USOO834.1541 B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Holecek et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,341,541 B2
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`(54) SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR VISUALLY
`BROWSING OF OPEN WINDOWS
`
`(75) Inventors: Ales Holecek, Bellevue, WA (US);
`Charles W. Stabb, Seattle, WA (US);
`Hist ESEM Stay
`(US); Jeffrey W. Pettiross, Seattle,
`(US); Mark R. Ligameri, Snohomish,
`WA (US); Kanwal VedBrat, Seattle, WA
`(US); Donald J. Lindsay, Mountain
`View, CA (US)
`s
`(73) Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
`(US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 510 days.
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/036,611
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jan. 18, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2006/01 6 1861 A1
`Jul. 20, 2006
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G6F 3/48
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........ 715/782; 715/757; 715/759; 715/766;
`715/767; 715/781: 715/790; 715/793; 715/794;
`715/796; 715/800; 715/802; 715/836; 715/852
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................. 715/766,
`715/782, 757, 759, 790, 800, 802, 794, 836,
`715/852, 781, 793, 796, 767
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner — Doon Chow
`Assistant Examiner — Linh KPham
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Shook, Hardy & Bacon
`LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method referred to as visual window browsing allows a user
`to browse through windows on their desktop. Aspects of the
`invention include responsive to a command, moving open
`windows to form a visual stack with the topmost window in
`the stack being in focus. Responsive to a browse the windows
`in the visual stack can be browsed, where the topmost window
`moves to the bottom of the visual stack and the other windows
`move higher in the Stack, with the second highest window
`becoming the topmost window and being in focus. Successive
`browse commands causes this behavior to repeat allowing a
`user to cycle through each of the open windows.
`
`20 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`208
`
`201
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`US 8,341,541 B2
`Page 2
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`
`-- sys-
`
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`Non-final Office Action mailed Aug. 24, 2006 re U.S. Appl. No.
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`
`* cited by examiner
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`401
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`402
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`403
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`Receive Command to initiate
`visual window browsing
`
`Determine Z-ordering of
`windows for browsing
`
`Display windows in visual
`stack representing Z
`ordering with topmost
`window in focus
`
`
`
`407
`
`405
`
`409
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`
`
`
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`
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`Preview Contents of
`specific window?
`
`Reveal additional Content
`for specified window
`
`
`
`
`
`BOWSe to another
`window
`
`
`
`Determine next Window to
`be in focus
`
`41-1
`
`End browsing and move
`windows to their position
`prior to initiating visual
`browsing keeping the same
`window in focus
`
`415
`
`413
`
`Move next Window to be
`in focus to top of stack,
`move window last in focus
`to bottom of Stack and
`move other windows up in
`Stack
`
`FIG. 4
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`There is therefore a need for a method to allow users to
`quickly scan through open windows one at a time. According
`to one aspect of the invention, open windows can be presented
`in a visual stack representing a Z-ordering of the windows. In
`response, to a browse command, windows can be navigated
`through where each input causes the window at the top of the
`visual stack to move to the bottom of the stack and the remain
`
`1.
`SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR VISUALLY
`BROWSING OF OPEN WINDOWS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`Aspects of the present invention are directed generally to
`window arrangements in an operating system. More particu
`larly, aspects of the present invention are directed to a method
`and system for configuring the open windows in a user inter
`face that will allow a user to readily browse multiple win
`dows.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`As the use of computers in both the workforce and personal
`life has increased, so has the desire to allow for easier use of
`them. Many operating systems today utilize a windows based
`configuration of application programs. Information is dis
`played on a display screen in what appears to be several sheets
`of paper.
`When multiple windows are open at the same time, switch
`ing quickly to the desired window can be difficult. For
`example, the desired window may be partially or fully
`occluded by other open windows. Also, the desired window
`may be minimized or hidden.
`Window selection interfaces have been proposed to mini
`mize the necessity to sort through the various open windows.
`Current versions of the Windows brand operating system by
`Microsoft Corporation include the Alt-Tab key combination,
`Task List and Taskbar, which when selected presents a list of
`open windows in a representation different from the primary
`window. Similar user interfaces exist in MAC OS X brand
`operating system by Apple Computing, Inc. of Cupertino,
`Calif. including Apple-Tab and the Dock in which a list of
`windows in are provided in a representation different from the
`primary window. Each of the aforementioned user interfaces
`restate or reformulate the open windows into a type of list.
`These interfaces however, do not allow the user to view con
`tent of a window without the window being selected.
`Recently, Apple Computing, Inc. introduced Exposé in the
`MAC OS X brand operating system. Exposé provides a user
`with the ability to display all open windows as thumbnails on
`the desktop. In operation, when the user types the F9 key,
`Exposétiles all the open windows. Namely, Exposé scales the
`windows down to a size such that all the open windows are
`displayed in a non-overlapping form. In another aspect,
`Exposé provides a user with the ability to display view all
`open windows in a particular application in a non-overlap
`ping manner. Specifically, when the user types the F10 key,
`Exposé tiles all of the open windows for the current applica
`tionina non-overlapping form while fading to a gray all of the
`open windows associated with other applications.
`While Exposé allows the user to view open windows simul
`taneously, multiple windows are tiled on the screen, which
`can still lead to some confusion. It would be helpful to provide
`an interface which allows a user to Scan quickly through open
`windows, one at a time.
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`2
`ing windows to move up in the Stack with the window previ
`ously second in the visual stack being in focus. Successive
`browse commands causes this behavior to repeat allowing a
`user to cycle through each of the open windows.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The foregoing Summary of the invention, as well as the
`following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is
`better understood when read in conjunction with the accom
`panying drawings, which are included by way of example,
`and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed
`invention.
`FIG. 1A illustrates a schematic diagram of a general-pur
`pose digital computing environment in which certain aspects
`of the present invention may be implemented;
`FIGS. 1B through 1M show a general-purpose computer
`environment Supporting one or more aspects of the present
`invention;
`FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a sequence of display screens to
`describe visual window browsing in accordance with at least
`one aspect of the present invention;
`FIG. 3 illustrates a display screen showing visual window
`browsing in accordance with another aspect of the present
`invention; and
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an illustrative example of a method
`for performing visual window browsing inaccordance with at
`least one aspect of the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is an illustrative display Screen showing a configu
`ration according to another aspect of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`In the following description of various illustrative embodi
`ments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings,
`which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of
`illustration, various embodiments in which the invention may
`be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments
`may be utilized and structural and functional modifications
`may be made without departing from the scope of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a suitable computing sys
`tem environment 100 on which the invention may be imple
`mented. The computing system environment 100 is only one
`example of a Suitable computing environment and is not
`intended to Suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or
`functionality of the invention. Neither should the computing
`system environment 100 be interpreted as having any depen
`dency nor requirement relating to any one or combination of
`components illustrated in the exemplary computing system
`environment 100.
`The invention is operational with numerous other general
`purpose or special purpose computing system environments
`or configurations. Examples of well known computing sys
`tems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suit
`able for use with the invention include, but are not limited to,
`personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop
`devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based sys
`tems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics,
`network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distrib
`uted computing environments that include any of the above
`systems or devices, and the like.
`The invention may be described in the general context of
`computer-executable instructions, such as program modules,
`being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules
`include routines, programs, objects, components, data struc
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`3
`tures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particu
`lar abstract data types. The invention may also be practiced in
`distributed computing environments where tasks are per
`formed by remote processing devices that are linked through
`a communications network. In a distributed computing envi
`ronment, program modules may be located in both local and
`remote computer storage media including memory storage
`devices.
`With reference to FIG. 1A, an exemplary system for imple
`10
`menting the invention includes a general-purpose computing
`device in the form of a computer 110. Components of com
`puter 110 may include, but are not limited to, a processing
`unit 120, a system memory 130, and a system bus 121 that
`couples various system components including the system
`memory to the processing unit 120. The system bus 121 may
`be any of several types of bus structures including a memory
`bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus
`using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of
`example, and not limitation, Such architectures include Indus
`try Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Archi
`tecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Elec
`tronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and
`Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as
`Mezzanine bus.
`Computer 110 typically includes a variety of computer
`readable media. Computer readable media can be any avail
`able media that can be accessed by computer 110 and includes
`both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-re
`30
`movable media. By way of example, and not limitation, com
`puter readable media may comprise computer storage media
`and communication media. Computer storage media includes
`volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable
`media implemented in any method or technology for storage
`of information Such as computer readable instructions, data
`structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage
`media includes, but is not limited to, random access memory
`(RAM), read only memory (ROM), electronically erasable
`programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory
`or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile
`disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,
`magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic Stor
`age devices, or any other medium which can be used to store
`the desired information and which can accessed by computer
`110. Communication media typically embodies computer
`readable instructions, data structures, program modules or
`other data in a modulated data signal Such as a carrier wave or
`other transport mechanism and includes any information
`delivery media. The term “modulated data signal means a
`signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed
`in Such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By
`way of example, and not limitation, communication media
`includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired
`connection, and wireless media Such as acoustic, RF, infrared
`and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the
`above should also be included within the scope of computer
`readable media.
`The system memory 130 includes computer storage media
`in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as
`ROM 131 and RAM 132. A basic input/output system 133
`(BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer
`information between elements within computer 110, such as
`during start-up, is typically stored in ROM 131. RAM 132
`typically contains data and/or program modules that are
`immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on
`by processing unit 120. By way of example, and not limita
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`US 8,341,541 B2
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`tion, FIG. 1A illustrates operating system 134, application
`programs 135, other program modules 136, and program data
`137.
`The computer 110 may also include other removable/non
`removable, Volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By
`way of example only, FIG. 1A illustrates a hard disk drive 141
`that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile mag
`netic media, a magnetic disk drive 151 that reads from or
`writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk 152, and an
`optical disc drive 155that reads from or writes to a removable,
`nonvolatile optical disc 156 such as a CD ROM or other
`optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/
`nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the
`exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited
`to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital ver
`satile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state
`ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive 141 is typically
`connected to the system bus 121 through a non-removable
`memory interface Such as interface 140, and magnetic disk
`drive 151 and optical disc drive 155 are typically connected to
`the system bus 121 by a removable memory interface, such as
`interface 150.
`The drives and their associated computer storage media
`discussed above and illustrated in FIG.1A, provide storage of
`computer readable instructions, data structures, program
`modules and other data for the computer 110. In FIG. 1A, for
`example, hard disk drive 141 is illustrated as storing operating
`system 144, application programs 145, other program mod
`ules 146, and program data 147. Note that these components
`can either be the same as or different from operating system
`134, application programs 135, other program modules 136,
`and program data 137. Operating system 144, application
`programs 145, other program modules 146, and program data
`147 are given different numbers here to illustrate that, at a
`minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter com
`mands and information into the computer 110 through input
`devices Such as a digital camera 163, a keyboard 162, and
`pointing device 161, commonly referred to as a mouse, track
`ball or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may
`include a pen, stylus and tablet, microphone, joystick, game
`pad, satellite dish, Scanner, or the like. These and other input
`devices are often connected to the processing unit 120
`through a user input interface 160 that is coupled to the
`system bus 121, but may be connected by other interface and
`bus structures. Such as a parallel port, game port or a universal
`serial bus (USB). A monitor 191 or other type of display
`device is also connected to the system bus 121 via an inter
`face, such as a video interface 190. In addition to the monitor,
`computers may also include other peripheral output devices
`such as speakers 197 and printer 196, which may be con
`nected through an output peripheral interface 195.
`The computer 110 may operate in a networked environ
`ment using logical connections to one or more remote com
`puters, such as a remote computer 180. The remote computer
`180 may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network
`PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typi
`cally includes many or all of the elements described above
`relative to the computer 110, although only a memory storage
`device 181 has been illustrated in FIG. 1A. The logical con
`nections depicted in FIG. 1A include a local area network
`(LAN) 171 and a wide area network (WAN) 173, but may also
`include other networks. Such networking environments are
`commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks,
`intranets and the Internet.
`When used in a LAN networking environment, the com
`puter 110 is connected to the LAN 171 through a network
`interface or adapter 170. When used in a WAN networking
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`5
`environment, the computer 110 typically includes a modem
`172 or other means for establishing communications over the
`WAN 173, such as the Internet. The modem 172, which may
`be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus
`121 via the user input interface 160, or other appropriate
`mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules
`depicted relative to the computer 110, or portions thereof,
`may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way
`of example, and not limitation, FIG. 1A illustrates remote
`application programs 185 as residing on memory device 181.
`It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are
`exemplary and other means of establishing a communications
`link between the computers may be used.
`It will be appreciated that the network connections shown
`are exemplary and other means of establishing a communi
`cations link between the computers can be used. The exist
`ence of any of various well-known protocols such as TCP/IP.
`Ethernet, FTP, HTTP and the like is presumed, and the system
`can be operated in a client-server configuration to permit a
`user to retrieve web pages from a web-based server. Any of
`various conventional web browsers can be used to display and
`manipulate data on web pages.
`A programming interface (or more simply, interface) may
`be viewed as any mechanism, process, protocol for enabling
`one or more segment(s) of code to communicate with or
`access the functionality provided by one or more other seg
`ment(s) of code. Alternatively, a programming interface may
`be viewed as one or more mechanism(s), method(s), function
`call(s), module(s), object(s), etc. of a component of a system
`capable of communicative coupling to one or more mecha
`nism(s), method(s), function call(s), module(s), etc. of other
`component(s). The term “segment of code” in the preceding
`sentence is intended to include one or more instructions or
`lines of code, and includes, e.g., code modules, objects, Sub
`routines, functions, and so on, regardless of the terminology
`35
`applied or whether the code segments are separately com
`piled, or whether the code segments are provided as source,
`intermediate, or object code, whether the code segments are
`utilized in a runtime system or process, or whether they are
`located on the same or different machines or distributed
`across multiple machines, or whether the functionality rep
`resented by the segments of code are implemented wholly in
`software, wholly in hardware, or a combination of hardware
`and Software.
`Notionally, a programming interface may be viewed
`generically, as shown in FIG. 1B or FIG. 1C. FIG. 1B illus
`trates an interface Interface1 as a conduit through which first
`and second code segments communicate. FIG. 1C illustrates
`an interface as comprising interface objects I1 and I2 (which
`may or may not be part of the first and second code segments),
`which enable first and second code segments of a system to
`communicate via medium M. In the view of FIG.1C, one may
`consider interface objects I1 and I2 as separate interfaces of
`the same systemandone may also consider that objects I1 and
`I2 plus medium M comprise the interface. Although FIGS. 1B
`and 1C show bi-directional flow and interfaces on each side of
`the flow, certain implementations may only have information
`flow in one direction (or no information flow as descr