EP0585131A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Customizable program control interface for a computer system
Assignee: Borland Software Corp
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Filing: 1993-08-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A dashboard interface includes a plurality of software buttons (11,12) provided on a panel. Each software button (11,12) represents one of a plurality of applications. Upon a user selecting a first software button (11,12), a first application represented by the first software button (11,12) is started. Upon a user selecting and dragging a visual representation (151) of a second application to the panel, a new software button (11,12) representing the second application is added to the panel. Upon a user selecting a different software button size in a configuration menu (90), the size of each software button (11,12) in the plurality of software buttons (11,12) is changed. The plurality of applications are listed in a configuration menu (90). The order in which the plurality of software buttons (11,12) is displayed on the panel reflects the order of the listing of the plurality of applications. Upon a user changing the order of the listing of the plurality of applications, the order in which the plurality of software buttons (11,12) is displayed on the panel is changed.
Inventors
- 👤 Claudia Carpenter
- 👤 George A. Hansen
- 👤 Beatrice M.Y. Lam
- 👤 Lawrence Lozares
- 👤 Krisztina Mako
- 👤 Paul A. Mernyk
- 👤 Robert Chris Robnett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04817; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
In a computing system, a computer implemented method for providing a quick launch facility for the start-up of application processes, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of software buttons (11,12) on a panel, each software button (11,12) representing one of a plurality of applications; (b) upon a user selecting a first software button (11,12), starting a first application represented by the first software button (11,12); and, (c) upon a user selecting and dragging a visual representation (151) of a second application to the panel adding to the panel a new software button (155) representing the second application.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 2 additionally comprising the step of: (d) upon a user selecting a different software button size in a configuration menu (90), changing the size of each software button (11,12) in the plurality of software buttons (11,12).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as in claim 1 additionally comprising the steps of: (d) in a configuration menu (90), listing the plurality of applications, the order in which the plurality of software buttons (11,12) is displayed on the panel reflecting the order of the listing of the plurality of applications; and, (e) upon a user changing order of the listing of the plurality of applications, changing the order in which the plurality of software buttons (11,12) is displayed on the panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a computing system, a computer implemented method for providing a panel interface to a user of a computing system, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first plurality of panels (13,14,15,32) displayed horizontally across a computer screen; (b) displaying a listing for each of the first plurality of panels (13,14,15,32) in a configuration menu (72), an order of the listings determining a horizontal order of the display of panels (13,14,15,32) on the computer screen; and, (c) upon a user marking a first listing for a first panel as not shown, ceasing display of the first panel on computer screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 4 additionally comprising the step of: (d) upon a user selecting a second listing for a second panel, displaying configuration preferences for the second panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein in step (a) a second panel from the plurality of panels (13,14,15,32) has a plurality of columns of software buttons (11,12) and wherein the method additionally comprises the steps of: (d) upon a user reducing the horizontal length of the panel interface, reducing the number of columns displayed in the second panel and displaying in the second panel scroll buttons; and, (e) upon a user selecting a scroll button in the second panel, scrolling the columns displayed in the second panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a computing system, a computer implemented method for providing an interface to a user of a computing system, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first plurality of panels (13,14,15,32) displayed horizontally across a computer screen; (b) displaying a listing of each of the first plurality of panels (13,14,15,32) in a configuration menu (72), an order of the listings determining a horizontal order of the display of panels (13,14,15,32) on the computer screen; and, (c) upon a user changing the order of the listings, correspondingly changing the horizontal order of the display of panels (13,14,15,32) on the computer screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein in step (c) the user changes order of the listings by selecting a listing and dragging the listing to a new position in the listings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method as in claim 1 additionally comprising the steps of: (d) in a first configuration menu (90), listing a plurality of entries for software buttons (11,12) on a first panel, the order in which the plurality of software buttons (11,12) is displayed on the first panel reflecting the order of the listing of the plurality of entries; and, (e) upon a user changing order of the listing of the plurality of entries, changing the order in which the plurality of software buttons (11,12) is displayed on the first panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 7 additionally comprising the step of: (d) upon a user selecting a first listing for a first panel, displaying configuration preferences for the first panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein in step (a) a first panel from the plurality of panels (13,14,15,32) has a plurality of columns of software buttons (11,12) and wherein the method additionally comprises the steps of: (d) upon a user reducing the horizontal length of the panel interface, reducing the number of columns displayed in the first panel and displaying in the first panel scroll buttons; and, (e) upon a user selecting a scroll button in the first panel, scrolling the columns displayed in the first panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a computing system, a computer implemented method for providing an extended screens feature, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying a plurality of mini-program windows (34,35,36), each mini-program window (34,35,36) having a first background pattern (182) and each program window representing a virtual computing screen wherein mini-windows shown in the mini-program windows (34,35,36) each represent an application window displayed in the represented virtual computing screen; (b) upon a user selecting a first mini-program window (34,35,36), displaying a first virtual computing screen represented by the mini-program window (34,35,36), and indicating to the user first virtual screen is selected; and, (c) upon the user selecting a second background pattern (182) from a configuration menu (71), changing the display of mini-program windows (34,35,36) so that each mini-program window (34,35,36) has the second background pattern (182).