US5880725A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer user interface having tiled and overlapped window areas
Assignee: Altera Corp
•
Filing: 1996-08-05
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Granted: 1999-03-09
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Expires: 2016-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for managing the display of multiple windows in a computer user interface in an efficient manner. Two separate window areas are allocated in a display area. A first area is an overlapped window area where windows may overlap each other. A second area is a tiled window area where windows may not overlap each other. User interface controls are provided to allow the user to designate a displayed window as tiled or overlapped and the designated window is moved from area to area, accordingly. Windows in either area may be resized and repositioned, although with some restrictions in the tiled area. The computer system automatically adjusts window and area sizes within predefined limits.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy James Southgate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:04
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/14; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0485
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A computer-implemented method of displaying overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising the steps of: displaying a first window in an overlapped area on the display screen; displaying a second window in a tiled area on the display screen while the first window is displayed in the overlapped area on the display screen; and adding a third window to one of the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen, the first and third windows being displayed overlapped if the third window is added to the overlapped area, and the second and third windows being displayed tiled if the third window is added to the tiled area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer-implemented method of displaying overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising the steps of: displaying a first window in an overlapped area on the display screen; displaying a second window in a tiled area on the display screen while the first window is displayed in the overlapped area on the display screen; and adding a third window to one of the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen, the first and third windows being displayed overlapped if the third window is added to the overlapped area, and the second and third windows being displayed tiled if the third window is added to the tiled area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: accepting user input to select a window in the overlapped area to move to the tiled area on the display screen; and tiling the selected window in the tiled area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of allowing a user to drag the selected window from the overlapped area to the tiled area on the display screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of displaying a tile button in the selected window which causes the selected window to be moved to the tiled area when activated by the user input.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of allowing a user to access a menu to move the selected window from the tiled area to the tiled area on the display screen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the overlapped area includes a plurality of cascaded windows.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
126 words
A computer-implemented method of displaying overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising the steps of: displaying a first window in an overlapped area on the display screen; displaying a second window in a tiled area on the display screen while the first window is displayed in the overlapped area on the display screen; adding a third window to one of the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen, the first and third windows being displayed overlapped if the third window is added to the overlapped area, and the second and third windows being displayed tiled if the third window is added to the tiled area; and accepting user input to move a boundary between the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
126 words
A computer-implemented method of displaying overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising the steps of: displaying a first window in an overlapped area on the display screen; displaying a second window in a tiled area on the display screen while the first window is displayed in the overlapped area on the display screen; adding a third window to one of the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen, the first and third windows being displayed overlapped if the third window is added to the overlapped area, and the second and third windows being displayed tiled if the third window is added to the tiled area; and accepting user input to move a boundary between the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of enlarging windows in the tiled area when moving the boundary increases the size of the tiled area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of enlarging windows closer to their natural dimensions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of reducing open space between windows in the tiled area when moving the boundary decreases the size of the tiled area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of shrinking windows in the tiled area when moving the boundary decreases the size of the tiled area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
128 words
A computer-implemented method of displaying overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising the steps of: displaying a first window in an overlapped area on the display screen; displaying a second window in a tiled area on the display screen while the first window is displayed in the overlapped area on the display screen; adding a third window to one of the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen, the first and third windows being displayed overlapped if the third window is added to the overlapped area, and the second and third windows being displayed tiled if the third window is added to the tiled area; and accepting user input to move a border of a selected window in the tiled area on the display screen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
128 words
A computer-implemented method of displaying overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising the steps of: displaying a first window in an overlapped area on the display screen; displaying a second window in a tiled area on the display screen while the first window is displayed in the overlapped area on the display screen; adding a third window to one of the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen, the first and third windows being displayed overlapped if the third window is added to the overlapped area, and the second and third windows being displayed tiled if the third window is added to the tiled area; and accepting user input to move a border of a selected window in the tiled area on the display screen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of reducing open space between windows in the tiled area when moving the border increases the size of the selected window.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of shrinking windows in the tiled area when moving the border increases the size of the selected window.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
129 words
A computer system that displays overlapped and tiled windows, comprising: a processor; a user input device; a display screen; a computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising: computer code that displays a first window in an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that displays a second window in a tiled area on the display screen while the first window is displayed in the overlapped area on the display screen; and computer code that adds a third window to one of the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen, the first and third windows being displayed overlapped if the third window is added to the overlapped area, and the second and third windows being displayed tiled if the third window is added to the tiled area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
129 words
A computer system that displays overlapped and tiled windows, comprising: a processor; a user input device; a display screen; a computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising: computer code that displays a first window in an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that displays a second window in a tiled area on the display screen while the first window is displayed in the overlapped area on the display screen; and computer code that adds a third window to one of the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen, the first and third windows being displayed overlapped if the third window is added to the overlapped area, and the second and third windows being displayed tiled if the third window is added to the tiled area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 15, further comprising: computer code that accepts user input to select a window in the overlapped area to move to the tiled area on the display screen; and computer code that tiles the selected window in the tiled area.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 16, further comprising computer code that allows a user to drag the selected window from the overlapped area to the tiled area on the display screen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 16, further comprising computer code that displays a tile button in the selected window which causes the selected window to be moved to the tiled area when activated by the user input.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 16, further comprising computer code that allows a user to access a menu to move the selected window from the tiled area to the tiled area on the display screen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of disk, tape or memory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the overlapped area includes a plurality of cascaded windows.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the computer program is selected from the group consisting of an operating system and an application program.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
