Method and apparatus for dynamically resizing windows

[0001] The present invention concerns the field of graphical user interfaces for computer systems. Specifically, the invention is directed towards methods and apparatus for resizing windows.

[0002] Oftentimes, when working in a single computer application, or among several, it is desirable to resize more than one user interface window at the same time. This is especially true for computer applications that use multiple different windows to present information to the user. For example, professional video editing applications such as Apple Computer's Final Cut Pro provides an editor to integrate video and audio clips, as well as add in special effects to a presentation, each of which is represented by a different window of the graphical user interface. The presence of several different windows that must be coordinated with one another makes individual movement and resizing of the windows time consuming and tedious. Therefore, there is a need for a method that allows the simultaneous movement and/or resizing of several windows.

[0003] The present invention provides a method for resizing windows. In some embodiments of the invention, a method for resizing windows is provided, where the method involves the following steps: selecting a seam bordering at least one window; building a list of at least three windows, where the list contains the window bordering the selected seam; and, resizing at least three windows on the list in response to movement of the seam by a user.

[0004] In other embodiments of the invention, a method for resizing windows is provided, where the method involves the following steps: selecting a seam bordering at least one window; building a list of windows, where the list contains the window bordering the selected seam; and, resizing at least one window on the list in response to movement of the seam by a user, where the window contains a display, and where the aspect ratio of the display is maintained after resizing.

[0005] In other embodiments of the invention, a method for resizing windows is provided, where the method involves the following steps: selecting a seam bordering at least one window; building a list of at least two windows, where the list contains the window bordering the selected seam; and, resizing at least a first and second window on the list in response to movement of the seam by a user, wherein the first window has a predefined relationship with the second window, and where the predefined relationship provides that the resizing of the second window is proportional to the resizing of the first window.

[0006] In other embodiments of the invention, a method for resizing windows is provided, where the method involves the following steps: selecting a seam bordering at least one window; building a list of at least two windows, where the list contains the window bordering the selected seam; and, resizing at least one window on the list while moving a non-resizable window on the list in response to movement of the seam by a user.

[0007] The present invention also provides an apparatus for resizing windows. In some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus is a computer readable medium comprising a computer program for resizing windows. The computer program comprises sets of instructions for: selecting a seam bordering at least one window; building a list of at least three windows, where the list contains the window bordering the selected seam; and, resizing at least three windows on the list in response to movement of the seam by a user.

[0008] In other embodiments of the invention, the computer program of the computer readable medium comprises sets of instructions for: selecting a seam bordering at least one window; building a list of windows, where the list contains the window bordering the selected seam; and, resizing at least one window on the list in response to movement of the seam by a user, where the window contains a display, and where the aspect ratio of the display is maintained after resizing.

[0009] In other embodiments of the invention, the computer program of the computer readable medium comprises sets of instructions for: selecting a seam bordering at least one window; building a list of at least two windows, where the list contains the window bordering the selected seam; and, resizing at least a first and second window on the list in response to movement of the seam by a user, wherein the first window has a predefined relationship with the second window, and where the predefined relationship provides that the resizing of the second window is proportional to the resizing of the first window.

[0010] In other embodiments of the invention, the computer program of the computer readable medium comprises sets of instructions for: selecting a seam bordering at least one window; building a list of at least two windows, where the list contains the window bordering the selected seam; and, resizing at least one window on the list while moving a non-resizable window on the list in response to movement of the seam by a user.

[0026] In the following description, numerous details are set forth for purpose of explanation. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the invention may be practiced without the use of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the description of the invention with unnecessary detail. The present invention will be described with reference to a video editing program, however, the graphical user interface teachings of the present invention may be used in any application.

[0027] The invention provides a method for dynamically resizing computer windows. In this case, “dynamically resizing” refers to the resizing of more than one window through a single action, such as the activation and dragging of a cursor. This is in contrast to typical window resizing events, where a single action simply alters the size of a single window.

[0028] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in reference to the Figures, which depict screens and window manipulations within FINAL CUT PRO, a professional nonlinear video editor. FIG. 1A illustrates a graphical user interface (“GUI”) 100 consisting of six different user interface windows: Browser window 101 which possesses sides 107, 108, 109, and 110; Viewer window 102 which possesses sides 111, 112, 113, and 114; Canvas window 103 which contains sides 115, 116, 117, and 118; the Timeline window 104 which possesses sides 119, 120, 121, and 122; Palette 105 which possesses sides 123, 124, 125 and 126; and, Palette 106 which possesses sides 127, 128, 129, and 130.

[0029] Seams exist where any sides of two different windows come into contact with one another. For instance, the following seams are shown as dark lines between windows: the dark line between side 109 and side 111 is seam 131; the dark line between side 113 and side 115 is seam 132; the dark line between 110 and 120 is seam 133; the dark line between side 114 and side 120 is seam 134; the dark line between side 118 and side 120 is seam 135; the dark line between side 118 and side 124 is seam 136; the dark line between side 118 and side 128 is seam 137; the dark line between side 121 and side 123 is seam 138; and, the dark line between side 125 and side 127 is seam 139.

[0030] The sizes of the various windows may be adjusted by using a cursor controlled by a cursor control device such as a computer mouse. In FIG. 1A, a cursor 140 is position over seam 134 located between viewer window 102 and timeline window 104.

[0031] FIG. 1B is a modification of FIG. 1A, where cursor 140 has been activated by a mouse click to select seam 134 and subsequently dragged upward. Seam 134 is moved upward, as are contiguous seams 133, 135, 136, and 137. In this particular embodiment of the invention, where a selected seam is contiguous with another seam or seams, movement of the selected seam effects equivalent movement in the contiguous seam(s).

[0032] Certain window data and windows are treated in a special manner. Specifically, a rule may specify if the aspect ratio of data within a window must be kept consistent. For example, there is a rule that maintains the aspect ratio—4:3 aspect ratio in this case—of the data displays within Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103 despite resizing. Other windows, such as Palettes 105 and 106, cannot be changed in size. Based on the movement of seams 136 and 137, Palettes 105 and 106 were moved upward, but not vertically expanded. This is due to a rule that defines palettes as non-resizable windows. In other words, the shape and size of palettes is maintained even though an adjacent seam is selected and dragged.

[0033] The size ratios of different windows may be locked such that any resizing of one window will affect the other window. For example, referring back to FIG. 1A, Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103 may be locked to each other. Thus, if cursor 140 was first placed on seam 131, then activated by a mouse click, and finally dragged to the right, the final output will appear as illustrated in FIG. 1C. Specifically, both seam 131 and seam 132 were moved in the process, which was due to the predefined window relationship between Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103. The window relationship ensures that the size ratio of Viewer window 102 to Canvas window 103 is maintained. Resizing Viewer window 102 accordingly resulted in the equivalent resizing of Canvas 103.

[0034] FIG. 2A illustrates another embodiment of a graphical user interface consisting of the same six windows as described in FIG. 1A. The primary difference is that Browser window 101 has been moved downward into the bottom row of windows, and Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103 have been expanded to fill the top row of windows. For the purposes of describing this figure, elements are numbered the same as for FIG. 1A, except that the dark line between Browser window side 108 and Viewer window side 114 is seam 141, and the dark line between Browser window side 109 and Timeline window side 119 is seam 142. Cursor 140 is over seam 142.

[0035] Nonresizeable windows cannot be placed into locked aspect ratio relationships. For example, FIG. 2B is a modification of FIG. 2A, where cursor 140 has been placed on seam 142, activated by a mouse click, and subsequently dragged to the left. The dragging motion resulted in the leftward movement of seam 142, thereby expanding the width of Timeline window 104 and contracting the width of Browser 101. However, Palettes 105 and 106 neither moved nor changed shape. Furthermore, neither the width nor height of either Viewer window 102 or Canvas window 103 was affected by the movement of seam 142 since seam 142 is not shared with either of those windows.

[0036] FIG. 3A illustrates a graphical user interface consisting of 7 different windows. Six of the windows are the same as for FIG. 2A. Tool Bench window 143 has been added to the upper row of windows. Tool Bench window 143 has sides 144, 145, 146, and 147. The dark line between Tool Bench side 144 and Canvas side 117 is seam 148; the dark line between Tool Bench side 147 and Palette side 124 is seam 149; and, the dark line between Tool Bench side 147 and Palette side 128 is seam 150. Cursor 140 is over top of seam 132.

[0037] Locked size ratio relationships may be modified by adjusting a common seam between two windows with a locked size ratio relationship. As previously set forth, there may be a lock size ratio relationship between Viewer window 102 and window Canvas 103. To adjust the locked size ratio relationship, common seam 132 between Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103. FIG. 3B is a modification of FIG. 3A, where cursor 140 has been placed on seam 132, activated by a mouse click, and subsequently dragged to the left. The dragging motion resulted in the leftward movement of seam 132 to adjust the size ratio relationship between Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103, thereby defining a new size ratio relationship. Note that although the size relationship of the two windows was altered, the 4:3 aspect ratio of the display screen data within the windows was maintained.

[0038] FIG. 3B also illustrates there is a minimum size for the various windows. After cursor 140 was activated, it was dragged as far left as possible. However, Viewer window 102 only resized with respect to width by only a limited amount. In other words, once Viewer window 102 reached a predefined minimal size, it ceased to resize.

[0039] The new size ratio will remain locked. FIG. 4A illustrates a graphical user interface consisting of the same seven windows as in FIG. 3A wherein Cursor 140 is located over top of seam 148. FIG. 4B is a modification of FIG. 4A, where cursor 140 has been activated by a mouse click and subsequently dragged to the right. The dragging motion resulted in the rightward movements of both seam 148 and seam 132 (due to the locked size ratio relationship). The adjustment results in a corresponding proportional increase in the widths of Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103. The proportional increase was, as mentioned above, due to the predetermined size ratio relationship between Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103, as modified in FIG. 3B.

[0040] A locked size ratio is usually maintained only until a size limit is reached as show in FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A illustrates a graphical user interface consisting of the same seven windows as in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5B is a modification of FIG. 5A, where cursor 140 has been placed over seam 148, activated by a mouse click, and subsequently dragged to the left. The dragging motion resulted in the leftward movements of both seam 148 and seam 132 until window 102 reaches its minimum size. After that point, the preset size relationship between Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103 is not maintained. Seam 148 was dragged as far left as possible, which led to the maximal decrease in width for both Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103. Once the maximal decrease (i.e., minimum window size) was achieved for Viewer window 102, dragging continued until the minimum window size for Canvas window 103 was achieved.

[0041] Non resizable windows will adjust the size of resizable windows that are encountered upon moving the non resizable window. FIG. 6A illustrates a graphical user interface consisting of the same seven windows as in FIG. 5A. Cursor 140 is over top of seam 152, which is formed at the boundary of Palette side 125 and the edge of the screen 151.

[0042] FIG. 6B is a modification of FIG. 6A, where cursor 140 has been activated by a mouse click and subsequently dragged to the left a little more than one palette width. As previously set forth, in this embodiment of the invention, palettes are defined as non-resizable windows. Thus, when the user moves the non resizable palette, the first seam that is encountered that borders a resizable window, and that runs parallel to the seam being dragged, will also be moved. Thus, the leftward movement of seam 152 resulted in the leftward movement of seam 138 formed with the timeline window. After movement of seam 152, Palette 106 was moved upward and adjacent to the right hand side of Palette 105.

[0043] FIG. 6C is a modification of FIG. 6B, where cursor 140 was placed over top of Palette side 129 (which functions as seam 153 in this case), was activated by a mouse click, and was subsequently dragged to the left. The dragging motion resulted in the leftward movement of seams 153, 139, and 138. As for FIG. 6B, the rule regarding movement of a palette provides for the movement of the three seams (i.e., movement of Palettes 105 and 106 and resizing of Timeline 104). When seam 153 is moved, this embodiment of the invention searches for the first resizable window in the direction of drag. The first seam to the left of 153 is 139, which borders a non-resizable window (Palette 105). Palette 105 is accordingly moved, and the invention proceeds to find the first seam bordering a resizable window—seam 138.

[0044] FIG. 7A illustrates a single window, Canvas 103, which contains display portion 154. Canvas 103 is at its minimum height. Display portion 154 does not horizontally fill a substantial portion of Canvas 103, because a 4:3 aspect ratio for the display must be maintained.

[0045] FIG. 7B illustrates the same window as FIG. 7A, Canvas 103, where it has been resized such that it is at its minimum width but not minimum height. Video clip 154, in this case, does not vertically fill a substantial portion of Canvas 103, again because its aspect ratio must be maintained.

[0046] FIG. 8A illustrates a graphical user interface consisting of the same seven windows as in FIG. 6A. Cursor 140 is over the intersection of seams 132, 133, 134 and 142.

[0047] FIG. 8B is a modification of FIG. 8A, where cursor 140 has been activated by a mouse click and subsequently dragged to the right. The dragging motion resulted in the rightward movement of seam 142. In this case, an upward or downward dragging motion would not have resulted in the movement of seam 133. This invention embodiment contains a rule where the activation and movement of a cursor at the intersection of two seams can cause resizing of a window or windows in the horizontal but not vertical direction.

[0048] FIG. 9 illustrates a one pixel overlap between Viewer window 102 and Browser window 101, where Browser window 101 is lying over a portion of Viewer window 102. Seams 132 and 142 are considered vertically continuous. Accordingly, if a user selects and moves seam 132, seam 142 will also be moved.

[0049] FIG. 10A illustrates a graphical user interface consisting of the same seven windows as in FIG. 8A. Cursor 140 has been positioned over seam 132.

[0050] FIG. 10B is a modification of FIG. 10A, where cursor 140 has been activated by a mouse click and subsequently dragged to the left. The dragging motion resulted in the leftward movement of seam 132. The movement left a vertical opening 155 between Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103, as well as Browser window 101 and Timeline window 104. The vertical opening 155 exposes the screen underneath the windows.

[0051] FIG. 10C is a modification of FIG. 10B, where cursor 140 has been placed on top of seam 141, activated by a mouse click and subsequently dragged downward. The dragging motion resulted in the downward movement of seam 141, which resulted in the vertical expansion of Viewer window 102 and vertical contraction of Browser window 101. No other windows were resized in the process.

[0052] FIG. 11A illustrates one possible embodiment of a process that dynamically resizes windows. The process 156 initially detects (at step 157) whether a cursor is over a particular seam. Once such a cursor is detected, a timer is started at step 158. At preset intervals (e.g., one tenth of a second), the cursor is examined at step 159 to see whether it is still over the original seam. The cursor is not altered if it is not. If it is, then a determination is made at step 160 as to whether the cursor has been over the seam long enough (e.g., half a second) to indicate an intention to select the seam. At step 161, the cursor display is changed to show that the seam can be selected upon cursor activation.

[0053] Once the cursor is activated (e.g., depression of mouse button) at step 162, a list of windows associated with the seam is built at step 165. The windows are subsequently modified (e.g., resized) based on cursor movement at step 166. If the cursor is not activated, the cursor is examined at step 163 to determine whether it is still over the original seam. Where it is not, the cursor display is changed back at step 164 such that it no longer indicates an intention to select the seam.

[0054] FIG. 11B illustrates a process 167 by which the list of windows associated with the seam is built at step 165 in process 156 (FIG. 11A). After a seam has been activated by depressing the cursor at step 162, windows on either side of the activated seam are added to the list at step 168. Next, at step 169, the system determines whether any additional seams are contiguous with the activated seam. If so, then the contiguous seam is selected at step 170. The contiguous seam is examined at step 171 to determine if it is a vertical seam. Vertical, continuous seams are further analyzed with respect to their location. Specifically, at step 172, the process examines if the boundary of the selected and activated seams is at an intersection of two different seams. Where it is, the window on either side of the continuous, vertical seam is added to the list at step 173. Should the seam at step 171 be a horizontal rather than a vertical seam, then the window on either side of the seam is added directly to the list at step 173.

[0055] After step 173 of the process 167, it is determined whether any other contiguous seams need to be examined at step 174. If so, then steps 170 through 174 are repeated until all contiguous seams have been analyzed. After analyzing all the seams, then the non-resizable windows are analyzed at step 175. The analysis of non-resizable windows which is further explained 177 in FIG. 1C. Finally, at step 176, any windows having a resizing relationship to a window on the list are added to the list. An example of windows having a resizing relationship is Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103 discussed above in reference to the figures.

[0056] FIG. 11C illustrates a process 177 by which non-resizable windows are examined in step 176 of process 167 (FIG. 11B). At step 178, it is determined whether there are any resizable windows on the list. If there are, then at 179 one of the listed non-resizable windows is selected. At step 180, a second edge of the non-resizable window is identified, where the second edge is parallel to a first edge of the non-resizable window that abuts an activated seam. Any window sharing such a second edge is first identified at step 181 and then added to the list at step 182. Whether there are any non-resizable windows on the list that have not been examined is determined at step 183. If there are, then steps 179 through 183 are repeated until all non-resizable windows have been examined.

[0057] FIG. 11D illustrates a process 184 by which windows are modified based on cursor movement in step 166 of process 156 (FIG. 11A). The operating system is directed to delay the screen refresh by one second at step 185. This delay allows window movements that take less than one second to appear as though they occur simultaneously. At step 186, the direction of window movement is identified, and whether any expanding windows have not been examined is determined at step 187. If there are expanding windows that have not been examined, one is selected at step 188. The selected window is examined as to whether it is resizable at step 189. Resizable windows are resized at step 191 unless the minimum size limit for the subject window has been reached. Such a size limit is illustrated in reference to the Viewer window 102 and Canvas window 103 shown in FIG. 5B. Furthermore, resizing at step 191 maintains any proportionality relationships predefined for displays contained in the window. Resized windows are stored in the frame buffer for display at step 192.

[0058] If at step 189, it is found that the selected, expanding window is not resizable, it is simply moved at step 190 without resizing. It is then stored in the frame buffer for display at step 192. Steps 187 through 192 are repeated until all expanding windows have been examined.

[0059] Once all expanding windows have been examined, whether there are any contracting windows that have not been examined is determined at step 193. If there are some that have not been examined, then at step 194 one is selected. If the selected window is resizable, as found at step 195, then the window is resized at step 197 and put in the queue for display at step 198. If the selected window is not resizable, it is moved without resizing.

[0060] FIG. 12 presents a computer system with which one embodiment of the invention is implemented. Computer system 1200 includes a bus 1205, a processor 1210, a system memory 1215, a read-only memory 1220, a permanent storage device 1225, input devices 1230, and output devices 1235.

[0061] The bus 1205 collectively represents all system, peripheral, and chipset buses that communicatively connect the numerous internal devices of the computer system 1200. For instance, the bus 1205 communicatively connects the processor 1210 with the read-only memory 1220, the system memory 1215, and the permanent storage device 1225.

[0062] From these various memory units, the processor 1210 retrieves instructions to execute and data to process in order to execute the processes of the invention. The read-only-memory (ROM) 1220 stores static data and instructions that are needed by the processor 1210 and other modules of the computer system.

[0063] The permanent storage device 1225, on the other hand, is a read-and-write memory device. This device is a non-volatile memory unit that stores instructions and data even when the computer system 1200 is off. Some embodiments of the invention use a mass-storage device (such as a magnetic or optical disk and its corresponding disk drive) as the permanent storage device 1225.

[0064] Other embodiments use a removable storage device (such as a floppy disk or ZIP® disk, and its corresponding disk drive) as the permanent storage device. Like the permanent storage device 1225, the system memory 1215 is a read-and-write memory device. However, unlike storage device 1225, the system memory is a volatile read-and-write memory, such a random access memory. The system memory stores some of the instructions and data that the processor needs at runtime. In some embodiments, the invention's processes are stored in the system memory 1215, the permanent storage device 1225, and/or the read-only memory 1220.

[0065] The bus 1205 also connects to the input and output devices 1230 and 1235. The input devices enable the user to communicate information and select commands to the computer system. The input devices 1230 include alphanumeric keyboards and cursor-controllers. The output devices 1235 display images generated by the computer system. For instance, these devices display IC design layouts. The output devices include printers and display devices, such as cathode ray tubes (CRT) or liquid crystal displays (LCD).

[0066] Finally, as shown in FIG. 12, bus 1205 also couples computer 1200 to a network 1265 through a network adapter (not shown). In this manner, the computer can be a part of a network of computers (such as a local area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), or an Intranet, or a network of networks, such as the internet. Any or all components of computer system 1200 may be used in conjunction with the invention. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that any other system configuration may also be used in conjunction with the present invention.

[0067] While the invention has been described with reference to numerous specific details, ones of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, although the invention was discussed in terms of windows arising from a single application, it should be realized that windows from different applications can be dynamically resized. Also, even though the specific operating system used in the instant case was OS-10, other operating systems can readily be used. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.