Window scroll bar

#The present invention relates in general to improved information processing systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system for the generation of a window scroll-bar.

#Early computer systems were controlled by batch operating systems. These systems had limited interaction with users of the system. An operator needed to load the job to be run and then send the output to a printer. With the advent of time-sharing operating systems, such as the IBM System 370, interactive computing became the norm. Time-sharing operating systems allowed many users to use the computer's resources simultaneously, so that all users appeared to have their own computer system. All users had their own terminal, which was connected to the central computer system. This terminal typically consisted of a display and a keyboard. To the user, this terminal appeared to be an interactive computer system in its own right. the advent of computer systems that allowed truly interactive computer applications came a proliferation of user interfaces. Some of these interfaces were command driven, others where menu driven, but they all allowed the user to work on only one task or application from a given terminal at a time.

#Today, the state-of-the-art for computer systems and user interfaces has advanced beyond the single-task interface. Inexpensive, personal computers and workstations with powerful, graphics processors and multi-tasking, operating systems have changed the way users interact with computer systems. With these operating systems, the user can simultaneously work on many tasks at once, each task being confined to its own display panel, called a window. This interface allows the presentation of multiple windows in potentially-overlapping relationships on a display screen. The user can thus retain a window on the screen while temporarily superimposing a further window entirely or partially overlapping the retained window. This enables users to divert their attention from a first window to one or more secondary windows for assistance and/or reference, so that overall user interaction can be improved. There can be many windows with active applications running at once. As the number of open windows becomes large and the screen becomes cluttered, it becomes more and more difficult for the user to find the desired window because it may be overlaid by several other windows.

#FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a computer system that can be utilized to implement a preferred embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a representative hardware environment of the processing unit of the computer system illustrated in FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram of software stored within the memory of the computer system depicted in FIG. 1.

#With reference now to the figures and in particular with reference to FIG. 1, there is depicted an embodiment of a computer system that can be utilized to implement the preferred embodiment. Computer system 110 includes processing unit 112, display device 114, keyboard 116, pointing device 118, printer 120, and speakers 126. Processing unit 112 receives input data from input devices such as keyboard 116, pointing device 118, and local area network interfaces (not illustrated) and presents output data to a user via display device 114, printer 120, and speakers 126.

#Keyboard 116 is that part of computer system 110 that resembles a typewriter keyboard and that enables a user to control particular aspects of the computer. Because information flows in one direction, from keyboard 114 to processing unit 112, keyboard 116 functions as an input-only device. Functionally, keyboard 116 represents half of a complete input/output device, the output half being video display terminal 114. Keyboard 116 includes a standard set of printable characters presented in a “QWERTY” pattern typical of most typewriters. In addition, keyboard 116 includes a calculator-like numeric keypad at one side. Some of these keys, such as the “control,” “alt,” and “shift” keys can be utilized to change the meaning of another key. Other special keys and combinations of keys can be utilized to control program operations or to move either text or cursor on the display screen of video-display terminal 114.

#Video-display terminal 114 is the visual output of computer system 110. As indicated herein, video-display terminal 114 can be a cathode-ray tube (CRT) based video display well-known in the art of computer hardware. But, with a portable or notebook-based computer, video-display terminal 114 can be replaced with a liquid crystal display (LCD) based or gas, plasma-based, flat-panel display.