US5596700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for annotating software windows
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1993-02-17
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Granted: 1997-01-21
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Expires: 2013-02-17
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a system for creating annotations (notes) from text entered by a user. The notes are permanently and persistently associated with a title text in a window and are either displayed or hidden along with the window having the associated title text. The title of the window, the note position and the note text are stored in nonvolatile storage as a note record, preferably along with all other note records to form a note dictionary. Thereafter, when each new window having a title is displayed, the system compares the new window title with each note title previously recorded. If the new title is the same as any note titles, then the note text is displayed at the note position. When a window is closed or altered in a way that would affect the way that the notes should be displayed, the system searches the note records to find all notes being displayed on the particular window and processes them accordingly. For example, if the window is being closed, then all associated notes are hidden.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Darnell
- 👤 Elissa D. Smilowitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/169
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of operating a computer system having a processor, a memory, a nonvolatile storage, text entry means, pointer positioning means, execute key means, display means and means for displaying multiple windows, comprising the steps of: entering a new note mode upon detecting a selected action by a user; detecting the pressing of the execute key when the pointer is located in a portion of a window having an associated title; recording the title of the window as a note title; recording the pointer position relative to the window as a note position; displaying text entered by the user as a note text at the note position; storing the note title, note position and note text in nonvolatile storage as a note record; exiting the new note mode; and for each new window displayed having a title, comparing the new window title with the note title and if the new title and the note title are equivalent, then displaying the note text at the note position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of operating a computer system having a processor, a memory, a nonvolatile storage, text entry means, pointer positioning means, execute key means, display means and means for displaying multiple windows, comprising the steps of: entering a new note mode upon detecting a selected action by a user; detecting the pressing of the execute key when the pointer is located in a portion of a window having an associated title; recording the title of the window as a note title; recording the pointer position relative to the window as a note position; displaying text entered by the user as a note text at the note position; storing the note title, note position and note text in nonvolatile storage as a note record; exiting the new note mode; and for each new window displayed having a title, comparing the new window title with the note title and if the new title and the note title are equivalent, then displaying the note text at the note position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of comparing, for each window being closed, the window title with the note title in each note record in the note dictionary and if the title of the window being closed and the note title are equivalent, then removing the note text from the display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of entering a new note mode further comprises detecting the pressing of the execute key to the user when the pointer is positioned on a designated portion of a window associated with a note generating program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of entering a new note mode further comprises detecting the pressing of a designated key stroke sequence by the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of entering a new note mode further comprises altering a default pointer display in a selected manner to visually indicate new note mode and the step of exiting the new note mode further comprises restoring the default pointer display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of displaying text further comprises using selected visual display characteristics to display the note text to distinguish the note text from other text in the window or on the desktop.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
236 words
A method of operating a computer system having a processor, a memory, a nonvolatile storage, text entry means, pointer positioning means, execute key means, display means and means for displaying multiple windows on a simulated desktop, comprising the steps of: entering a new note mode upon detecting a selected action by a user; detecting the pressing of the execute key when the printer is located in a portion of a window having an associated title or on the simulated desktop; recording as a note title an indicator for the desktop or the title of the window responsive to the pointer position; recording as a note position the pointer position relative to the window or the desktop responsive to the pointer position; displaying text entered by the user as a note text at the note position; storing the note title, note position and note text in nonvolatile storage as a note record in a note dictionary containing a plurality of note records; exiting the new note mode; for each new window displayed having a title, comparing the new window title with each note title in the note dictionary and if the new title and the note title are equivalent, then displaying the note text at the note position in the new window; and each time the desktop is displayed, displaying note text at the note position for each note record having a note title indicating the desktop.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
236 words
A method of operating a computer system having a processor, a memory, a nonvolatile storage, text entry means, pointer positioning means, execute key means, display means and means for displaying multiple windows on a simulated desktop, comprising the steps of: entering a new note mode upon detecting a selected action by a user; detecting the pressing of the execute key when the printer is located in a portion of a window having an associated title or on the simulated desktop; recording as a note title an indicator for the desktop or the title of the window responsive to the pointer position; recording as a note position the pointer position relative to the window or the desktop responsive to the pointer position; displaying text entered by the user as a note text at the note position; storing the note title, note position and note text in nonvolatile storage as a note record in a note dictionary containing a plurality of note records; exiting the new note mode; for each new window displayed having a title, comparing the new window title with each note title in the note dictionary and if the new title and the note title are equivalent, then displaying the note text at the note position in the new window; and each time the desktop is displayed, displaying note text at the note position for each note record having a note title indicating the desktop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of comparing, for each window being closed, the window title with the note title in each note record in the note dictionary and if the title of the window being closed and the note title are equivalent, then removing the note text from the display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of entering a new note mode further comprises detecting the pressing of the execute key when the pointer is positioned on a designated portion of a whole associated with a note generating program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of entering a new note mode further comprises detecting the pressing of a designated key stroke sequence.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of entering a new note mode further comprises altering a default pointer display in a selected manner to visually indicate new note mode and the step of exiting the new note mode further comprises restoring the default pointer display.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of displaying text mode further comprises using selected visual display characteristics to display the note text to distinguish the note text from other text in the window or on the desktop.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for generating annotations having a processor, a memory, a nonvolatile storage, text entry means, pointer positioning means, execute key means, display means and means for displaying multiple windows, comprising: means for entering a new note mode upon detecting a selected action by a user; means for detecting the pressing of the execute key when the pointer is located in a portion of a window having an associated title; means for recording the title of the window as a note title; means for recording the pointer position relative to the window as a note position; means for displaying text entered by the user as a note text at the note position; means for storing the note title, note position and note text in nonvolatile storage as a note record; means for exiting the new note mode; means for comparing a new window title when the note title for each new window displayed having a title; and means for displaying the note text at the note position responsive to the means for comparing.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for generating annotations having a processor, a memory, a nonvolatile storage, text entry means, pointer positioning means, execute key means, display means and means for displaying multiple windows, comprising: means for entering a new note mode upon detecting a selected action by a user; means for detecting the pressing of the execute key when the pointer is located in a portion of a window having an associated title; means for recording the title of the window as a note title; means for recording the pointer position relative to the window as a note position; means for displaying text entered by the user as a note text at the note position; means for storing the note title, note position and note text in nonvolatile storage as a note record; means for exiting the new note mode; means for comparing a new window title when the note title for each new window displayed having a title; and means for displaying the note text at the note position responsive to the means for comparing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 13 further comprising: second means for comparing, for each window being closed, the window title with the note title in each note record in the note dictionary; and means for removing the note text from the display responsive to the second means for comparing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the means for entering a new note mode further comprises means for detecting the pressing of the execute key when the pointer is positioned on a designated portion of a window associated with a note generating program.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the means for entering a new note mode further comprises means for detecting the pressing of a designated key stroke sequence.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 13 wherein means for entering a new note mode further comprises means for altering a default pointer display in a selected manner to visually indicate new note mode and means for exiting the new note mode further comprises means for restoring the default pointer display.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the means for displaying text mode further comprises means for using selected visual display characteristics to display the note text to distinguish the note text from other text in the window or on the desktop.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-21 | 2000-07-22 | 2001-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-21 | 2004-07-22 | 2005-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-21 | 2008-07-22 | 2009-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |