Method and apparatus for presenting two and...

Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C345S215000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06597358

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer system applications, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for presenting two and three-dimensional computer applications in a 3D meta-visualization for organizing the display of such applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since the inception of personal computers, the sophistication of their processors has increased significantly. Initially, personal computers were typically limited to running only one computer application at a time, thus severely limiting the computer user's ability to perform multiple computer tasks in an efficient manner. However, with the increase in the sophistication of these processors, today's personal computers are able to run a multitude of computer applications simultaneously (i.e., multi-task), thus significantly increasing the productivity of the computer user.
To manage the vast number of computer applications running simultaneously, the personal computers of today typically run a Windows®-based operating system, which places each computer application in a corresponding application window. Such a Windows®-based operating system could be, for example, Windows® 95 by Microsoft Corp., which is a operating system used by a significant portion of personal computers today.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a personal computer having such a Windows® environment maps a given computer application into an application window
110
on a computer display
130
, such that the user interface with the computer application is encapsulated within the window
110
. The computer user has the option via controls
140
-
160
to manipulate each respective application window
110
on the display
130
. Such manipulation could result from actuating the MINIMIZE button
140
to minimize the size of the application window
110
; actuating the MAXIMIZE button
150
to maximize the size of the application window
110
; or closing the computer application altogether via the CLOSE button
160
. The user can move the application window
110
by “dragging” the window
110
by its title bar
170
via a user-input device, such as a computer mouse (not shown). Additionally, the user can adjust the size of the application window
110
(i.e., make it larger or smaller) by manipulating a control
180
on the lower right-hand corner of the window
110
via the user-input device.
Although the current Windows® environment aids the computer user to manage a plurality of computer applications to some extent, it suffers from disadvantages as well. When a significant number of application windows
110
are present on the display
130
, they tend to overlap (i.e., some of the windows obscure the view of the other windows). Quite often, a computer user will have to move, minimize or close one or more of the windows
110
that obscure a desired application window in order to view the desired window. This process of “shuffling” the windows
110
can be burdensome and time consuming to the user, thereby decreasing their efficiency in performing a particular computer task. Additionally, with the present Windows® environment, a user cannot group or categorize the application windows
110
according to a particular project or task to be performed by the user. Accordingly, the user, while only desiring to use a subset of the applications running on the computer, might have to “sift” through the undesired application windows
110
to retrieve the desired applications to perform a particular task.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for organizing computer applications in a three-dimensional perspective. The method includes creating at least one two-dimensional bitmap for at least one computer application; creating at least one three-dimensional geometry; mapping bits from the at least one two-dimensional bitmap to the at least one three-dimensional geometry; and displaying the at least one three-dimensional geometry with the bits mapped thereon.
In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus includes a processor capable of running at least one computer application. The apparatus further includes a sub-processor capable of creating at least one two-dimensional bitmap for at least one computer application running on the processor, creating at least one three-dimensional geometry, and mapping bits from the at least one two-dimensional bitmap to the at least one three-dimensional geometry. The apparatus further includes a display capable of displaying the at least one three-dimensional geometry with the at least one computer application mapped thereon.


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patent: 5592195 (1997-01-01), Misono et al.
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patent: 6034691 (2000-03-01), Aono et al.
patent: 6130673 (2000-10-01), Pulli et al.
patent: 6229542 (2001-05-01), Miller
patent: 6317139 (2001-11-01), Williams

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