US5371847A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for specifying the arrangement of windows on a display
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1992-09-22
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Granted: 1994-12-06
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Expires: 2012-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for specifying the arrangement of windows on a display device [is provided]. [In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a] A selection grid is displayed on the display device. The selection grid has a bounding rectangle which represents the bounds of the display device and has a plurality of lines extending vertically and horizontally across the bounding rectangle. A user selects which line segments should be removed from the selection grid. A line segment is defined by the intersection points of the vertical and horizontal lines. As the user selects a line segment, the line segment is removed from the selection grid. The line segments that are not selected define the arrangement for the windows. The computer system then arranges the windows on the display in accordance with the specified window arrangement.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard R. Hargrove
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:50
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/14; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method in a computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, the computer system having a display device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle with a height and a width, and having a vertical line extending the height of the bounding rectangle and a horizontal line extending the width of the bounding rectangle, the vertical and horizontal lines intersecting to form a plurality of line segments; and selecting a plurality of the line segments wherein the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method in a computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, the computer system having a display device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle with a height and a width, and having a vertical line extending the height of the bounding rectangle and a horizontal line extending the width of the bounding rectangle, the vertical and horizontal lines intersecting to form a plurality of line segments; and selecting a plurality of the line segments wherein the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of after selecting a line segment, removing the selected line segment from the display device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of displaying a previously removed line segment in response to an indication that the previously removed line segment should be deselected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a line segment is selected using a pointing device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the painting device has a button and a cursor is displayed on the device and wherein a plurality of line segments is selected by depressing the button, moving the cursor across line segments to be selected, and releasing the button wherein the line segments that the cursor moved across while the button was depressed are selected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the pointing device is a mouse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of receiving from a user an indication of a number of vertical and a number of horizontal lines to include in the selection grid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the indication is a number of rows and columns to be displayed in the selection grid, from which the number of vertical and the number of horizontal lines is derived.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
143 words
A method in a computer system for arranging a plurality of windows on a display device, each window having a display geometry indicating location and size of the window on the display device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle with a height and a width, and having a vertical line extending the height of the bounding rectangle and a horizontal line extending the width of the bounding rectangle, the vertical and horizontal lines intersecting to form a plurality of line segments; selecting a plurality of the line segments wherein the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected define a display arrangement for the plurality of windows; and defining the geometry of the plurality of windows to correspond to the geometry of the defined display arrangement.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
143 words
A method in a computer system for arranging a plurality of windows on a display device, each window having a display geometry indicating location and size of the window on the display device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle with a height and a width, and having a vertical line extending the height of the bounding rectangle and a horizontal line extending the width of the bounding rectangle, the vertical and horizontal lines intersecting to form a plurality of line segments; selecting a plurality of the line segments wherein the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected define a display arrangement for the plurality of windows; and defining the geometry of the plurality of windows to correspond to the geometry of the defined display arrangement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9 including the step of after selecting a line segment, removing the selected line segment from the display device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 including the step of displaying a previously removed line segment in response to an indication that the previously removed line segment should be deselected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 including the step of receiving from a user an indication of a number of vertical and a number of horizontal lines to include in the selection grid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the indication is a number of rows and columns to be displayed in the selection grid, from which the number of vertical and the number of horizontal lines is derived.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
79 words
A method in a computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, the computer system having a display device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle and having a plurality of lines extending across the bounding rectangle; and selecting a line wherein the bounding rectangle and the lines that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
79 words
A method in a computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, the computer system having a display device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle and having a plurality of lines extending across the bounding rectangle; and selecting a line wherein the bounding rectangle and the lines that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 including the step of after selecting a line, removing the selected line from the display device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 including the step of redisplaying a previously removed line in response to an indication that the previously removed line should be deselected.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
120 words
A computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows comprising: a computer; a display device operatively connected to the computer for displaying a plurality of windows; means for displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle with a height and a width, and having a vertical line extending the height of the bounding rectangle and a horizontal line extending the width of the bounding rectangle, the vertical and horizontal lines intersecting to form a plurality of line segments; and means for selecting a plurality of the line segments wherein the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
120 words
A computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows comprising: a computer; a display device operatively connected to the computer for displaying a plurality of windows; means for displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle with a height and a width, and having a vertical line extending the height of the bounding rectangle and a horizontal line extending the width of the bounding rectangle, the vertical and horizontal lines intersecting to form a plurality of line segments; and means for selecting a plurality of the line segments wherein the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 17 including means for removing selected line segments from the display device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 18 including means for deselecting a previously selected line segment and means for displaying a deselected line segment.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 17 including a pointing device for selecting a line segment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 17 including a mouse for selecting a line segment.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 17 including means for indicating a number of vertical lines extending the height of the selection grid and a number of horizontal lines extending the width of the selection grid.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
94 words
A method in a computer system for arranging windows on a display device, each window having a display geometry indicating location and size of the window on the display device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving from a user an indication of a number of rows and columns of windows to include in a display grid; developing a window arrangement wherein the windows are to be arranged in accordance with the received number of rows and columns; and adjusting the geometry of a plurality of windows to correspond to the developed window arrangement.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
94 words
