(12) United States Patent
`Richard
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,781,611 B1
`Aug. 24, 2004
`
`US006781611B1
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Microsoft Window XP Inside Out, pp. 288—290, Copyright
`2001.*
`MS Windows NT, Version 4.0; Copyright 1981—1998.*
`MS Excel 2000, Version 9.0; Copyright 1985—1999.*
`Microsoft Word 2000 (9.0.4402 SR—1).*
`IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, “User Generated Hyper
`text Links”, vol. 36, No. 10, Oct., 1993.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Kristine Kincaid
`Assistant Examiner—Thanh Vu
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—A. Bruce Clay; Hoffman,
`Warick & D’Alessandro, LLC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NAVIGATING
`BETWEEN APPLICATIONS, DOCUMENTS,
`AND FILES
`
`(75) Inventor:
`
`Christian James Richard, Morrisville,
`NC (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: International Business Machines
`Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 419 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/605,641
`(22) Filed:
`Jun. 28, 2000
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ................................................ .. G09G 5/00
`(52) US. Cl. ..................................................... .. 345/779
`(58) Field of Search ............................... .. 345/783, 778,
`345/779, 781
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U'S' PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,265,245 A 11/1993 Nordstmm et a1_ _______ __ 395/600
`5,500,929 A
`3/1996 Dickinson _____________ __ 395 /16()
`5,623,679 A
`4/1997 Rivette et a1. ............ .. 395/773
`5,623,681 A
`4/ 1997 Rivette et al- ------------ -- 395/788
`5,737,560 A
`4/1998 Yohanan - - - - - -
`- - - ~~ 395/349
`2 *
`gf’hgrla? ""
`"""" "
`5,950,214 A
`9/1999 Rivette et a1. ............ .. 707/512
`5,995,103 A * 11/1999 Ashe ........................ .. 345/804
`
`,
`
`,
`
`ie no sene a. ..... ..
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`Auser may easily switch between multiple open windows in
`multiple applications on a computer desktop. Avisual indi
`Gator is provided On an application button- The indicator is
`linked to a list of open windows within an application
`represented by the application button. By interacting with
`the visual indicator, a desired selection from the list of open
`windows can be surfaced. The visual indicator may com
`prise an arrow positioned within the application button.
`Interaction with the visual indicator may comprise position
`ing a pointer of a pointing device over the visual indicator
`on the application button. Auser then clicks and holds on the
`visual indicator with the pointing device. A pop-up menu is
`surfaced containing the list of open windows within the
`application represented by the application button. By releas
`mg the P‘gnnng 36266.0‘? aldes.lre‘l Selecnon Zn th? 11st of
`Open Wm OWS’t e eslre Se ecnon 1S presente tot 6115“
`
`-
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`~
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`-
`
`345/835
`6,072,486 A * 6/2000 Sheldon et al. .
`6,335,745 B1 * 1/2002 Amro et a1. .............. .. 345/835
`
`9 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
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`US 6,781,611 B1
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`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NAVIGATING
`BETWEEN APPLICATIONS, DOCUMENTS,
`AND FILES
`
`2
`FIGS. 2—4 illustrate an eXample of the prior art; and
`FIGS. 5—7 illustrate an embodiment of the present inven
`tion.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates in general to computer software,
`and in particular to an improved method and system for
`navigating betWeen applications, documents and ?les that
`are open on a desktop.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Computer systems are becoming more and more compleX
`all the time. As such, it is not unusual for a user to have more
`than one application, document or ?le open on a desktop at
`any one time. Therefore, if a user has more than one
`application, document or ?le open, it is likely that the user
`Will need to sWitch back and forth betWeen them in order to
`perform various tasks. Currently, When the user Wants to
`sWitch from one application to another and then select one
`of several open WindoWs Within the neW application, it is
`necessary to utiliZe several steps. First the user must select
`the desired application that is open yet not the top and,
`therefore, visible WindoW. Once the desired application is on
`top, the user must click on “Window” from a tool bar. Adrop
`doWn menu Will then appear, alloWing the user to select the
`desired WindoW from the list. Finally, the desired WindoW in
`the desired application is visible for the user to Work With.
`This prior art method is sloW and user intensive. If the
`user is unsure of Whether the desired WindoW is even open,
`there is no Way to ?nd out Without going through all the
`required steps. Therefore, there is a need for an improved
`method and system for navigating betWeen applications,
`documents and ?les that are open on a desktop.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`A method is provided for sWitching betWeen multiple
`open WindoWs in multiple applications on a computer desk
`top. Avisual indicator is provided on at least one application
`button. The indicator is linked to a list of open WindoWs
`Within an application represented by the at least one appli
`cation button. By interacting With the visual indicator, a
`desired selection from the list of open WindoWs can be
`surfaced. The visual indicator may comprise an arroW posi
`tioned Within the application button. Interaction With the
`visual indicator may comprise positioning a pointer of a
`pointing device over the visual indicator on the application
`button. Auser then clicks and holds on the visual indicator
`With the pointing device. A pop-up menu is then surfaced
`containing the list of open WindoWs Within the application
`represented by the application button. By releasing the
`pointing device over a desired selection on the list of open
`WindoWs, the desired selection is presented to the user.
`These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
`present invention Will become better understood With refer
`ence to the folloWing description, appended claims, and
`accompanying draWings.
`
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For a more complete understanding of the present inven
`tion and for further advantages thereof, reference is noW
`made to the folloWing Detailed Description taken in con
`junction With the accompanying draWings, in Which:
`FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a data processing
`system Which may be utiliZed to implement a method and
`system of the present invention;
`
`65
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`Referring to FIG. 1, there is depicted a graphical repre
`sentation of a data processing system 8, Which may be
`utiliZed to implement the present invention. As may be seen,
`data processing system 8 may include a plurality of
`netWorks, such as Local Area NetWorks (LAN) 10 and 32,
`each of Which preferably includes a plurality of individual
`computers 12 and 30, respectively. Of course, those skilled
`in the art Will appreciate that a plurality of Intelligent Work
`Stations (IWS) coupled to a host processor may be utiliZed
`for each such netWork. Each said netWork may also consist
`of a plurality of processors coupled via a communications
`medium, such as shared memory, shared storage, or an
`interconnection netWork. As is common in such data pro
`cessing systems, each individual computer may be coupled
`to a storage device 14 and/or a printer/output device 16 and
`may be provided With a pointing device such as a mouse 17.
`The data processing system 8 may also include multiple
`mainframe computers, such as mainframe computer 18,
`Which may be preferably coupled to LAN 10 by means of
`communications link 22. The mainframe computer 18 may
`also be coupled to a storage device 20 Which may serve as
`remote storage for LAN 10. Similarly, LAN 10 may be
`coupled via communications link 24 through a sub-system
`control unit/communications controller 26 and communica
`tions link 34 to a gateWay server 28. The gateWay server 28
`is preferably an IWS Which serves to link LAN 32 to LAN
`10.
`With respect to LAN 32 and LAN 10, a plurality of
`documents or resource objects may be stored Within storage
`device 20 and controlled by mainframe computer 18, as
`resource manager or library service for the resource objects
`thus stored. Of course, those skilled in the art Will appreciate
`that mainframe computer 18 may be located a great geo
`graphic distance from LAN 10 and similarly, LAN 10 may
`be located a substantial distance from LAN 32. For example,
`LAN 32 may be located in California While LAN 10 may be
`located Within North Carolina and mainframe computer 18
`may be located in NeW York.
`SoftWare program code Which employs the present inven
`tion is typically stored in the memory of a storage device 14
`of a stand alone Workstation or LAN server from Which a
`developer may access the code for distribution purposes, the
`softWare program code may be embodied on any of a variety
`of knoWn media for use With a data processing system such
`as a diskette or CD-ROM or may be distributed to users from
`a memory of one computer system over a netWork of some
`type to other computer systems for use by users of such other
`systems. Such techniques and methods for embodying soft
`Ware code on media and/or distributing softWare code are
`Well-knoWn and Will not be further discussed herein.
