Author: Umakant Mishra
Abstract:
Windows are used quite frequently in a GUI environment. The
greatest advantage of using windows is that each window creates a virtual
screen space. Hence, although the physical screen space is limited to a few
inches, use of windows can create unlimited screen space to display innumerable
items.
The use of windows facilitates the user to open and interact
with multiple programs or documents simultaneously in different windows.
Sometimes a single program may also open multiple windows to display various
items. The user can resize the windows and move their location time to time as
desired.
However, there are several concerns of a window relating to
its size, appearance, positioning, color, visibility, resizability etc. For
example, the window should have a minimum and a maximum size, dragging and
resizing the window should be easy, one window should not be obscured by
another window, windows should adjust their size and location in order to match
with the changes in the resolution and display environment etc.
This article illustrates six patents from US Patent database
solving problems relating to displaying and resizing of windows. The inventions
include automatic resizing and relocating of windows, alternative modes of
displaying windows to accommodate within the limited display area, combining
both spatial and temporal methods to resize the window, locking and minimizing
windows and making the windows invisible on specific situations.
Keywords: TRIZ, Software Inventions, Graphical User
Interface, Software inventions, Software Patents, Inventive Problem Solving,
GUI, Windows, resizing, Window border, window scrolling, window locking, window
resizing, window selection, window positioning, window size,
Mishra, Umakant, Inventions on Displaying and
Resizing Windows (September 7, 2007). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1264693 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1264693
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