US6806892B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Layer viewport for enhanced viewing in layered drawings
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1999-12-20
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Granted: 2004-10-19
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Expires: 2019-12-20
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method, system, and computer readable medium for viewing hidden windows on a display including a plurality of application windows, a portion of at least one application window of the plurality of application windows being obscured. The method, system, and computer readable medium comprise creating a viewport displayed as a topmost application window in response to a user interaction and displaying at least a portion of the at least one application window being obscured in the viewport. Through the use of the present invention a user can simultaneously view information from multiple applications where one or more application windows are partially or wholly covering needed information in an underlying application window. Furthermore, the user will also be able to view application windows that are not directly underneath the primary application window, but are in an inactive state. This will provide the user with the ability to quickly access needed information without having to undergo the time consuming process of resizing, minimizing, or rearranging desktop windows.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory Maurice Plow
- 👤 Farrokh E. Pourmirzaie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the method comprising: a) creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows; b) associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction; c) displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information; and d) capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the method comprising: a) creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows; b) associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction; c) displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information; and d) capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein a third application window obscures the hidden information within the second window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step (c) includes displaying a portion of the hidden information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the creating step (a) includes providing an application viewport tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: (e) relocating the viewport wherein a first portion of the display occupied by the viewport and displaying the hidden information is restored to a normal display of the first application window upon moving the viewport to a second portion of the display that is not contiguous with the first portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the hidden information displayed within the viewport becomes invariant in response to a user interaction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising: (e) relocating the viewport from a first portion of the display to a second portion of the display; and (f) continuing to display the invariant hidden information within the viewport.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the viewport can be resized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the viewport includes a plurality of viewports.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A The method of claim 1 wherein movement of the viewport can be used to scroll information within the second window without making the second window active.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the system comprising: means for creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows; means for associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction; means for displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information; and means for capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the system comprising: means for creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows; means for associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction; means for displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information; and means for capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein a third application window obscures the hidden information within the second window.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the displaying means includes means for displaying a portion of the hidden information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the creating means includes means for providing an application viewport tool.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 11 further comprising: means for relocating the viewport wherein a first portion of the display occupied by the viewport and displaying the hidden information is restored to a normal display of the first application window upon moving the viewport to a second portion of the display that is not contiguous with the first portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the hidden information displayed within the viewport becomes invariant in response to a user interaction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 16 further comprising: means for relocating the viewport from a first portion of the display to a second portion of the display; and means for continuing to display the invariant hidden information within the viewport.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the viewport can be resized.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the viewport includes a plurality of viewports.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 11 wherein movement of the viewport can be used to scroll information within the second window without making the second window active.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer readable medium containing program instructions for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the program instructions which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to execute a method comprising: a) creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows; b) associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction; c) displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information; and d) capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer readable medium containing program instructions for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the program instructions which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to execute a method comprising: a) creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows; b) associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction; c) displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information; and d) capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein a third application window obscures the hidden information within the second window.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the displaying step (c) includes displaying a portion of the hidden information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the creating step (a) includes providing an application viewport tool.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer readable medium of claim 21 further comprising: (e) relocating the viewport wherein a first portion of the display occupied by the viewport and displaying the hidden information is restored to a normal display of the first application window upon moving the viewport to a second portion of the display that is not contiguous with the first portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the hidden information displayed within the viewport becomes invariant in response to a user interaction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer readable medium of claim 26 further comprising: (e) relocating the viewport from a first portion of the display to a second portion of the display; and (f) continuing to display the invariant hidden information within the viewport.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the viewport can be resized.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the viewport includes a plurality of viewports.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein movement of the viewport can be used to scroll information within the second window without making the second window active.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the method comprising: a) creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport includes a minimize all button, and wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows; b) associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction; c) displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information; and d) capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the method comprising: a) creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport includes a minimize all button, and wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows; b) associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction; c) displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information; and d) capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the system comprising: means for creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport includes a minimize all button, and wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows; means for associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction; means for displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information; and means for capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the system comprising: means for creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport includes a minimize all button, and wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows; means for associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction; means for displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information; and means for capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.
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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) | 2007-10-19 | 2008-04-19 | 2008-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-10-19 | 2012-04-19 | 2012-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-10-19 | 2016-04-19 | 2016-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |