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US5796383A
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Method and system for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface in a data processing system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1995-08-07
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Granted: 1998-08-18
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Expires: 2015-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for efficiently presenting the contents of a container object within a graphical user interface on a display in a data processing system. The graphical user interface includes an existing display window area. A container object, which may be utilized as a graphical indication of the storage of multiple objects, is selected. An organized format for presenting contents of the specified container object is specified by a user. The contents of the selected container object are then presented in the specified organized format within the existing display window area in the graphical user interface on the display, without allocating an additional display window area.
Inventors
- 👤 Susan F. Henshaw
- 👤 Sarah D. Redpath
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
Computer readable code for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window, comprising: first subprocesses for permitting a user to specify a container object for which the user desires contents to be displayed; second subprocesses for specifying an organized format in which the contents are to be displayed; third subprocesses for determining a display space size for displaying the contents of the container object; fourth subprocesses for determining whether the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough to display an element having the display space size; and fifth subprocesses for displaying only the container object and the contents in the organized format in the blank area if said fourth subprocesses determine that the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
Computer readable code for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window, comprising: first subprocesses for permitting a user to specify a container object for which the user desires contents to be displayed; second subprocesses for specifying an organized format in which the contents are to be displayed; third subprocesses for determining a display space size for displaying the contents of the container object; fourth subprocesses for determining whether the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough to display an element having the display space size; and fifth subprocesses for displaying only the container object and the contents in the organized format in the blank area if said fourth subprocesses determine that the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
Computer readable code for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window according to claim 1, further comprising: sixth subprocesses for determining an area of the graphical user interface having minimal clutter if said fourth subprocesses determine that the graphical user interface does not have a blank area large enough; seventh subprocesses for decreasing pixel intensity in the minimal clutter area; and eighth subprocesses for displaying the container object and the contents in the organized format in the minimal clutter area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
Computer readable code for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window according to claim 1, further comprising: ninth subprocesses for determining a quantity of the contents associated with the container object if said fourth subprocesses determine that the graphical user interface does not have a blank area large enough; tenth subprocesses for determining whether the graphical user interface has a second blank area large enough to display a portion of the contents; and eleventh subprocesses for displaying a portion of the contents in the organized format and a user manipulable scroll bar to permit the user to access all of the contents by scrolling in the second blank area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
112 words
Computer readable code for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window according to claim 3, further comprising: twelfth subprocesses for determining an area of the graphical user interface having minimal clutter if said tenth subprocesses determine that the graphical user interface does not have a second blank area large enough to display a portion of the contents; thirteenth subprocesses for decreasing pixel intensity in the minimal clutter area; and fourteenth subprocesses for displaying the portion of the contents in the organized format and a user manipulable scroll bar to permit the user to access all the contents by scrolling in the minimal clutter area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Computer readable code for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window according to claim 1, wherein said third subprocesses further permits the user to define the display space size for displaying the contents of the container object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Computer readable code for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window according to claim 5, wherein said third subprocesses determine a default size for the display space size if the user does not define the display space size.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
123 words
A method in a computing environment for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of: (a) permitting a user to specify a container object for which the user desires contents to be displayed; (b) specifying an organized format in which the contents are to be displayed; (c) determining a display space size for displaying the contents of the container object; (d) determining whether the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough to display an element having the display space size; and (e) displaying only the container object and the contents in the organized format in the blank area if said step (d) determines that the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
123 words
A method in a computing environment for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of: (a) permitting a user to specify a container object for which the user desires contents to be displayed; (b) specifying an organized format in which the contents are to be displayed; (c) determining a display space size for displaying the contents of the container object; (d) determining whether the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough to display an element having the display space size; and (e) displaying only the container object and the contents in the organized format in the blank area if said step (d) determines that the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of: (f) determining an area of the graphical user interface having minimal clutter if said step (d) determines that the graphical user interface does not have a blank area large enough; (g) decreasing pixel intensity in the minimal clutter area; and (h) displaying the container object and the contents in the organized format in the minimal clutter area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
A method for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of: (i) determining a quantity of the contents associated with the container object if said step (d) determines that the graphical user interface does not have a blank area large enough; (j) determining whether the graphical user interface has a second blank area large enough to display a portion of the contents; and (k) displaying a portion of the contents in the organized format and a user manipulable scroll bar to permit the user to access all of the contents by scrolling the second blank area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
A method for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: (l) determining an area of the graphical user interface having minimal clutter if said step (j) determines that the graphical user interface does not have a second blank area large enough to display a portion of the contents; (m) decreasing pixel intensity in the minimal clutter area; and (n) displaying the portion of the contents in the organized format and a user manipulable scroll bar to permit the user to access all the contents by scrolling in the minimal clutter area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface according to claim 7, wherein said step (c) further permits the user to define the display space size for displaying the contents of the container object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface according to claim 11, wherein said step (c) further determines a default size for the display space size if the user does not define the display space size.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
134 words
A system in a computing environment for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window, comprising: first means for permitting a user to specify a container object for which the user desires contents to be displayed; second means for specifying an organized format in which the contents are to be displayed; third means for determining a display space size for displaying the contents of the container object; fourth means for determining whether the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough to display an element having the display space size; and fifth means for displaying only the container object and the contents in the organized format in the blank area if said fourth means determines that the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
134 words
A system in a computing environment for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window, comprising: first means for permitting a user to specify a container object for which the user desires contents to be displayed; second means for specifying an organized format in which the contents are to be displayed; third means for determining a display space size for displaying the contents of the container object; fourth means for determining whether the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough to display an element having the display space size; and fifth means for displaying only the container object and the contents in the organized format in the blank area if said fourth means determines that the graphical user interface has a blank area large enough.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
A system in a computing environment for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window according to claim 13, further comprising: sixth means for determining an area of the graphical user interface having minimal clutter if said fourth said means determines that the graphical user interface does not have a blank area large enough; seventh means for decreasing pixel intensity in the minimal clutter area; and eighth means for displaying the container object and the contents in the organized format in the minimal clutter area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
120 words
A system in a computing environment for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window according to claim 13, further comprising: ninth means for determining a quantity of the contents associated with the container object if said fourth means determines that the graphical user interface does not have a blank area large enough; tenth means for determining whether the graphical user interface has a second blank area large enough to display a portion of the contents; and eleventh means for displaying a portion of the contents in the organized format and a user manipulable scroll bar to permit the user to access all of the contents by scrolling in the second blank area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
116 words
A system in a computing environment for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window according to claim 15, further comprising: twelfth means for determining an area of the graphical user interface having minimal clutter if said tenth said means determines that the graphical user interface does not have a second blank area large enough to display a portion of the contents; thirteenth means for decreasing pixel intensity in minimal clutter area; and fourteenth means for displaying the portion of the contents in the organized format and a user manipulable scroll bar to permit the user to access all of the contents by scrolling in the minimal clutter area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system in a computing environment for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window according to claim 13, wherein said third means permits the user to define the display space size for displaying the contents of the container object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system in a computing environment for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface without creating a window according to claim 17, wherein said third means determines a default size for the display space size if the user does not define the display space size.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-17 | 2002-02-16 | 2002-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-17 | 2006-02-16 | 2006-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-17 | 2010-02-16 | 2010-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |