US6002397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Window hatches in graphical user interface
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-09-30
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Granted: 1999-12-14
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Expires: 2017-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A window hatch is created in a displayed window. Once the hatch is created, a portion of the displayed window delimited by the hatch disappears, revealing the window underneath. Multiple invocations of the hatch operation bore through lower, underlying windows until the desired window is reached. Thus, portions of the desired underlying window show through the window hatch, while the top window remains in view. The window hatch can be adjusted in size and shape. The underlying window can be repositioned so that the desired information shows through the hatch. Various navigation and information cues are available to assist the user in understanding the relationship of the various windows and correctly positioning the window hatch.
Inventors
- 👤 William Jaaskelainen, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:50
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/14; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for creating window hatches in a windowing interface on a computer display, comprising the steps of: entering a window hatch creation mode; responsive to user definition of an area in an overlying window, identifying the user defined area within the overlying window in the interface as a window hatch; changing a display mode of the window hatch within the overlying window and a number of intervening window, thus creating a corresponding number of window hatches with a shared border so that a portion of an underlying window is displayed through the window hatch; and simultaneously adjusting the window hatches responsive to manipulation of the shared border.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for creating window hatches in a windowing interface on a computer display, comprising the steps of: entering a window hatch creation mode; responsive to user definition of an area in an overlying window, identifying the user defined area within the overlying window in the interface as a window hatch; changing a display mode of the window hatch within the overlying window and a number of intervening window, thus creating a corresponding number of window hatches with a shared border so that a portion of an underlying window is displayed through the window hatch; and simultaneously adjusting the window hatches responsive to manipulation of the shared border.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: prompting the user for a number of window hatches to be created at the coordinates of the user defined area within a corresponding number of windows; and responsive to user entry of a number of window hatches to be created, creating the entered number of window hatches through a corresponding number of windows at the user defined area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the simultaneous adjustment of the window hatches is responsive to manipulation of a shared border of the window hatches by a pointing device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of repositioning the underlying window so that a different portion of the underlying window is displayed through the window hatch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of adjusting borders of the window hatch thereby changing dimensions of the window hatch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user defines the window hatch by clicking a button at least two different locations of a pointer icon in the overlying window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the adjustment of the window hatch is responsive to manipulation of the border by a pointing device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of changing a magnification size of the underlying window to change the displayed portion of the underlying window through the window hatch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: responsive to entry into the window hatch creation mode, assigning different colors to a plurality of overlapping windows in the interface; and redisplaying the overlapping windows according to the assigned colors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the steps of: displaying the overlapping windows in a translucent state; and displaying overlapping portions of the overlapping windows according to color blend rules for the assigned colors of the overlapping windows.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
114 words
A system for creating window hatches in a windowing interface, including processor, memory, input devices and a display, comprising: means responsive to user input within an overlying window for identifying a user defined area within the overlying window in the interface; means for creating a number of window hatches at the user defined area in the overlying window and a number of intervening windows, the window hatches having a shared border; means for changing a display mode of the window hatch within the overlying window so that a portion of an underlying window is displayed through the window hatch; and means for simultaneously adjusting the window hatches responsive to manipulation of the shared border.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
114 words
A system for creating window hatches in a windowing interface, including processor, memory, input devices and a display, comprising: means responsive to user input within an overlying window for identifying a user defined area within the overlying window in the interface; means for creating a number of window hatches at the user defined area in the overlying window and a number of intervening windows, the window hatches having a shared border; means for changing a display mode of the window hatch within the overlying window so that a portion of an underlying window is displayed through the window hatch; and means for simultaneously adjusting the window hatches responsive to manipulation of the shared border.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising means responsive to user input for creating a number of window hatches through a corresponding number of windows at the user defined area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising means for repositioning the underlying window so that a different portion of the underlying window is displayed through the window hatch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising means for adjusting borders of the window hatch thereby changing dimensions of the window hatch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the user defined area is a rectangle having opposing corners selected by movement of a pointer icon in the overlying window.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising means for changing a magnification size of the underlying window to change the displayed portion of the underlying window through the window hatch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising: means for assigning different colors in a window hatch creation mode to a plurality of overlapping windows in the interface; and means for redisplaying the overlapping windows according to the assigned colors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system as recited in claim 17 further comprising: means for selectively displaying the overlapping windows in a translucent state; and means for displaying overlapping portions of the overlapping windows according to color blend rules for the assigned colors of the overlapping windows.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising means for moving the window in which the window hatch is defined so that the portion of the windowing interface displayed through the window hatch changes with the movement of the window.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising: means for fixing the position of the window hatch in the windowing interface; and means for moving the overlying window in which the window hatch is defined so that the portion of the windowing interface displayed through the window hatch remains constant as the window hatch position within the moving overlying window in which the window hatch is defined changes with movement of the window.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising: means for fixing the portion of the windowing interface displayed through the window hatch; and means for moving the overlying window in which the window hatch is defined so that the portion of the windowing interface displayed through the window hatch remains constant as the window hatch position within the moving overlying window also remains constant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer program product in a computer readable medium for creating window hatches in a windowing interface comprising: means responsive to user input within an overlying window for identifying a user defined area within the overlying window in the interface; means for creating a number of window hatches at the user defined area in the overlying window and a number of intervening windows, the window hatches having a shared border; means for changing a display mode of the window hatch within the overlying window so that a portion of an underlying window is displayed through the window hatch; and means for simultaneously adjusting the window hatches responsive to manipulation of the shared border.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer program product in a computer readable medium for creating window hatches in a windowing interface comprising: means responsive to user input within an overlying window for identifying a user defined area within the overlying window in the interface; means for creating a number of window hatches at the user defined area in the overlying window and a number of intervening windows, the window hatches having a shared border; means for changing a display mode of the window hatch within the overlying window so that a portion of an underlying window is displayed through the window hatch; and means for simultaneously adjusting the window hatches responsive to manipulation of the shared border.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The product as recited in claim 22 further comprising means responsive to user input for creating a number of window hatches through a corresponding number of windows at the user defined area.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The product as recited in claim 22 further comprising means for repositioning the underlying window so that a different portion of the underlying window is displayed through the window hatch.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The product as recited in claim 22 further comprising means for adjusting borders of the window hatch thereby changing dimensions of the the window hatch.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The product as recited in claim 22 further comprising means for changing a magnification size of the underlying window to change the displayed portion of the underlying window through the window hatch.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as recited in claim 22 further comprising: means for assigning temporary navigation cues to a plurality of overlapping windows in the interface; and means for displaying at least one temporary navigation cue.
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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) | 2002-12-13 | 2003-06-14 | 2003-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-13 | 2007-06-14 | 2007-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-13 | 2011-06-14 | 2011-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |