CA2483488A1 - User interface and method for maximizing the information presented on a screen - Google Patents

User interface and method for maximizing the information presented on a screen Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2483488A1
CA2483488A1 CA002483488A CA2483488A CA2483488A1 CA 2483488 A1 CA2483488 A1 CA 2483488A1 CA 002483488 A CA002483488 A CA 002483488A CA 2483488 A CA2483488 A CA 2483488A CA 2483488 A1 CA2483488 A1 CA 2483488A1
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Canada
Prior art keywords
window
display
graphical
invisible
objects
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Abandoned
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CA002483488A
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French (fr)
Inventor
Steve Janssen
Annette Gottstein-Puri
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Kongsberg Geospatial Ltd
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Individual
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Publication of CA2483488A1 publication Critical patent/CA2483488A1/en
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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/048Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • G06F3/0481Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F9/00Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
    • G06F9/06Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
    • G06F9/44Arrangements for executing specific programs
    • G06F9/451Execution arrangements for user interfaces
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2203/00Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/00 - G06F3/048
    • G06F2203/048Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/048
    • G06F2203/04804Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows

Abstract

A system provides a user interface for maximizing an amount of information presented on a computer generated display. The system includes a user interface management system (UIMS) that works with an operating system that manages the computer resources including a display screen and a user input device for tracking position. The UIMS is responsive to the user input device to effect changes in the computer generated display. The UIMS
communicates with an application program using the user interface. The user interface has at least a first layer for displaying a primary dynamic image and a second layer for displaying a secondary dynamic image. The second layer has a plurality of display modes including a first mode corresponding to at least a portion of the second layer assuming an invisible state in the computer generated display. Selection of the display modes is effected by signals received from the user input device.
Both the first and second layers are updated regardless of the mode of the second layer. The user interface is particularly applicable to air traffic control where the first layer is used for displaying a map plotting aircraft locations and the second layer is used for displaying various data concerning the aircraft, both being updated continuously.

Description

User Interface and IVIethod for I~axi~nizin~,the Information presented on a Screen This invention relates generally to methods for displaying graphical information on a computer system, and more particularly, the present i.nventi.on relates to a computer controlled display system for organizing the display of a I~.igh volume of information and a user interface to allow the operator to readily view all sets of information.
~A~I~CiI~.f~I~NT~ ~9F I~VE.l~TI~Jl'~
A windowing environment is system software that manages interactions between a user and an application program executing on a computer through a graphical display monitor. 'Typically, the graphical display is arranged to resemble an electronic "desktop", and each sheet ol°information on the "desktcep" is displayed in a rectangular region of the screen called a "window". The windows orA the "desktop" can be organized in a variety of different ways. T:~xey can be tiled so the c~ntents of each window are totally visible to the operator, they can be overlapped so that the Contents of a window partially overlays another window, or they can be stacked so that one window completely overlays another window. 'The ~,vindows on the desktop can be used to contain any object, including simple objects s~zch as menus, forms and tables and complex objects such as spreadsheets and radar displays ~cor air traffic c<rntrol.
In a typical window-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) system (such as l~ilicrosofl Windows~ or C3~F ~/Iotif~), a variety of technidues are provided to the operator to manage the 'vindows on the display. The windows can be made larger or smaller, they can be expanded to be the full screen size, they can be moved to a different position on the screen, or they can be reduced to an icon. An icon is a small, visually distinct display object which represents the window.
In a traditional office application, the windows are used to represent static information such as documents and spreadsheets. The content of awindow changes only when a change is effected by the operator. However., there is a class of applications _2H
where the information in the windows changes dynamically independently of operator intervention. For example, in an Air Traffic Control display, one window may contain a geographic view of the airspace in which aircraft are plotted on the display according to their current position based on radar reports. Another window may have a dynamically changing table summarizing details about each aircraft including information such as current speed and altitude, which is updated based on radar .reports.
~ne of the problems associated with window based graphical user interfaces is the necessity of carefully managing the display screen space. In many complex applications there is a great f3eal of information which rrmst be displayed to the operator 1 fl in multiple windows. I~owever, with multiple windows, there is often not enough screen space (screen "real estate"~ to concurrently view all the important information displayed in various windows. For example, in Air Traffic Control, the focus of the radar operator is on the main situation display window where the operator is tracking the movement of aircraft through the radar plots displayed i~~a the window. The operator also needs to regularly be able to view additional information about l:he aircraft, weather conditions, etc., as displayed in other windows. F-Iowever, at the same tine, the operator needs to maintain full awareness of the main situation window which reflects the position of all aircraft. The ability to maintain a great number of windows on the screen without obscuring the main window of~ interest is desired. In these situations, it is too cumbersome and time consuming to use standard window manipulation techniques such as resizing or moving windows.
As will be disclosed, the present invention provides a method of designating windows as invisible so that information in background windows is not obscured, a user interface for viewing and hiding the data i,rz the foreground window on demand, and a method for managing and rendering the displays when working with invisible windows.
SUIVIli~IA.~Y OF INVENTi:QN
the present invention provides ~ method aarld user interface technique that allows the operator to maintain a large number of windows all containing information necessary for the operator to perform his task, while at the same rime not obscuring other windows which are essential to perform the task. This approach significantly increases operator productivity and also increases safety whe~:~ emp.oyed in safety critical applications since it permits the operator to maintain maximum awareness of the main safety critical situation window, while still providing immediate access to the other information necessary for the operator to perform his task The invention operates ire a standard environment of computer workstation with a graphical display. l~orrnation is displayed in "windovrs" on the graphical display, and the operator interacts with the displaywith standard input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse. This invention may be embodied in an application program that executes on the workstation or any other type of program, including the operating System which controls the workstation.
This invention consists of a user interface which provides the operator with a rapid means to expose and hide information in invisible windows. 9Vhen the information in windows is hidden, the "invisible" windows can be 'totally invisible (i.e., there is no visual indication of their location, the windows may have a title bar that is visible, the windows may have a window border that is visible, or the windows may have a title bar and window border that is visible. These latter states provide the operator with a visual clue as to the location of the hidden window. Tn all these cases, the contents of the invisible window are not displayed and the background window is fully visible through the invisible window.
The user is provided the ability to designate each invisible window as "normal", "timed", "locked", or "timed icon". The user is also able to reduce an invisible window to an icon at any time. When an invisible window is reduced to an icon no window operations can be performed on the window until the icon is raised back into an invisible window.
When in "normal" mode, the contents of the window are exposed when the cursor moves into the area of window. The window contents can be exposed either by allowing the window to be displayed on an opaque background, which enhances legibility of the window contents, or on a transparent backgrc~~znd, which enables the contents of the background windows to be visible underneath the invisible wia~dow. The window contents are hidden again by simply moving the cursor away from tl~e window.
S In "timed" mode, the contents of the window are exposed in the manner described above for a specified period of time, at which time the window automatically returns to its invisible state.
In "locked" mode, the contents of the window are exposed in the manner described above until another mode is selected for the ~~~indow.
In 'timed icon" mode, the contents of the window are exposed in the manner described above for a specified per iod of time, at which time the window is automatically reduced to an icon.
Bl~IFF DESCRIPTION OF 'THE I'JI~'~VTNC~S
The present invention will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, v~lhere:
Figure 1 is a pictorial front view of a typical computer;
Figure 2 is a display pa-esentation of an opaque window technique;
Figure 3 is the display presentation of Figure 2, using a transparent window technique according to the invention;
Figure 4, illustrates the display cf Figure 2 when the cursor is moved over the transparent window;
Figure S shows the display mode menu;
Figure 6 shows the general soatware architecture of a transparent window system according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the logic used to process a motion event detected on a window;
Figure g is a flowchart illustrating the logic used to process a transparent time out event;
Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating the Iogic used to process a timed icon lime out event;
Figure 10 shows application oriented objects contained in the system of Figure 6;
I O Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating the logic used to update areas located under a transparent window;
Figure ~2 is a flowchart illustrating the Iogic used to implement behavior for objects which are invisible.
Some numeral references will denote same parts throughout the description.
I5 lJESCRIPTI0i~1 OF SPECIFIC EIVI~OI~INIEI~1TS
Figure 5 depicts a typical computer system suitable for supporting the present invention. Figure 1 is but one of many computer cc>nfagurations that can support the present invention. Figure 1 shows a computer system consisting of an output device 1 (displaymonitor), input devices (mouse S and keyboard 6) and a system chassis 3. Other 20 configurations might include flat screen displays, X-terminals, trackballs, touch screens and other devices.
The system chassis ~ contains components such as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, hard disk storage, power supply, local area network , parallel printer I/O, serial 110, and video generation hardware. The system chassis 3 may contain optional 25 items such as ChROl~Ms., tape drives, sound generation facilities and others.

The present invention provides a means to efficiently manage screen space when there are conflicting demands of high priority information in background windows which occupy large portions of the display surface 2 and numerous information windows overlaying it. The present inven4vion can be implemented at four different levels in a computer system. Tt can be applied in the graphics generation hardware, the operating system graphics subsystem software C~ Windows, ~pen~if. ~, lVlicrosoft Windows ~, Apple NIacO/S ~, etc.~, a User Interface iiQanagement System (CJS), or in application software. The discussion below deals rrnostly with implementation of the present I 0 invention in a UIR/IS and associated application programs. ~. (.~llvlS is a layer of software which manages all display and user devlCe ~llput activities for a specific application. The discussion is divided into tlZree parts: Part I describes the invention as manipulated by the operator; Part 2 describes the invention in te~~xns of the software algorithms which describe its operation; Part 3 describes the features of the UPS to support th<e event capture and drawing techniques necessary.
I~A'f °!
Figure 2 depicts a typical application display presentation where the present invention would greatly en~bance operator usability and operator access to important data.
In this view normal windowing techniques are iri force. The high importance background data g (radar return information in this ca,>e~ is being obscured by multiple overlapping user Interface windows f.
These overlapping windows 7 are a necessary part of the use,°'s displayed information set. They are explicitly requested by the c~ser and necessarily appear on top of the background data g. The present in~rention provides the operator with techniques to control their property of covering underlying data.
Figure 3 depicts the same application with the i~,visiblc; window feature operating.
Notice now that the overlapping windows 10 no longer obscure the background radar data 9. The overlapping windows' title bars and window frames 11 are still visible giving _7_ the user visible cues as to where the windows will be when opaque. The view of the background radar in Figure 3 is vastly improved over that in Figure 2.
'The technique which the operator uses to toggle between opaque and invisible is as simple as moving the cursor 12 over the invisible window which the operator wishes S to view. In Figure 3 the cursor 12 is over the background data 9, not an averlapping window 10. This causes all overlapping windows 10 to be invisible.
Figure 4 demonstrates tine system's reaction to moving the cursor over an invisible window. Notice that the cursor 16 is now over the table titled Category Select 15. This table is now opaque while the others 14 remain invisible. The background data 13 is covered by tables 15 but remains unaffected b3~ ta~.:les 1~..
Further control of the invisible effect is afforded the operator through a button in the title bar of the tables 1f, t~cti~~ating this button causes the display mode menu lg to be activated. Figure 5 depicts the display mode menu. The menu consists of four buttons 19, 20, 21, 22. Each button has a graphical icon and textual label.
then a button t 5 is selected its icon is placed in the display made menu l li as seen in buttons 17 of Figure 4. Each window can be placed in a separate mode.
Button 19 is used to activate the Nar~czl display mode. In this mode all overlapping windows are invisible by default. A window becomes opaque when the cursor is placed within its extent. ~JVhen the cursor leaves its e:~tent the window becomes invisible again.
Button ZO is used to activate the Tinned ~.isplay mode. In this mode all overlapping windows are invisible by default. .A winnow becomes opaque when the cursor is placed within its extent. When the cursor leaves its extent the window becomes invisible only after a tune-out has occurred. This time-out is programmable but is typically 10 seconds. The time-out is terminated if the cursor is placed over the window before it turns invisible.
Button 21 is used to activate tl~~e L~cked display mode. In this mode the overlapping windows are always opaque..

Button 22 is used to activate the Timed-Icon display mode. In this mode all overlapping windows are invisible; by default. A window becomes opaque when the cursor is placed within its extent. 'JVhen the cursor Ieaves its extent a two step time-out process begins. After the first time-out, the window goes invisible and the second time-out begins. After the second time-out, the window automatically iconifies.
'Window 23 in Figure 4 illustrates an ieonified window. These time-outs are conf gurable but are typically ten seconds. The time-outs are terminated if the cursor is placed over the window before the operation completes.
The activation of anyofthe Normal, docked, Timecl, or T ~mecl-icon buttons causes the mode data field on the associated window to be updated to the appropriate mode.

Figure 6 illustrates the general software architecture of the invisible window system. A window has three pieces of data associated with it for the purposes of this discussion. Each window has a unique identity stored in window id. Each window can operate in one of four modes: No~naal, Lr~cke~, Timed, or T imed-scan.
hinally, each window can be in one of three states: invisible, opaque or is~nifaecl.
The following steps describe the action ofmoving the r~~ouse from an opaque state window onto the background data.
The user moves the mouse 26 pointer from an opaque state window to the background which generates a hardware event 32. The operating system 25 services the hardware mouse event 32 and passes a message 2f to ~Llm ~TINIS 24. The 1~IS 24 maintains the extent of all obi acts it manages. It traverses this list examining each window's extent to determine if the cursor now lies within the same window as the previous event. If the L,T1NIS 24 does not find a match, flee LJI~S checks if the cursor was
2~ previously on an opaque window. If true, the 1;TIMS 24 next determines if that window has been designated as a potentially invisible window. If the window is designated as potentially invisible the application defined invisible stc~~e 30 is applied to the window _g_ by the UIA~IS 24. The user may specify the invisible state 30 to the DIMS such that the entire window becomes invisible or just user specified portions of it become invisible.
The application of this state causes the UINIS 24 to redraw the window on the display 2~
according to the invisible state specifications.
The following steps describe the action of moving the mouse from the background data onto a window which ~s currently invisible.
The user moves the mouse 2~ pointer over an iwvisible window which generates a hardware event 32. The operating system 25 services the hardware mouse event 32 and passes a message 29 to the UIM 24. The UIMS 24 maintains the extent of all obj ects it I O manages. It traverses this list examining each window's extent to determine if the cursor now lies within that extent. If the UIIVfS 24 finds a match, it next determines if that window has been designated as an invisible window. If the window is designated as potentially opaque the application defined normal state 30 is applied from the window by the UIMS 24. The application of this state causes the UIMS 24 to redraw the window 15 on the display ZE according to the normal ,state specifications. The UIMS
24 notes the fact that the cursor is over a particular window which is now opaque.
The details of how the UI~LiiIS searches input matches on windows _and how data beneath invisible windows is updated are detailed in f~fr ~.
figures "l through 10 depict flow chart iriews of the iogic within the UIMS
24.
20 When the lower levels of the UIMS see part 3~ detect a motion event on a window an algorithm depicted in ~pgure 7 is initiated 33. The algorithm compare 34 the window id in the event message with the stored previous window id. If the windows are the same the algorithm terminates 44.
If the current and previous window ids do not match, the mode of the window is 25 tested 35. If the window is in narmal mode then app~~y the invisible state to the window 36. If the window is not in norrnQl state then test to see if it is in Timed mode 37. If the window is in ~'imed mode then schedule a "timed invisible" time out event to start 39.
If the window is not in .Ti»ied rr~.ode then test to see if it is in ~'imed-Icon mode 3~. If the window is in ?'imed-Icon :node then schedule a "timed invisible'" time out event to start 39. Regardless ofwhich:~ode the current window is in tl~e state ofthe previous window is now tested 40. If the current window is invisible, remove the irwisible state 41 to made the window opaque. lVText, store the current window id as the precious window id 42 and s remove any time outs that may be pending on the window from previous cursor movement 43. This algorithm now terminates and regular processing continues.
Figure 8 depicts t~~e algoritlun used to process "tiyned invisible°' time out events.
The algorithm is initiated when a time out of type "timed invisible°' is received 45. The window state is set to invisible ar;d the window is checked to see if it is in Timed-Icon 1 O mode 48. If it is a new time out of type "timed icon" is initiated 47. The algorithm now terminates 49.
Figure 9 depicts the algorithm used to process "ti.med icon" time out events.
The algorithm is initiated when a time out of type °'timed icc~r~.°' is received 50. The window state is set to ieoni~ied 51. The algorithm now terminates 52.
~ s PART 3 To support the above described behavior the invention embodies the capabilities described below.
The UINIS of Figure b contains czpplicatio~r-oriented objects, hierarchical Interl~IAPhics display lists, and one or more a~czste~izecl i~aages.
Representations ofthe 20 objects are maintained in the display lists by thep~esentG~tion ~rccznager, and the rasterized images are created from the display lists by the ~ena'ce°ca~. This is shown in detail in Figure 10.
The applicatioh-c~ae~ted ~bjccts~ include the user interface windows used to present information to the operat ;rs. Each object has the following properties:

_11_ ~ a number of representations each defined by an overall display Layer and position, individually layered and positianed object components, and symbolic references to UIMS graphical constructs for each component ~ a number of logical states defined by Ulle~lS keys linked to representation changes ~ a number of behaviors defined by U~iS actions linked to symbolic object events.
Specification of obj ect properties is via UINlS configuration data, typically loaded at system startup.
The presentatioh manage- maintains hierarchical display lists according to the currentpropertiesoftheapplication-oriented objects.
Thepresentationmanagerprovides the following functionality:
~ inserts, modifies, and deletes graphical data in il~e display lists to reflect the representation properties of the application-oriented objects ~ maintains a hierarchical ordering among and within the display lists to reflect the layering properties of the application-oriented objects ~ maintains a mapping from all graphical data in the display lists to the application-oriented object with wh~~ch the data is associated ~ translates operating systerrE input events to symbolic object events on an object-by-obj ect basis ~ invokes UIl~S actions ~.s required to implement the behavior of the objects.
2~ Updates to application-oriented objects and ope;ratio.g system inputs invoke this functionality. ~perating system inputs are translated to symbolic obj ect events via UIMS
configuration data, typically loaded at system startup.
The hierarchical UIMS display casts contain graphical data describing the appearance of the display. The display Lists have the following characteristics:

- 12. -~ graphical data consisting of vectar-based ~aphical primitives and symbolic graphical attributes such as color, drawir~.g style, and text characteristics ~ a hierarchical structure, whereby any dl.splay lrst m~.y contain other display lists as well as graphical data S ~ the display lists, their contained display Mists, and the; graphical data are sorted from lowest layer (underlying) to highest layer (overlying) relative to the containing display list.
The presentation manager establishes and maintains these characteristics, which are referenced by the renderer.
The renderer maintains rasteri~ed images according to the contents of°the display lists. The renderer provides the following functionality:
~ traverses the display list hierarchy in either ascending and descending sort order performing vector-by-vector conversion of graphical prianitives to raster images (rendering). This traversal can be constrained by an image extent or distance from a specific image pixel ~ determines a set of rendered pixels for each primitive. This is based on the primitive vectors and a translation. of the symbolic graphic attributes for drawing styles and/or text characteristics ~ determines a value to be applied against the raster image for each rendered pixel. This is based on a translation of the symbolic graphic attributes for color ~ determines a logical function for each rendered pixel specifying how the pixel value is to be applied against the raster image. This is based on a translation of the symbolic attributes for color, drawing styles, and/or text chara~;,teristics. For transparent pixels, the logical function leaves the corresponding pixel in the raster image unchanged, 2~ while for opaque pixels the logical function replaces the corresponding pixel in the raster image. Other logical ftanctions provide different visual effects -1$-~ updates one or more raster images from the rendered pixel set, values, and functions determined from a primitive ~ copies some or alI of one or more raster images to the hardware video memory.
The presentation manager ~nvol~es this functionality to request visual updates or to determine which primitives in t~~e display list contain specific pixels in their rendered pixel set. Symbolic graphical attribute translation to pixel sets, values, and logical functions is through a mapping specified by UIWS configuration data, typically loaded at system startup. This mapping supports transparency through transparent colors and hollow fill drawing styles.
The raste~° i~raages are either mapped directly to video memory by the graphics display hardware, or are exact images which can be block copied directly to the video memory. The raster image s have the following characteristics:
~ an array of pixel values arranged exactly as required for video display ~ overlying objects have been rendered after underlyin;~ objects, so that pixels rendered for the overlying objects modify or replace those of underlying objects.
The renderer establishes and maintains these characteristics.
Figure 1 ~ depicts the algoritlun used to update areas beneath the transparent user windows. An applicatior-oriented object behind a transparent window is updated through a change in logical state 5~. Th.e presentation ~~nanager updates the object representation in the display list by modifying the graphical primitives and attributes associated with that object to reflect its new state 54. The renderer then traverses the hierarchical display list structure as follows. The current display list is set to the top level display list 55. While the end of the current display list has not been reached 56 , the next item in the display Iist is processed 57. If this item is not an embedded display list 58, 2~ the renderer determines the rendered pixel set, pixel values, and logical functions for the graphical data associated vaith the item 59. The render er updates the raster images from the rendered pixels 60. This continues until the end of the current display list has been _1~_ reached 56. If an item in the display list is itself an embedded display list 5~, the renderer pushes the current display list on°zo a hIF~ stack 61, and sets the current display list to the embedded display list 6~. The renderer continues processing with this display list ~6.
When the current display list has been completely processed 56, and it is not the top level display list 63, the renderer sets the most recently pushed display Iist as the current display list 64, and continLies the processing of that display list 56. If the completed display list is the top level display Iist 63; rendering is complete:. The renderer copies the updated raster images to video memory 65. hTote that all graphical items in the display Iist are rendered Sg, 60, regardless if they are overlain by an opaque or transparent object. In the opaque case, the rendered pixels of the underlying object are replaced by the rendered pixels of the overlying obj ect 6~. in the transparent case, the rendered pixels of the underlying item are unaffected by the rendered pixels of the overlying item 60.
Figure 12 depicts the algorithm used to implement behavior for objects which are invisible. The operator moves a tracking device connected to the system hardware. The operating system sends a notification of the motion 66 and a report on the new tracking position to the presentation manager 67. The presentation manager invokes the renderer to determine which primitives in the display lists, searched from uppermost to lowermost layers, contain the current tracking pixel in their rendered pixel set 68.
l~Tote that the rendered pixel set also contains all transparent pixels for any primitive. If no primitives are found by the renderer 6~, the presentation manager awaits the next operating system event 66. If the list contains at least one primitive, the presentation manager accesses the application-oriented object associated with the frst primitive in the list 70.
If it can map the operating system event to a symbolic object event far the application-oriented object 71, it invokes the I111VIS actions lined to the object event through its behavior definition 72. The object behavior definition either terminates the input event processing or instructs the presentatio~~ manager to propagate it through to ~~he next underlying object 73. If processing is complete, the presentation manage- awaits the next operating system event 66. If the event is to be propagated 73, or the event cannot be snapped to a symbolic obj ect event 7I, the presentation manager deletes the primitive from the list 74, and continues processing wl°~ile there are primitives remaining in the list 6~.

Claims (17)

We Claim:
1. A graphical display system for an application program, comprising:
a user interface manager for storing application oriented objects associated with said application program, hierarchical display lists of said objects, and raster images of said objects, said objects including representations each defined by an overall display layer and position, individually layered and positioned object components, and symbolic references to graphical constructs for each said component, a plurality of logical states defined by keys linked to representation changes and a plurality of behaviors defined by actions linked to symbolic object events;
a renderer module responsive to a presentation manager for maintaining said raster images according to the contents of said display lists and copying one or more of said raster images to hardware video memory for display on a display device; and a presentation manager responsive to a motion event or user input for invoking said user interface module and said renderer.
2. A graphical display system as defined in claim 1, said presentation manager being operable to insert, modify, and delete graphical data in said display lists to reflect the representation properties of said application-oriented objects; maintain the hierarchical ordering of said display lists to reflect layering properties of said application-oriented objects;
maintain a mapping from all graphical data in said display lists to application-oriented objects with which data is associated; translate operating system input events to symbolic object events on an object-by-object basis; and invoke user interface manager actions as required to implement predetermined behaviors of said objects.
3. A graphical display system as defined in claim 1, said display lists containing graphical data describing the appearance of the display and including graphical data consisting of vector-based graphical primitives and symbolic graphical attributes including color, drawing style, and/or text characteristics, a hierarchical structure in which any display list may contain other display lists and graphical data and in which the display lists, their contained display lists, and graphical data are sorted from a lowest underlying layer to highest overlying layer relative to a containing display list.
4. A graphical display system as defined in claim 1, said renderer being operable to traverse the display list hierarchy in either ascending or descending sort order and perform vector-by-vector conversion of graphical primitives to raster images constrained by an image extent or distance from a specific image pixel; determine a set of rendered pixels for each primitive based on primitive vectors and a translation of the symbolic graphic attributes for drawing styles and/or text characteristics; determine a valve to be applied against a raster image for each rendered pixel based on a translation of the symbolic graphic attributes for color; determine a logical function for each rendered pixel specifying the manner in which a pixel value is to be applied against a raster image based on a translation of symbolic attributes for color, drawing styles, and/or text characteristics such that for invisible pixels, said logical function leaving the corresponding pixel in the raster image unchanged; for visible pixels, said logical function replacing the corresponding pixel in the raster image and other logical functions provide different visual effects; updating one or more raster images from the rendered pixel set, values, and functions determined from a primitive; and copying some or all of one or more raster images to the hardware video memory.
5. A graphical display system as defined in claim 1, said renderer being operable to either map said raster images directly to video memory to graphics display hardware or block copy said raster images directly to the video memory, said raster images being comprising an array of pixel values arranged exactly as required for video display, said renderer being further operable to render overlying objects aver rendering underlying objects so that pixels rendered for the overlying objects modify or replace those of underlying objects.
6. A graphical display system as derived in claim 2, said display lists containing graphical data describing the appearance of the display and including graphical data consisting of vector-based graphical primitives and symbolic graphical attributes including color, drawing style, and/or text characteristics, a hierarchical structure in which any display list may contain other display lists and graphical data and in which the display lists, their contained display lists, and graphical data are sorted from a lowest underlying layer to highest overlying layer relative to a containing display list.
7. A graphical display system as defined in claim 6, said renderer being operable to traverse the display list hierarchy in either ascending or descending sort order and perform vector-by-vector conversion of graphical primitives to raster images constrained by an image extent or distance from a specific image pixel; determine a set of rendered pixels for each primitive based on primitive vectors and a translation of the symbolic graphic attributes for drawing styles and/or text characteristics; determine a value to be applied against a raster image for each rendered pixel based on a translation of the symbolic graphic attributes for color; determine a logical function for each rendered pixel specifying the manner in which a pixel value is to be applied against a raster image based on a translation of symbolic attributes for color, drawing styles, and/or text characteristics such that for invisible pixels, said logical function leaving the corresponding pixel in the raster image unchanged; for visible pixels, said logical function replacing the corresponding pixel in the raster image and other logical functions provide different visual effects; updating one or more raster images from the rendered pixel set, values, and functions determined from a primitive; and copying some or all of one or more raster images to the hardware video memory.
8. A graphical display system as defined in claim 7, said renderer being operable to either map said raster images directly to video memory to graphics display hardware or block copy said raster images directly to the video memory said raster images being comprising an array of pixel values arranged exactly as required for video display, said renderer being further operable to render overlying objects after rendering underlying objects so that pixels rendered for the overlying objects modify or replace those of underlying objects.
9. A method of managing a graphical user interface associated with an application program operable on a computing device having a visual display device, a user input device for controlling a pointer on said display device, said application having a plurality of windows including a primary background window and one or more secondary windows overlying said background window, each sand secondary window being configurable in normal, locked, timed and timed icon modes and in invisible, visible, and iconified states, comprising the steps of:
- storing predetermined data with respect to each said window;

- storing hierarchical display lists of said windows;
- storing raster images of said windows;
- storing the identity of are window underlying said pointer as a current window;
- responding to movement of said pointer over said windows by:
i. comparing the identity of the window immediately underlying said pointer against the identity of a previous window;
ii. determining the mode of the previous window and a. placing said previous window in an invisible state when said previous window is in a normal mode; and b. initiating an invisible time out when said previous window is in a timed or timed icon mode;
iii. removing an invisible state from said current window;
iv. storing the identity of said current window as said previous window;
and v. removing any pending time outs respecting said current window.
10. A method as defined in claim9, said step of storing predetermined data with respect to each said window including storing representations each defined by an overall display layer and position, individually layered and positioned object components, and symbolic references to graphical constructs for each said component, and the mode and state of said windows.
11. A method as defined in claim 9, said step of initiating an invisible time out further including setting said previous window in an said invisible when a time out event occurs when said previous window was in a timed mode and setting said previous window in an said iconized state when a time out event occurs when said previous window was in a timed icon mode.
12. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein in said normal mode the contents of the window are exposed when said pointer moves into the area of said window, said window contents being exposed either by displaying the window displayed on an visible background to enhances legibility of the window contents, or by displaying said window on a invisible background to enable the contents of background windows to be visible underneath the invisible window.
13. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein, in said "timed" mode, the contents of the window are exposed a predetermined period of time when said pointer moves into the area of said window, said window contents being exposed either by displaying the window displayed on an visible background to enhances legibility of tile window contents, or by displaying said window on a invisible background to enable the contents of background windows to be visible underneath the invisible window, and at the end of said predetermined period of time, returning the window to said invisible state.
14. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein, in said "timed icon" mode, the contents of the window are exposed a predetermined period of time when said pointer moves into the area of said window, said window contents being exposed either by displaying the window displayed on an visible background to enhances legibility of the window contents, or by displaying said window on a invisible background to enable the contents of background windows to be visible underneath the invisible window, and at the end of said predetermined period of time, reducing the window to said icon state.
15. A method as defined in claim 9, further including the step of updating windows disposed beneath invisible windows including the steps of:
- setting a current display list to a top level display list;
- for each item in said display list:
i. if said item is not an embedded display list, determining the rendered pixel set, pixel values and logical functions associated with said item, and updating raster images from the rendered pixels associated with said item;
ii. if said item is an embedded display list, repeating steps a) and b) with respect to said embedded display list;
and - when all items in all display lists have been processed, copying updated images to video memory.
16. A method as defined in claim 9, further including the step of implementing the behavior of objects which are invisible, in response to movement of a tracking device, - determining the pixel coordinates of said tracking device from a tracking event;
- determining which primitives in the display lists, searched from uppermost to lowermost layers, contain said pixel coordinates in their rendered pixel set;
- if said lists contain at least one primitive, for each such primitive:
i. accessing the application-oriented object associated with said at least one primitive;
ii. invoking the actions linked to the object event according to a predetermined behavior definition;
iii. if said event allows event propagation, propagating said event to the next underlying object;
- If said event is to be propagated or if said event cannot be mapped to a symbolic object event, deleting the primitive from the list.
17. A computer readable memory or article of manufacture for storing the instructions or statements for use in the execution of the method of claim 9.
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WO1998037483A1 (en) 1998-08-27
EP0961963A1 (en) 1999-12-08
AU6202098A (en) 1998-09-09
US6512529B1 (en) 2003-01-28
CA2197953C (en) 2005-05-10
CA2197953A1 (en) 1998-08-19

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