US5737559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Object-oriented view hierarchy framework
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1995-12-20
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Granted: 1998-04-07
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Expires: 2015-12-20
Abstract
Abstract An object-oriented view system which displays a plurality of separate view areas on a computer display screen allows hierarchically arranged overlapping view areas. The views are controlled by a view hierarchy object which includes a tree structure of information associated with every view. The tree structure has multiple branches and supports recursive view support for views within views. The views are drawn directly in the screen buffer by application programs which retrieve view definition information from the view hierarchy object. The view hierarchy makes it possible for views of uncertain origin or implementation to function polymorphically within a display hierarchy.
Inventors
- 👤 Debra L. Orton
- 👤 David B. Goldsmith
- 👤 Arnold Schaeffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/20; G06F8/24; G06F8/30; G06F8/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
An apparatus for displaying a hierarchical arrangement of a first and a second view in which the first view may partially obscure a portion of the second view leaving a non-obscured visible area of the second view, the first and second views each displaying screen information generated by application programs, the apparatus operating on a computer system having a display and comprising: (a) a screen buffer having a first storage area for holding screen information of the first view and a second storage area for holding screen information for the second view visible area; (b) display adapter means for directly obtaining screen information from the screen buffer and for displaying the screen information on the display; (c) means in each of the application programs to directly store screen information in the first and second storage areas according to a first storage area definition and a second storage area definition, each definition, respectively, defining portions of the screen buffer corresponding to the first and second storage areas; (d) hierarchy object means for defining the hierarchal arrangement of the first and the second view; (e) view system means, cooperating with the hierarchy object means, for determining a new second storage area definition in response to user requests to change the first view; and (f) updating means, cooperating with the view system means, for informing the application programs of the new second storage area definition so that the application programs can obtain the storage area definitions and use them to directly store information in the storage areas without overwriting other areas of the screen buffer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
262 words
An apparatus for displaying a hierarchical arrangement of a first and a second view in which the first view may partially obscure a portion of the second view leaving a non-obscured visible area of the second view, the first and second views each displaying screen information generated by application programs, the apparatus operating on a computer system having a display and comprising: (a) a screen buffer having a first storage area for holding screen information of the first view and a second storage area for holding screen information for the second view visible area; (b) display adapter means for directly obtaining screen information from the screen buffer and for displaying the screen information on the display; (c) means in each of the application programs to directly store screen information in the first and second storage areas according to a first storage area definition and a second storage area definition, each definition, respectively, defining portions of the screen buffer corresponding to the first and second storage areas; (d) hierarchy object means for defining the hierarchal arrangement of the first and the second view; (e) view system means, cooperating with the hierarchy object means, for determining a new second storage area definition in response to user requests to change the first view; and (f) updating means, cooperating with the view system means, for informing the application programs of the new second storage area definition so that the application programs can obtain the storage area definitions and use them to directly store information in the storage areas without overwriting other areas of the screen buffer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein computer system includes a memory and the hierarchy object means includes a tree structure in the memory for storing positional information of the views in corresponding view objects, each view object having data indicating the position of a corresponding view on the display, the hierarchy object means further including means for traversing the tree structure to determine which view corresponds to a predetermined positional coordinate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each view object is associated with one of the application programs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the hierarchical arrangement further includes additional views and wherein the view system means includes first means for determining which of the additional views is lower in the hierarchical arrangement than the second view, and second means, cooperating with the first means, for determining storage area definitions for the additional views.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each view object includes a cache area for holding drawing-related state information and cache status information, indicating whether the state information is invalid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the updating means includes means for setting the cache status information to invalid to indicate that the second view has a new second storage area definition so that application programs can directly store information in the second storage area according to the new second storage area definition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
254 words
A computer-implemented method of displaying a hierarchical arrangement of a first and a second view in which the first view may partially obscure a portion of the second view, leaving a non-obscured visible area of the second view, the method operating on a computer system having a memory, a display, a screen buffer having a first storage area for holding screen information of the first view and a second storage area for holding screen information for the second view visible area, and a display adapter which displays screen information in the screen buffer on the display and comprising the steps of: (a) running a plurality of application programs in order to generate screen information for the first and second views; (b) using the application programs to directly store the screen information generated in step (a) into the screen buffer to display the first view according to a first storage area definition defining a portion of the screen buffer corresponding to the first view and to display the second view according to a second storage area definition corresponding to the second view visible area; (c) creating a hierarchy object in the memory to define the hierarchical arrangement of the first and the second views; (d) in response to a user-request to change the first view, and in cooperation with the hierarchy object, determining a new second storage area definition; and (e) information the application programs of the new second storage area definition so that the application programs can directly store information in the storage areas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
254 words
A computer-implemented method of displaying a hierarchical arrangement of a first and a second view in which the first view may partially obscure a portion of the second view, leaving a non-obscured visible area of the second view, the method operating on a computer system having a memory, a display, a screen buffer having a first storage area for holding screen information of the first view and a second storage area for holding screen information for the second view visible area, and a display adapter which displays screen information in the screen buffer on the display and comprising the steps of: (a) running a plurality of application programs in order to generate screen information for the first and second views; (b) using the application programs to directly store the screen information generated in step (a) into the screen buffer to display the first view according to a first storage area definition defining a portion of the screen buffer corresponding to the first view and to display the second view according to a second storage area definition corresponding to the second view visible area; (c) creating a hierarchy object in the memory to define the hierarchical arrangement of the first and the second views; (d) in response to a user-request to change the first view, and in cooperation with the hierarchy object, determining a new second storage area definition; and (e) information the application programs of the new second storage area definition so that the application programs can directly store information in the storage areas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method as recited in claim 7, including the step of storing positional information of the views in corresponding view objects in the memory, as a tree structure in the hierarchy object, each view object including data indicating the position of a view on the display; and (g) traversing the tree structure to determine which view corresponds to a predefined positional coordinate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 further including the step of: (h) associating each view object with one of the application programs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the hierarchical arrangement further includes additional views and wherein the method further includes the steps of: (i) determining which of the additional views is lower in the hierarchical arrangement than the second view; and (j) determining storage area definitions for the additional views.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 9 wherein each view object includes a cache area and wherein the method further includes the steps of: (k) storing drawing-related state information in the cache area, and (l) storing status information in the cache area, indicating whether the state information is invalid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 11 wherein step (e) further includes the step of: (e.1) setting the status information in the cache area to invalid to indicate that the second view has a new second storage area definition so that application programs can directly store information into the second storage area according to the new second storage area definition.
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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) | 2001-04-06 | 2001-10-06 | 2002-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-06 | 2005-10-06 | 2006-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-06 | 2009-10-06 | 2010-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |