Method and means for navigating user interfaces which support a plurality of executing applications

Claim 1

A method of application program navigation in a computer system that includes a digital data processor, a video screen coupled to the processor, and a user interface coupled to the processor, said method comprising the steps of: continuously displaying upon the video screen a navigator window containing multiple icons, each icon appearing proximate at least one representing keystroke sequence, each icon corresponding to a particular application program; receiving entry of a first one of the keystroke sequences at the processor via the user interface, said first keystroke sequence denoting a first application program; in response to the first keystroke sequence entry, determining whether the processor is already running the first application program; if the first application program is not already running, initiating the first application program; continuing to display the navigator box and in response to the first keystroke sequence entry additionally displaying on the video screen separately from the navigator window a first application window containing data generated by the first application program; receiving entry of a second one of the keystroke sequences at the processor via the user interface, said second keystroke sequence being associated with a second application program; in response to the second keystroke entry, determining whether the processor is already running the second application program; if the second application program is not already running, initiating the second application program; continuing to display the navigator window and in response to the second keystroke entry displaying on the video screen separately from the navigator window and the first application window a second application window containing data generated by the second application program; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.

Claim 2

A method of application program navigation in a computer system that includes a digital data processor, a video screen coupled to the processor, and a user interface coupled to the processor, said method comprising the steps of: continuously displaying upon the video screen a navigator window containing multiple icons, each icon appearing proximate at least one representing keystroke sequence, each icon corresponding to a particular application program; receiving entry of a first one of the keystroke sequences at the processor via the user interface, said first keystroke sequence denoting a first application program; in response to the first keystroke sequence entry, determining whether the processor is already running the first application program; if the first application program is not already running, initiating the first application program; continuing to display the navigator box and in response to the first keystroke sequence entry additionally displaying on the video screen separately from the navigator window a first application window containing data generated by the first application program; receiving entry of a second one of the keystroke sequences at the processor via the user interface, said second keystroke sequence being associated with a second application program; in response to the second keystroke entry, determining whether the processor is already running the second application program; if the second application program is not already running, initiating the second application program; continuing to display the navigator window and in response to the second keystroke entry displaying on the video screen separately from the navigator window and the first application window a second application window containing data generated by the second application program; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.

Claim 3

A method for application program navigation for use in an interactive computer system with a keyboard, a video display, and a directly-manipulated, menu-driven user interface having means for supporting execution of one or more application programs in a plurality of application programs and output means for confining the display of application program execution to a particular window on the video display, said method comprising the steps of: continuously displaying upon the video display a navigation window for specifying a plurality of application programs; simultaneously displaying a plurality of application icons in the navigation window, each application icon representing an executable application program; displaying one or more key representations adjacent to each icon in the navigation window, each key representation including one or more keyboard characters and each key representation corresponding to an application program represented by the adjacent icon; entering a first key representation by striking one or more keys on the keyboard, said first key representation corresponding to a first application program; in response to entry of the first key representation, performing steps comprising: determining whether the first application program is already running; if the first application program is not already running, initiating the first application program; continuing to display the navigator window while additionally displaying on the display separately from the navigator window a first application window containing data generated by the first application program; entering a second key representation by striking one or more keys of the keyboard, said second key representation corresponding to a second application program; in response to the second key representation, performing steps comprising: determining whether the processor is already running the second application program; if the second application program is not already running, initiating the second application program; and continuing to display the navigator window while additionally displaying on the display separately from the navigator window and first application window a second application window containing data generated by the second application program; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.

Claim 4

A method for application program navigation for use in an interactive computer system with a keyboard, a video display, and a directly-manipulated, menu-driven user interface having means for supporting execution of one or more application programs in a plurality of application programs and output means for confining the display of application program execution to a particular window on the video display, said method comprising the steps of: continuously displaying upon the video display a navigation window for specifying a plurality of application programs; simultaneously displaying a plurality of application icons in the navigation window, each application icon representing an executable application program; displaying one or more key representations adjacent to each icon in the navigation window, each key representation including one or more keyboard characters and each key representation corresponding to an application program represented by the adjacent icon; entering a first key representation by striking one or more keys on the keyboard, said first key representation corresponding to a first application program; in response to entry of the first key representation, performing steps comprising: determining whether the first application program is already running; if the first application program is not already running, initiating the first application program; continuing to display the navigator window while additionally displaying on the display separately from the navigator window a first application window containing data generated by the first application program; entering a second key representation by striking one or more keys of the keyboard, said second key representation corresponding to a second application program; in response to the second key representation, performing steps comprising: determining whether the processor is already running the second application program; if the second application program is not already running, initiating the second application program; and continuing to display the navigator window while additionally displaying on the display separately from the navigator window and first application window a second application window containing data generated by the second application program; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.

Claim 5

A method for navigating functions in a computer system including a CPU, a video screen coupled to the CPU, and a keyboard coupled to the CPU, said method comprising: continuously displaying upon a video screen a navigator window with multiple icons and corresponding keystroke sequences; entering keystroke sequences associated with multiple applications; opening windows associated with the applications while continuing to display the navigator window; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.

Claim 6

A method for navigating functions in a computer system including a CPU, a video screen coupled to the CPU, and a keyboard coupled to the CPU, said method comprising: continuously displaying upon a video screen a navigator window with multiple icons and corresponding keystroke sequences; entering keystroke sequences associated with multiple applications; opening windows associated with the applications while continuing to display the navigator window; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.

Claim 7

An apparatus for application program navigation, comprising: a video screen; a user interface; and a digital data processor, coupled to the video screen and user interface and programmed for: continuously displaying upon the video screen a navigator window containing multiple icons, each icon appearing proximate at least one representing keystroke sequence, each icon corresponding to a particular application program; receiving entry of a first one of the keystroke sequences at the processor via the user interface, said first keystroke sequence being associated with a first application program; in response to the first keystroke entry, determining whether the processor is already running the first application program; if the first application program is not already running, initiating the first application program; continuing to display the navigator window and in response to the first keystroke entry additionally displaying on the video screen separately from the navigator window a first application window containing data generated by the first application program; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.

Claim 8

An apparatus for application program navigation, comprising: a video screen; a user interface; and a digital data processor, coupled to the video screen and user interface and programmed for: continuously displaying upon the video screen a navigator window containing multiple icons, each icon appearing proximate at least one representing keystroke sequence, each icon corresponding to a particular application program; receiving entry of a first one of the keystroke sequences at the processor via the user interface, said first keystroke sequence being associated with a first application program; in response to the first keystroke entry, determining whether the processor is already running the first application program; if the first application program is not already running, initiating the first application program; continuing to display the navigator window and in response to the first keystroke entry additionally displaying on the video screen separately from the navigator window a first application window containing data generated by the first application program; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.

Claim 9

An apparatus for application program navigation, comprising: a video display; a keyboard; and a digital data processor, coupled to the video screen and user interface and programmed for: continuously displaying upon the video display a navigation window for specifying a plurality of application programs; simultaneously displaying a plurality of application icons in the navigation window, each application icon representing an executable application program; displaying one or more key representations adjacent to each icon in the navigation window, each key representation including one or more keyboard characters and each key representation corresponding to an application program represented by the adjacent icon; entering a first key representation by striking one or more keys on the keyboard, said first key representation corresponding to a first application program; in response to entry of the first key representation, performing steps comprising: determining whether the first application program is already running; if the first application program is not already running, initiating the first application program; and continuing to display the navigator window while additionally displaying on the display separately from the navigator window a first application window containing data generated by the first application program; entering a second key representation by striking one or more keys of the keyboard, said second key representation corresponding to a second application program; in response to the second key representation, performing steps comprising: determining whether the processor is already running the second application program; if the second application program is not already running, initiating the second application program; continuing to display the navigator window while additionally displaying on the display separately from the navigator window and first application window a second application window containing data generated by the second application program; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.

Claim 10

An apparatus for application program navigation, comprising: a video display; a keyboard; and a digital data processor, coupled to the video screen and user interface and programmed for: continuously displaying upon the video display a navigation window for specifying a plurality of application programs; simultaneously displaying a plurality of application icons in the navigation window, each application icon representing an executable application program; displaying one or more key representations adjacent to each icon in the navigation window, each key representation including one or more keyboard characters and each key representation corresponding to an application program represented by the adjacent icon; entering a first key representation by striking one or more keys on the keyboard, said first key representation corresponding to a first application program; in response to entry of the first key representation, performing steps comprising: determining whether the first application program is already running; if the first application program is not already running, initiating the first application program; and continuing to display the navigator window while additionally displaying on the display separately from the navigator window a first application window containing data generated by the first application program; entering a second key representation by striking one or more keys of the keyboard, said second key representation corresponding to a second application program; in response to the second key representation, performing steps comprising: determining whether the processor is already running the second application program; if the second application program is not already running, initiating the second application program; continuing to display the navigator window while additionally displaying on the display separately from the navigator window and first application window a second application window containing data generated by the second application program; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.

Claim 11

An apparatus for application program navigation, comprising: a video screen; a user interface; and a digital data processor, coupled to the video screen and user interface and programmed for: continuously displaying upon a video screen a navigator window with multiple icons and corresponding keystroke sequences; entering keystroke sequences associated with multiple applications; opening windows associated with the applications while continuing to display the navigator window; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.

Claim 12

An apparatus for application program navigation, comprising: a video screen; a user interface; and a digital data processor, coupled to the video screen and user interface and programmed for: continuously displaying upon a video screen a navigator window with multiple icons and corresponding keystroke sequences; entering keystroke sequences associated with multiple applications; opening windows associated with the applications while continuing to display the navigator window; displaying a global symbol input window for specifying application program symbol inputs; entering an alphanumeric symbol into the global symbol input window; dispatching the symbol using the global symbol input window; the dispatching step including forwarding the symbol to each running application program as an input thereto; and displaying in open application windows the responses of corresponding applications to the symbol.