Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-23
2003-04-15
Kincaid, Kristine (Department: 2774)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06549217
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for management of interactive computer systems, and in particular to systems and methods for bookmarking user profiles and for selecting and activating the bookmarked user profiles, the bookmarked user profiles specifying at least the arrangements of an attached display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer systems for some time have utilized graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to provide simple, intuitive and friendly access to system functions without requiring use of arcane and complex commands. GUIs typically present an arrangement of well-known graphical input elements, which can be selected and activated with a user pointing device in order to request system functions, and well-known output elements, which typically display information in adjustable windows.
Another common feature of computer systems are user profiles, which encapsulate user preferences for the many customizable system characteristics. Preferred characteristics encapsulated in user profiles include, notably, preferred GUI display characteristics and arrangements, along with other preferences such as lists of commonly-used system resources, files, World Wide Web (WWW) resources, and so forth.
In current computer systems, and especially in network connected computer systems, a single user profile often inadequately represents the complexity and diversity of user work. The number of system functions and resources relevant for a user often outstrips the abilities of present GUIs, in conjunction with available display devices, to manage a useable display of needed input and output display elements. Commonly-accessed resources for one user's various tasks are often too numerous or in conflict with each other.
Approaches to solving this problem include providing each user with the possibility of multiple independent profiles, where each profile specifies, for one set of tasks, both a display arrangement of input and output elements and also other preferences. However, in systems with multiple user profiles, changing between profiles is cumbersome. For example, to change from a current user profile to a new user profile, it is usually required that a user log entirely off the system and then log on again with the new user profile. This logoff-logon process is disruptive, time consuming, and grating to the user. For example, since applications may not save their current state, upon next logon it may be necessary to configure them again into the desired state from scratch.
One exemplary system requiring logoff-logon to change user profiles is Sun Microsystems Solar operating system Common Desktop Environment. Although, this environment saves the current session upon logoff so that a user can return to the saved session and also allows choice of a default session, the user still has to save data from each individual application, such as text editors and spreadsheets, prior to logoff. Another exemplary system is the Microsoft Windows NT operating system. Although in this system a user can have multiple profiles, logoff-logon is required to switch between them. Also, because they are completely independent, web browser history, bookmarks, cookies, temporary Internet files, and so forth, also contained in each user profile, cannot be shared among profiles.
Another approach to user profile is found in the virtual desktop feature of certain X
11
window managers (e.g., fvwm, twm), which variably maps a physical display onto a virtual screen surface that is larger than the limits of the physical display. The user can switch between desktops by moving the display mapping to different portions of the virtual screen, each of which presents a desktop with customized colors, names, icons, root windows, and so forth. This mechanism, however, is inefficient because all the applications in all the desktops must be simultaneously loaded and executing.
Yet a further approach is described in European patent application EP 0 691 605 A1. Although the system described therein allows a user to switch between different desktop environments without a cumbersome logoff-logon process, the environments available to a user must be linked into a rigid hierarchical structure which strictly limits the ability to navigate freely between available environments in a consistent manner
In summary, it is clear that all these known methods for management of user profiles, display arrangements, desktop arrangements, and so forth, are in one way or another cumbersome and limiting. What is needed, therefore, is a method and system for such management which allows simple, intuitive and friendly access to the plethora of system functions and resources available in modern computer systems.
Citation of a reference herein, or throughout this specification, is not to be construed as an admission that such reference is prior art to the Applicant's invention or the invention subsequently claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objects of the present invention are to provide systems and methods which overcome the above identified problems in the current art, namely provision of simple, intuitive and friendly access to the plethora of system functions and resources available in modern computer systems, and, in particular, provision of improved methods for management of user profiles, display arrangements, desktop arrangements, and so forth. These objects are achieved by provision of a bookmark metaphor for user profile management in computer systems as described herein.
Generally, the bookmark function to which the present invention is directed permits a user to select and activate a bookmarked user profile, including indication of display arrangements, from a menu of saved (or bookmarked) user profiles. Activation of a user profile causes the display to be arranged according to the indicated display arrangement. Display elements include any visual representation of running applications. Such visual representations include, for example, windows opened with determined positions, sizes and contents, minimized windows, or other iconic representations of running applications. Further, activation of a user profile optionally causes as well the establishment of other user preferences included in the activated user profile. Other user preferences include, in various combinations, environmental parameters defining a system or application environment, lists of commands to be executed to establish a desired environment, and background applications useful or necessary for the foreground applications, and so forth. Background applications can include server applications such as database or transaction servers. The bookmark function of the present invention also provides for the creation, editing, management, and display of bookmarked user profiles.
In one aspect of the present invention, a user profile pertains to the aspects of the operating system environment of the user's computer system which both manages the execution of one or more application programs for the user and also manages the arrangements of one or more display devices available to the user. In the following, for convenience only and without limitation, these aspect of the operating system environment are referred to as the “top” program level (or the “top level”), and the one or more operating system components responsible for the top program level are referred to as the “desktop” manager. In this aspect, therefore, the display arrangement described by a bookmarked user profile is the overall arrangement of application windows, iconic representations of running applications (such as minimized windows), system icons, and so forth presented on the user's display devices. The bookmarked user profile also optionally includes further user preferences relating to the operating system environment and available to all applications. Such preferences can include lists of commands to be executed, or background servers, such as database servers, that should be activated even if they have
De Greef Bart
Moshfeghi Mehran
Kincaid Kristine
Koninklijke Philips Electronics , N.V.
Vodopia John
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