Method of Selecting an Application Target Window in a User Interface

Abstract

A method for controlling application windows is provided for use with a graphical user interface (GUI) display which is divided into at least first and second application windows. Various software applications may be launched in the first and second application windows. In order to switch locations of the software applications launched in the first and second application windows the user selects a swap window button, for example by tapping or clicking on a swap window icon on the GUI display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling application windows on a graphical user interface (GUI) display, the method comprising the steps of:
 configuring a first portion of said GUI display into a first application window and a second application window;   launching a first software application in said first application window;   launching a second software application in said second application window;   accepting a first user selection of a swap window button, wherein said first user selection is made by a user of said GUI display, and wherein said swap window button is represented on said GUI display by a swap window icon; and   switching said first software application to said second application window and switching said second software application to said first application window in response to said first user selection of said swap window button.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of switching said first software application to said first application window and switching said second software application to said second application window in response to a second user selection of said swap window button, wherein said second user selection is made after said first user selection. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying said swap window icon between said first and second application windows. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying said swap window icon adjacent to an intersection of said first and second application windows. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said GUI display is comprised of a touch-screen, wherein said step of accepting said first user selection of said swap window button is comprised of the step of said user tapping said swap window icon on said touch-screen. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of accepting said first user selection of said swap window button is comprised of the steps of placing a cursor over said swap window icon with a mouse controller and clicking said swap window button with a mouse controller button. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a taskbar on a second portion of said GUI display; and   displaying a plurality of icons within said taskbar, wherein each of said plurality of icons represents a corresponding one of a plurality of software applications, wherein said plurality of software applications include said first and second software applications, wherein said step of launching said first software application is performed in response to a user selection of a first icon of said plurality of icons, and wherein said step of launching said second software application is performed in response to a user selection of a second icon of said plurality of icons.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said GUI display is mounted within a vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of software applications include at least two of an entertainment system application, a navigation system application, an energy tracking application, a browser application, a camera application and a phone application. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of persistent controls on a third portion of said GUI display. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of persistent controls include at least one of a vehicle settings controller, a passenger cabin temperature controller, a vehicle seat warmer controller, an audio volume controller, and a defroster controller. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of pre-sizing said first and second application windows.