Computer system with graphical user interface including drawer-like windows

A method for organizing a graphic workspace on a computer including a display having a graphic workspace, and a pointing device by which a user positions a cursor on the display, comprising:

• storing a plurality of objects, wherein objects comprise processing units which occupy a window on the display when opened;
• managing a plurality of windows within a window region having a perimeter in the graphic workspace on the display corresponding to opened objects, wherein the plurality of windows includes application windows providing area in the window region for application programs and enclosure windows providing area within the window region to display icons corresponding to related objects;
• providing a control region near the perimeter of the window region and an identifier within the control region corresponding to a particular window;
• displaying the particular window in the window region in response to user gestures of the pointing device indicating selection of the identifier;
• and
• removing the particular window from the window region in response to completion of a drag operation within the particular window, the drag operation comprising associating an object, of the plurality of objects, with a cursor.

A computer-readable medium having executable instructions stored thereon to cause a computer to perform a method for organizing a graphic workspace on a display of the computer, the method comprising:

• storing a plurality of objects, wherein objects comprise processing units which occupy a window on the display when opened;
• managing and displaying a plurality of windows within a window region of the graphic workspace, wherein one or more windows in the plurality of windows may overlap and obscure other windows in the plurality of windows within the window region;
• providing a control region within the graphic workspace and an identifier within the control region, the identifier corresponding to a particular window;
• responding to user input indicating selection of the identifier within the control region by displaying the particular window in the window region;
• and
• removing the particular window from the window region in response to completion of a drag operation within the particular window, the drag operation comprising associating an object, of the plurality of objects, with a cursor.

A computer-readable medium having executable instructions stored thereon to cause a computer to perform a method for organizing a graphic workspace on a display for the computer, the computer including a pointing device by which a user positions a cursor on the display, the method comprising:

• storing a plurality of objects, wherein objects comprise processing units which occupy a window on the display when opened;
• managing a plurality of windows within a window region having a perimeter in the graphic workspace on the display corresponding to opened objects, wherein the plurality of windows includes application windows providing area in the window region for application programs and enclosure windows providing area within the window region to display icons corresponding to related objects;
• providing a control region near the perimeter of the window region;
• providing an identifier within the control region corresponding to a particular window;
• displaying the particular window in the window region in response to user gestures of the pointing device indicating selection of the identifier;
• and
• removing the particular window from the window region in response to completion of a drag operation within the particular window, the drag operation comprising associating an object, of the plurality of objects, with a cursor.

An apparatus for organizing a graphic workspace on a computer including a display having a graphic workspace, comprising:

• memory means for storing a plurality of objects, wherein objects comprise processing units which occupy a window on the display when opened;
• first window management means, coupled with the display, for managing and displaying a plurality of windows within a window region of the graphic workspace, wherein one or more windows in the plurality of windows may overlap and obscure other windows in the plurality of windows within the window region;
• second window management means, coupled with the display and the first window management means, for providing a control region within the graphic workspace, and an identifier within the control region corresponding to a particular window, and for responding to user input indicating selection of the identifier within the control region for displaying the particular window in the window region;
• and
• means for removing the particular window from the window region in response to completion of a drag operation within the particular window, the drag operation comprising associating an object, of the plurality of objects, with a cursor.

An apparatus for organizing a graphic workspace on a computer including a display having a graphic workspace, and a pointing device by which a user positions a cursor on the display, comprising:

• memory means for storing a plurality of objects, wherein objects comprise processing units which occupy a window on the display when opened;
• first window management means, coupled with the display, for managing a plurality of windows within a window region having a perimeter in the graphic workspace on the display corresponding to opened objects, wherein the plurality of windows includes application windows providing area within the window region for application programs and enclosure windows providing area within the window region to display icons corresponding to related objects;
• second window management means, coupled with the display and the first window management means, for providing a control region near the parameter of the window region and an identifier within the control region corresponding to a particular window, and for displaying the particular window in the window region, in response to user gestures of the pointing device indicating selection of the identifier;
• and
• means for removing the particular window from the window region in response to completion of a drag operation within the particular window, the drag operation comprising associating an object, of the plurality of objects, with a cursor.