Method and apparatus for expanding and contracting a window panel
US5943053A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0481
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for expanding and contracting a window panel to uncover the panel's content to the user without resize other panels and without reformatting their content, is described. A user chooses a window panel by moving a pointer to that panel. If there is content in that panel not shown to the user, the panel expands to show the entire content. If expansion is not necessary initially, the system waits to see if any actions by the user require expansion. Upon expansion at any stage, portions of neighboring window panels are covered instead of the neighboring panels contracting and reformatting their content. Once the pointer is moved out of a window panel, the panel contracts to its default or original size and the expansion process occurs for a newly entered panel. Also described is the process of determining the maximum expansion size of a window panel and the "rolling out" and "rolling in" characteristic of the expansion and contraction process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.