U.S. patent application number 13/194291 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-17 for method and apparatus for controlling a display of a data processing system.
Invention is credited to Imran Chaudhri, Bas Ording.
Application Number | 20110283225 13/194291 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39874430 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110283225 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chaudhri; Imran ; et
al. |
November 17, 2011 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A DISPLAY OF A DATA PROCESSING
SYSTEM
Abstract
Method and apparatus for controlling a display of a data
processing system. According to one embodiment of the invention, a
method of controlling a display of a data processing system
includes: displaying a first list as a scrollable view of items in
a first mode; receiving an input to switch from the first mode to a
second mode; and displaying, in the second mode, a representation
of a command which when activated causes a display of a second list
of the items. The first list is displayed within a window and the
representation is displayed within the window. According to another
embodiment of the invention, a method of controlling a display of a
data processing system includes: displaying, in a first mode, a
slider control having a slider which can be positioned in one of a
plurality of positions to select a corresponding one of a plurality
of parameters; receiving an input to switch from the first mode to
a second mode; and displaying, in the second mode, a representation
of a command which when activated causes a display of a list of
items corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of
parameters.
Inventors: |
Chaudhri; Imran; (San
Francisco, CA) ; Ording; Bas; (San Francisco,
CA) |
Family ID: |
39874430 |
Appl. No.: |
13/194291 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11643228 |
Dec 20, 2006 |
7992101 |
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13194291 |
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10101302 |
Mar 18, 2002 |
7444599 |
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11643228 |
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60364995 |
Mar 14, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/786 ;
715/784 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0485
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/786 ;
715/784 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/048 20060101
G06F003/048 |
Claims
1. A method of controlling a display of a data processing system,
said method comprising: displaying a first list as a scrollable
view of items in a first mode; receiving an input to switch from
said first mode to a second mode wherein said input is selecting a
displayed button; and displaying, in said second mode, a
representation of a command that replaces the first list, wherein
the representation of the command when activated causes a display
of a second list of said items which are the same items that are in
the first list; wherein said first list is displayed within a first
region in the first mode and said representation is displayed
within said first region in the second mode, and wherein the second
list of the items includes the same layout as the first list of the
items.
2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the representation of the command
is a button.
3. A method as in claim 2 wherein said first region has buttons for
closing the region, minimizing the region and maximizing the
region.
4. A method as in claim 3 wherein the first region contains a
plurality of scrollable views in the first mode.
5. A method as in claim 2 wherein the scrollable view of said items
is a scrollable list view of said items.
6. A method as in claim 5 wherein the scrollable list view contains
at least one of: a) scroll arrows; and b) scroll bar for scrolling
the first list.
7. A method as in claim 1 wherein the second list is
scrollable.
8. A method of controlling a display of a data processing system,
said method comprising: displaying, in a first mode, a slider
control having a slider which can be positioned in one of a
plurality of positions to select a corresponding one of a plurality
of parameters in a first window; receiving an input to switch from
said first mode to a second mode wherein said input is determined
from selecting a displayed button; displaying, in said second mode,
a representation of a command that replaces the slider control in
the first window, wherein the representation of the command, when
activated, causes a display of a list of items corresponding to at
least a subset of said plurality of parameters that have been
displayed in the first window in the first mode.
9. A method as in claim 8 wherein the representation of the command
is a button.
10. A method as in claim 8 wherein content of the plurality of
positions matches corresponding ones of said items.
11. A method as in claim 8 wherein the first window has buttons for
closing the window, minimizing the window and maximizing the
window.
12. A computer readable medium storing executable computer program
instructions which when executed by a digital processing system
cause said system to perform operations comprising: displaying a
first list as a scrollable view of items in a first mode; receiving
an input to switch from said first mode to a second mode wherein
said input is selecting a displayed button; and displaying, in said
second mode, a representation of a command that replaces the first
list, wherein the representation of the command when activated
causes a display of a second list of said items which are the same
items that are in the first list; wherein said first list is
displayed within a first region in the first mode and said
representation is displayed within said first region in the second
mode, and wherein the second list of the items includes the same
layout as the first list of the items.
13. A medium as in claim 12 wherein the representation of the
command is a button.
14. A medium as in claim 12 wherein said first region has buttons
for closing the region, minimizing the region and maximizing the
region.
15. A medium as in claim 14 wherein the first region contains a
plurality of scrollable views in the first mode.
16. A medium as in claim 2 wherein the scrollable view of said
items is a scrollable list view of said items.
17. A medium as in claim 16 wherein the scrollable list view
contains at least one of: a) scroll arrows; and b) scroll bar for
scrolling the first list.
18. A medium as in claim 12 wherein the second list is
scrollable.
19. A computer readable medium storing executable computer program
instructions which when executed by a digital processing system
cause said system to perform operations comprising: displaying, in
a first mode, a slider control having a slider which can be
positioned in one of a plurality of positions to select a
corresponding one of a plurality of parameters in a first window;
receiving an input to switch from said first mode to a second mode
wherein said input is determined from selecting a displayed button;
displaying, in said second mode, a representation of a command that
replaces the slider control in the first window, wherein the
representation of the command, when activated, causes a display of
a list of items corresponding to at least a subset of said
plurality of parameters that have been displayed in the first
window in the first mode.
20. A medium as in claim 19 wherein the representation of the
command is a button.
21. A medium as in claim 19 wherein content of the plurality of
positions matches corresponding ones of said items.
22. A medium as in claim 19 wherein the first window has buttons
for closing the window, minimizing the window and maximizing the
window.
23. A data processing system comprising: means for displaying a
first list as a scrollable view of items in a first mode; means for
receiving an input to switch from said first mode to a second mode
wherein said input is selecting a displayed button; and means for
displaying, in said second mode, a representation of a command that
replaces the first list, wherein the representation of the command
when activated causes a display of a second list of said items
which are the same items that are in the first list; wherein said
first list is displayed within a first region in the first mode and
said representation is displayed within said first region in the
second mode, and wherein the second list of the items includes the
same layout as the first list of the items.
24. A data processing system as in claim 23 wherein the
representation of the command is a button.
25. A data processing system as in claim 23 wherein said first
region has buttons for closing the region, minimizing the region
and maximizing the region.
26. A data processing system as in claim 23 wherein the first
region contains a plurality of scrollable views in the first
mode.
27. A data processing system as in claim 23 wherein the scrollable
view of said items is a scrollable list view of said items.
28. A data processing system as in claim 27 wherein the scrollable
list view contains at least one of: a) scroll arrows; and b) scroll
bar for scrolling the first list.
29. A data processing system as in claim 23 wherein the second list
is scrollable.
30. A data processing system to control a display, said data
processing system comprising: means for displaying, in a first
mode, a slider control having a slider which can be positioned in
one of a plurality of positions to select a corresponding one of a
plurality of parameters in a first window; means for receiving an
input to switch from said first mode to a second mode wherein said
input is determined from selecting a displayed button; means for
displaying, in said second mode, a representation of a command that
replaces the slider control in the first window, wherein the
representation of the command, when activated, causes a display of
a list of items corresponding to at least a subset of said
plurality of parameters that have been displayed in the first
window in the first mode.
31. A data processing system as in claim 30 wherein the
representation of the command is a button.
32. A data processing system as in claim 30 wherein content of the
plurality of positions matches corresponding ones of said
items.
33. A data processing system as in claim 30 wherein the first
window has buttons for closing the window, minimizing the window
and maximizing the window.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/643,228, filed on Dec. 20, 2006, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/101,302, filed
on Mar. 18, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,444,599. This application
also claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional
Application No. 60/364,995, filed Mar. 14, 2002, and entitled
"Method and Apparatus for Controlling a Display of a Data
Processing System" by inventors Imran Chaudhri and Bas Ording,
Attorney Docket No. 04860.P2774Z.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to digital processing systems, and
more particularly to Graphical User Interfaces (GUI).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A typical Graphical User Interface (GUI) includes a number
of GUI components (e.g., icons, labels, push buttons, radio
buttons, checkboxes, combination boxes or combo boxes, pop-up
menus, pop-down menus, menu bars, tool bars, text entries, text
areas, canvas panels, sliders, and others) contained within a
window. A user may want to reduce the size of the window to make
room for other windows, or enlarge the window to have a large area
for displaying detailed information in the window. When the window
containing these GUI components is resized, the layout of the GUI
components within the window is typically changed in order to
accommodate the new size of the window.
[0004] FIGS. 2-4 show a prior art method of rearranging buttons
when the window containing the buttons is resized. In FIG. 2,
window 200 contains buttons 211-216 and canvas panels 203 and 205
for displaying information. Canvas panel 203 contains information
that cannot be entirely fit into panel 203. Thus, a scroll control
201 is provided for a user to view different portions of the
information displayed in canvas panel 203.
[0005] A user may drag an edge of the window to size it. For
example, a user may drag near point 201, where the cursor changes
its shape to indicate dragging is causing the window to change its
width. When the size of the window is reduced, the buttons are
rearranged. In FIG. 3, the width of the window is reduced when
compared to that in FIG. 2. Since the sizes of the buttons 211-216
are fixed, only buttons 211-214 can be displayed above canvas
panels 203 and 205. Thus, buttons 215-216 are hidden. Icon 305 is
displayed to indicate that some of the buttons are hidden, which
can be accessed by selecting it (positioning a cursor over icon 305
and pressing a button such as a mouse's button). The widths of
canvas panels 205 and 203 are resized so that canvas panels 205 and
203 can be displayed within the window. When the width of canvas
303 is not large enough to display the information in it, a scroll
bar 303 is provided for navigation purposes.
[0006] The user may further adjust the width by dragging near point
301. When the window is reduced to a width as shown in FIG. 4, only
buttons 211-213 are visible above canvas 203. Canvas 205 is hidden,
since there is not enough space for it. Canvas 205 is displayed
only when the window has a large enough space for it. When the user
presses icon 405 with cursor 403 (e.g., pressing a button of a
mouse when the cursor 403 is located above icon 405), a menu 401 is
shown in a separate window, displaying buttons 411, 413, and 415.
Buttons 411-415, corresponding to buttons 214-216, are normally
hidden when the window is resized to a width as shown in FIG. 4.
When icon 405 is pressed, buttons 411-415 are displayed so that the
user may press one of them.
[0007] Thus, when a window containing a number of GUI components is
resized, the layout of GUI components within the window is
typically changed to accommodate the size of the window.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Methods and apparatuses for controlling a display of a data
processing system are described here.
[0009] According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a
method of controlling a display of a data processing system
includes: displaying a first list as a scrollable view of items in
a first mode; receiving an input to switch from the first mode to a
second mode; and displaying, in the second mode, a representation
of a command which when activated causes a display of a second list
of the items. The first list is displayed within a window and the
representation is displayed within the window. The window may
include buttons for closing the window, minimizing the window and
maximizing the window. The window may contain a plurality of
scrollable views in the first mode. The scrollable view of the
items may be a scrollable list view of the items. The scrollable
list view contains at least one of: a) scroll arrows; and b) scroll
bar for scrolling the first list in one example. In another example
according to this aspect, the representation of the command is a
button; and the first and second lists have the same content. In
another example according to this aspect, the input includes
dragging a portion of the window which contains the scrollable
view; and the window shrinks to a minimal predetermined size
independently of a drag length when the drag length causes the
window to reach a predetermined size. In another example according
to this aspect, the input is clicking a button. The second list is
displayed within a movable window. The second list may be also
scrollable.
[0010] According to another embodiment of the invention, a method
of controlling a display of a data processing system includes:
displaying, in a first mode, a slider control having a slider which
can be positioned in one of a plurality of positions to select a
corresponding one of a plurality of parameters; receiving an input
to switch from the first mode to a second mode; and displaying, in
the second mode, a representation of a command which when activated
causes a display of a list of items corresponding to at least a
subset of the plurality of parameters. In one example according to
this aspect, the representation of the command is a button. The
content of the plurality of positions matches corresponding ones of
the items. The input may be determined from dragging a portion of a
window containing the slider. In another example according to this
aspect, the input is determined from clicking a button. The slider
control is displayed within a movable window; and the
representation is displayed within the movable window in the second
mode.
[0011] According to a further embodiment of the invention, a method
to display a control in a graphical user interface includes:
determining whether the control is in a first mode or in a second
mode, the control having first information and second information,
the first information identifying the control, the second
information describing the control; displaying the control as a
first type of user interface in a first window showing both the
first information and the second information, when the control is
in the first mode; displaying the control as a second type of user
interface in the first window showing the first information and not
showing the second information, when the control is in the second
mode; and displaying the second information in a second window in
response to receiving input to the control when the control is in
the second mode. In one example according to this aspect, the
second information describes optional states for the control; a
layout of the second information in the second window is
substantially the same as a layout of the second information in the
first window. To display the second information the first type of
user interface uses one of: a) a selection list; b) a checkbox set;
c) a radio button group; d) a slider; e) a text area; and f) a
canvas. The second window is one of: a) a popup window; b) a
pulldown window; and c) a dialog window. The second type of user
interface is displayed in a smaller area in the first window than
the first type of user interface; and the control is in the second
mode when an area allocated for the control is smaller than a
critical size.
[0012] According to a further embodiment of the invention, a method
to display a graphical user interface (GUI) includes: determining
whether a first window is in a first mode or in a second mode; when
the first window is in the first mode: displaying detailed
information of a first GUI component of the first window in a first
scrollable area of the first GUI component in the first window;
when the first window is in the second mode: displaying the first
GUI component without showing the detailed information in the first
window; and displaying the detailed information in a second window
in response to receiving input which requires the detailed
information be displayed. In one example of the according to this
aspect, first input is received to resize the first window; and
whether the first window is in the first mode or in the second mode
depends on a size of the first window. The first input comprises
input dragging a portion of the first window. When a second GUI
component of the first window is smaller than a critical size, the
first window is in the first mode. In another example, when the
first GUI component is smaller than a critical size, the first
window is in the first mode. When the first window is in the second
mode and the detailed information is displayed, the detailed
information is displayed in a second scrollable area in the second
window. The detailed information is a list of options. The second
window is a top level window. A layout of the detailed information
in the first scrollable area is substantially the same as a layout
of the detailed information in the second window. In one example,
the first window automatically reduces to a size large enough to
accommodate all GUI components of the first window.
[0013] According to a further embodiment of the invention, a method
to display a graphical user interface (GUI) includes: determining a
size of a first GUI component of a first window, the first GUI
component having detailed information; when the first GUI component
is in a first size, displaying the detailed information in the
first window; when the first GUI component is in a second size,
displaying the detailed information in the first window; when the
first GUI component is in a third size, displaying the first GUI
component without showing the detailed information in the first
window and displaying the detailed information in a second window
in response to receiving input to the first GUI component. When the
GUI component is changed from the first size to the second size,
the area occupied by the detailed information changes. In one
example according to this aspect, a representation of the detailed
information is scaled to display the detailed information in the
first window. The detailed information is displayed in a scrollable
area in the first window. The first GUI component automatically
reduces to the third size when an area allocated for the first GUI
component in the first window is smaller than a critical size; and
the first window automatically reduces to a size large enough to
contain all GUI components of the first window after automatically
reducing the first GUI component to the third size.
[0014] The present invention includes apparatuses which perform
these methods, including data processing systems which perform
these methods and computer readable media which when executed on
data processing systems cause the systems to perform these
methods.
[0015] Other features of the present invention will be apparent
from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description
which follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and
not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which
like references indicate similar elements.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram example of a data processing
system which may be used with the present invention.
[0018] FIGS. 2-4 show a prior art method of rearranging
buttons.
[0019] FIGS. 5-8 show examples of switching between a normal mode
and a mini mode for a graphical user interface according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIGS. 9-12 show alternative user interfaces for a normal
mode and a mini mode according to alternative embodiments of the
present invention.
[0021] FIG. 13 shows user interface components which may be used in
a mini mode according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 14 shows examples of switching from a normal mode to a
mini mode for various user interface components according to
various embodiments of the present invention.
[0023] FIGS. 15-17 show flow chart examples of methods to switch
user interface components between a normal mode and a mini mode
according to various embodiments of the present invention.
[0024] FIGS. 18-19 show examples of scrollable views which may be
used with the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 20 shows an example of scaling a representation of
displayed information according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The following description and drawings are illustrative of
the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the
invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a
thorough understanding of the present invention. However, in
certain instances, well known or conventional details are not
described in order to avoid obscuring the description of the
present invention.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows one example of a typical computer system which
may be used with the present invention. Note that while FIG. 1
illustrates various components of a computer system, it is not
intended to represent any particular architecture or manner of
interconnecting the components as such details are not germane to
the present invention. It will also be appreciated that network
computers and other data processing systems which have fewer
components or perhaps more components may also be used with the
present invention. The computer system of FIG. 1 may, for example,
be an Apple Macintosh computer.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the computer system 101, which is a form
of a data processing system, includes a bus 102 which is coupled to
a microprocessor 103 and a ROM 107 and volatile RAM 105 and a
non-volatile memory 106. The microprocessor 103, which may be a G3
or G4 microprocessor from Motorola, Inc. or IBM is coupled to cache
memory 104 as shown in the example of FIG. 1. The bus 102
interconnects these various components together and also
interconnects these components 103, 107, 105, and 106 to a display
controller and display device 108 and to peripheral devices such as
input/output (I/O) devices which may be mice, keyboards, modems,
network interfaces, printers, scanners, video cameras, microphones
and other devices which are well known in the art. Typically, the
input/output devices 110 are coupled to the system through
input/output controllers 109. The volatile RAM 105 is typically
implemented as dynamic RAM (DRAM) which requires power continually
in order to refresh or maintain the data in the memory. The
non-volatile memory 106 is typically a magnetic hard drive or a
magnetic optical drive or an optical drive or a DVD RAM or other
type of memory systems which maintain data even after power is
removed from the system. Typically, the non-volatile memory will
also be a random access memory although this is not required. While
FIG. 1 shows that the non-volatile memory is a local device coupled
directly to the rest of the components in the data processing
system, it will be appreciated that the present invention may
utilize a non-volatile memory which is remote from the system, such
as a network storage device which is coupled to the data processing
system through a network interface such as a modem or Ethernet
interface. The bus 102 may include one or more buses connected to
each other through various bridges, controllers and/or adapters as
is well known in the art. In one embodiment the I/O controller 109
includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus) adapter for controlling USB
peripherals.
[0029] It will be apparent from this description that aspects of
the present invention may be embodied, at least in part, in
software. That is, the techniques may be carried out in a computer
system or other data processing system in response to its
processor, such as a microprocessor, executing sequences of
instructions contained in a memory, such as ROM 107, volatile RAM
105, non-volatile memory 106, cache 104 or a remote storage device.
In various embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used in
combination with software instructions to implement the present
invention. Thus, the techniques are not limited to any specific
combination of hardware circuitry and software nor to any
particular source for the instructions executed by the data
processing system. In addition, throughout this description,
various functions and operations are described as being performed
by or caused by software code to simplify description. However,
those skilled in the art will recognize what is meant by such
expressions is that the functions result from execution of the code
by a processor, such as the microprocessor 103.
[0030] At least one embodiment of the present invention seeks to
utilize GUI components with different modes such that the GUI
components can be displayed and accessed differently in different
modes. When a window is large enough to display detailed
information effectively, a GUI component displays the detailed
information in a normal mode; when the window is resized such that
the detailed information cannot be effectively displayed in a small
area, the GUI component enters a mini mode, in which the detailed
information is hidden. However, the GUI component is still
displayed in the mini mode with essential information about the GUI
component so that a user can easily access the detailed information
when needed.
[0031] FIGS. 18-19 show examples of scrollable views which may be
used with the present invention. FIG. 18 shows examples of
scrollable list views. When a list is displayed in scrollable list
view 1801, which is large enough to make all the items visible
simultaneously, blank space 1803 may be used to fill up the
remaining space. When the view is resized, the blank space may be
enlarged or reduced; however, the area for displaying the list
remains the same, since the size of each item normally is
fixed.
[0032] When the scrollable list view is resized to view 1811, only
a portion of the list is visible simultaneously in view 1811. Thus,
a scroll bar 1813 appears so that other portions of the list can be
brought into view 1811. Since invisible items 1815-1817 are all
bellow the bottom of view 1811 and the top portion of the entire
list is visible in view 1811, thumb 1813 is at the top of the
slider. When thumb 1813 is moved down to a position 1823 in view
1821, the list scrolled up so that item 1829 becomes invisible and
item 1815 becomes visible. Items 1826 and 1827 are still invisible.
When thumb 1823 is moved further down to the bottom (1833) of the
slider, the bottom portion of the list is visible in view 1831; the
top portion of list (items 1827-1829) becomes invisible. Typically,
the scrollable list view scrolls the list one item at a time,
although it may scroll several at a time. The list may be scrolled
with a scroll bar, or arrows (e.g., pressing arrow 1851 or 1852),
or other means (e.g., up and down arrows on a keyboard). For
example, a cursor may be placed near (or above) area 1841 to scroll
down a list and near (or below) area 1843 to scroll up the
list.
[0033] FIG. 19 shows examples of scrollable views, which can be
scrolled continuously and smoothly. When the width of view 1901 is
resized to that of view 1911, scroll bar 1913 appears to allow
horizontal scrolling. When the height of view 1911 is resized to
that of view 1921, scroll bar 1925 appears to allow vertical
scrolling, in addition to scroll bar 1923 for horizontal scrolling.
When thumbs 1933 and 1935 are moved to positions in view 1931 from
view 1921, a different portion of the detailed information (which
is shown entirely in view 1901) becomes visible in view 1931.
[0034] FIG. 20 shows an example of scaling a representation of
displayed information according to one embodiment of the present
invention. View 2001 displays labels (or text entries) 2007 and
2009 and slider 2003. The value displayed in label 2007 (or 2009)
corresponds to the minimum (or the maximum) value for the slider
when the thumb 2002 is at the top (or the bottom) position of the
slider. From the position of thumb 2002 and the maximum and minimum
values displayed on labels 2007 and 2009, the slider determines the
current value for display on label 2005. Thumb 2002 can be moved
along slider 2003 to change the current value. When view 2001 is
resized to view 2011, slider 2013 and thumb 2012 are resized so
that all components can be visible within view 2011. When view 2011
is further resized to view 2021, the sizes of slider 2023 and thumb
2022 are further reduced. When view 2021 is further resized to view
2031, the size of slider 2033 is reduced; and no thumb is visible.
In view 2031 (as well as in views 2001, 2011, 2021), scroll arrows
(2037 and 2039) can be use to scroll.
[0035] FIGS. 5-8 show examples of switching between a normal mode
and a mini mode for a graphical user interface according to one
embodiment of the present invention. Window 500 provides a user
interface for setting font attributes (e.g., font family, type,
size). Labels 511, 513, 515 and 517 indicate the attributes that a
user may adjust. Selection lists 508, 507, 506 and 505 display the
optional parameters for corresponding attributes. A user can select
a value from a list to set the corresponding attribute to the
selected value. Since the list of parameters is too large to fit
into display area 505, a scroll bar 521 is provided. Arrows 527 and
525 can be used to scroll the list up and down when pressed; and
thumb 523 can be moved along the scroll control 521 to scroll the
list. For example, when the user wants to set the font size to 24,
which is not currently visible in display area 505, the user can
press arrow 527, or pull down thumb 523 (toward arrow 527), to
scroll up the list so that options for size larger than 18 can be
brought into display area 505. Once the desirable parameter is in
display area 505, the user can select it.
[0036] The user can drag the portion 501 with cursor 503 to resize
window 500. When it is resized as window 600 in FIG. 6, labels
511-517 remains on top of selection lists 608, 607, 606 and 605.
Since the height of the window is changed, the heights of selection
lists 608, 607, 606 and 605 are adjusted accordingly so that all
GUI components can be displayed within window 600. In window 500,
all options for font type (515) can be fitted in display area 506.
However, after changing from window 500 to window 600, not all
options for font type can be fitted into display area 606. Thus,
scroll bar 615 appears to help the user to navigate through the
list of options when necessary. In FIG. 6 (or FIG. 5), the GUI
components are in a normal mode, where detailed options are shown
in selection lists below the labels.
[0037] In addition to optional icon buttons 611, 613 and 615 for
closing the window, minimizing the window, and maximizing the
window respectively, window 600 has an optional button 601 for
switch from the normal mode to a mini mode. Alternatively, the user
can further reduce the size of the window by dragging with cursor
603 to switch from the normal mode to the mini mode. In another
embodiment of the present invention, window 600 does not have
button 601 for switching mode; and mode switching occurs only when
the window is resized (via a dragging operation) to have a height
smaller than a predetermined value. In an alternative embodiment of
the present invention, a toggle button is located inside area 620
for mode switching (instead of icon button 601 on title bar
630).
[0038] Once in the mini mode (e.g., FIG. 7 or FIG. 8), the options
lists are displayed as combination boxes (combo boxes) or pop-up
menus. Selection lists 605-608 in the normal mode are converted
into combo boxes (or pop-up menus) 705-708 in the mini mode. In a
combo box, a user can select an item from a pop-up menu, or
directly typing in a desirable value (e.g., combo box 705 for
inputting a size); in a pop-up menu, a user can only select one
from a predetermined list of values (e.g., pop-up menu 706). For
example, when the user uses cursor 803 to select area 807 (e.g.,
pressing a button with cursor 803 on area 807, or stopping cursor
803 on area 807), a scrollable pop-up menu 805 appears. Since the
area for the menu is not large enough to display all options
simultaneously, a scroll bar appears in the pop-up menu 805 in one
embodiment of the invention. Note that a scrollable pop-up menu
might not in some cases have a scroll control. Various techniques
(e.g., scrolling when a cursor is on (or outside) the boundary of
an area, or when an arrow is pressed) for scrolling can be use with
a scrollable view (e.g., scrollable list, scrollable menu, canvas,
text area).
[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, once the user
drags with cursor 603 in FIG. 6 to reduce the height of window 600
to that of window 700 (or to some predetermined size), mode
switching occurs. In one example, the window automatically further
reduces the height to that of window 800, which is a minimum size
required for containing all components in the mini mode (rather
than stopping at the point at which the user completes the dragging
operation which shrinks the window). FIG. 7 shows an example of a
window which was reduced in size by, for example, a dragging
operation, yet the window was not automatically reduced to a
minimum size as is shown in FIG. 8. With the embodiment which
automatically reduces the size to a minimum size, the system would
further reduce the size to the minimum size without any further
instruction from the user. Once a window reaches the minimum size
required for containing all components in the mini mode, the window
is not normally further reduced. Any attempt to drag the window to
a size smaller than the minimum size will be ignored.
Alternatively, a drag of a length longer than a predetermined value
minimizes the window into an icon.
[0040] In another embodiment of the present invention, when
optional icon button 601 is pressed, window 600 in the normal mode
is switched into window 700 in the mini mode. When icon button 701
is pressed, window 700 in the mini mode is switched back to window
600. In one example, a window remembers the size of the window in
the normal mode such that it can be switched back from the mini
mode to the previous state in the normal mode. In another example,
mode switch buttons (e.g., 801, 701 and 601) change the mode and
resize the window to predetermined sizes by toggling between the
two modes/sizes.
[0041] FIGS. 9-12 show alternative user interfaces for a normal
mode and a mini mode according to alternative embodiments of the
present invention. FIG. 9 shows an example where the components in
a mini mode are displayed as buttons. When in a mini mode, lists
605-608 (in FIG. 6) with corresponding labels are converted into
buttons 905-908, which when activated display the corresponding
selection lists in popup windows. For example, when cursor 1001 is
over button 907 in FIG. 10 (or otherwise selects button 907),
pop-up menu 1001 appears with scroll control 1003 for the user to
select a desirable menu. These buttons in the mini mode may bring
up a combo box, a pop-up menu, a slider, a dialog box, or others in
a separate popup window (or, top level window), which may be
movable, in order to display the detailed information that is
normally hidden in the mini mode. Typically, the layout of the
detailed information in the popup window is the same or very
similar to that in the normal mode such that the user can easily
identify the contents in the popup window. For example, the
arrangement in a row of the buttons 905-908 matches the arrangement
in a row of the lists 605-608.
