Method and apparatus for positioning a new window on a display screen based on an arrangement of previously-created windows

Claim 1

A method for positioning windows on a display screen in a computer system in which a user perceives that multiple operations can be executed simultaneously, the computer system having a processor, an input device and a display screen, the processor capable of executing an operating system which supports windowing functionality and a graphical user interface which supports windows, the input device capable of receiving information on the positioning of the windows, said method comprising the steps of: determining an operation to be performed on a window; when the operation includes opening the window, determining whether a window slot structure references any available window slots and if it does, then assigning an available window slot to the window being opened, and if it does not, then creating a new window slot, determining a location based on availability of a window slot and the number of unavailable window slots, and setting the new window slot to specify the determined location and assigning the new window slot to the window being opened such that the window slot is in-use; and when the operation includes closing the window, storing in the window slot assigned to the window being closed the location on the display screen of the window being closed such that it can be accessed using the assigned window slot and unassigning the window being closed from the window slot such that the window slot is available.

Claim 2

A method for positioning windows on a display screen in a computer system in which a user perceives that multiple operations can be executed simultaneously, the computer system having a processor, an input device and a display screen, the processor capable of executing an operating system which supports windowing functionality and a graphical user interface which supports windows, the input device capable of receiving information on the positioning of the windows, said method comprising the steps of: determining an operation to be performed on a window; when the operation includes opening the window, determining whether a window slot structure references any available window slots and if it does, then assigning an available window slot to the window being opened, and if it does not, then creating a new window slot, determining a location based on availability of a window slot and the number of unavailable window slots, and setting the new window slot to specify the determined location and assigning the new window slot to the window being opened such that the window slot is in-use; and when the operation includes closing the window, storing in the window slot assigned to the window being closed the location on the display screen of the window being closed such that it can be accessed using the assigned window slot and unassigning the window being closed from the window slot such that the window slot is available.

Claim 4

A method for positioning windows on a display screen in a computer system in which a user perceives that multiple operations can be executed simultaneously, the computer system having a processor, an input device and a display screen, the processor capable of executing an operating system which supports windowing functionality and a graphical user interface which supports windows, the input device capable of receiving information on the positioning of the windows, said method comprising the steps of: determining an operation to be performed on a window; when the operation includes opening the window, determining whether a window slot structure references any available window slots and if it does, then assigning an available window slot to the window being opened, and if it does not, then (a) creating a new window slot, (b) determining a location by performing the following steps: (1) determining how many, if any, window slots, other than the newly created window slot, are referenced by the window slot structure; (2) if the window slot structure does not reference another window slot, then setting the new window slot to specify a default location; (3) if the window slot structure references only one other window slot then calculating a position which is at an offset from the location specified by the one other window slot and if the calculated position is a valid location on the display screen, then setting the new window slot to specify the calculated position, and if the calculated position is an invalid location on the display screen then setting the new window slot to specify a default position; and (4) if the window slot structure references more than one other window slot, then determining a difference between a location specified by a window slot referenced by a most-recently-used variable and a location specified by a window slot referenced by a second-most-recently-used variable, adding the determined difference to the location specified by the window slot referenced by the most-recently-used variable to compute a result, and if the result is a valid location on the display device then setting the new window slot to specify the result, and if the result is not a valid location on the display device then performing step (3) as if the window slot structure referenced only one other window slot marked as in-use, (c) setting the new window slot to specify the determined location, and (d) assigning the new window slot to the window being opened such that the window slot is in-use; and when the operation includes closing the window, storing in the window slot assigned to the window being closed the location on the display screen of the window being closed such that it can be accessed using the assigned window slot and unassigning the window being closed from the window slot such that the window slot is available.

Claim 5

A method for positioning windows on a display screen in a computer system in which a user perceives that multiple operations can be executed simultaneously, the computer system having a processor, an input device and a display screen, the processor capable of executing an operating system which supports windowing functionality and a graphical user interface which supports windows, the input device capable of receiving information on the positioning of the windows, said method comprising the steps of: determining an operation to be performed on a window; when the operation includes opening the window, determining whether a window slot structure references any available window slots and if it does, then assigning an available window slot to the window being opened, and if it does not, then (a) creating a new window slot, (b) determining a location by performing the following steps: (1) determining how many, if any, window slots, other than the newly created window slot, are referenced by the window slot structure; (2) if the window slot structure does not reference another window slot, then setting the new window slot to specify a default location; (3) if the window slot structure references only one other window slot then calculating a position which is at an offset from the location specified by the one other window slot and if the calculated position is a valid location on the display screen, then setting the new window slot to specify the calculated position, and if the calculated position is an invalid location on the display screen then setting the new window slot to specify a default position; and (4) if the window slot structure references more than one other window slot, then determining a difference between a location specified by a window slot referenced by a most-recently-used variable and a location specified by a window slot referenced by a second-most-recently-used variable, adding the determined difference to the location specified by the window slot referenced by the most-recently-used variable to compute a result, and if the result is a valid location on the display device then setting the new window slot to specify the result, and if the result is not a valid location on the display device then performing step (3) as if the window slot structure referenced only one other window slot marked as in-use, (c) setting the new window slot to specify the determined location, and (d) assigning the new window slot to the window being opened such that the window slot is in-use; and when the operation includes closing the window, storing in the window slot assigned to the window being closed the location on the display screen of the window being closed such that it can be accessed using the assigned window slot and unassigning the window being closed from the window slot such that the window slot is available.

