Computer interface having a single window mode of operation

Abstract

A computer-human interface manages the available space of a computer display in a manner which reduces clutter and confusion caused by multiple open windows. The interface includes a user-selectable mode of operation in which only those windows associated with the currently active task are displayed on the computer monitor. All other windows relating to non-active tasks are minimized by reducing them in size or replacing them with a representative symbol, such as an icon, so that they occupy a minimal amount of space on the monitor's screen. When a user switches from the current task to a new task, by selecting a minimized window, the windows associated with the current task are automatically minimized as the window pertaining to the new task is displayed at its normal size. As a result, the user is only presented with the window that relates to the current task of interest, and clutter provided by non-active tasks is removed.

1 . A method for displaying data to users in a computer system, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of containers for the data of a plurality of different tasks, respectively, where each container can be displayed as either an open window in which said data can be viewed, or a minimized representation of the window;    displaying the data for an active one of the tasks in an open window and displaying a minimized representation for the window of each inactive task;    detecting the selection of a task other than the active task; and    replacing the display of the open window for the active task with a minimized representation for that window and displaying an open window for the selected task in lieu of its minimized representation, in response to said selection.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further including the steps of detecting a modified selection of a task other than the active task, and overriding the replacement of the window for the active task with a minimized representation, to thereby display the window for a previously active task concurrently with the window for the selected task.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the minimized representation of a window comprises a thumbnail view of the window.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the minimized representation of a window comprises an icon.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the open window for every selected task is displayed at the same predetermined location.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said predetermined location is in the center of a display screen.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the minimized representation of the window for each non-active task is displayed in a docking area.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said docking area comprises a user bar located along an edge of a display area.  
   
   
       9 . A computer-readable medium containing program code for a user interface which executes the steps of: 
 creating a plurality of containers for the data of a plurality of different tasks, respectively, where each container can take the form of either an open window in which said data can be viewed, or a minimized representation of the window;    displaying the data for an active one of the tasks in an open window and displaying a minimized representation for the window of each inactive task;    detecting the selection of a task other than the active task; and    replacing the display of the open window for the active task with a minimized representation for that window and displaying an open window for the selected task in lieu of its minimized representation, in response to said selection.    
   
   
       10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9  wherein said program code executes the further steps of detecting a modified selection of a task other than the active task, and overriding the replacement of the window for the active task with a minimized representation, to thereby display the window for a previously active task concurrently with the window for the selected task.  
   
   
       11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9  wherein the minimized representation of a window comprises a thumbnail view of the window.  
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9  wherein the minimized representation of a window comprises an icon.  
   
   
       13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9  wherein the open window for every selected task is displayed at the same predetermined location.  
   
   
       14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13  wherein said predetermined location is in the center of a display screen.  
   
   
       15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9  wherein the minimized representation of the window for each non-active task is displayed in a docking area.  
   
   
       16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9  wherein said docking area comprises a user bar located along an edge of a display area.