Patent US5712995A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5712995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Non-overlapping tiling apparatus and method for multiple window displays
Assignee: OAHU DEVELOPMENT Corp
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Filing: 1995-09-20
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Granted: 1998-01-27
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Expires: 2015-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A user interface provides a non-overlapped tiling mechanism for management of windows or panes. The non-overlapped tiling mechanism provides independent manipulation of panes and partitions between panes, and creates arrays of partitions from an array of panes in a tiled area. The partition arrays include whole partitions, segments, and combinations of segments. The various types of partitions can be managed and manipulated to effect resizing, repositioning and adjustment of multiple panes simultaneously. The mechanism provides free form and arbitrary arrangement of panes in configurations which do not require or necessarily exhibit any particular symmetry, any parent-child relationship, or any other fixed relationship among panes. The mechanism also provides for ad hoc addition, deletion and hiding of panes. Additionally, application regions can be freely associated and displayed with any of the panes, and associations between application regions and panes can be changed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Cohn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 97
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes, wherein at least two of the plurality of partitions have a common end; means for moving one of the partitions having a common end; and means for simultaneously moving the at least two partitions having a common end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes, wherein at least two of the plurality of partitions have a common end; means for moving one of the partitions having a common end; and means for simultaneously moving the at least two partitions having a common end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tiling system of claim 1, wherein the at least two partitions having a common end are aligned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tiling system of claim 2, further comprising: means for jointly displaying partitions which are aligned; and means for displaying at least one of the aligned partitions distinctly from the partitions which are aligned.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tiling system of claim 2, further comprising means for simultaneously moving at least two partitions which are positioned in directions transverse to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The tiling system of claim 2, wherein a first application region is associated with a first pane, said tiling system further comprising means for disassociating the first application region from the first pane and associating the first application region with a second pane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tiling system of claim 5, wherein a second application region is associated with said second pane, said tiling system further comprising means for associating said second application region with said first pane when said first application region is associated with said second pane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tiling system of claim 2, further comprising means for creating an additional pane from a portion of at least one of said plurality of panes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tiling system of claim 7, wherein the means for creating a new pane include first means for defining an area for placement of the additional pane by movement of at least one partition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The tiling system of claim 8, wherein the means for creating a new pane include second means for defining an area for placement of the additional pane by simultaneous movement of the at least one partition and at least one other partition aligned with the at least one partition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The tiling system of claim 2, further comprising: means for removing a first pane from said plurality of panes; and means for resizing at least one pane of said plurality of panes which is adjacent to said first pane to include an area defined by said first pane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tiling system of claim 2, further comprising aligning means for moving a first partition which is within a range of a second partition so as to align the first and second partitions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tiling system of claim 11, wherein said aligning means includes means for altering said range.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tiling system of claim 11, further comprising: a plurality of predefined partition positions; and wherein said aligning means includes means for moving said first partition into alignment with one of said plurality of predefined partition positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The tiling system of claim 2, further comprising parallel moving means for moving at least one partition which is parallel to the at least two partitions having a common end so as to maintain a predetermined dimension for at least one of said plurality of panes, when one of the at least two partitions having a common end is moved.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tiling system of claim 2 further comprising means for associating application regions of another interface with respective ones of said plurality of panes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tiling system of claim 1, wherein the at least two partitions having a common end are transverse.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
The tiling system of claim 16, further comprising parallel moving means for moving at least one partition parallel to a first one of the transverse partitions and at least one partition parallel to a second one of the transverse partitions so as to maintain a predetermined dimension of at least one of the plurality of panes when the transverse partitions are moved.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tiling system of claim 1, further comprising partition creating means for creating said plurality of partitions based upon said plurality of non-overlapping panes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The tiling system of claim 18, wherein said partition creating means includes: edge means for identifying edges of said plurality of panes; matching means for determining coextensive edges of adjacent panes; and partition means for identifying coextensive edges of adjacent panes as partitions of said plurality of partitions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The tiling system of claim 19, wherein said matching means includes: means for identifying common edges of adjacent panes; means for determining whether identified common edges are coextensive; and means for iteratively expanding edges to include aligned edges of separate panes when common edges are not coextensive.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tiling system of claim 18, further comprising partition set creating means for creating sets of aligned partitions of the plurality of partitions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
