US5678015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Four-dimensional graphical user interface
Assignee: RPX Corp
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Filing: 1995-09-01
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Granted: 1997-10-14
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Expires: 2015-09-01
Abstract
Abstract A computer-based system and method for displaying a workspace of greater effective area than that of the display screen using a four-dimensional graphical user interface employing real-time texture mapping. According to the present invention, the user selects a number of workspaces to be displayed. Each selected workspaces is then texture mapped to a polygonal surface. Then the surfaces are displayed at orientations to form a polyhedron with a workspace on each face. Each face may be translucent, so that workspaces otherwise hidden by that face are visible. The polyhedron rotates under the user's control so that each face is presented to the user. It is this combination of a three-dimensional figure with real-time rotation and texture mapping that gives this "Four-Dimensional Graphical User Interface" its name.
Inventors
- 👤 Eng Lim Goh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:38
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04815; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04802; G06F2203/04804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A computer system having a graphical user interface (GUI) system for simultaneously displaying a plurality of windows, comprising: means for texture mapping the windows to a number of polygonal surfaces; and means for displaying said texture mapped polygonal surfaces at respective orientations to form a polyhedron, said polyhedron thereby appearing to be comprised of a number of faces, each of said faces comprising one of the windows, and thereby permitting a user to simultaneously view more than one of the windows.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A computer system having a graphical user interface (GUI) system for simultaneously displaying a plurality of windows, comprising: means for texture mapping the windows to a number of polygonal surfaces; and means for displaying said texture mapped polygonal surfaces at respective orientations to form a polyhedron, said polyhedron thereby appearing to be comprised of a number of faces, each of said faces comprising one of the windows, and thereby permitting a user to simultaneously view more than one of the windows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 1, where said polyhedron is a cube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising means for rotating said polyhedron so that each face is visible to the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising means for rotating said polyhedron in response to user input via said control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the windows is translucent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the windows is scrollable.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
87 words
A system for displaying a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) windows simultaneously, comprising: a processor; and a controller to control said processor, comprising: means for texture mapping the windows to a number of polygonal surfaces; and means for displaying said texture mapped polygonal surfaces at respective orientations to form a polyhedron, said polyhedron thereby appearing to be comprised of a number of faces, each of said faces comprising one of the windows, and thereby permitting a user to simultaneously view more than one of the windows.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
87 words
A system for displaying a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) windows simultaneously, comprising: a processor; and a controller to control said processor, comprising: means for texture mapping the windows to a number of polygonal surfaces; and means for displaying said texture mapped polygonal surfaces at respective orientations to form a polyhedron, said polyhedron thereby appearing to be comprised of a number of faces, each of said faces comprising one of the windows, and thereby permitting a user to simultaneously view more than one of the windows.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A controller for displaying a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) windows simultaneously, comprising: means for texture mapping the windows to a number of polygonal surfaces; and means for displaying said texture mapped polygonal surfaces at respective orientations to form a polyhedron, said polyhedron thereby appearing to be comprised of a number of faces, each of said faces comprising one of the windows, and thereby permitting a user to simultaneously view more than one of the windows.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A controller for displaying a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) windows simultaneously, comprising: means for texture mapping the windows to a number of polygonal surfaces; and means for displaying said texture mapped polygonal surfaces at respective orientations to form a polyhedron, said polyhedron thereby appearing to be comprised of a number of faces, each of said faces comprising one of the windows, and thereby permitting a user to simultaneously view more than one of the windows.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
A computer program product for use with a database and data processing system memory, said computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for displaying a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) windows simultaneously, said computer readable program code means comprising: a computer readable first program code means for causing a computer to texture map the windows to a number of polygonal surfaces; and a computer readable second program code means for causing the computer to display said texture mapped polygonal surfaces at respective orientations to form a polyhedron, said polyhedron thereby appearing to be comprised of a number of faces, each of said faces comprising one of the windows, and thereby permitting a user to simultaneously view more than one of the windows.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
134 words
A computer program product for use with a database and data processing system memory, said computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for displaying a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) windows simultaneously, said computer readable program code means comprising: a computer readable first program code means for causing a computer to texture map the windows to a number of polygonal surfaces; and a computer readable second program code means for causing the computer to display said texture mapped polygonal surfaces at respective orientations to form a polyhedron, said polyhedron thereby appearing to be comprised of a number of faces, each of said faces comprising one of the windows, and thereby permitting a user to simultaneously view more than one of the windows.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer program product of claim 9, comprising a further computer readable program code means for causing the computer to rotate said polyhedron so that each face is visible to the user.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program product of claim 9, comprising a further computer readable program code means for causing the computer to rotate said polyhedron under user control.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program product of claim 9, comprising a further computer readable program code means for causing the computer to cause at least one of the windows to be translucent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program product of claim 9, comprising a further computer readable program code means for causing the computer to cause at least one of the windows to be scrollable.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for displaying a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) windows simultaneously, comprising the steps of: (a) texture mapping the windows to a number of polygonal surfaces; and (b) displaying said texture mapped polygonal surfaces at respective orientations to form a polyhedron, said polyhedron thereby appearing to be comprised of a number of faces, each of said faces comprising one of the windows, and thereby permitting a user to simultaneously view more than one of the windows.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for displaying a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) windows simultaneously, comprising the steps of: (a) texture mapping the windows to a number of polygonal surfaces; and (b) displaying said texture mapped polygonal surfaces at respective orientations to form a polyhedron, said polyhedron thereby appearing to be comprised of a number of faces, each of said faces comprising one of the windows, and thereby permitting a user to simultaneously view more than one of the windows.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of rotating said polyhedron so that each face is visible to the user.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of rotating said polyhedron under user control.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the windows is translucent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the windows is scrollable.
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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) | 2000-10-13 | 2001-04-14 | 2001-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-13 | 2005-04-14 | 2005-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-13 | 2009-04-14 | 2009-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |