IP Innovation L.L.C. and Technology Licensing Corporation (collectively, "Plaintiffs") have brought a patent-infringement action against Red Hat, Inc., and Novell, Inc., alleging infringement of U.S. Patent Numbers 5,072,412; 5,533,183; and 5,394,521. The patents concern a user interface that has multiple workspaces. The Plaintiffs' complaint identifies as accused products "Red Hat Linux system," the "Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop," and the "Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Server."
UPDATE: THESE THREE PATENTS WERE INVALIDATED BY THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, ON APRIL 30, 2010, IN THE ABOVE REFERENCED ACTION.
UPDATE: THESE THREE PATENTS WERE INVALIDATED BY THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, ON APRIL 30, 2010, IN THE ABOVE REFERENCED ACTION.
Last updated: 2 months ago
Summary / Description
| Summary / Description | In a multi-window system for setting a plurality of windows on the screen for independent display in each window, a novel display control method is disclosed in which a visible region of a given window is determined from the positions and overlapped relations between the windows on the display screen, and display data is selectively applied to the visible region. The visible region is checked for crossing between an object window and another window making up a reference window on the screen, and if they cross each other, the object window is divided into subregions, while the subregion not overlapped with the reference window is regarded as a new object region, which is collated with another reference window and subdivided. This process of collation and division is repeated. A display output is thus applied sequentially to the subregions which are found to be a visible region. |
Basic Information
| Type of Prior Art | Issued Patents - US |
| Country | United States of America |
| Patent/Application # | 4769636 |
| Kind Code | United States (US) - United STATES Patent - A |
| Patentee Name | Hitachi, Ltd. |
| Relevant Pages, Columns, or Lines | See excerpt |
| URL | http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/... |
| Publication Date | August 12, 1986 |
| Additional Information | Date listed is filing date |
Notes / To Do
| Notes | |
Excerpt
1.In a multi-window system for setting a plurality of windows on the screen for independent display in each window, a novel display control method is disclosed in which a visible region of a given window is determined from the positions and overlapped relations between the windows on the display screen, and display data is selectively applied to the visible region. The visible region is checked for crossing between an object window and another window making up a reference window on the screen, and if they cross each other, the object window is divided into subregions, while the subregion not overlapped with the reference window is regarded as a new object region, which is collated with another reference window and subdivided. This process of collation and division is repeated. A display output is thus applied sequentially to the subregions which are found to be a visible region (abstract).
In the multi-window system, the respective windows set on the display screen correspond to logical or virtual display screens set on a memory which is referred to by a data processing system. Data stored in a part of this virtual screen is extracted, and developed as a bit map in a predetermined region on a frame memory corresponding to an actual display screen so as to be read-out as the contents to be displayed in the window. Data representing the position and size of each window on the actual screen and the correspondence between the window and an extraction region on the virtual screen are registered in a specific area alloted to that window on a window control table, so that the operator can, by inputting a screen operation command into the data processing system, change and control the contents of the display in any desired window on the display screen by reference to the window control table (col. 1, ln 29-46).
Relevance
Claims
User interface with mulitple workspaces - 2
A method of operating a system that includes:
a display;
a user input device for receiving signals from a user; and
a data processor that receives input signals from the user input device and provides output signals to the display; the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects; each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features;
the method comprising:
operating the data processor to provide first output signals to the display; the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects; the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display; the first subset including a first window that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities;
while the display is presenting the first workspace, receiving a switch signal sequence from the user input device; and
in response to the switch signal sequence, operating the data processor to provide second output signals to the display; the second output signals causing the display to cease presenting the first workspace and begin to present a second workspace containing a second subset of the set of display objects; the display objects of the second subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display; the second subset including a second window that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities; the first and second subsets of display objects being different from each other so that the first and second workspaces are perceptible as different workspaces; the second window being perceptible as the same tool as the first window.
Relevance
a display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
a user input device for receiving signals from a user - col.1, lines 29-46
a data processor that receives input signals from the user input device and provides output signals to the display - col.1, lines 29-46
the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the method comprising: operating the data processor to provide first output signals to the display - col.1, lines 29-46
the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the first subset including a first window that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities - col.1, lines 29-46
a display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
a user input device for receiving signals from a user - col.1, lines 29-46
a data processor that receives input signals from the user input device and provides output signals to the display - col.1, lines 29-46
the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the method comprising: operating the data processor to provide first output signals to the display - col.1, lines 29-46
the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the first subset including a first window that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities - col.1, lines 29-46
Claim Chart
All
Storage of mulitple user interface workspaces
A system comprising:
a display;
memory storing data;
a user input device for receiving signals from a user; and
a data processor connected to receive input signals from the user input device, to provide output signals to the display, and to access data stored in memory; the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects; each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features;
the data stored in memory comprising instruction data indicating instructions the data processor can execute; the data processor, in executing the instructions:
providing first output signals to the display; the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects; the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display; the first subset including a first display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities;
while the display is presenting the first workspace, receiving a switch signal sequence from the user input device; and
in response to the switch signal sequence providing second output signals to the display; the second output signals causing the display to cease presenting the first workspace and begin to present a second workspace containing a second subset of the set of display objects; the display objects of the second subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display; the second subset including a second display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities; the first and second subsets of display objects being different from each other so that the first and second workspaces are perceptible as different workspaces; the second display object being perceptible as the same tool as the first display object.
Relevance
a display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
memory storing data - col.1, lines 29-46
a user input device for receiving signals from a user - col.1, lines 29-46
a data processor connected to receive input signals from the user input device, to provide output signals to the display, and to access data stored in memory - col.1, lines 29-46
the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the data stored in memory comprising instruction data indicating instructions the data processor can execute - col.1, lines 29-46
the data processor, in executing the instructions; providing first output signals to the display - col.1, lines 29-46
the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects - col.1, lines 29-46
the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the first subset including a first display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities - col.1, lines 29-46
a display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
memory storing data - col.1, lines 29-46
a user input device for receiving signals from a user - col.1, lines 29-46
a data processor connected to receive input signals from the user input device, to provide output signals to the display, and to access data stored in memory - col.1, lines 29-46
the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the data stored in memory comprising instruction data indicating instructions the data processor can execute - col.1, lines 29-46
the data processor, in executing the instructions; providing first output signals to the display - col.1, lines 29-46
the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects - col.1, lines 29-46
the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the first subset including a first display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities - col.1, lines 29-46
Claim Chart
All
User interface with mulitple workspaces
A method of operating a system that includes:
a display;
a user input device for receiving signals from a user; and
a data processor that receives input signals from the user input device and provides output signals to the display; the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects; each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features;
the method comprising:
operating the data processor to provide first output signals to the display; the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects; the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display; the first subset including a first display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities;
while the display is presenting the first workspace, receiving a switch signal sequence from the user input device; and
in response to the switch signal sequence, operating the data processor to provide second output signals to the display; the second output signals causing the display to cease presenting the first workspace and begin to present a second workspace containing a second subset of the set of display objects; the display objects of the second subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display; the second subset including a second display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities; the first and second subsets of display objects being different from each other so that the first and second workspaces are perceptible as different workspaces; the second display object being perceptible as the same tool as the first display object.
Relevance
a display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
a user input device for receiving signals from a user - col.1, lines 29-46
a data processor that receives input signals from the user input device and provides output signals to the display - col.1, lines 29-46
the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the method comprising: operating the data processor to provide first output signals to the display - col.1, lines 29-46
the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects - col.1, lines 29-46
the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the first subset including a first display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities - col.1, lines 29-46
a display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
a user input device for receiving signals from a user - col.1, lines 29-46
a data processor that receives input signals from the user input device and provides output signals to the display - col.1, lines 29-46
the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the method comprising: operating the data processor to provide first output signals to the display - col.1, lines 29-46
the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects - col.1, lines 29-46
the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display - abstract; col.1, lines 29-46
the first subset including a first display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user's capabilities - col.1, lines 29-46
Claim Chart
All
