US6590594B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Window scroll-bar
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1999-03-25
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Granted: 2003-07-08
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Expires: 2019-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A method, system, and program product for generating a window scroll-bar. In the preferred embodiment, a controller displays the window scroll-bar on a display screen. The window scroll-bar contains sections associated with respective windows on the display. The window scroll-bar also contains a slider, which moves within a section and between sections. As the slider moves within a particular section, the window associated with that section moves on the display toward the nearest boundary of the display. Thus, by moving the window scroll-bar slider, the user can move overlapping windows out of the way and find the window of interest.
Inventors
- 👤 Cary Lee Bates
- 👤 Paul Reuben Day
- 👤 Jeffrey Michael Ryan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 05:21
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/14; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0485; G06F3/04855
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for generating a window scroll-bar, comprising: displaying the window scroll-bar on a display, wherein the window scroll-bar comprises a plurality of sections associated with a plurality of respective windows on the display; displaying a slider within the window scroll-bar; and as the slider moves across a section boundary into a section, incrementally fading into view a respective window associated with the section on the display responsive to the motion of the slider through a range near the section boundary.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for generating a window scroll-bar, comprising: displaying the window scroll-bar on a display, wherein the window scroll-bar comprises a plurality of sections associated with a plurality of respective windows on the display; displaying a slider within the window scroll-bar; and as the slider moves across a section boundary into a section, incrementally fading into view a respective window associated with the section on the display responsive to the motion of the slider through a range near the section boundary.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the slider moves in response to user input.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sections comprise a color of the respective, associated window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sections comprise a title of the respective, associated window.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sections comprise an icon of the respective, associated window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of displaying the window scroll-bar further comprises: ordering the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by last use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of displaying the window scroll-bar comprises: ordering the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by most use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step displaying the window scroll-bar further comprises: ordering the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by most use weighted by last use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of displaying the window scroll-bar further comprises: ordering the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by time since activation of the respective, associated window.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of displaying the window scroll-bar further comprises: ordering the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by user choice.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of displaying the window scroll-bar further comprises: creating a size of each of the plurality of sections, wherein the section size is proportional to use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of displaying the window scroll-bar further comprises: changing a z-order of the plurality of windows to match the order of the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus that generates a window scroll-bar, comprising: a processor; memory coupled to the processor; a controller residing in the memory and executing on the processor, wherein the controller displays the window scroll-bar on a display, wherein the window scroll-bar comprises a plurality of sections associated with a plurality of respective windows on the display, and wherein the controller displays a slider within the window scroll-bar, wherein as the slider moves across a section boundary into a section, the controller incrementally fades into view a respective window associated with the section responsive to the motion of the slider through a range near the section boundary.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus that generates a window scroll-bar, comprising: a processor; memory coupled to the processor; a controller residing in the memory and executing on the processor, wherein the controller displays the window scroll-bar on a display, wherein the window scroll-bar comprises a plurality of sections associated with a plurality of respective windows on the display, and wherein the controller displays a slider within the window scroll-bar, wherein as the slider moves across a section boundary into a section, the controller incrementally fades into view a respective window associated with the section responsive to the motion of the slider through a range near the section boundary.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the slider moves in response to user input.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sections comprise a color of the respective, associated window.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sections comprise a title of the respective, associated window.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sections comprise an icon of the respective, associated window.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller further orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by last use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller further orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by most use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller further orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by most use weighted by last use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller further orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by time since activation of the respective, associated window.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller further orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by user choice.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller further creates a size of each of the plurality of sections, wherein the section size is proportional to use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller further changes a z-order of the plurality of windows to match the order of the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
89 words
A program product, comprising: a controller that displays a window scroll-bar on a display, wherein the window scroll-bar comprises a plurality of sections associated with a plurality of respective windows on the display, and wherein the controller displays a slider within the window scroll-bar, wherein as the slider moves across a section boundary into a section, the controller incrementally fades into view a respective window associated with the section responsive to the motion of the slider through a range near the section boundary; and signal-bearing media bearing the controller.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
89 words
A program product, comprising: a controller that displays a window scroll-bar on a display, wherein the window scroll-bar comprises a plurality of sections associated with a plurality of respective windows on the display, and wherein the controller displays a slider within the window scroll-bar, wherein as the slider moves across a section boundary into a section, the controller incrementally fades into view a respective window associated with the section responsive to the motion of the slider through a range near the section boundary; and signal-bearing media bearing the controller.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the slider moves in response to user input.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of sections comprise a color of the respective, associated window.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of sections comprise a title of the respective, associated window.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of sections comprise an icon of the respective, associated window.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the controller further orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by last use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the controller further orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by most use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the controller further orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by most use weighted by last use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the controller further orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by time since activation of the respective, associated window.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the controller further orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by user choice.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the controller further creates a size of each of the plurality of sections, wherein the section size is proportional to use of the respective, associated window.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the controller further changes a z-order of the plurality of windows to match the order of the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
48 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein as the slider moves across a section boundary out of the section, the controller incrementally fades out of view the respective window associated with the section responsive to the motion of the slider through a range near the section boundary.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
43 words
The program product of claim 25 , wherein the controller further calculates a percentage of the slider that is in the section, and wherein the controller bases a number of pixels displayed within the respective window on the slider percentage within the section.
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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) | 2006-07-07 | 2007-01-06 | 2007-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-07 | 2011-01-06 | 2011-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-07 | 2015-01-06 | 2015-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |