Method for accessing selected windows in a multi-tasking system

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selectively accessing a particular one of a plurality of computer applications which are simultaneously active and displayed in a plural­ ity of overlapping viewports or windows in a multi-tasking system. User inputs to the system are monitored to deter­ mine the position of a cursor within a window or the location of an attempted data input to a window and the particular window thus selected is displayed unencumbered by promoting it to the uppermost display position in accordance with the state of a display attribute associat­ ed with that window. Thereafter, the display attribute is utilized to determine whether or not the selected window returns to its previous display position or remains in the uppermost display position in response to the movement of the cursor or the attempt by a user to input data into a second selected window.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to methods for efficient access to multiple computer application programs and in particular to methods for efficient access to computer application programs in a multi-tasking system having a plurality of applications simultaneously active and displayed in a plurality of overlapping windows. A relatively recent advance in the computer arts allows a user to simultaneously access, display and manipulate data from a variety of related and/or unrelated computer application programs. This process is generally referred to as "multi-tasking." In a true multi-tasking system, several application programs are active simultaneously. Multi-tasking has been simulated on some of the less powerful personal computers in that, only one application is in fact active at any one time, but the user interface presents the effective appearance of multi-tasking. Activity relating to each application is generally displayed in a viewport or "window." These windows may overlap and partially or completely obscure each other and the data therein, or may be presented in a visually discreet, i.e. non-overlapping manner. Optionally, the user may work with data in any of the open windows by changing the active work area. Examples of windowing multi-tasking programs include WindowsTM, published by Microsoft Corp. and DesQviewTM, published by QuarterDeck Office Systems. Both of these windowing multi-tasking systems support the IBM Personal System 2 (PS/2) series of personal computers. There are, however, certain inherent problems in most such multi-tasking systems. In order to reach the data which the user desires to manipulate, the user must often follow a different and sometimes complicated procedure for each application program and, within each program, at each level of data type, such as file, page, or word, which the user attempts to access. Consequently, the user faces a loss of time due to the number of key strokes necessary simply to obtain a visual image of the ultimate object data or, to input data in one program while working in a second program simply due to the time necessary for the system to respond to the various commands given it. Furthermore, the user's job is made more difficult due to the necessity of remembering a multiplicity of different interface and access procedures for different application programs and for different levels within the same application program. Finally, since many true multi-tasking systems allow access between any level of one active program to any level of another active program, such systems require an unusually large amount of resident memory in order to service such requests promptly and efficiently. Certain application programs have attempted to solve these problems but have done so at the expense of various desirable features. For example, the HyperCard Program of Apple Computer discussed at length in The Complete HyperCard Handbook, by Danny Goodman, Bantam Books (1987), provides a simple means for avoiding a predetermined organization scheme when accessing object data, allowing direct linking of various disparate types of data at the user's command, via the activation of a "button." Although this program provides a uniform, simple and relatively swift method of interfacing between different types of data which may be stored in completely different formats, it suffers from an inability to display more than one type of object data at a time on the screen and suffers from a requirement for an enormous amount of resident memory and static storage capacity to function properly. Moreover, this program is designed to be a tool kit enabling users to design their own permanent links between data, thereby creating new applications rather than a program for providing access to different levels of data which are visually obscured within preexisting application programs which are not otherwise connected. Another approach known in the art is the utility program published by SoftLogic Solutions as SoftwareCarousel. This program permits up to ten different application programs or data files to be loaded and allows the user to move from one to the other with a single keystroke. This utility program requires configuration by the user and is not a multi-tasking system. Recently, a method for navigating between and within application programs resident in a multi-tasking computer system has been proposed which utilizes a direct cursor-controlled access to the multiple application programs. Utilizing this technique, two or more programs may be optionally linked together in an arbitrary sequence to form a chain. The user may then invoke a function resident in a computer system to directly access windows and programs in the chain which are running in a sequence determined by the order in which the user opens the window in a given session. In this manner, the user may access data within any single application program by viewing individual programs in a method controlled by a so-called "exploding" cursor function. While this system represents an improvement over known systems, it does not permit the user to simply and easily access a selected program among a plurality of multi-tasking applications without the necessity for previously linking together such programs so that this function may be utilized. Still more recently, a method has been proposed for accessing visually obscured data in a multi-tasking system by selectively altering the display mode attribute of individual windows to render the interior of selected windows temporarily transparent. This process may be utilized repeatedly until such time as visually obscured data beneath a large number of overlapped applications may become visible. While this system permits visually obscured data to be displayed, it does not permit the user to simply and easily access individual applications from a plurality of applications which are simultaneously active and displayed within overlapping windows. Operations of management, rearrangement and selection of overlapping windows are well-known from the prior art. For example, EP-A-247827 discloses a computer system (not multitasking) and a method for displaying a plurality of overlapping windows and for altering the display sequence of the overlapping windows; in particular : if the cursor is moved to a position within a selected one of the overlapping windows, other than the frontmost window, the selected window is promoted to the frontmost position. Related European patent application 89480081.2 (filed on the same date as the present application and published under n° EP-A-349458 on 3.1.90) discloses a method wherein a plurality of overlapping windows correspond to simultaneously running applications, the output of a selected application is monitored, and the display sequence of overlapping windows is altered to display the corresponding window in the frontmost position if output data is detected. The method further includes the steps of associating a display attribute with each of the plurality of windows, and, depending on the new frontmost window display attribute, reverting the altered sequence to the original sequence in which windows overlap, or keeping the altered sequence as the new original sequence. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved method of accessing one of a plurality of computer application programs which are simultaneously active in a multi-tasking environment. It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method of accessing one of a plurality of computer application programs which are simultaneously active in a multi-tasking environment which does not require a substantial number of keystrokes or user inputs. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved method of accessing one of a plurality of computer application programs which are simultaneously active in a multi-tasking environment which does not require excessive memory requirements. The foregoing objects are achieved by a method as claimed in claim 1. The method of the present invention may be utilized for selectively accessing a particular one of a plurality of computer applications which are simultaneously active and displayed in a plurality of overlapping viewports or windows in a multi-tasking system. User inputs to the system are monitored to determine the position of a cursor within a window or the location of an attempted data input to a window and the particular window thus selected is displayed unencumbered by dynamically promoting it to the uppermost display position in accordance with the state of a display attribute which is associated with each window. Thereafter, the display attribute is utilized to determine whether or not the selected window returns to its previous display position or remains in the uppermost display position. In this manner, the position of a cursor or data input in combination with the state of the aforementioned display attribute may be utilized to simply and easily change the sequence of display of a plurality of windows to permit the user to access a desired window without the necessity of a large number of keystrokes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a pictorial representation of a plurality of overlapping windows within a computer display screen; FIGURE 2 is a pictorial representation of the plurality of windows within a computer display screen of Figure 1 after they have been altered in display sequence in accordance with the method of the present invention; and FIGURE 3 is a logic flow diagram of the method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to the figures and in particular with reference to Figure 1, there is depicted a pictorial representation of a computer display screen 10 upon which are displayed three viewports or windows 12, 14, and 16. Those skilled in the art of multi-tasking computer applications will appreciate that each window may represent a single computer application program such as a spread sheet program, a word processing application and a graphics application. Typically, windows 12, 14, and 16 may be displayed in an overlapping sequence which is generally dependent upon the order in which the applications were opened or called. That is, window 16 was initially opened and window 14, when opened, overlapped window 16. Next, window 12 was opened, overlapping window 14. Those skilled in this art will appreciate that even while overlapped as depicted, the non-visible contents of each window are present in memory and are restored to the display of computer display screen 10 upon the rearrangement of windows 12, 14, and 16, as necessary. In accordance with the method of the present invention, each window includes a display attribute associated therewith which may be utilized, in a manner which will be explained in greater detail herein, to selectively alter the display sequence of overlapped windows 12, 14, and 16 so as to permit a user to rapidly access a single one of the multiple displayed applications. As is illustrated in Figure 1, window 12 includes a cursor or mouse pointer 18 which is utilized, in a manner well known in the art, to indicate a selected position upon computer display screen 10. That position is illustrated and may be utilized to indicate the location at which data may be input by the user in accordance with known computer input techniques. Of course, cursor or mouse pointer 18 may be moved about on computer display screen 10 by utilizing a cursor key pad, a mouse input device, or standard keyboard inputs. Referring now to Figure 2, there is depicted a second pictorial representation of computer display screen 10 wherein it may be seen that the user has relocated cursor or mouse pointer 18 to a location within window 14. In accordance with the method of the present invention, if the state of the display attribute associated with window 14 permits the promotion of window 14 to an unencumbered display in an uppermost display position, window 14 will be automatically altered in sequence to the uppermost position depicted. As may be seen, window 14 now overlies windows 12 and 16 and has become the "active" window, permitting the user to enter data and manipulate objects within window 14 in any manner permitted by that application. With reference now to Figure 3, there is depicted a logic flow diagram which illustrates the method of the present invention. As can be see, the program begins by permitting the user to move cursor or mouse pointer 18 (see Figure 1) to any desired window within computer display screen 10 as illustrated in block 20. Next, decision block 22 is utilized to determine whether or not the window within which cursor or mouse pointer 18 is located is the current top window. That is, the window which is displayed in the uppermost display position. If the window in which cursor or mouse pointer 18 is currently located is the current top window, then the program proceeds to block 30 wherein the user is permitted to input data into that window. If not, decision block 24 is utilized to determine whether or not the display attribute associated with that window permits the interrupt promotion of that window to the top or uppermost window position. If the display attribute associated with that window does not permit interrupt promotion to the uppermost window position, block 26 illustrates the prompting of the user to take those actions necessary to move the desired window to the uppermost or active position. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this generally requires the user to deactivate or iconize the present uppermost window and activate the desired window utilizing appropriate keystrokes and commands. Thereafter, the user may input data to the desired window as illustrated in block 30. Referring again to block 24, if the display attribute associated with the desired window permits the interrupt promotion of that window to the uppermost or active position, block 28 illustrates the automatic rearranging of the partially overlapped windows to promote the desired or identified window to the uppermost or active position. Thereafter, as above, the user may input data to the current uppermost window as illustrated in block 30. After the user has concluded the inputting of data into the current uppermost window, as illustrated in block 30, block 32 is utilized to determine whether or not the display attribute associated with each window in accordance with the method of the present invention indicates that the window which has been promoted to the uppermost position must revert to its prior overlayed state. If so, block 36 indicates the demotion of that window to its prior overlayed state. If not, the window remains in the uppermost or active position, as illustrated in block 34. Thereafter, in either case, block 38 illustrates the program waiting for a user decision regarding the next interaction with the novel method of the present invention. In accordance with the method of the present invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that by associating a display attribute with each window in a display of multiple windows it is possible for the user to selectively alter the sequence in which the overlapped windows are displayed and instantaneously vary the window which is in the uppermost or active position. While there exists certain prior art systems which permit a user to enter data into those portions of an overlapped window which are still visible, such known systems will not permit the automatic activation of an overlapped window merely by the movement of a cursor into that window for data entry purposes. It should be appreciated that the method of the present invention permits the rapid and efficient access to any one of a plurality of multi-tasking computer applications which are displayed in a plurality of overlapping windows.

Claims: A method of allowing a user to access one of a plurality of simultaneouslyrunning application programs on a multitasking computer system comprising: a screen (10) displaying a plurality of windows (12, 14, 16), one window for respectively each of the plurality of application programs among which a frontmost window (12) at least partially overlaps the other ones of the plurality of windows (14, 16) in an original sequence, and a cursor (18) movable by the user on said screen, said method including the steps of: detecting an accessing by the user of one of the plurality of application programs when the cursor is positioned within a corresponding selected one of the plurality of windows (20), altering the display sequence of the overlapping windows and displaying the selected (24, 26, 28) window in the frontmost window position, and allowing the user to input data in the accessed application program (30), said method being characterized in that it further includes the steps of: associating a display attribute with each of the plurality of windows, and if the cursor is positioned outside the selected window or the user ceases inputting data in the accessed application program, depending on the new frontmost window display attribute (32), reverting the altered sequence to the original sequence in which windows overlap (36), or keeping the altered sequence as the new original sequence (34). The method of claim 1, further characterized in that said steps of detecting an accessing by the user and promoting the selected window as new frontmost window, include the steps of: - determining whether the display attribute of the selected window permits its promoting to frontmost window (24), and if it does not, prompting the user to take actions to permit said promoting (26).

Inventors: BARKER BARBARA A, EDEL THOMAS R, STARK JEFFREY A, BARKER, BARBARA A., EDEL, THOMAS R., STARK, JEFFREY A.
Applicants: IBM, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G06F3
IPC codes: G06F3, G06F15, G06F9