The tiling system of claim 1, further comprising parallel moving means for moving at least one partition which is parallel to one of the at least two partitions having a common end so as to maintain a predetermined dimension for at least one of said plurality of panes, when one of the at least two partitions having a common end is moved.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for manipulating panes in a non-overlapping tiling system comprising the steps of: defining a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction; defining a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes; defining at least one first set of aligned partitions including at least two partitions which are aligned selecting one partition from a first set of aligned partitions; and changing a position of said selected partition so as to manipulate at least one of the plurality of panes.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for manipulating panes in a non-overlapping tiling system comprising the steps of: defining a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction; defining a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes; defining at least one first set of aligned partitions including at least two partitions which are aligned selecting one partition from a first set of aligned partitions; and changing a position of said selected partition so as to manipulate at least one of the plurality of panes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of defining at least one second set of aligned partitions including at least two partitions which are aligned and which transverse to at least one first set of partitions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 23, wherein a first application region is associated with a first pane and a second application region is associated with a second pane, the method further comprising the steps of associating said first application region with said second pane and associating said second application region with said first pane when said first application region is associated with said second pane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of: removing a first pane from said plurality of panes; and resizing at least one pane of said plurality of panes which is adjacent to said first pane to include an area defined by said first pane.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for manipulating panes in a non-overlapping tiling system comprising the steps of: defining a plurality of non-overlapping panes; defining a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes; defining at least one first set of aligned partitions including at least two partitions which are aligned; displaying the plurality of partitions; and jointly displaying the at least one first set of aligned partitions distinctly from the plurality of partitions.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for manipulating panes in a non-overlapping tiling system comprising the steps of: defining a plurality of non-overlapping panes; defining a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes; defining at least one first set of aligned partitions including at least two partitions which are aligned; displaying the plurality of partitions; and jointly displaying the at least one first set of aligned partitions distinctly from the plurality of partitions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the step of defining a plurality of non-overlapping panes includes the step of defining a plurality of panes wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
108 words
A tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes comprising: means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in a first direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in a second direction transverse to the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the second direction when not coupled; and; wherein the means for selectively coupling includes: a first individually selectable control for coupled manipulation of the at least two panes; and a plurality of second individually selectable controls, each corresponding to one of the at least two panes, for uncoupled manipulation of the corresponding pane.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
108 words
A tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes comprising: means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in a first direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in a second direction transverse to the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the second direction when not coupled; and; wherein the means for selectively coupling includes: a first individually selectable control for coupled manipulation of the at least two panes; and a plurality of second individually selectable controls, each corresponding to one of the at least two panes, for uncoupled manipulation of the corresponding pane.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
112 words
The tiling system of claim 29, further comprising: second means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in the second direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the first direction when not coupled; wherein the second means for selectively coupling includes: a third individually selectable control for coupled movement of the at least two panes adjacent in the second direction; and a plurality of fourth individually selectable controls, each corresponding to one of the at least two panes adjacent in the second direction, for uncoupled movement of the corresponding pane.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tiling system of claim 29, further comprising: means for displaying the panes, the first individually selectable control and the plurality of second individually selectable controls.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tiling system of claim 31, wherein the first individually selectable control and the plurality of second individually selectable controls are simultaneously and distinctly displayed.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tiling system of claim 31, wherein the first individually selectable control and plurality of second individually selectable controls are pickup regions.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The non-overlapping tiling system of claim 29, further comprising means for manipulating panes.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
The tiling system of claim 29, wherein a first application region is associated with a first pane, said tiling system comprising means for disassociating the first application region from the first pane and associating the first application region with another one of said plurality of non-overlapping panes.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tiling system of claim 35, wherein a second application region is associated with said other pane, said tiling system further comprising means for associating said second application region with said first pane when said first application region is associated with said other pane.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tiling system of claim 29, further comprising means for creating an additional pane from a portion of at least one of said plurality of panes.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
172 words
A tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes comprising: means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in a first direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in a second direction transverse to the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the second direction when not coupled; and means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in the second direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the first direction when not coupled; means for selectively coupling a first pane, at least one second pane adjacent the first pane in the first direction, and at least one third pane adjacent the first pane in the second direction such that the first pane, the at least one second pane, and the at least one third pane can be jointly manipulated in the first and second directions when coupled.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
172 words
A tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes comprising: means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in a first direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in a second direction transverse to the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the second direction when not coupled; and means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in the second direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the first direction when not coupled; means for selectively coupling a first pane, at least one second pane adjacent the first pane in the first direction, and at least one third pane adjacent the first pane in the second direction such that the first pane, the at least one second pane, and the at least one third pane can be jointly manipulated in the first and second directions when coupled.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
148 words
A tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction, the tiling system comprising: means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in a first direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in a second direction transverse to the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the second direction when not coupled, wherein the means for selectively coupling includes: a first individually selectable control for coupled manipulation of the at least two panes; and a second individually selectable control for uncoupled manipulation of at least one of the at least two panes.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
148 words
A tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction, the tiling system comprising: means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in a first direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in a second direction transverse to the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the second direction when not coupled, wherein the means for selectively coupling includes: a first individually selectable control for coupled manipulation of the at least two panes; and a second individually selectable control for uncoupled manipulation of at least one of the at least two panes.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
54 words
The tiling system of claim 39, further comprising means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in the second direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the first direction when not coupled.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
104 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction; means for associating at least one application region with at least one of said plurality of panes; means for changing an association of a first application region from an association with a first one of said plurality of panes to an association with a second one of said plurality of panes.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
104 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction; means for associating at least one application region with at least one of said plurality of panes; means for changing an association of a first application region from an association with a first one of said plurality of panes to an association with a second one of said plurality of panes.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tiling system of claim 41, further comprising means for changing an association of a second application region associated with said second pane to an association with said first pane when the association of the first application region with the first pane is changed.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes; means for jointly displaying partitions which are aligned; and means for displaying at least one of the aligned partitions distinctly from the partitions which are aligned.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes; means for jointly displaying partitions which are aligned; and means for displaying at least one of the aligned partitions distinctly from the partitions which are aligned.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tiling system of claim 43, wherein the display means displays each of the partitions in the set of aligned partitions distinctly from the set of aligned partitions.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
50 words
The tiling system of claim 44, further comprising: means for selecting one of a single partition and a set of aligned partitions including said single partition; and means for moving the selected one of a single partition and set of aligned partitions so as to manipulate at least one pane.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
50 words
The tiling system of claim 43, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for creating partitions adjacent panes in a tiling system having a plurality of panes, a first set of aligned edges of a first set of the panes, and a second set of aligned edges of a second set of the panes which is adjacent to the first set of panes, wherein the second set of aligned edges is aligned with the first set of aligned edges, the system comprising: means for iteratively expanding a first subset of the first set of aligned edges; means for iteratively expanding a second subset of the second set of aligned edges; means for determining whether the first subset is coextensive with the second subset; and means for identifying coextensive subsets as partitions.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for creating partitions adjacent panes in a tiling system having a plurality of panes, a first set of aligned edges of a first set of the panes, and a second set of aligned edges of a second set of the panes which is adjacent to the first set of panes, wherein the second set of aligned edges is aligned with the first set of aligned edges, the system comprising: means for iteratively expanding a first subset of the first set of aligned edges; means for iteratively expanding a second subset of the second set of aligned edges; means for determining whether the first subset is coextensive with the second subset; and means for identifying coextensive subsets as partitions.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 47, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tiling system of claim 47, further comprising partition set creating means for creating sets of aligned partitions.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
93 words
A non-overlapping tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction; a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes; means for selecting one of a single partition and a set of aligned partitions including said single partition as a movement partition; and means for moving the movement partition.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
93 words
A non-overlapping tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction; a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes; means for selecting one of a single partition and a set of aligned partitions including said single partition as a movement partition; and means for moving the movement partition.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
43 words
