WO2015185966A1

WO2015185966A1 - Graphical user interface for displaying windows on screen

Info

Publication number: WO2015185966A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/066516
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roman Kirillovitch IVANOV; Ilya Valentinovich Segalovich
Original assignee: Yandex Europe Ag; Yandex Llc; Yandex Inc.
Priority date: 2014-06-02
Filing date: 2014-12-02
Publication date: 2015-12-10

Abstract

Method for use on an electronic device having a graphical user interface displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen and having a user input device, comprising: Displaying a first window of a first application and a hyperlink within the first window. Receiving from a user of the electronic device a selection of the hyperlink as an indication 5 that the user is to be presented with data referenced by the hyperlink. Displaying in a second window the data referenced by the hyperlink, the second window being a virgin window. Receiving from the user of the electronic device a selection of a graphical element of the second window as an indication that the user is to be re-presented with the first window. Reorienting a focus of the graphical user interface such that one of the first window and 10 another window of the first application comes into focus.

Description

GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR DISPLAYING WINDOWS ON SCREEN

CROSS-REFERENCE [01] The present application claims convention priority to Russian Patent Application No. 2014122493, filed June 2, 2014, entitled "METHOD FOR USE ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE SUITABLE FOR DISPLAYING A PLURALITY OF WINDOWS ON A DISPLAY SCREEN" which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. FIELD

[02] The present technology relates to computer-implemented methods for use on an electronic device having a graphical user interface suitable for displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen associated with the electronic device.

BACKGROUND [03] Some software applications (e.g. Internet web browsers, Apple™ iTunes™, etc.) display in their windows two navigation buttons, a back button and a forward button. Such applications track a history which information pages (e.g. web pages, music item pages, etc.) a user has requested to be displayed over time. The navigations buttons allow a user to navigate through their history of information pages having been displayed to the user in the past.

[04] The following very simple example may be used to illustrate the navigation buttons' use. Assuming a user first starts their Internet web browser, and on start-up the Internet web browser displays a virgin window (i.e. a window never previously have had any information displayed therein - a "new" window). The user then desires to look for information on "egg rolls". The user enters into the address bar the address of the Yandex™ search engine, www.yandex.com and is taken to the front page and is presented with a search bar. The user enters the search query "egg rolls" into the search bar and is presented with a search engine results page ("SERP") providing the user with the search results. The first listing in the search is for the web page entitled "Best Egg Roll Recipes - Allrecipes.com" at the web address "http://allrecipes.com/recipe/best-egg-rolls/". The title of the webpage is a hyperlink. The user clicks upon the hyperlink and is taken to the webpage at the aforementioned web address, which provides the user with an egg roll recipe.

[05] At this point, were the user to click on their web browser' s back button they would be returned to the web page that had been viewed immediately prior to the then current webpage, in this case, the SERP. Were the user again to click on their web browser's back button they would again be returned to the web page that had been viewed immediately prior to the then current webpage, in that case, the front page of the Yandex search engine. At that point, further clicks on the back button of the web browser (if allowed by the web browser at all) would be without effect since there was no web page that had been viewed immediately prior to the then current web page since the window had been a virgin window prior having displayed the front page of the Yandex search engine. However, were the user to click on their web browser' s forward button they would be taken to the web page that had been viewed immediately after the then current webpage, in this case, the SERP.

[06] While the conventional back and forward buttons described above are adequate for a user's navigational needs, enhanced navigational tools may be of some benefit in certain circumstances.

SUMMARY

[07] It is therefore an object of the present technology to provide for enhanced navigational tools for use a graphical user interface. [08] Continuing with the example of an Internet web browser, it is possible for an Internet web browser to be invoked and requested to display the Internet resource at particular address by another application. For example, a user may receive a hyperlink in an e-mail message, and when that e-mail message is displayed, the user may click on that hyperlink. In some circumstances (e.g. depending on the e-mail application, the web browser application, the operating systems and the various settings of the foregoing), that click in the e-mail application will cause the web browser to be invoked and requested to display the Internet resource at the address specified by the hyperlink. In such a case, the web browser will likely open a virgin window (or virgin tab in an existing window) which will have the focus of the operating system, the web browser will show the address in the address bar of that virgin window (or tab) and will function as if the user had actually manually entered the e-mail address in the address bar. The Internet resource at that address will be retrieved; for example, were that Internet resource to be a web page, the web page would be displayed by the web browser.

[09] Under those circumstances, in a conventional web browser, the back (and forward) navigation buttons in that window (or that tab) that would be displaying the Internet web resource would be inactive as that window would have been a virgin window (or tab) and there would have been no browsing history with respect to that window (tab).

[10] The present technology attempts to provide an enhanced navigational tool that, at least in some instances, allows a user to navigate across windows (tabs of windows) - in some implementations of be they have the same or different applications - as part of their history. Thus, in the above example, in a browser being one particular implementation of the present technology, a graphical element (for example, an enhanced back button), would, when clicked by the user in the virgin window (tab) displaying the in Internal resource, return the focus of the operating system to the window (tab) of the application in which the user had originally clicked the hyperlink. If it were not possible to open that window, in some implementations, another window of the same application is opened.

[11] In the context of the present technology, the first window (tab) is (i.e. the referrer window (tab)) - in the above example) is any window (tab) of any application that is capable of referring information in respect of a clicked-on (hypertext) link in that window (tab) to another application for handling. [12] Similarly, in the context of the present technology the second window (tab) (i.e. the referree window (tab) - in the above example) the window (tab) of any application that is capable of receiving the referred information of the referrer window (tab) in respect of the (hypertext) link clicked on in the first window (tab) (including an Internet address) for handling. [13] Solely with a view to easing reading of the present disclosure, in the text that follows the use of the word "tab" in parentheses has been discontinued. However it should be understand that the word "window" below includes the expression "(or tab)".

[14] Thus, in one aspect, some implementations of the present technology provide a computer-implemented method for use on an electronic device having a graphical user interface suitable for displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen associated with the electronic device and having a user input device, the method comprising:

(i) displaying on the display screen a first window of a first application and a hyperlink within the first window;

(ii) receiving from a user of the electronic device via the user input device a selection of the hyperlink as an indication that the user is to be presented with data referenced by the hyperlink;

(iii) displaying on the display screen in a second window the data referenced by the hyperlink, the second window being a virgin window;

(iv) receiving from the user of the electronic device via the user input device a selection of a graphical element of the second window as an indication that the user is to be re-presented with the first window; and

(v) reorienting a focus of the graphical user interface such that one of the first window and another window of the first application comes into focus. [15] In another aspect, some implementations of the present technology provide an electronic device comprising:

a computer processor;

a display screen adapted to display a graphical user interface, the display screen in operative electronic communication with the computer processor;

a user input device in operative electronic computer processor;

an information storage medium in operative electronic communication with the computer processor, the information storage medium storing program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect:

(iv) receiving from the user of the electronic device via the user input device a selection of a graphical element of the second window as an indication that the user is to be re-presented with the first window; and (v) reorienting a focus of the graphical user interface such that one of the first window and another window of the first application comes into focus.

[16] In some implementations, the one of the first window and another window of the first application is the first window (i.e. the window containing the hyperlink that was originally clicked).

[17] In some implementations, an enhanced navigation tool of the present technology is capable of causing the first window (and any necessary file to be displayed in that window as well) to be reopened, if that window had been closed after the user had clicked on the hyperlink and the data referenced by the hyperlink had been displayed, once the user activates the enhanced navigation tool via the graphical element and requests the focus of the operating system to be returned to the first window. Thus in some implementations, the method further comprises (or the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect - as the case may be):

after (ii) and before (iv), closing the first window; and

after (iv) and before (v), reopening the first window.

[18] In some implementations, an enhanced navigation tool of the present technology if is capable of causing the first window to be restored, if the first window had been minimized after the user had clicked on the hyperlink and the data referenced by the hyperlink had been displayed, once the user activates the enhanced navigation tool via the graphical element and requests the focus of the operating system to be returned to the first window. Thus in some implementations, the method further comprises (or the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect - as the case may be):

after (ii) and before (iv), minimizing the first window; and

after (iv) and before (v), restoring the first window.

[19] In some implementations, when the focus of the operating system is returned to the first window via the graphical element of an enhanced navigational tool of the present technology, what is displayed in the first window is changed (if necessary) so that the hyperlink is displayed in the first window. For example, if the first window is a window of a word processor application that is displaying a document in which the hyperlink is found, the document is automatically scrolled such that the portion thereof that contains the hyperlink is displayed. Thus, in some implementations, the method further comprises (or the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect - as the case may be):

after (v), displaying the hyperlink within the first window. [20] In some implementations, once the user activates an enhanced navigation tool of the present technology via the graphical element and requests the focus of the operating system to be returned to the first window the second window is automatically closed. Thus, in some implementations, the method further comprises (or the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect - as the case may be):

after (iv), closing the second window.