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as in claim 12 wherein in step (a) an associated software button (37,38,39) is displayed adjacent to each mini-program window (34,35,36) and wherein in step (b), the user selects the first mini-program window (34,35,36) by selecting an associated software button (37,38,39) for the first mini-program window (34,35,36).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 12 wherein in step (a), a first mini-window (190,195) which is greater than a pre-selected size includes a first icon which identifies a first application which controls a first application window represented by the first mini-window (190,195).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as in claim 12 additionally comprising the steps of: (d) upon a user selecting a save layout command (230), storing a current layout of the virtual screens as a first stored layout, the current layout including placement of open application windows; and, (e) upon the user selecting a load layout command at a later time, displaying the first stored layout of the virtual screens including the placement and the size of the application windows.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 15 additionally comprising the step of: (f) after step (d), upon the user selecting a modification command, modifying the stored layout.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a computing system, a computer implemented method for providing an extended screens feature, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying a plurality of mini-program windows (34,35,36), each mini-program window (34,35,36) having a first background pattern (182) and each program window representing a virtual computing screen wherein mini-windows shown in the mini-program windows (34,35,36) each represent an application window displayed in the represented virtual computing screen; (b) displaying an associated software button (37,38,39) adjacent to each mini-program window (34,35,36); (c) upon a user selecting a first associated software button (37,38,39) adjacent to a first mini-program window (34,35,36), displaying a first virtual computing screen represented by the first mini-program window (34,35,36), and indicating to the user that the first virtual screen is selected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 17 wherein in step (a), a first mini-window (190,195) which is greater than a pre-selected size includes a first icon which identifies a first application which controls a first application window represented by the first mini-window (190,195).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as in claim 17 additionally comprising the steps of: (d) upon a user selecting a save layout command (230), storing a current layout of the virtual screens as a first stored layout, the current layout including placement of open application windows; and, (e) upon the user selecting a load layout command at a later time, displaying the first stored layout of the virtual screens including the placement and the size of the application windows.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a computing system, a computer implemented method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying a clock (13) on a panel in a computer screen; and, (b) upon a user accessing preferences configuration for the clock (13), performing the following substeps: (b.1) upon the user selecting a digital clock face, displaying a digital clock face for the clock (13), and (b.2) upon the user selecting an analog clock face, displaying an analog clock face for the clock (23), including the following substeps: (b.2.1) upon the user selecting a first analog clock face style, displaying the first analog clock face style for the clock (13), and (b.2.2) upon the user selecting a second analog clock face style, displaying the second analog clock face style for the clock (13).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a computing system, a computer implemented method comprising the steps of: (a) in response to a user command, setting an alarm to occur at a first time; (b) at the first time displaying an alarm window (131), the alarm window (131) including a snooze software button (133); (c) upon the user selecting the snooze software button (133), closing the alarm window (131); and (d) after passage of a snooze time interval from the first time, re-displaying the first alarm window (131).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 24 additionally comprising the step of: (e) in response to a user command, varying the snooze time interval.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a computing system, a computer implemented method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying, on a panel (15), a first gauge which indicates an amount of resources available to a user of the computing system; (b) displaying, on the panel (15), an indication of the unused memory available to the user; (c) upon the amount of resources available to the user becoming less than a first preselected amount, giving warning to the user; and, (d) upon the amount of unused memory available to the user becoming less than a second preselected amount, giving warning to the user.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 23 additionally comprising the step of: (e) in response to a first user command, displaying a task list of currently running application processes; and, (f) in response to a second user command, terminating a currently running application process which the user has selected from the task list.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a computing system, a computer implemented method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying in a software panel (32) a printer icon (16,17) and a printer indicator button (40,41) for each printer for which the computing system is configured; (b) upon selection of the printer icon (16,17) for a first printer, displaying a label describing the first printer; (c) upon selection of the printer indicator button (40,41) for the first printer, designating the first printer as a default printer for the computing system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 25 additionally comprising the step of: (d) upon a user double selecting the printer icon (16,17) for the first printer, displaying a configuration window (260) for the first printer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 25 wherein in step (c) designating the first printer as a default printer for the computing system includes placing an indication within the printer indicator button (40,41) that the first printer is the default printer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a computer system, a computer implemented method comprising: (a) displaying in a software panel (32) a printer icon (16,17) for each printer for which the computing system is configured; (b) displaying within a first printer icon (16,17) for a first printer, a first image of a sheet of paper (266,267), the sheet of paper (266,267) being oriented in a landscape orientation when the printer is configured to be in a landscape mode and the sheet of paper (266,267) being oriented in a portrait orientation when the printer is configured to be in a portrait mode; (c) upon a user configuring the first printer from the landscape mode to the portrait mode, changing the display of the first image of the sheet of paper (266,267) from being oriented in the landscape orientation to being oriented in the portrait orientation; and, (d) upon the user configuring the first printer from the portrait mode to the landscape mode, changing the display of the first image of the sheet of paper (266,267) from being oriented in the portrait orientation to being oriented in the landscape orientation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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