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System and method for displaying status of background worker threads

a background worker and status display technology, applied in the field of status bars, can solve problems such as users not being able to appreciate that additional operations could be performed

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-05-12
IBM CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved system and method for showing a user that a task is executing in the background of which he should be aware and which may require action.

Problems solved by technology

This solved the problem of keeping the user informed but does so in an obtrusive manner which did not lead the user to appreciate that additional operations could be performed.

Method used

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  • System and method for displaying status of background worker threads
  • System and method for displaying status of background worker threads
  • System and method for displaying status of background worker threads

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0018] In accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention, the status of tasks running in the background is presented in a customizable and interactive status bar. Doing so has the usability advantage that the user is led to understand that multiple operations may be performed. A programmer that desires to display progress of a background task sends programmed commands for display in the status bar.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a dialog box 14 is a framed window within an application window 10. Application window 10 typically includes a title bar 12 at the top and a status bar at the bottom.

[0020] Status bar 28 typically shows status such as “you have new mail”, or an electric bolt that shows the application is busy on the network, or the like. Historically, status bar 28 is a read-only display.

[0021] Dialog box typically includes a title 16, some descriptive text 18, a progress display 20 showing a progress indicator or bar 24, and one or more control buttons, such as c...

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PUM

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Abstract

A system for displaying the status of a plurality of threaded tasks operating in the background includes a status bar; a progress control bar in the status bar for a primary task operating in the background and including a progress bar and first and second action buttons; the progress bar visually representing progress of a primary background operation; the first action button being selectable by a user for initiating an action with respect to the primary background operation and the second action button being selectable by a user for alternately displaying and canceling a drop list of secondary progress control bars for secondary tasks also operating in the background.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Technical Field of the Invention [0002] This invention pertains to the status bar of a graphical user interface. More particularly, it relates to a status bar configured to display status and provide programmable control of tasks executing in the background. [0003] 2. Background Art [0004] For operating systems that support multi-tasking, worker threads allow non-visual tasks to be run in the background, freeing up the application's user interface for more user operations. The Notes Client is such an operating system. Tasks are of two types: those associated with a window tab, and those that aren't. Examples of tasks or operations that use a multi-threaded back end include archive, database copy, replace design, refresh design, analyze, extract, and file detach. [0005] Users typically need or desire to know the status of such tasks running in the background. Heretofore, this need has been accommodated by displaying a dialog box with a progress i...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06F3/033G06F3/048G06F9/44
CPCG06F9/4443G06F3/04847G06F9/451
Inventor ANDREAS, WILLIAM S.FOSTER, JEFFREY P.
Owner IBM CORP
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