US5923307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Logical monitor configuration in a multiple monitor environment
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1997-01-27
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Granted: 1999-07-13
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Expires: 2017-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A computer system arranges multiple monitors in logical space to form a contiguous and non-overlapping region by determining relative positions in logical space for the monitor spaces, comparing the relative positions of the monitor spaces, and positioning the monitor spaces in logical space based on a result of the comparing. The comparing and positioning may be performed upon initialization of the computer system, or automatically in response to a geometry change (e.g., add/remove/move monitor, change monitor characteristics), or both. Following a monitor geometry change, windows or other graphic objects appearing in the monitor spaces may be positioned as needed to maintain a robust virtual desktop environment.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis M. Hogle, IV
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06F3/1423; G06F3/1446; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489; G06F3/04897; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A method, performed by a computer system, of arranging monitors in logical space, the method comprising: determining relative positions in logical space for a plurality of monitor spaces; comparing the relative positions of the monitor spaces; and positioning the monitor spaces in logical space based on a result of the comparing to form a contiguous and non-overlapping region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
58 words
A method, performed by a computer system, of arranging monitors in logical space, the method comprising: determining relative positions in logical space for a plurality of monitor spaces; comparing the relative positions of the monitor spaces; and positioning the monitor spaces in logical space based on a result of the comparing to form a contiguous and non-overlapping region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the determining, comparing and positioning are performed upon initialization of the computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the determining, comparing and positioning are performed automatically in response to a geometry change for one or more of the monitor spaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the geometry change comprises adding a monitor space to the computer system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the geometry change comprises removing a monitor space from the computer system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the geometry change comprises changing a characteristic of a monitor space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the changed monitor space characteristic comprises a resolution parameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing comprises iteratively comparing the position of each monitor space against every other monitor space.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing comprises determining whether any two monitor spaces overlap one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing comprises determining whether gaps exist between the monitor spaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the positioning comprises placing a monitor space at a constrained location in logical space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising choosing the constrained location such that it enhances efficiency in an operating system of the computer system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the constrained location comprises a boundary aligned at a predetermined number of units in logical space.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the positioning comprises moving the monitor spaces inward in logical space to remove gaps between monitor spaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the positioning comprises moving the monitor spaces outward in logical space until no monitor space overlaps any other monitor space.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the positioning further comprises moving the monitor spaces inward in logical space to remove gaps between monitor spaces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing comprises comparing the respective positions of two monitor spaces relative to a predetermined location, and the positioning comprises moving one of the two monitor spaces based on a relationship between the predetermined location and the position of the monitor space to be moved.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined location comprises a center of a virtual desktop.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the one of the two monitor spaces that has a center point farther from the predetermined location is moved.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the monitor space is moved outward in logical space.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing comprises determining whether a horizontal overlap exists between two monitor spaces.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing comprises determining whether a vertical overlap exists between two monitor spaces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing comprises determining whether one monitor space contains the center of another monitor space.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing comprises determining whether two monitor spaces are closer to being horizontally aligned or closer to being vertically aligned.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
65 words
A method, performed on a computer system, of managing the display of a graphic object positioned within a logical display space that comprises a plurality of monitor spaces, the method comprising: sensing a geometry change within the display space; recording a position for each of the monitor spaces that forms the logical display space; and manipulating the graphic object in response to the geometry change.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
65 words
A method, performed on a computer system, of managing the display of a graphic object positioned within a logical display space that comprises a plurality of monitor spaces, the method comprising: sensing a geometry change within the display space; recording a position for each of the monitor spaces that forms the logical display space; and manipulating the graphic object in response to the geometry change.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the recording comprises saving coordinate values in a data structure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the geometry change comprises an addition or a removal of a monitor space.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the geometry change comprises a change in a monitor space characteristic.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the geometry change comprises a change in position in logical space of a monitor space.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the geometry change comprises a change of shape in the display space.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the geometry change comprises a change of orientation of the display space.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the manipulating comprises moving the graphic object in logical space to compensate for the change in orientation of the display space.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the logical display space comprises a contiguous, non-overlapping virtual desktop.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the manipulating comprises moving the graphic object in logical space.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the moving comprises repositioning the graphic object in logical space relative to the display space.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the manipulating comprises moving the graphic object in logical space such that the graphic object remains in a same location relative to a monitor space.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the geometry change comprises a removal of a monitor space and the manipulating comprises moving the graphic object to a different monitor space.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer program, residing on a computer readable medium, for arranging a plurality of monitor spaces in logical space, the computer program comprising instructions to: (a) select a monitor space from among the plurality of monitor spaces; (b) compare a position in logical space of the monitor space selected in (a) with another monitor space; (c) move one of the two chosen monitor spaces based on a result of (b); (d) repeat (b) and (c) until the monitor space selected in (a) does not overlap any other monitor space; and (e) repeat (a), (b), (c) and (d) until no monitor space overlaps any other monitor space.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer program, residing on a computer readable medium, for arranging a plurality of monitor spaces in logical space, the computer program comprising instructions to: (a) select a monitor space from among the plurality of monitor spaces; (b) compare a position in logical space of the monitor space selected in (a) with another monitor space; (c) move one of the two chosen monitor spaces based on a result of (b); (d) repeat (b) and (c) until the monitor space selected in (a) does not overlap any other monitor space; and (e) repeat (a), (b), (c) and (d) until no monitor space overlaps any other monitor space.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer program of claim 38 wherein one of the two monitor spaces is moved in (c) if the comparison in (b) determines that an overlap exists between the monitor spaces.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer program of claim 38 wherein one of the two monitor spaces is moved outward in logical space in (c).
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer program of claim 38 wherein one of the two monitor spaces that has a center point farther from a predetermined location is moved outward in logical space in (c).
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
109 words
The computer program of claim 38 further comprising instructions to: (f) select a monitor space from among the plurality of monitor spaces; (g) designate the chosen monitor space as belonging to a known group and the unchosen monitor space or spaces as belonging to a unknown group; (h) select a monitor space from the unknown group based on a relationship between the selected monitor space and the known group; (i) move the monitor space selected in (h) in logical space; (j) designate the monitor space selected in (h) as belonging to the known group; and (k) repeat (h), (i) and (j) until the monitor spaces form a contiguous region.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program of claim 42 wherein (h) comprises instructions to deselect a monitor space if it would overlap any other monitor space in the unknown group upon being moved.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer program of claim 42 wherein a monitor space closest to a predetermined location is selected in (f).
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer program of claim 44 wherein the predetermined location comprises a center of a virtual desktop.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer program of claim 42 wherein (i) comprises instructions to move the monitor space selected in (h) to a position in logical space at which that monitor space is contiguous with a monitor space in the known group.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer program of claim 42 wherein the monitor space is moved horizontally or vertically in (i).
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer program of claim 42 wherein successive iterations of (i) cause the monitor spaces to move towards each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-12 | 2003-01-11 | 2003-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-12 | 2007-01-11 | 2007-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-12 | 2011-01-11 | 2011-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |