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EP0344082A2
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EP
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Method for accessing visually obscured data in a multi-tasking system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1989-04-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for accessing visually obscured data in a multi-tasking system having a plurality of applications simultaneously active and displayed in a plurality of viewing ports or "windows" which at least partially overlap. Each window preferably includes a border and an interior including a background and data displayed therein. Individual windows are selected by the user and altered in their display mode attribute to temporarily render the interior or background transparent. This process is repeated until such time as the visually obscured data is visible. Thereafter, the user may return to a second window while retaining any or all of the remaining windows in the modified display attribute mode. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user may temporarily render the border of any window transparent in the event that border is obscuring the desired data.
Inventors
- 👤 Barbara Ann Barker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of accessing visually obscured data in a multi-tasking system having a plurality of applications simultaneously active and displayed in a plurality of windows which at least partially overlap, said method comprising the steps of: (a) selectively designating a particular window; (b) temporarily altering said particular window to a transparent state; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until said visually obscured data is visible.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of accessing visually obscured data in a multi-tasking system having a plurality of applications simultaneously active and displayed in a plurality of windows which at least partially overlap, said method comprising the steps of: (a) selectively designating a particular window; (b) temporarily altering said particular window to a transparent state; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until said visually obscured data is visible.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method for accessing visually obscured data in a multi-tasking system according to claim 1 wherein said step of temporarily altering said particular window to a transparent state is further characterized as altering the interior of said particular window to a transparent state while maintaining a border thereof in a visible state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of accessing visually obscured data in a multi-tasking system according to claim 2 further including the step of: temporarily rendering said border transparent.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of accessing visually obscured data in a multi-tasking system having a plurality of applications simultaneously active and displayed in a plurality of windows which at least partially overlap, each of said windows having a border, a background and data displayed therein, said method comprising the steps of: (a) selectively designating a particular window; (b) temporarily altering said particular window to cause the background thereof to become transparent; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until said visually obscured data is visible.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of accessing visually obscured data in a multi-tasking system having a plurality of applications simultaneously active and displayed in a plurality of windows which at least partially overlap, each of said windows having a border, a background and data displayed therein, said method comprising the steps of: (a) selectively designating a particular window; (b) temporarily altering said particular window to cause the background thereof to become transparent; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until said visually obscured data is visible.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of accessing visually obscured data in a multi-tasking system according to claim 4 further including the step of: temporarily rendering said data displayed within a selected window transparent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of accessing visually obscured data in a multi-tasking system according to claim 4 further including the step of: temporarily rendering said border of a selected window transparent.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of accessing visually obscured data for use in a selected application of a multi-tasking system having a plurality of applications simultaneously active and displayed in a plurality of overlapping visible windows, each of said windows having a border, a background and data displayed therein, said method comprising the steps of: (a) designating a selected one of said visible overlapping windows; (b) temporarily altering said selected visible overlapping window to a transparent state; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until said visually obscured data is visible; (d) designating said selected application; (e) temporarily altering said selected application to cause the background thereof to become transparent; and (f) accessing said data for use in said selected application.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of accessing visually obscured data for use in a selected application of a multi-tasking system having a plurality of applications simultaneously active and displayed in a plurality of overlapping visible windows, each of said windows having a border, a background and data displayed therein, said method comprising the steps of: (a) designating a selected one of said visible overlapping windows; (b) temporarily altering said selected visible overlapping window to a transparent state; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until said visually obscured data is visible; (d) designating said selected application; (e) temporarily altering said selected application to cause the background thereof to become transparent; and (f) accessing said data for use in said selected application.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of accessing visually obscured data in a selected application of a multi-tasking system according to claim 7 wherein said step of temporarily altering a selected one of said visible overlapping windows to a transparent state is further characterized as altering the background and data displayed therein to a transparent state while maintaining said border in a visible state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of accessing visually obscured data for use in a selected application of a multi-tasking system according to claim 8 further including the step of: temporarily rendering said border transparent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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