A method in a computer system for arranging windows on a display device, each window having a display geometry indicating location and size of the window on the display device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving from a user an indication of a number of rows and columns of windows to include in a display grid; developing a window arrangement wherein the windows are to be arranged in accordance with the received number of rows and columns; and adjusting the geometry of a plurality of windows to correspond to the developed window arrangement.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
98 words
A method in a computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, the computer system having a display device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle, and having a plurality of lines extending from a side of the bounding rectangle to another side of the bounding rectangle; and selecting one of the plurality of lines to exclude from the selection grid, wherein the bounding rectangle and lines that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
98 words
A method in a computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, the computer system having a display device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle, and having a plurality of lines extending from a side of the bounding rectangle to another side of the bounding rectangle; and selecting one of the plurality of lines to exclude from the selection grid, wherein the bounding rectangle and lines that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 24 including the step of, after selecting one of the plurality of lines, removing the selected line from the display device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 25 including the step of displaying a previously removed line in response to an indication that the previously removed line should be deselected.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the line is selected using a pointing device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the pointing device has a cursor to indicate motion, and wherein lines are selected by dragging the pointing device and moving the cursor across lines to be selected, wherein each line that the cursor moves across while dragging the pointing device is selected.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the pointing device is a mouse.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
172 words
A method in a computer systems for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, the computer system having a display device, each window having a window geometry with lines defining the size of the window and with a position defining the location of the window on the display device, the method comprising the steps of: altering the window geometry of a window displayed on the display device; displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle, and having a plurality of lines distinct from the lines of the window geometries of the plurality of windows, wherein the plurality of lines of the selection grid symbolically represents the lines of the plurality of windows as altered, and wherein the intersecting lines of the selection grid form a plurality of line segments; and selecting a plurality of line segments to exclude from the selection grid, wherein the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
172 words
A method in a computer systems for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, the computer system having a display device, each window having a window geometry with lines defining the size of the window and with a position defining the location of the window on the display device, the method comprising the steps of: altering the window geometry of a window displayed on the display device; displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle, and having a plurality of lines distinct from the lines of the window geometries of the plurality of windows, wherein the plurality of lines of the selection grid symbolically represents the lines of the plurality of windows as altered, and wherein the intersecting lines of the selection grid form a plurality of line segments; and selecting a plurality of line segments to exclude from the selection grid, wherein the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 30, further including the step of adjusting the window geometries of the plurality of windows according to the defined display arrangement.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
158 words
A method in a computer systems for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, the computer system having a display device, each window having a window geometry with lines defining the size of the window and with a position defining the location of the window on the display device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle, and having a plurality of lines distinct from the lines of the window geometries of the plurality of windows, wherein the plurality of lines of the selection grid symbolically represents the lines of the plurality of windows, and wherein the intersecting lines of the selection grid form a plurality of line segments; and selecting a plurality of line segments to exclude from the selection grid wherein the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
158 words
A method in a computer systems for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, the computer system having a display device, each window having a window geometry with lines defining the size of the window and with a position defining the location of the window on the display device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying on the display device a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle, and having a plurality of lines distinct from the lines of the window geometries of the plurality of windows, wherein the plurality of lines of the selection grid symbolically represents the lines of the plurality of windows, and wherein the intersecting lines of the selection grid form a plurality of line segments; and selecting a plurality of line segments to exclude from the selection grid wherein the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected define the display arrangement for the plurality of windows.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
156 words
A computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, each window having a window geometry with lines defining the size of the window and with a position defining the location of the window, the computer system comprising: a display device for displaying a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle, and having a plurality of lines distinct from the lines of the window geometries of the plurality of windows, wherein the plurality of lines of the selection grid symbolically represents the lines of the plurality of windows, and wherein the intersecting lines of the selection grid form a plurality of line segments; an input device for receiving a selection of a plurality of line segments to exclude from the selection grid; and a window arrangement definition mechanism for defining the display arrangement for the plurality of windows based upon the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
156 words
A computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows, each window having a window geometry with lines defining the size of the window and with a position defining the location of the window, the computer system comprising: a display device for displaying a selection grid, the selection grid having a bounding rectangle, and having a plurality of lines distinct from the lines of the window geometries of the plurality of windows, wherein the plurality of lines of the selection grid symbolically represents the lines of the plurality of windows, and wherein the intersecting lines of the selection grid form a plurality of line segments; an input device for receiving a selection of a plurality of line segments to exclude from the selection grid; and a window arrangement definition mechanism for defining the display arrangement for the plurality of windows based upon the bounding rectangle and the line segments that are not selected.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer system of claim 33, further comprising a window arranger for arranging the window geometries of the plurality of windows in accordance with the defined display arrangement.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
77 words
A computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows comprising: a selection grid having a bounding rectangle and having a plurality of lines extending across the bounding rectangle; a display device for displaying the selection grid; an input device for selecting a line; a display arrangement definition mechanism for defining the display arrangement for the plurality of windows using the bounding rectangle of the selection grid and the lines that are not selected.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
77 words
A computer system for specifying a display arrangement for a plurality of windows comprising: a selection grid having a bounding rectangle and having a plurality of lines extending across the bounding rectangle; a display device for displaying the selection grid; an input device for selecting a line; a display arrangement definition mechanism for defining the display arrangement for the plurality of windows using the bounding rectangle of the selection grid and the lines that are not selected.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system of claim 35 wherein the selection grid, responsive to the selection of a line using the input device, causes the selected line to be removed from the display device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-05 | 1998-06-06 | 1998-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-05 | 2002-06-06 | 2002-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-05 | 2006-06-06 | 2006-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |