Relocatable menu icon for accessing an application in a graphical user interface
US5767850A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 24, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 16, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 24, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0482
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer-implemented method of providing access to a first application in a graphical user interface is described. For a first window having the current focus, a determination is made as to whether the first window is associated with the first application. A menu icon is placed within a title bar of the first window if the first application is not associated with the first window. A menu associated with the first application is provided if the menu icon is selected. A method of proportionate placement of the menu icon when resizing or switching between windows is also described. A computer implemented method of repositioning a menu icon is provided to maintain proportional location of the menu icon when switching from a first application window to a second application window or when forming a second application window by resizing the first application window. A new location, d, for the menu icon is computed from d=l*D/L wherein l represents the length of the second application window title bar, L represents the length of the first application window title bar, and D represents the distance from the menu icon to an end of the first application window title bar. The menu icon is th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.