`In accordance With the prior art, a user has multiple
`applications and multiple WindoWs therein open on his
`computer desktop 200, as shoWn in FIG. 2. There are, for the
`sake of clarity, only tWo applications (AppA, as identi?ed by
`reference numeral 202; and AppB, as identi?ed by reference
`numeral 204) open on the desktop 200. AppA 202 is
`currently the WindoW With focus, as can be seen by the title
`bar 206. AppA 202 is displaying a WindoW (Untitled) 208.
`Although not shoWn, it is to be understood that there may be
`more than one WindoW open but not in focus in AppA 202.
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`3
`In order for the user to switch between the open applica
`tions in accordance With the prior art, the user must ?rst
`select the desired application. As shoWn in FIG. 3, the user
`has selected AppB 204 by clicking thereon With pointer 210.
`AppB 204, as evidenced by title bar 212, is noW on top and
`in focus With a WindoW (Untitled-A) 230 displayed thereon.
`NoW, if the desired WindoW Within AppB 204 is not
`displayed, the user must select (by clicking With pointer 210
`or any other appropriate manner) “Window” 214 from a
`toolbar 216.
`A drop-doWn menu 218 (see FIG. 4) Will appear With a
`check mark 232 neXt to the displayed WindoW. As shoWn in
`FIG. 4, there are three WindoWs already open (Untitled-A
`WindoW 230, Untitled-B WindoW 234, and Untitled-C Win
`doW 236) in AppB 204. Depending upon the user’s need, the
`appropriate WindoW Will then be selected from the drop
`doWn menu 218 by clicking thereon With the pointer 210.
`Thus, the user Was required to perform three separate steps
`to reach the desired WindoW in the desired application.
`Referring noW to FIGS. 5—7, an eXample is shoWn in
`accordance With the present invention. Continuing the
`example as shoWn above in FIGS. 2—4, the user has tWo
`applications, AppA and AppB (as shoWn by application
`button 502 and application button 504, respectively), open
`on a desktop 500. The current top WindoW is Untitled A506
`of AppA. Unlike the prior art, the application buttons 502
`and 504 are also provided With an arroW 520 and 522,
`respectively, Which Will be subsequently described in greater
`detail. Although not shoWn, it is to be understood that other
`visual indicators could be used besides the arroWs 520 and
`522. If the user Wants to sWitch to another WindoW in another
`application, the present invention provides a quicker, easier
`method than found in the prior art.
`Referring to FIG. 6, the user has clicked and held on the
`arroW 522 (Which serves as a visual indicator that there are
`a plurality of WindoWs open in AppB) of button 504 With a
`pointer 508. By so doing, a pop-up menu 510 appears
`thereon. As in the prior art eXample above, there are three
`WindoWs (Untitled-A 512, Untitled-B 514, and Untitled-C
`516) open Within AppB. The user need only place the pointer
`508 over (thus, highlighting the selection) the desired Win
`doW and release the button on the pointing device (such as
`mouse 17 in FIG. 1).
`As shoWn in FIG. 7, the user had released the pointer over
`Untitled-B 514, thus surfacing the Untitled-B 514 WindoW
`of AppB. Therefore, the user has accomplished in one
`selection movement the same result as in the previously
`described prior art eXample Which required three selection
`movements. The present invention has thus provided a
`quicker, easier method for sWitching betWeen applications,
`WindoWs or ?les.
`Although the present invention has been described With
`respect to a speci?c preferred embodiment thereof, various
`changes and modi?cations may be suggested to one skilled
`in the art and it is intended that the present invention
`encompass such changes and modi?cations as fall Within the
`scope of the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method of sWitching focus betWeen a plurality of
`open WindoWs in a plurality of open applications of Which
`only one of the plurality of open WindoWs in only one of the
`plurality of open applications may have focus at any one
`time on a computer desktop, comprising the steps of:
`simultaneously displaying a ?rst application button cor
`responding to a ?rst open application and a second
`application button corresponding to a second open
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`application on the computer desktop, Wherein the ?rst
`application button and the second application button
`alloW a focus to be sWitched betWeen the ?rst open
`application and the second open application;
`providing a visual indicator on each of the ?rst application
`button and the second application button, Wherein the
`visual indicators are separately selectable from the ?rst
`application button and the second application button,
`and Wherein the visual indicators are linked to lists of
`open WindoWs Within the ?rst open application and the
`second open application; and
`interacting With said visual indicator on said second
`application button to sWitch the focus from a WindoW
`open Within said ?rst open application to another
`WindoW open Within said second application.
