Patent US5859640A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5859640A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for warning a user that feedback has been provided in a graphical user interface
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-12-21
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Granted: 1999-01-12
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Expires: 2016-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A graphical user interface (GUI) for a data processing system which allows to monitor the feedbacks from the processes in execution through a window representation. Such GUI comprises means for warning the user that a feedback is received from one of the processes in an unobtrusive way. This avoids to the user to be obliged to suspend the current activities in order to handle the feedback message.
Inventors
- 👤 Dario de Judicibus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:27
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A data processing system comprising a graphic user interface for managing output representation of a plurality of processes in corresponding different windows on a display screen, only one of the windows being currently active at any particular time, the other windows being currently inactive at said particular time, characterized by further comprising: warning means for graphically warning a user that a feedback has been provided by a process corresponding to a currently inactive window, without making the currently active window inactive, said warning means including a warning object displayed on the display screen and having an OFF state and an ON state, said warning object being in said ON state when said process has provided said feedback and being in said OFF state when said process has provided no feedback that is not already known to the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A data processing system comprising a graphic user interface for managing output representation of a plurality of processes in corresponding different windows on a display screen, only one of the windows being currently active at any particular time, the other windows being currently inactive at said particular time, characterized by further comprising: warning means for graphically warning a user that a feedback has been provided by a process corresponding to a currently inactive window, without making the currently active window inactive, said warning means including a warning object displayed on the display screen and having an OFF state and an ON state, said warning object being in said ON state when said process has provided said feedback and being in said OFF state when said process has provided no feedback that is not already known to the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A data processing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the warning is displayed in a fixed position on the screen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A data processing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the warning object is associated with an area displayable at user's request and containing the feedback.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A data processing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the warning object includes an area containing the feedback.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A data processing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the warning object has at least two different ON states, corresponding to different alert statuses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A data processing system as claimed in claim 5 wherein one of the ON states is blinking.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
Method for operating a data processing system, provided with a graphic user interface that includes a plurality of different windows on a display screen, each said window providing output representation for a different process, only one of the windows being currently active at any particular time and the other windows being currently inactive at said particular time, comprising the step of: displaying on the display screen a warning object for graphically warning a user that a feedback has been provided by a process corresponding to an inactive window, without making the currently active window inactive wherein the warning object has an OFF state and an ON state, said warning object being in said ON state when said process has provided said feedback and being in said OFF state when said process has provided no feedback that is not already known to the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
Method for operating a data processing system, provided with a graphic user interface that includes a plurality of different windows on a display screen, each said window providing output representation for a different process, only one of the windows being currently active at any particular time and the other windows being currently inactive at said particular time, comprising the step of: displaying on the display screen a warning object for graphically warning a user that a feedback has been provided by a process corresponding to an inactive window, without making the currently active window inactive wherein the warning object has an OFF state and an ON state, said warning object being in said ON state when said process has provided said feedback and being in said OFF state when said process has provided no feedback that is not already known to the user.
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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) | 2002-01-11 | 2002-07-13 | 2003-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-11 | 2006-07-13 | 2007-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-11 | 2010-07-13 | 2011-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |