Method and system for ordering on-screen windows for display

Abstract

A method and system for ordering on-screen windows for display is disclosed in which an active window partially overlaps an inactive window and hides a portion of the inactive window. The movement of a mouse pointer is monitored to determine its location on the screen. In response to the inactive window being selected with the mouse pointer, the inactive window is given focus to enable the inactive window to receive event signals even though a portion of the inactive window remains hidden, whereby original display depths of the windows is maintained.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for ordering on-screen windows for display in which an active window partially overlaps an inactive window and hides a portion of the inactive window, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) monitoring movement of a mouse pointer around the screen; and    (b) in response to the inactive window being selected with the mouse pointer, causing the inactive window to gain focus to enable the inactive window to receive event signals even though a portion of the inactive window remains hidden, whereby original display depths of the windows is maintained.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (b) further includes the step of: in response to the mouse pointer being moved over the hidden portion of the window, revealing the hidden portion of the window on the screen and enabling that portion of the window to also receive event signals.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein step (b) further includes the step of: in response to the mouse pointer being moved away from the revealed hidden portion of the inactive window, hiding the previously revealed portion of the inactive window.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein step (b) further includes the step of: in response to the mouse pointer being removed from boundaries of the focused window, returning the focus to the active window and hiding any previously revealed portions of the inactive window.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inactive window is selected by a user when the mouse pointer is clicked on a visible portion of the inactive window.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein if the mouse pointer is clicked on a title bar of the inactive window, the inactive window is made the active window, wherein the display depths of the windows are reordered such that the active window is moved to a forefront of the screen.  
     
     
         7 . A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for ordering on-screen windows for display in which an active window partially overlaps an inactive window and hides a portion of the inactive window, the program instructions for: 
 (a) monitoring movement of a mouse pointer around the screen; and    (b) in response to the inactive window being selected with the mouse pointer, causing the inactive window to gain focus to enable the inactive window to receive event signals even though a portion of the inactive window remains hidden, whereby original display depths of the windows is maintained.    
     
     
         8 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 7  wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of: in response to the mouse pointer being moved over the hidden portion of the window, revealing the hidden portion of the window on the screen and enabling that portion of the window to also receive event signals.  
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8  wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of: in response to the mouse pointer being moved away from the revealed hidden portion of the inactive window, hiding the previously revealed portion of the inactive window.  
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8  wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of: in response to the mouse pointer being removed from within boundaries of the focused window, returning the focus to the active window and hiding any previously revealed portions of the inactive window.  
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 7  wherein the inactive window is selected by a user when the mouse pointer is clicked on a visible portion of the inactive window.  
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein if the mouse pointer is clicked on a title bar of the inactive window, the inactive window is made the active window, wherein the display depths of the windows are reordered such that the active window is moved to a forefront of the screen.  
     
     
         13 . A computer system for ordering on-screen windows for display, comprising: 
 a display screen;    a computer coupled to the display screen; and    a computer program for displaying multiple windows on the display screen in which an active window partially overlaps an inactive window and hides a portion of the inactive window, the computer program having instructions for: 
 (a) monitoring movement of the mouse pointer around the screen; and  
 (b) in response to the inactive window being selected with the mouse pointer, causing the inactive window to gain focus to enable the inactive window to receive event signals even though a portion of the inactive window remains hidden, whereby original display depths of the windows is maintained.  
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of: in response to the mouse pointer being moved over the hidden portion of the window, revealing the hidden portion of the window on the screen and enabling that portion of the window to also receive event signals.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of: in response to the mouse pointer being moved away from the revealed hidden portion of the inactive window, hiding the previously revealed portion of the inactive window.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of: in response to the mouse pointer being removed from within boundaries of the focused window, returning the focus to the active window and hiding any previously revealed portions of the inactive window.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the inactive window is selected by a user when the mouse pointer is clicked on a visible portion of the inactive window.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein if the mouse pointer is clicked on a title bar of the inactive window, the inactive window is made the active window, wherein the display depths of the windows are reordered such that the active window is moved to a forefront of the screen.