Claims
- 1. A computer-based method of visually delineating a relationship between related graphical windows in a graphical user interface, the method comprising:associating an icon with multiple, related graphical windows; displaying at least one watermark replica of said icon in a visible area of each related graphical window that is displayed; wherein said displayed graphical windows are recognizable as related by the persistence of said watermark; and wherein said watermark provides user assistance when traversing a series of graphical templates.
- 2. A computer-based method of visually delineating a relationship between related graphical windows, as per claim 1, wherein said watermark is sized to fit substantially within said visible area.
- 3. A computer-based method of visually delineating a relationship between related graphical windows, as per claim 1, wherein said displayed graphical windows are visually overlapped within a single electronic display space.
- 4. A computer-based method of visually delineating a relationship between related graphical windows, as per claim 1, wherein said multiple graphical windows are located located locally or across networks.
- 5. A computer-based method of delineating a relationship between graphical windows related to an application program comprising:associating an icon with said application program; creating, in computer storage, a watermark of said icon; displaying a first graphical window related to said application program; displaying a second graphical window related to said application program; displaying at least one replica of said watermark within a visible area of said first graphical window; displaying at least one replica of said watermark within a visible area of said second graphical window, wherein said first and second graphical windows are recognizable as related to said application program by the persistence of said replicas; and wherein said watermark provides user assistance when traversing a series of graphical windows.
- 6. A computer-based method of delineating a relationship between related graphical windows, as per claim 5, wherein a plurality of said replicas are sized to fit substantially within the visible areas of said first and second windows.
- 7. A computer-based method of delineating a relationship between related graphical windows, as per claim 5, wherein said first and second graphical windows are overlapped within a single electronic display space.
- 8. A computer-based method of delineating a relationship between related graphical windows, as per claim 5, wherein said replicas provide user assistance when traversing a series of graphical templates.
- 9. A computer-based method of delineating a relationship between related graphical windows, as per claim 5, wherein said first and second graphical windows are located locally or across networks.
- 10. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, said computer program product comprising:a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means included in said medium: said computer readable program code means embodying a method for associating an icon with an application program; creating a watermark of said icon; displaying a first graphical window related to said application program; displaying a second object graphical window related to said application program; displaying at least one replica of said watermark within a visible area of said first graphical window; displaying at least one replica of said watermark within a visible area of said second graphical window, wherein said first and second graphical windows are recognizable as related to said application program by the persistence of said replicas; and wherein said watermark provides user assistance when traversing a series of graphical windows.
- 11. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, as per claim 10, wherein a plurality of said replicas are sized to fit substantially within the visible areas of said first and second windows.
- 12. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, as per claim 10, wherein said first and second graphical windows are overlapped within a single electronic display space.
- 13. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, as per claim 10, wherein said replicas provide user assistance when traversing a series of graphical templates.
- 14. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, as per claim 10, wherein said first and second graphical windows are located locally or across networks.
- 15. A computer-based system delineating a relationship between graphical windows related to an application program comprising:an icon associated with said application program; a watermark of said icon; a first graphical window related to said application program; a second graphical windows related to said application program; wherein at least one replica of said watermark is displayed within a visible area of said first graphical window; wherein at least one replica of said watermark is displayed within a visible area of said second graphical window, wherein said first and second graphical windows are recognizable as related to said application program by the persistence of said replicas; and wherein said watermark provides user assistance when traversing a series of graphical windows.
- 16. A computer-based system delineating a relationship between graphical windows related to an application program, as per claim 15, wherein a plurality of said replicas are sized to fit substantially within the visible areas of said first and second graphical windows.
- 17. A computer-based system delineating a relationship between graphical windows related to an application program, as per claim 15, wherein said first and second graphical windows are located locally or across networks.
- 18. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, said computer program product comprising:a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means included in said medium: said computer readable program code means embodying a method for associating an icon with multiple, related graphical windows; displaying at least one watermark replica of said icon in a visible area of each related graphical window that is displayed; wherein said displayed graphical windows are recognizable as related by the persistence of said icon; and wherein said watermark provides user assistance when traversing a series of graphical templates.
- 19. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, as per claim 18, wherein said watermark is sized to fit substantially within the visible area.
- 20. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, as per claim 18, wherein said displayed graphical windows are visually overlapped within a single electronic display space.
- 21. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, as per claim 18, wherein said multiple graphical windows are located locally or across networks.
- 22. A computer-based system delineating a relationship between related graphical windows in a graphical user interface comprising:an icon associated with multiple, related graphical windows; at least one watermark replica of said icon displayed in a visible area of each related graphical window that is displayed; wherein said displayed graphical windows are recognizable as related by the persistence of said icon; and wherein said watermark provides user assistance when traversing a series of graphical templates locally or across networks.
RELATED MATERIALS
This application is related to the following commonly owned applications which are hereby incorporated by reference:
Color & Symbol Coded Visual Cue for Relating Screen Menu to Executed Process, U.S. application Ser. No. 08/954,852, filed Oct. 21, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (16)