Patent · US Expired

Individually configurable panel user interface with selective launching, sticky windows, hot keys, start up options and configurable background

US5790120A · kind A · utility

116Cited by
9References
38Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 12, 1996
Grant dateAug 4, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 12, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F9/45512
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A user interface has a mini-program window display means, a launch selection area display means and an activating means. The mini-program window display means displays a plurality of mini-program windows within a first panel interface. Each mini-program window has a first background pattern. Each mini-program window represents a virtual computing screen. Mini-windows shown in the mini-program windows each represent an application window displayed in the represented virtual computing screen. The launch selection area display means displays a plurality of application launch selection areas within a second panel interface. The activating means activates an application process associated with a first application launch selection area in a first virtual computing screen represented by a first mini-program window in response to a user indicating a selection of the first application launch selection area from the application launch selection areas and the selection of the first mini-program window from the plurality of mini-program windows.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.