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US5956032A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Signalling a user attempt to resize a window beyond its limit

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1997-05-21
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Granted: 1999-09-21
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Expires: 2017-05-21
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Abstract

Abstract In a graphical user interface, a method for resizing the windows which visually indicates to the user that an illegal resizing action is attempted. A graphical icon provides an immediately and intuitively perceivable feedback of the forbidden attempt.

Inventors

  • 👤 Andrea Argiolas

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 23:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 125 words
In a graphical user interface for graphically displaying a plurality of windows on a display area, having a cursor movable on the display area via a pointing device, each window having along at least one direction a predetermined maximum and a predetermined minimum size limit, a method for resizing a window, comprising the following steps: associating a part of the border of the window with the cursor; moving that part of the border by moving the cursor on the display area, thereby effecting a change in the size of the windows; responsive to an attempt of moving the border beyond at least one of said limits, emitting a signal to the user to indicate that said predetermined maximum or minimum size limit has been reached.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 125 words
In a graphical user interface for graphically displaying a plurality of windows on a display area, having a cursor movable on the display area via a pointing device, each window having along at least one direction a predetermined maximum and a predetermined minimum size limit, a method for resizing a window, comprising the following steps: associating a part of the border of the window with the cursor; moving that part of the border by moving the cursor on the display area, thereby effecting a change in the size of the windows; responsive to an attempt of moving the border beyond at least one of said limits, emitting a signal to the user to indicate that said predetermined maximum or minimum size limit has been reached.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the signal comprises a visual signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the visual signal imitates a forbidden traffic action.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 2 wherein, responsive to an attempt of moving the border beyond at least one of said limits, the cursor is substituted by the visual signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the signal comprises an acoustic signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said part of the border of the window is any of the sides of the window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said part of the border of the window is any of the corners of the window.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 126 words
In a data processing system, a graphical user interface for displaying on a display area a plurality of windows, each window having along at least one direction a predetermined maximum and a predetermined minimum size limit, the graphical user interface comprising: a cursor movable on the display area; pointing means for moving the cursor on the display area; means for associating a part of the border of a window with the cursor; means for resizing the window by moving the cursor on the desktop; characterized in that it further comprises means, responsive to an attempt of moving the border beyond at least one of said limits, for emitting a signal to the user to indicate that said predetermined maximum or minimum size limit has been reached.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 126 words
In a data processing system, a graphical user interface for displaying on a display area a plurality of windows, each window having along at least one direction a predetermined maximum and a predetermined minimum size limit, the graphical user interface comprising: a cursor movable on the display area; pointing means for moving the cursor on the display area; means for associating a part of the border of a window with the cursor; means for resizing the window by moving the cursor on the desktop; characterized in that it further comprises means, responsive to an attempt of moving the border beyond at least one of said limits, for emitting a signal to the user to indicate that said predetermined maximum or minimum size limit has been reached.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
The user interface of claim 8 wherein the signal comprises a visual signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
The user interface of claim 9 wherein the visual signal imitates a forbidden traffic action.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5237653A Cited
EP0274087A2 Cited
US5227771A Cited
US5821931A Cited
US5487143A Cited
US5621904A Cited
US5649132A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-09-20 2003-03-22 2003-09-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-09-20 2007-03-22 2007-09-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-09-20 2011-03-22 2011-09-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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