Patent ID: 7415677
Filing Date: 2008-08-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of displaying a system message to a user on a display device of a computer system, comprising: displaying a first view including a plurality of input controls in an electronic window on the display device, the first view having at least a first work area located above a second work area, the second work area bordering the first work area, the first work area including a first group of the plurality of input controls and the second work area including a second group of the plurality of input controls; receiving, while the first view is being displayed, a first input from a user requesting the computer system to perform an operation; detecting, in response to the receipt of and using the first input, that a further input is required for performing the operation requested by the user; identifying, in response to the receipt of and using the first input, one among multiple system messages in the computer system to be output to the user, the identified system message designed to communicate with the user about the further input; and displaying a second view in the electronic window on the display device in response to the detection, the second view comprising the first work area, the second work area and a temporary communication area presenting the identified system message, wherein the temporary communication area is accommodated by the second work area, including the second group, being relocated in a direction down from the first work area, including the first group, compared to the first view, the second work area no longer bordering the first work area, the temporary communication area being located adjacent one of the first group of the plurality of input controls that triggers the operation and further having an input control associated therewith that is configured for generating the further required input, wherein the temporary communication area is configured to disappear from the electronic window so that the first area including the first group and the second area including the second group are reunited, upon the further required input being received, and wherein the computer system is configured to relocate the second work area relative to the first work area to present any of the multiple system messages in the temporary communication area.