Undockable sub-windows

Abstract

A system, method, and medium are disclosed for undocking content from a window into sub-windows. The undocked sub-windows may be redocked to the parent window. The sub-windows may continue to exist after an application providing the window has been closed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A graphical user interface for undocking content from a window, comprising: 
 a first display portion representing said window of an open application, said window containing a first content section;    a second display portion comprising a containable control window and a container window including said first content section, said second display portion being displayed in response to a user input requesting separation of said first content section from said window,    wherein said second display portion retains said first content section after said open application has been closed.    
     
     
         2 . The user interface according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a third display portion representing a button, wherein said user input is an activation of said button.    
     
     
         3 . The user interface according to  claim 1 , wherein said first display portion including said window containing said first content section includes at least a second content section.  
     
     
         4 . The user interface according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least second content section remains in said window after said second display portion is displayed with said first content section.  
     
     
         5 . The user interface according to  claim 1 , wherein said first content section remains in said window and said second display portion includes a copy of said first content section.  
     
     
         6 . The user interface according to  claim 1 , wherein said application is a web browser.  
     
     
         7 . A method for undocking content from a window in an application, said window displaying a document in HTML, including: 
 displaying said document in said window, said document being associated with a host address location and said document including at least an HTML delimiter designating undockable content therein;    receiving a user input indicating that said undockable content is to be undocked from said window;    creating a containable control window for said undockable content;    undocking said undockable content of said document from said window into a container window so as to display said undockable content for independent movement and manipulation from said window; and    altering said window.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , including the step of: 
 docking said container window back into said window.    
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said application is a web browser and said altering step includes navigating said web browser to a new host address location including additional undockable content different from said undockable content.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said altering step includes closing said web browser while maintaining said container window with said additional undockable content.  
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for undocking content from a window in an application, said window 
 displaying a document in HTML, said steps comprising: displaying said content in said window;    receiving a user input indicating that said content is to be undocked from said window;    undocking said content from said window into a container window; and    altering said window.    
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium method according to  claim 11 , including the step of: 
 docking said container window into a different instance of said application.    
     
     
         13 . A system of computer executable modules for undocking content from a display window in a graphical environment, the system comprising: 
 a control object module configurable to undocked content from a display window and to create a container window for independent movement and user interaction within said graphical environment different from said display window;    a rendering control module configurable to receive and display said undocked content in said container window; and    an automation object module configurable to interact with said undocked content responsive to said control object module.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said automation object module includes a plurality of settings for displaying said undocked content in container window.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said undockable content is selected from a group comprising computer readable images, text, and sounds.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said control object module is configured to dock a previously undocked content into said display window.  
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for undocking content from a window in an application, said window displaying a document in HTML, the steps comprising: 
 displaying said document in said window, said document being associated with a host address location and said document including at least an HTML delimiter designating undockable content therein;    receiving a user input indicating that said undockable content is to be undocked from said window;    creating a containable window for said undockable content;    undocking said undockable content of said document from said window into a sub-window so as to display said undockable content for independent movement and manipulation from said window; and    altering said window.    
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium method according to  claim 17 , wherein said application is a web browser and said altering step includes navigating said web browser to a new host address location including additional undockable content different from said undockable content.  
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium method according to  claim 18 , wherein said altering step includes closing said web browser while maintaining said container window with said additional undockable content.  
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium method according to  claim 18 , including the step of: 
 docking said container window back into said window.