Claim 8

An apparatus for positioning windows on a display screen in a computer system in which a user perceives that multiple operations can be executed simultaneously, said apparatus comprising: a processor capable of executing an operating system and a graphical user interface, each capable of supporting windows; a display device for displaying windows; an input device for manipulating windows on the display device; a memory; a system bus interconnecting said processor, said input device, said memory and said display device for exchanging information among them; means for determining what operation is being performed; and a window slot structure stored in said memory, said window slot structure having zero or more window slots, each window slot specifying a location on the display device and specifying whether the slot is in-use, the location specified by a window slot being based on a location of a previously created window, availability of a window slot and a total number of in-use window slots.

Claim 9

An apparatus for positioning windows on a display screen in a computer system in which a user perceives that multiple operations can be executed simultaneously, said apparatus comprising: a processor capable of executing an operating system and a graphical user interface, each capable of supporting windows; a display device for displaying windows; an input device for manipulating windows on the display device; a memory; a system bus interconnecting said processor, said input device, said memory and said display device for exchanging information among them; means for determining what operation is being performed; and a window slot structure stored in said memory, said window slot structure having zero or more window slots, each window slot specifying a location on the display device and specifying whether the slot is in-use, the location specified by a window slot being based on a location of a previously created window, availability of a window slot and a total number of in-use window slots.

Claim 13

A method for displaying windows in a computer system configured to provide windowing functionality including operations of creating a window, opening a window and closing a window, the computer system having a processor, a memory, a display device having a display screen, and a bus interconnecting the processor, memory and display device, said memory configured to store therein one or more window slots, each window slot configured to store a location and to implicitly or explicitly indicate availability of the window slot, said method comprising the steps of: when a window is created or opened, (1) determining whether an available window slot exists in said memory, (2) if an available window slot exists, then assigning the window to the available window slot, displaying the window on the display screen at a location specified by the available window slot and indicating that the available window slot is in-use, and (3) if an available window slot does not exist, then creating a new window slot, assigning the window to the new window slot, determining a location, the location based upon the number of in-use window slots, setting the new window slot to specify the determined location, displaying the window on the display screen at the determined location and indicating that the available window slot is in-use.

Claim 14

A method for displaying windows in a computer system configured to provide windowing functionality including operations of creating a window, opening a window and closing a window, the computer system having a processor, a memory, a display device having a display screen, and a bus interconnecting the processor, memory and display device, said memory configured to store therein one or more window slots, each window slot configured to store a location and to implicitly or explicitly indicate availability of the window slot, said method comprising the steps of: when a window is created or opened, (1) determining whether an available window slot exists in said memory, (2) if an available window slot exists, then assigning the window to the available window slot, displaying the window on the display screen at a location specified by the available window slot and indicating that the available window slot is in-use, and (3) if an available window slot does not exist, then creating a new window slot, assigning the window to the new window slot, determining a location, the location based upon the number of in-use window slots, setting the new window slot to specify the determined location, displaying the window on the display screen at the determined location and indicating that the available window slot is in-use.

Claim 26

A method for positioning windows on a display screen in a computer system in which a user perceives that multiple operations can be executed simultaneously, the computer system having a processor and a display screen, the processor capable of executing an operating system which supports windowing functionality and a graphical user interface which supports windows, said method comprising the steps of: determining an operation to be performed on a window; creating a window slot when a window is opened and existing window slots are unavailable; and when the operation includes opening the window, determining a location at which to display the opened window on the display screen, the location being based on availability of a window slot and a total number of in-use window slots and displaying the window on the display screen at the determined location.

Claim 27

A method for positioning windows on a display screen in a computer system in which a user perceives that multiple operations can be executed simultaneously, the computer system having a processor and a display screen, the processor capable of executing an operating system which supports windowing functionality and a graphical user interface which supports windows, said method comprising the steps of: determining an operation to be performed on a window; creating a window slot when a window is opened and existing window slots are unavailable; and when the operation includes opening the window, determining a location at which to display the opened window on the display screen, the location being based on availability of a window slot and a total number of in-use window slots and displaying the window on the display screen at the determined location.

Claim 36

A method for positioning windows on a display screen in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of: determining an operation to be performed on a window; when the operation includes opening the window, determining whether an available window slot exists; if an available window slot exists then displaying the window at the location specified by an available window slot; and if an available window slot does not exist, then creating a window slot and determining a location at which to display the opened window on the display screen, the location being based on availability of a window slot and a total number of in-use window slots and displaying the window on the display screen at the determined location.

Claim 37

A method for positioning windows on a display screen in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of: determining an operation to be performed on a window; when the operation includes opening the window, determining whether an available window slot exists; if an available window slot exists then displaying the window at the location specified by an available window slot; and if an available window slot does not exist, then creating a window slot and determining a location at which to display the opened window on the display screen, the location being based on availability of a window slot and a total number of in-use window slots and displaying the window on the display screen at the determined location.