`2. The method of claim 1, Wherein said step of providing
`a visual indicator comprises providing an arroW Within said
`?rst application button and said second application button.
`3. The method of claim 1, Wherein said step of interacting
`With said visual indicator comprises the steps of:
`positioning a pointer of a pointing device over said visual
`indicator on said second application button;
`clicking and holding on said visual indicator on said
`second application button With said pointing device;
`surfacing a pop-up menu containing said list of open
`WindoWs Within said second open application; and
`releasing said pointing device over a desired selection on
`said list of open WindoWs.
`4. A system for sWitching focus betWeen a plurality of
`open WindoWs in a plurality of open applications of Which
`only one of the plurality of open WindoWs in only one of the
`plurality of open applications may have focus at any one
`time on a computer desktop, comprising:
`means for simultaneously displaying a ?rst application
`button corresponding to a ?rst open application and a
`second application button corresponding to a second
`open application on the computer desktop, Wherein the
`?rst application button and the second application
`button alloW a focus to be sWitched betWeen the ?rst
`open application and the second open application;
`means for providing a visual indicator on each of the ?rst
`application button and the second application button,
`Wherein the visual indicators are separately selectable
`from the ?rst application button and the second appli
`cation button, and Wherein the visual indicators are
`linked to lists of open WindoWs Within the ?rst open
`application and the second open application; and
`means for interacting With said visual indicator on said
`second application button to sWitch the focus from a
`WindoW open Within said ?rst open application to
`another WindoW open Within said second open appli
`cation.
`5. The system of claim 4, Wherein said means for pro
`viding a visual indicator comprises means for providing an
`arroW Within said ?rst application button and said second
`application button.
`6. The system of claim 4, Wherein said means for inter
`acting With said visual indicator comprises:
`means for positioning a pointer of a pointing device over
`said visual indicator on said second application button;
`means for clicking and holding on said visual indicator on
`said second application button With said pointing
`device;
`means for surfacing a pop-up menu containing said list of
`open WindoWs Within said second open application;
`and
`means for releasing said pointing device over a desired
`selection on said list of open WindoWs.
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`5
`7. A computer program product recorded on computer
`readable medium for switching focus betWeen a plurality of
`open applications of Which only one of the plurality of open
`WindoWs in only one of the plurality of open applications
`may have focus at any one time on a computer desktop,
`comprising:
`computer readable means for simultaneously displaying a
`?rst application button corresponding to a ?rst open
`application and a second application button corre
`sponding to a second open application on the computer
`desktop, Wherein the ?rst application button and the
`second application button alloW a focus to be sWitched
`betWeen the ?rst open application and the second open
`application;
`computer readable means for providing a visual indicator
`on each of the ?rst application button and the second
`application button, Wherein the visual indicators are
`separately selectable from the ?rst application button
`and the second application button, and Wherein the
`visual indicators are linked to lists of open WindoWs
`Within the ?rst open application and the second open
`application; and
`computer readable means for interacting With said visual
`indicator on said second application button to switch
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`the focus from a WindoW open Within said ?rst open
`application to another WindoW open Within said second
`open application.
`8. The program product of claim 7, Wherein said computer
`readable means for providing a visual indicator comprises
`computer readable means for providing an arroW Within said
`?rst application button and said second application button.
`9. The program product of claim 7, Wherein said computer
`readable means for interacting With said visual indicator
`comprises:
`computer readable means for positioning a pointer of a
`pointing device over said visual indicator on said
`second application button;
`computer readable means for clicking and holding on said
`visual indicator on said second application button With
`said pointing device;
`computer readable means for surfacing a pop-up menu
`containing said list of open WindoWs Within said second
`open application; and
`computer readable means for releasing said pointing
`device over a desired selection on said list of open
`WindoWs.
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