[0042] Window 1100 in FIG. 11 shows slider 1113 for setting font
size 1111. When thumb 1115 moves along slider 1113, a font size is
determined from the position of thumb 1115. After the user drags
with cursor 1103 to resize window 1100 to window 1200, the heights
of selection lists 1106-1108 are reduced to form selection lists
1206-1208. Slider 1113 is resized to slider 1213; and thumb 1115 is
resized into thumb 1215. The user can further drag with cursor 1203
to switch from window 1200 in the normal mode to window 900 (in
FIG. 9) a mini mode. On the other hand, the user can also drag with
cursor 903 to increase the size of window 900 in order to switch
back to the normal mode (e.g., window 1200).
[0043] In FIG. 9, button 911 is provided in the window in the mini
mode. When "pushed" (e.g., a user selects the button by positioning
the cursor over the button and pressing a button such as a mouse's
button), button 911 causes window 900 to return to the normal mode
(e.g., window 1100 in FIG. 11 or window 600 in FIG. 6), where
buttons 905-908 will be expanded into selection lists for easy
access. Similarly, a window in a normal mode may also have a mode
switching button for entering into a mini mode.
[0044] In the mini mode, window 1000 takes a minimum area for
display of GUI components for accessing the controls represented by
the corresponding GUI components, leaving more room for showing
other windows. Once button 911 is activated, it switches the window
into a normal mode, for example, window 1100. In window 1100,
options lists are displayed in scrollable areas (or as slider
1113). Thus, a user can easily see available options; and detailed
option lists can be seen for different controls at the same time. A
user can access one control easily in a mini mode with a minimum
desktop space; and a user can work with multiple controls more
effectively when the window is in a normal mode. Thus, switching
between a mini mode and a normal mode allows a user to use the user
interface effectively for varying situations.
[0045] FIG. 13 shows user interface components which may be used in
a mini mode according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Combo box 1301 allows the user to directly type in a value, or to
pop up a menu 1307 by selecting icon 1303. A scrollable list is
displayed in pop-up menu 1307 when activated by cursor 1305. A user
may scroll the list by placing the cursor near the boundary of the
list. For example, when the cursor is moved to a point near area
309, the list will scroll up to display the options under item
1308.
[0046] Pop-down menu 1311 contains menu items associated with
various commands. When pop-down menu 1311 is activated (e.g., by a
short cut key, or by being selected with cursor 1313), menu items
1315 pops down to display available commands.
[0047] Pop-up menu 1321 allows a user to select one item from a
fixed list of items. Typically, a pop-up menu does not allow a user
to directly type in a value, thereby limiting the input value to a
predetermined set. When activated by cursor 1323, a popup window
1325 shows a scrollable list of items, from which a user can select
one by a point and click operation or other methods. When not
activated, pop-up menu 1321 displays the current selected value;
alternatively, pop-up menu 1321 may display a label (e.g., label
513 in FIG. 5) identifying the purpose of the menu (e.g., the
attribute for which a value can be modified by the pop-up
menu).
[0048] Icon menu 1333 is similar to a pop-up menu 1321. Instead of
displaying a selected value or a label, icon 1331 is used to
identify the menu. Typically, an icon requires only a small area to
display; and typically, an icon is visually pleasing and easy for a
user to recognize. When activated by cursor 1334, pop-up menu 1335
appears.
[0049] Button 1341 may contain a icon, or a label, or both. When
selected by cursor 1343, a popup window 1345 shows a scrollable
list, which has arrows 1347 and 1349 for scrolling. When arrow 1347
is pressed, the list in window 1345 scrolls down to reveal more
items, if any, from the top of the list; when arrow 1349 is
pressed, the list in window 1345 scrolls up to reveal more items,
if any, from the bottom of the list. Alternatively, button 1341,
when activated, may bring up a movable dialog box, which contains a
selection list similar to 1345.
[0050] FIG. 14 shows examples of switching from a normal mode (in
the left column of FIG. 14) to a mini mode (in the right column of
FIG. 14) for various user interface components according to various
embodiments of the present invention. Selection list 1401 in a
normal mode may switch to combo box (or a pop-up menu) 1407 in a
mini mode. When in a mini mode, list 1405 and scroll bar 1403 is
hidden. A selected value is shown at field 1408; and icon 1409 can
be selected to activate and bring up the list of options.
Alternatively, the label of selection list 1401 ("Family") can be
displayed at field 1408.
[0051] Label 1411 is associated with a number of options,
represented as checkboxes (e.g., checkbox button 1412). The status
of the variables associated with each checkbox button (or toggle
button) is indicated by the corresponding box (e.g., 1413). When in
a mini mode, label 1411 is converted into pop-down menu 1415, which
when activated by cursor 1417, shows options in popup window
1419.
[0052] Similarly, label 1421 is associated with a group of radio
buttons 1423. When switched into a mini mode, the selected value is
display on a pop-up menu button, which when activated by cursor
1425, brings up a pop-up menu 1427.
[0053] Label 1431 is followed by scrollable text area 1433. When
entering a mini mode, label 1431 is converted into push button,
which when activated by cursor 1435, brings up scrollable text area
1437 in a pop up window. Scrollable text area 1437 can also be
displayed in a movable dialog window.
[0054] Similarly, text entry 1441 is associated with canvas 1443.
Canvas 1443 displays detailed information related to the text in
entry 1441. For example, entry 1441 may be for a web address; and
canvas 1443 displays a web page at the web address. Scroll bars
1442 can be used to bring portions of the web page that is not
currently visible within canvas 1443. When in a mini mode, text
entry 1441 is converted into a combo box type of button, which
allows a user to type in or modify text information and to pop up
canvas 1445 in a separate window.
[0055] FIGS. 15-17 show flow chart examples of methods to switch
user interface components between a normal mode and a mini mode
according to various embodiments of the present invention.
[0056] FIG. 15 shows an overall flow chart of a method to switch
modes for a user interface component according to one embodiment of
the present invention. Operation 1501 determines if a GUI component
is larger than the critical size (e.g., a predetermined size). When
the GUI component is resized such that the GUI component is larger
than the critical size, operation 1503 displays the GUI component
as a first type of GUI interface (e.g., a list box in a normal
mode); otherwise, operation 1505 displays the GUI component as a
second type of GUI interface (e.g., a combo box or a pop-up menu in
a mini mode).
[0057] FIG. 16 shows a flow chart of a method to switch modes for a
user interface component according to one embodiment of the present
invention. Operation 1601 receives input specifying resizing a
window containing a GUI component (e.g., dragging the border of the
window, or pushing a button for resizing). The GUI component
contains a list of displayable items, such as a selection list, or
an option list, or others. Operation 1603 determines a size of the
GUI component. When operation 1605 determines that the GUI
component is larger than a critical size (e.g., a predetermined
size), operation 1611 displays (in a normal mode) a view of the
list of items in part of the area of the GUI component in the
window; when operation 1613 receives input changing the view (e.g.,
scrolling horizontally or vertically when not all of the items are
currently visible in the view), operation 1615 updates the view in
the part of the area of the component (e.g., to display an updated
portion of the list). When operation 1605 determines that the GUI
component is not larger than the critical size, operation 1621
displays (in a mini mode) the component without showing the list of
items; when operation 1623 receives input requesting a view of the
list of items, operation 1625 displays a view of the list of items
in a popup window (which is different from the window in which the
component is displayed).
[0058] In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the GUI
components of a window switches between a normal mode and a mini
mode individually, when the window is resized. In another
embodiment of the present invention, once one of the GUI components
enters a mini mode, other GUI components are forced into the mini
mode. In a further embodiment of the present invention, mode
switching for GUI components is performed on a group basis.
[0059] FIG. 17 shows a flow chart of another method to switch
between at least two modes for a user interface component according
to one embodiment of the present invention. After operation 1701
receives input indicating resizing a window containing a plurality
of lists, operation 1703 resizes the plurality of lists. When
operation 1705 determines the height of none of the list is smaller
than a critical size (e.g., a predetermined size), operation 1707
displays, in a normal mode, each of the plurality of lists (e.g.,
in scrollable views). Otherwise, operation 1711 displays, in a mini
mode, headings (e.g., icons, names, or default values) of the lists
without showing unselected members of the lists; when operation
1713 receives input (e.g., "clicking" on a heading, pausing the
cursor on the heading, pressing a shortcut key, or others)
requesting a view of one of the list, operation 1715 displays the
requested list in a popup window. According to this embodiment of
the present invention, the plurality of lists enters the mini mode
on a group basis. It will be appreciated that the various
embodiments of the methods in this disclosure may use different
techniques to determine when to switch between at least two modes.
For example, when a user resizes a window (e.g., by dragging an
edge of the window) the system may determine when the displayed
size of the window (e.g., length of the perimeter or window area or
height of window) falls below a predetermined size and
automatically switch modes. As another example, as the window is
resized, the system may determine when the displayed size of an
object (e.g., a scrollable list vie the window falls below a
predetermined size and automatically switch modes. As another
example, the system may automatically switch modes for a window
(e.g., this switching may be based on the number of windows
displayed; if more than a certain number of windows is displayed or
the amount of screen display area used by all displayed windows
exceeds a certain percentage then the system may determine to
switch between a normal mode and a mini mode for one or more
windows).
[0060] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof.
It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the
invention as set forth in the following claims. For example,
various embodiments described herein may be used with a system
which recognizes the speech (e.g., spoken commands) of the user. In
this case, the user may open a window and switch between the modes
(e.g., normal and mini) by speaking commands. The specification and
drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense
rather than a restrictive sense.
* * * * *