Systems and methods for replacing open windows in a graphical user interface

Abstract

Systems and methods for returning windows to an original location are described. When springing already open windows to a new location on a display space, it is desired to return that window to its original location for certain situations. A list is provided when the springing operation is initialized which captures information used to return the sprung window. According to exemplary embodiments, the relocation of various windows is tracked to ensure that each window is returned to an original location.

1. A method for returning a window to an original position among a plurality of cascaded windows which are rendered on a display space, comprising the steps of:
 generating a list which provides a front-to-back order of said plurality of cascaded windows and an indicator of whether each of said plurality of cascaded windows is currently in its respective original, cascaded position;  
 storing an initial location and position for a window; 
 removing said window from said original position;  
 rendering said window at another location on said display space;  
 receiving, at a graphical interface, an indication that said window is to be removed from said another location on said display space; and  
 returning said window to said original position based upon said list generated by said step of generating.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of returning further comprises the steps of:
 comparing an identifier of said window with an identifier associated with each window in said list until a match occurs; and  
 placing said window behind a window which is next in order in said list after said match occurs.  
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of placing said window further comprises the step of:
 placing said window behind said window which is next in order in said list after said match occurs only if said window is currently in its respective original, cascaded position.  
 
     
     
       4. A method for placing a first window behind a second window in a first portion of a display space, comprising the steps of:
 generating a list which indicates that said first window is to be rendered behind said second window when both said first and said second windows are rendered in said first portion of said display space;  
 storing an initial location and position for the first window; 
 removing said first window from behind said second window;  
 rendering said first window at a second portion of said display space;  
 removing said first open window from said second portion of said display space; and  
 placing said first window behind said second window in said first portion of said display space by making reference to said list.  
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein a third window is disposed in front of both said second window and said first window when rendered in said first portion of said display space, said method further comprising the steps of:
 removing said second window from said first portion of said display space;  
 rendering said second window in another portion of said display space; and  
 placing said first window behind said third window in said first portion of said display space.  
 
     
     
       6. In a computer having a display, a system for returning a window object to its original location relative to at least one other window object, comprising:
 a data structure for storing information associated with said window object and said at least one other window object including an initial location of said window object and a relative time-invariant order of said window object with respect to said at least one other window object;  
 a display on which said window object and said at least one other window object are rendered;  
 a graphical user interface for receiving and generating signals associated with said window object and said at least one other window object, including a signal indicating that said window object is to be returned to said original position; and  
 a processor for receiving said signal and drawing said window object on said display at said original position using said information in said data structure.  
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein said data structure also include information indicating a position of said at least one other window object, and wherein said processor selectively draws said window object in an overlapping relationship with said other window object based upon said position indicating information in said data structure. 
     
     
       8. A computer implemented method for maintaining an order of a plurality of windows on a display, each window having an initial location on the display and a position in the order of the plurality of windows, the method comprising the steps of:
   storing the initial location and the position for each of the plurality of windows;        springing one of the windows from its initial location to a temporary location; and        removing the sprung window from its temporary location and displaying the sprung window in its stored initial location and position in the order of the plurality of windows.     
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the order of the plurality of windows is a front- to - back order.   
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein springing the window further comprises removing the window from its initial location. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the window sprung to the temporary location is brought to a front position in the order of the plurality of windows when sprung. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sprung window is displayed in an original position in the order when the sprung window is displayed in its initial location. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein springing of the one of the windows is in response to a user action. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user action comprises placing an item over an icon on the display associated with the window that is sprung. 
     
     
       15. A system for maintaining an order of a plurality of windows on a display when one of the plurality of windows is temporarily sprung to a temporary location on the display, the system comprising:
   a data structure for storing for each of the plurality of windows, an initial location on the display and a position in the order of the plurality of windows;        a graphical user interface in which each window is displayed in its initial location, and for receiving an input from a user associated with a springing operation; and        computer program logic coupled to the data structure and to the user interface, for displaying each of the plurality of windows on the display, the computer program logic adapted to spring one of the windows to a temporary location on the display in response to the user action, and adapted to remove the sprung window from its temporary location, and display the sprung window in its initial location and position according to the data structure.     
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the user action resulting in a springing operation is placing an item over an icon on the display associated with the window that is sprung. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the order of the plurality of windows is a front- to - back order.   
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the computer program logic removes the window from its initial location when springing the window to its temporary location. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , wherein computer program logic displays the sprung window in a front position in the order of the windows. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , wherein computer program logic displays the sprung window in an original position in the order when it displays the sprung window in its initial location. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the user action comprises placing an item over an icon on the display associated with the window that is sprung. 
     
     
       22. A computer implemented method for maintaining an order of a plurality of windows on a display, each window having an initial location on the display and a position in the order of the plurality of windows, the method comprising the steps of:
   responsive to detecting a user's interest in one of the windows:      storing an initial location and position for the window; and        moving the window from its initial location to a temporary location; and          responsive to detecting the end of the user's interest in the window, removing the window from its temporary location and displaying the window in its initial location and position in the order of the plurality of windows.     
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein detecting a user's interest in one of the windows comprises detecting user input in connection with the window. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22 , wherein detecting a user's interest in one of the windows comprises detecting a cursor being held over the window, and wherein detecting the end of the user's interest in the window comprises detecting a cursor not being held over the window. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 22 , wherein detecting a user's interest in one of the windows comprises detecting an activation command within the window, and wherein detecting the end of the user's interest in the window comprises detecting an activation command outside the window. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , wherein each activation command comprises a mouse click. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 22 , wherein detecting a user's interest in one of the windows comprises detecting placement of an item over an icon associated with the window. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the order of the plurality of windows is a front- to - back order.   
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , wherein moving the window further comprises removing the window from its initial location. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 28 , wherein moving the window further comprises bringing the window to a front position in the order of the plurality of windows. 
     
     
       31. A system for maintaining an order of a plurality of windows on a display, each window having an initial location on the display and a position in the order of the plurality of windows, the system comprising the steps of:
   an output device for displaying the plurality of windows;        an input device for detecting a user's interest in one of the windows;        computer program logic coupled to the input device, for:        responsive to the input device detecting a user's interest in one of the windows;        storing an initial location and position for the window; and        causing the output device to move the window from its initial location to a temporary location; and        responsive to the input device detecting the end of the user's interest in the window, causing the output device to remove the window from its temporary location and to display the window in its initial location and position in the order of the plurality of windows.     
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 31 , wherein detecting a user's interest in one of the windows comprises detecting user input in connection with the window. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 31 , wherein the input device detects a user's interest in one of the windows by detecting a cursor being held over the window, and wherein the input device detects the end of the user's interest in the window by detecting a cursor not being held over the window. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 31 , wherein the input device detects a user's interest in one of the windows by detecting an activation command within the window, and wherein the input device detects the end of the user's interest in the window by detecting an activation command outside the window. 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 34 , wherein each activation command comprises a mouse click. 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 31 , wherein the input device detects a user's interest in one of the windows by detecting placement of an item over an icon associated with the window. 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 31 , wherein the order of the plurality of windows is a front- to - back order.   
     
     
       38. The system of  claim 37 , wherein the computer program logic further causes the output device to remove the window from its initial location. 
     
     
       39. The system of  claim 37 , wherein the computer program logic further causes the output device to bring the window to a front position in the order of the plurality of windows. 
     
     
       40. A computer program product for maintaining an order of a plurality of windows on a display, each window having an initial location on the display and a position in the order of the plurality of windows, the computer program product comprising:
   a computer - readable medium; and        computer program code, encoded on the medium, for:        storing the initial location and the position for each of the plurality of windows;        springing one of the windows from its initial location to a temporary location; and        removing the sprung window from its temporary location and displaying the sprung window in its stored initial location and position in the order of the plurality of windows.     
     
     
       41. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein the order of the plurality of windows in a front- to - back order.   
     
     
       42. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein the computer program code for springing the window further comprises computer program code for removing the window from its initial location. 
     
     
       43. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein the window sprung to the temporary location is brought to a front position in the order of the plurality of windows when sprung. 
     
     
       44. The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the sprung window is displayed in an original position in the order when the sprung window is displayed in its initial location. 
     
     
       45. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein the computer program code for springing of the one of the windows operates in response to a user action. 
     
     
       46. The computer program product of  claim 45 , wherein the user action comprises placing an item over an icon on the display associated with the window that is sprung. 
     
     
       47. A computer program product for maintaining an order of a plurality of windows on a display, each window having an initial location on the display and a position in the order of the plurality of windows, the computer program product comprising:
   a computer - readable medium; and        computer program code, encoded on the medium, for:        responsive to detecting a user's interest in one of the windows:      storing an initial location and position for the window; and        moving the window from its initial location to a temporary location; and          responsive to detecting the end of the user's interest in the window, removing the window from its temporary location and displaying the window in its initial location and position in the order of the plurality of windows.     
     
     
       48. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the computer program code for detecting a user's interest in one of the windows comprises computer program code for detecting user input in connection with the window. 
     
     
       49. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the computer program code for detecting a user's interest in one of the windows comprises computer program code for detecting a cursor being held over the window, and wherein the computer program code for detecting the end of the user's interest in the window comprises computer program code for detecting a cursor not being held over the window. 
     
     
       50. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the computer program code for detecting a user's interest in one of the windows comprises computer program code for detecting an activation command within the window, and wherein the computer program code for detecting the end of the user's interest in the window comprises computer program code for detecting an activation command outside the window. 
     
     
       51. The computer program product of  claim 50 , wherein each activation command comprises a mouse click. 
     
     
       52. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the computer program code for detecting a user's interest in one of the windows comprises computer program code for detecting placement of an item over an icon associated with the window. 
     
     
       53. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the order of the plurality of windows is a front- to - back order.   
     
     
       54. The computer program product of  claim 53 , wherein the computer program code for moving the window further comprises computer program code for removing the window from its initial location. 
     
     
       55. The computer program product of  claim 53 , wherein the computer program code for moving the window further comprises computer program code for bringing the window to a front position in the order of the plurality of windows.