81 words
A computer program product that displays overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising: computer code that allocates an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that allocates a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; computer code that restricts windows in the overlapped area to being displayed overlapped and restricts windows in the tiled area to being displayed tiled; and a computer readable medium that stores the computer codes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
81 words
A computer program product that displays overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising: computer code that allocates an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that allocates a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; computer code that restricts windows in the overlapped area to being displayed overlapped and restricts windows in the tiled area to being displayed tiled; and a computer readable medium that stores the computer codes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising: computer code that accepts user input to select a window in one of the overlapped and tiled areas; and computer code that moves the selected window to the other of the overlapped and tiled areas, the selected window being displayed overlapped if in the overlapped area and tiled if in the tiled area.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of disk, tape or memory.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the overlapped area includes a plurality of cascaded windows.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer-implemented method of displaying overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising the steps of: allocating an overlapped area on the display screen; allocating a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; displaying a button in a window in the overlapped area; and moving the window from the overlapped area to the tiled area when the button is activated by a user.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer-implemented method of displaying overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising the steps of: allocating an overlapped area on the display screen; allocating a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; displaying a button in a window in the overlapped area; and moving the window from the overlapped area to the tiled area when the button is activated by a user.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
92 words
A computer program product that displays overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising: computer code that allocates an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that allocates a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; computer code that displays a button in a window in the overlapped area; computer code that moves the window from the overlapped area to the tiled area when the button is activated by a user; and a computer readable medium that stores the computer codes.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
92 words
A computer program product that displays overlapped and tiled windows on a display screen, comprising: computer code that allocates an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that allocates a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; computer code that displays a button in a window in the overlapped area; computer code that moves the window from the overlapped area to the tiled area when the button is activated by a user; and a computer readable medium that stores the computer codes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer system that displays overlapped and tiled windows, comprising: a processor; a user input device; a display screen; a computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising: computer code that allocates an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that allocates a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; computer code that displays a button in a window in the overlapped area; and computer code that moves the window from the overlapped area to the tiled area when the button is activated by a user.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer system that displays overlapped and tiled windows, comprising: a processor; a user input device; a display screen; a computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising: computer code that allocates an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that allocates a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; computer code that displays a button in a window in the overlapped area; and computer code that moves the window from the overlapped area to the tiled area when the button is activated by a user.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
116 words
A computer system that displays overlapped and tiled windows, comprising: a processor; a user input device; a display screen; a computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising: computer code that allocates an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that allocates a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; computer code that displays a button in a window in the overlapped area; computer code that moves the window from the overlapped area to the tiled area when the button is activated by a user; and computer code that accepts user input to move a boundary between the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
116 words
A computer system that displays overlapped and tiled windows, comprising: a processor; a user input device; a display screen; a computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising: computer code that allocates an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that allocates a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; computer code that displays a button in a window in the overlapped area; computer code that moves the window from the overlapped area to the tiled area when the button is activated by a user; and computer code that accepts user input to move a boundary between the overlapped and tiled areas on the display screen.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 30, further comprising computer code that enlarges widows in the tiled area when moving the boundary increases the size of the tiled area.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 31, further comprising computer code that enlarges widows closer to their natural dimensions.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 30, further comprising computer code that reduces open space between windows in the tiled area when moving the boundary decreases the size of the tiled area.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 30, further comprising computer code that shrinks windows in the tiled area when moving the boundary decreases the size of the tiled area.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer system that displays overlapped and tiled windows, a processor; a user input device; a display screen; a computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising: computer code that allocates an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that allocates a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; computer code that displays a button in a window in the overlapped area; computer code that moves the window from the overlapped area to the tiled area when the button is activated by a user; and computer code that accepts user input to move a border of a selected window in the tiled area on the display screen.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer system that displays overlapped and tiled windows, a processor; a user input device; a display screen; a computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising: computer code that allocates an overlapped area on the display screen; computer code that allocates a tiled area on the display screen, the display screen including the overlapped and tiled areas simultaneously; computer code that displays a button in a window in the overlapped area; computer code that moves the window from the overlapped area to the tiled area when the button is activated by a user; and computer code that accepts user input to move a border of a selected window in the tiled area on the display screen.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 35, further comprising computer code that reduces open space between windows in the tiled area when moving the border increases the size of the selected window.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 35, further comprising computer code that shrinks windows in the tiled area when moving the border increases the size of the selected window.
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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) | 2002-03-08 | 2002-09-07 | 2003-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-08 | 2006-09-07 | 2007-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-08 | 2010-09-07 | 2011-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |