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US5680152A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for navigating multiple independent windowed images

Assignee: Web com Holding Co Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-04
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Granted: 1997-10-21
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Expires: 2016-04-04
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for navigating multiple independent windowed images on a computer display screen of a computer system is presented. The images may be of arbitrary size and shape, although a rectangular shape is typically used. A relationship is defined between the coordinates of points in one image and the coordinates of points in each of the other images. All or a portion of an image is shown in a window for each image. An indicator in one window determines the portion of an image shown in another window. Each image is an independent entity, although its content may be thematically related to the content of other windows. Each image is typically a bitmap. A cursor may be used to control the position of the indicator. Graphic objects and items may optionally be "drag-and-dropped" into any window.

Inventors

  • 👤 Daniel S. Bricklin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 22:40
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/14; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 277 words
A system for displaying images on a display means comprising: a first window displaying a portion of a first image on said display means, said first image comprising a non-blank image containing image data; a first indicator displayed at a first position with respect to said first window, said first indicator being movable in two dimensions with respect to said first window; a first indicator control means for moving said first indicator from said first position with respect to said first window to a second position with respect to said first window; a second window displaying a portion of a second image on said display means, said second window having dimensions independent of dimensions of said first window, said second image comprising a non-blank image comprising image data that is independent of said image data of said first image, said portion of said second image comprising less than a whole of said second image, said portion of said second image being determined by movement of said first indicator from said first position to said second position with respect to said first window such that a first portion of said second image is displayed in said second window when said first indicator is located at said first position with respect to said first window, a second portion of said second image is displayed in said second window when said first indicator is located at said second position with respect to said first window, and intermediate portions of said second image are displayed sequentially in said second window after said first portion is displayed in said second window and before said second portion is displayed in said second window.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 277 words
A system for displaying images on a display means comprising: a first window displaying a portion of a first image on said display means, said first image comprising a non-blank image containing image data; a first indicator displayed at a first position with respect to said first window, said first indicator being movable in two dimensions with respect to said first window; a first indicator control means for moving said first indicator from said first position with respect to said first window to a second position with respect to said first window; a second window displaying a portion of a second image on said display means, said second window having dimensions independent of dimensions of said first window, said second image comprising a non-blank image comprising image data that is independent of said image data of said first image, said portion of said second image comprising less than a whole of said second image, said portion of said second image being determined by movement of said first indicator from said first position to said second position with respect to said first window such that a first portion of said second image is displayed in said second window when said first indicator is located at said first position with respect to said first window, a second portion of said second image is displayed in said second window when said first indicator is located at said second position with respect to said first window, and intermediate portions of said second image are displayed sequentially in said second window after said first portion is displayed in said second window and before said second portion is displayed in said second window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said portion of said first image displayed in said first window comprises a whole of said first image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said portion of said first image displayed in said first window comprises less than a whole of said first image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein a content of said first image is thematically related to a content of said second image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said display means comprises a computer display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first indicator comprises a highlighted region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first indicator comprises an outline.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first indicator comprises an indicator having dimensions relative to said first image that correspond to dimensions of said second window relative to said second image.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 230 words
A method for navigating images displayed on a display means comprising the steps of: displaying in a first window on a display means a portion of a first image, said first image comprising a non-blank image containing image data; displaying a first indicator at a first position with respect to said first window, said first indicator being movable in two dimensions with respect to said first window; displaying in a second window on said display means a first portion of a second image based on said first position of said first indicator with respect to said first window, said first portion of said second image comprising less than a whole of said second image, said second image comprising a non-blank image comprising image data that is independent of said image data of said first image, said second window having dimensions independent of dimensions of said first window, moving by means of a first indicator control means said first indicator from said first position with respect to said first window to a second position with respect to said first window; displaying a second portion of said second image in said second window based on said second position of said first indicator with respect to said first window after displaying intermediate portions of said second image in said second window between said first portion and said second portion of said second image.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 230 words
A method for navigating images displayed on a display means comprising the steps of: displaying in a first window on a display means a portion of a first image, said first image comprising a non-blank image containing image data; displaying a first indicator at a first position with respect to said first window, said first indicator being movable in two dimensions with respect to said first window; displaying in a second window on said display means a first portion of a second image based on said first position of said first indicator with respect to said first window, said first portion of said second image comprising less than a whole of said second image, said second image comprising a non-blank image comprising image data that is independent of said image data of said first image, said second window having dimensions independent of dimensions of said first window, moving by means of a first indicator control means said first indicator from said first position with respect to said first window to a second position with respect to said first window; displaying a second portion of said second image in said second window based on said second position of said first indicator with respect to said first window after displaying intermediate portions of said second image in said second window between said first portion and said second portion of said second image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein a content of said first image is thematically related to a content of said second image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said display means comprises a computer display.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said first indicator comprises a highlighted region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said first indicator comprises an outline.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said first indicator comprises an indicator having dimensions relative to said first image that correspond to dimensions of said second window relative to said second image.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4744046A Cited
US5263134A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-10-20 2001-04-21 2001-10-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-10-20 2005-04-21 2005-10-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-10-20 2009-04-21 2009-10-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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