The tiling system of claim 50, wherein the means for selecting includes at least one first individually selectable control for selecting the single partition and at least one second individually selectable control for selecting the set of aligned partitions including the single partition.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tiling system of claim 51, further comprising: means for simultaneously and distinctly displaying the at least one first individually selectable control and the at least one second individually selectable control.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for manipulating panes in a tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes comprising: first manipulation means for simultaneously moving a first edge which is an edge of a first pane and a second edge which is an edge of a second pane and which extends the first edge; second manipulation means for moving the first edge without moving the second edge; third manipulation means for simultaneously moving a third edge, which is an edge of the first pane transverse to the first edge, together with one of the first edge, the second edge, and a fourth edge which extends the third edge; and fourth manipulation means for moving the third edge without moving the first, second and fourth edges.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for manipulating panes in a tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes comprising: first manipulation means for simultaneously moving a first edge which is an edge of a first pane and a second edge which is an edge of a second pane and which extends the first edge; second manipulation means for moving the first edge without moving the second edge; third manipulation means for simultaneously moving a third edge, which is an edge of the first pane transverse to the first edge, together with one of the first edge, the second edge, and a fourth edge which extends the third edge; and fourth manipulation means for moving the third edge without moving the first, second and fourth edges.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tiling system of claim 53 further comprising means for associating application regions of another interface with respective ones of said plurality of panes.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
53 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes; and aligning means for aligning a first partition with a second partition when said first partition is within a range of said second partition; and wherein the aligning means includes means for altering said range.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
53 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes; and aligning means for aligning a first partition with a second partition when said first partition is within a range of said second partition; and wherein the aligning means includes means for altering said range.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
50 words
The tiling system of claim 55, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
70 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes; and aligning means for aligning a first partition with a second partition when said first partition is within a range of said second partition; and wherein said aligning means includes: a plurality of predefined partition positions; and means for locating a partition into alignment with one of said plurality of predefined positions.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
70 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes; and aligning means for aligning a first partition with a second partition when said first partition is within a range of said second partition; and wherein said aligning means includes: a plurality of predefined partition positions; and means for locating a partition into alignment with one of said plurality of predefined positions.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
50 words
The tiling system of claim 57, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
87 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes, wherein at least two of the plurality of partitions are aligned; and means for creating an additional pane including: first means for defining an area for placement of the additional pane by movement of one partition of the aligned partitions; and second means for defining an area for placement of the additional pane by movement of the one partition and at least one other of the aligned partitions.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
87 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes, wherein at least two of the plurality of partitions are aligned; and means for creating an additional pane including: first means for defining an area for placement of the additional pane by movement of one partition of the aligned partitions; and second means for defining an area for placement of the additional pane by movement of the one partition and at least one other of the aligned partitions.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
102 words
A tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes and a plurality of partitions adjacent to the panes, the system comprising: means for moving at least one partition to define an area between an initial position and a final position of the at least one partition; and means for creating an additional pane in the area such that one of the panes is situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction and one of the panes is situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
102 words
A tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes and a plurality of partitions adjacent to the panes, the system comprising: means for moving at least one partition to define an area between an initial position and a final position of the at least one partition; and means for creating an additional pane in the area such that one of the panes is situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction and one of the panes is situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions abutting said plurality of panes; and means for creating an additional pane including means for defining an area for placement of the additional by moving a partition between two adjacent panes.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions abutting said plurality of panes; and means for creating an additional pane including means for defining an area for placement of the additional by moving a partition between two adjacent panes.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
96 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes, wherein at least two partitions are aligned; first parallel moving means for moving a partition parallel to the aligned partitions and moving one of the aligned partitions so as to maintain a predetermined dimension for at least one of said plurality of panes; and second parallel moving means for moving the partition parallel to the aligned partitions and moving the aligned partitions so as to maintain a predetermined dimension for at least one of said plurality of panes.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
96 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes, wherein at least two partitions are aligned; first parallel moving means for moving a partition parallel to the aligned partitions and moving one of the aligned partitions so as to maintain a predetermined dimension for at least one of said plurality of panes; and second parallel moving means for moving the partition parallel to the aligned partitions and moving the aligned partitions so as to maintain a predetermined dimension for at least one of said plurality of panes.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
79 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes, wherein at least two of the plurality of partitions are transverse; parallel moving means for moving a first transverse partition, a second transverse partition, at least one partition parallel to the first transverse partition and at least one partition parallel to the second transverse partition so as to maintain a predetermined dimension of at least one of the plurality of panes.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
79 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent said plurality of panes, wherein at least two of the plurality of partitions are transverse; parallel moving means for moving a first transverse partition, a second transverse partition, at least one partition parallel to the first transverse partition and at least one partition parallel to the second transverse partition so as to maintain a predetermined dimension of at least one of the plurality of panes.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
138 words
A computer system comprising: a processor for executing program steps; and a display connected to the processor; and a set of program steps to be executed on the processor which generate a tiling system on the display, the tiling system including: a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction; a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes, wherein at least two of the plurality of partitions have a common end; means for moving one of the partitions having a common end; and means for simultaneously moving the at least two partitions having a common end.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
138 words
A computer system comprising: a processor for executing program steps; and a display connected to the processor; and a set of program steps to be executed on the processor which generate a tiling system on the display, the tiling system including: a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction; a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes, wherein at least two of the plurality of partitions have a common end; means for moving one of the partitions having a common end; and means for simultaneously moving the at least two partitions having a common end.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
116 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and wherein at least one of the panes is a tenanted pane with which an application region is associated, and at least one of the panes is an untenanted pane with which no application region is associated; and means for displaying each application region at a position corresponding to an associated tenanted pane and for displaying each untenanted pane as an empty pane.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
116 words
A tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and wherein at least one of the panes is a tenanted pane with which an application region is associated, and at least one of the panes is an untenanted pane with which no application region is associated; and means for displaying each application region at a position corresponding to an associated tenanted pane and for displaying each untenanted pane as an empty pane.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tiling system of claim 65, further comprising means for associating an application region with the at least one untenanted pane.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tiling system of claim 66, further comprising means for exchanging application region associations between a first pane and a second pane.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tiling system of claim 65, wherein an application region is associated with a tenanted pane, the system further comprising: means for associating the application region with an untenanted pane.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tiling system of claim 68, further comprising means for removing an association of the tenanted pane and the application region so that the tenanted pane becomes an untenanted pane.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tiling system of claim 65, further comprising means for removing an association of the tenanted pane and the application region so that the tenanted pane becomes an untenanted pane.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tiling system of claim 70, wherein one of the first pane and second pane is an untenanted pane having a null application region association.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
144 words
A tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes comprising: means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in a first direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in a second direction transverse to the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the second direction when not coupled; and means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in the second direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the first direction when not coupled; wherein the means for selectively coupling includes: a first individually selectable control for coupled manipulation of the at least two panes; and a second individually selectable control for uncoupled manipulation of the at least two panes.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
144 words
A tiling system having a plurality of non-overlapping panes comprising: means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in a first direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in a second direction transverse to the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the second direction when not coupled; and means for selectively coupling at least two of the plurality of panes which are adjacent in the second direction such that the at least two panes can be jointly manipulated in the first direction when coupled and individually manipulated in the first direction when not coupled; wherein the means for selectively coupling includes: a first individually selectable control for coupled manipulation of the at least two panes; and a second individually selectable control for uncoupled manipulation of the at least two panes.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
47 words
The tiling system of claim 72, further comprising: means for manipulating the plurality of partitions and the at least one set of aligned partitions, wherein displayed partitions and displayed aligned partitions are controls for selecting one of the partitions or sets of aligned partitions to be manipulated.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
67 words
A non-overlapping tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes, wherein the plurality of partitions include at least one set of aligned partitions including at least two partitions which are aligned; means for displaying the plurality of partitions; and means for jointly displaying the at least one set of aligned partitions distinctly from the plurality of partitions.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
67 words
A non-overlapping tiling system comprising: a plurality of non-overlapping panes; a plurality of partitions adjacent to said plurality of panes, wherein the plurality of partitions include at least one set of aligned partitions including at least two partitions which are aligned; means for displaying the plurality of partitions; and means for jointly displaying the at least one set of aligned partitions distinctly from the plurality of partitions.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
50 words
The tiling system of claim 74, wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a first direction, and wherein a pane can be situated adjacent to more than one pane along an edge in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
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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) | 2001-01-26 | 2001-07-28 | 2002-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-01-26 | 2005-07-28 | 2006-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-01-26 | 2009-07-28 | 2010-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |