Method and apparatus for graphic accessing of multiple software applications
US5463726A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 6, 1994 |
| Grant date | Oct 31, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 6, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0481
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for graphically accessing of multiple simultaneously active software applications within a data processing system having a video display screen having fixed dimensions. An electronic work space is established having dimensions substantially larger than the dimensions of the video display screen. Electronic representations of multiple software applications within viewports or "windows" are then disposed at selected locations within the electronic work space. A movable viewport, having effective dimensions substantially equal to the dimensions of the video display screen, is then utilized to permit the graphic presentation of selected software applications by selectively relocating the viewport within the electronic work space. In one embodiment of the present invention a miniature graphic representation of the electronic work space is provided within the video display screen and iconic representations of the various software applications and the movable viewport are utilized therein to provide an indication of the relative locations of these objects. By selecting various iconic representations of software applications, or by dragging or tracking …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.