Window Manager Tab Hierarchy for Cross-Application Organization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current graphical user interfaces (GUIs) lack efficient methods for managing and organizing tabs within windows, limiting user flexibility in tab manipulation and organization across multiple windows and applications.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that associate tabs with windows in a superior-subordinate hierarchical relationship, allowing for registration with a window manager to display organized representations of tabs using a predetermined organizational scheme, enabling users to move, copy, or delete tabs between windows, and manage tab relationships within a GUI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If tabs are managed within individual windows using traditional tab-bars, then each window can display multiple documents independently, but users cannot efficiently organize or manipulate tabs across multiple windows and applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new hierarchical dimension by creating a superior-subordinate relationship between windows and tabs. Instead of tabs being confined to individual window tab-bars (horizontal organization), the system adds a vertical organizational layer where windows can contain tabs from multiple applications, enabling cross-window tab management and organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The window manager is enhanced to serve dual functions: traditional window management and tab management. By making the window manager responsible for both windows and tabs, the system provides universal control over GUI elements, allowing users to manipulate tabs across different windows and applications through a single interface.
2Loss of time
If users manually manage tabs in each window separately, then each window maintains independent tab control, but users experience time loss when switching between windows to access specific tabs
Solution Approach 1:
The window manager is enhanced to serve dual functions: traditional window management and tab management. By making the window manager responsible for both windows and tabs, the system provides universal control over GUI elements, allowing users to manipulate tabs across different windows and applications through a single interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary hierarchical relationship between windows and tabs. The window acts as a container that can hold tabs from multiple applications, serving as a mediator that organizes tabs centrally. This intermediary structure allows users to access and manipulate tabs efficiently without switching between individual window tab-bars.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a hierarchical relationship is established between windows and tabs, then users can organize tabs across multiple windows systematically, but the GUI management system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The window manager is enhanced to serve dual functions: traditional window management and tab management. By making the window manager responsible for both windows and tabs, the system provides universal control over GUI elements, allowing users to manipulate tabs across different windows and applications through a single interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new hierarchical dimension by creating a superior-subordinate relationship between windows and tabs. Instead of tabs being confined to individual window tab-bars (horizontal organization), the system adds a vertical organizational layer where windows can contain tabs from multiple applications, enabling cross-window tab management and organization.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one general aspect, a computing device may include an application configured to create a tab in a context of a window, and a window manager configured to register the tab with a first UI element registry. The window manager may be configured to receive, over a network, at least a portion of a second UI element registry from a secondary window manager of a secondary computing device. The portion of the second UI element registry may identify a remote tab previously registered with the secondary window manager. The window manager may be configured to cause a display to provide a graphical arrangement of the tab and the remote tab.