human interface as recited in claim 3 and further comprising: means (330-334) for generating a third message, said third message comprising information for modifying said one picture and said additional picture; and a picture manager process (276, FIG. 13) responsive to said third message for modifying both said one picture and said additional picture simultaneously in accordance with said information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A human interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising: means for representing information in at least one abstract, device-independent picture (221, FIG. 9); and means permitting said picture to be shared by a plurality of independent applications (301, 303, FIG. 6).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A human interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising: means for representing information in at least one abstract, device-independent picture (221, FIG. 9); and means permitting said picture to be shared by a plurality of independent applications (301, 303, FIG. 6).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The human interface as recited in claim 5, and further comprising a plurality of abstract, device-independent pictures (341-343, FIG. 18); and means permitting each of said pictures to be shared by a plurality of independent applications.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The human interface as recited in claim 5, wherein said picture comprises user interface information, said human interface further comprising: means for simultaneously displaying images from at least one of said applications and from said user interface information (FIGS. 14, 19).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The human interface as recited in claim 7, wherein said user interface information includes information from the group comprising menu information, icon information, help information, and prompt information, and wherein said at least one application is from the group comprising a text-editing application, a spread-sheet application, a graphics application, a database application, and a process control application.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A virtual input interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising: means (301, FIG. 15) for accepting input from at least one physical device; means for converting said physical device input into virtual input; and means (300) responsive to said virtual input for performing processing operations upon said virtual input.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A virtual input interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising: means (301, FIG. 15) for accepting input from at least one physical device; means for converting said physical device input into virtual input; and means (300) responsive to said virtual input for performing processing operations upon said virtual input.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The virtual input interface as recited in claim 9, wherein said at least one physical device can be removed from said system without affecting the operation of the remainder of said system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The virtual input interface as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one additional physical device can be added to said system without affecting the operation of the remainder of said system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A virtual output interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising: means (306, FIG. 15) for accepting virtual output generated by system processing operations; and means for converting said virtual output into at least one physical output suitable for use by at least one physical device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A virtual output interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising: means (306, FIG. 15) for accepting virtual output generated by system processing operations; and means for converting said virtual output into at least one physical output suitable for use by at least one physical device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The virtual output interface as recited in claim 12, wherein said at least one physical device can be removed from said system without affecting the operation of the remainder of said system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The virtual output interface as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one additional physical device can be added to said system without affecting the operation of the remainder of said system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
A human interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising: means (343, FIG. 18) for representing information in at least one abstract, device-independent picture: means (301, 303, FIG. 6) permitting said picture to be shared by a plurality of independent applications; and means permitting live information from said picture to be displayed in more than one window simultaneously.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
A human interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising: means (343, FIG. 18) for representing information in at least one abstract, device-independent picture: means (301, 303, FIG. 6) permitting said picture to be shared by a plurality of independent applications; and means permitting live information from said picture to be displayed in more than one window simultaneously.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The human interface as recited in claim 15, and further comprising a plurality of abstract, device-independent pictures (341-343, FIG. 18); and means permitting each of said pictures to be shared by a plurality of independent applications.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The human interface as recited in claim 15, wherein said picture comprises user interface information, said human interface further comprising: means (370-372, FIG. 19) for simultaneously displaying images from at least one of said applications and from said user interface information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
The human interface as recited in claim 17, wherein said user interface information includes information from the group comprising menu information, icon information, help information, and prompt information, and wherein said at least one application is from the group comprising a text-editing application, a spread-sheet application, a graphics application, a database application, and a process control application.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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