[21] In some implementations, once the user activates an enhanced navigation tool of the present technology via the graphical element and requests the focus of the operating system to be returned to the first window the second window is automatically minimized. Thus, in some implementations, the method further comprises (or the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect - as the case may be):

after (iv), minimizing the second window.

[22] In some implementations, a graphical element of the present technology displays information respecting the first window (for example, the name of the first application, an icon of the first application, etc.) to assist the user. Thus, in some implementations, the method further comprises (or the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect - as the case may be):

after (iii) and before (iv),

displaying the graphical element on the display screen; and

displaying information in respect of the first window in the graphical element of the second window.

[23] In some implementations, additional selectable graphical elements providing a function in respect of the first application in association with a graphical element of the present technology. For example, if the first application is an e-mail application (and the hyperlink was in an e-mail message), a reply button, a forward button, and/or a delete button may be displayed in association with the graphical element (which is itself displayed in the second window.) Thus, in some implementations, the method further comprises (or the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect - as the case may be):

after (iii) and before (iv),

displaying the graphical element on the display screen; and

displaying information in respect of the first window in the graphical element of the second window and an additional selectable graphical element providing a function in respect of the first application. [24] In some implementations, the information in respect of the first window is an icon related to the first application.

[25] In some implementations, the information in respect of the first window includes information in respect of a window focus history.

[26] In some implementations, the enhanced navigational tool is capable of functioning as described herein in situations where a third window receives the focus of the operating system after the second window has been opened. Thus when the focus of the operating system is returned thereafter to the second window and an enhanced navigational tool of the present technology is activated via the graphical element, the focus is nonetheless returned to the first window. Thus, in some implementations, the method further comprises (or the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect - as the case may be):

after (iii) and before (iv),

receiving from the user of the electronic device via the user input device an instruction to reorient the focus of the graphical user interface such that a third window other than the first window and the second window comes into focus; and

receiving from the user of the electronic device via the user input device an instruction to reorient the focus of the graphical user interface such that the second window comes into focus.

[27] As was referred to hereinabove, in some implementations, an enhanced navigational tool of the present technology is functional across windows of distinct (i.e. different) applications. (I.e. it is not required that the windows be of the same application). Thus, in some implementations, the second window is a second application window, and the first application is distinct from the second application.

[28] In some implementations, a graphical element of the present technology is a navigation button, although the graphical element is not a navigation button in every implementation. In other implementations, the graphical element is another type of graphical element (e.g. a drop-down box).

[29] In some implementations, a graphical element of the present technology is distinct from a back button and a forward button. Thus, in some implementations, the second window has both the graphical element (of the enhanced navigational tool of the present technology) and a separate and distinct back button and forward button. In other implementations, the functionality of an enhanced navigational tool of the present technology and that of a conventional back or forward button is combined into a single graphical element.

[30] In some implementations, the first window is a first tab in a common window and the second window is a second tab in a common window. As was referred to hereinabove, the present technology is employable between tabs as wells as between windows and when used in the present disclosure (other than in the present paragraph and the claims to which it refers) the word "window" should be understood as encompassing the expression "(or tab)".

[31] In some situations, the first window cannot be returned to focus, for one of a number of reason - the most common of which being that the data in the first window no longer exists. For example, this would be the case were the first application an e-mail application and the first window were an e-mail message that has since been deleted. In such a case, upon receiving from the user a selection of a graphical element of the second window as an indication that the user is to be re-presented with the first window, a focus of the graphical user interface would be reoriented such that another window of the first application would come into focus (e.g. continuing with the above example, the inbox of the e-mail application). Thus in some implementations, the focus of the one of the first window and another window of the first application is the another window of the first application.

[32] Although in the previous discussion the example of a enhanced back button is used, the present technology can also be implemented as enhanced forward button (or other graphical element). Thus, for example, after the focus had been returned to the first window (or another window of the first application), in some implementations, the user could then select an enhanced forward button within the first window and return the focus to the second window. Thus, in some implementations, the method further comprises (or the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect - as the case may be): after (v),

(vi) receiving from the user of the electronic device via the user input device a selection of a graphical element of the one of the first window and the another window of the first application as an indication that the user is to be re -presented with the second window; and

(v) reorienting a focus of the graphical user interface such that the second window comes into focus.

[33] In the context of the present specification, "electronic device" is any computer hardware that is capable of running software appropriate to the relevant task at hand. Thus, some (non-limiting) examples of client devices include personal computers (desktops, laptops, netbooks, etc.), smartphones, and tablets. It should be noted that a device acting as a electronic device in the present context is not precluded from acting in other capacities as well. The use of the expression "an electronic device" does not preclude multiple electronic devices being used in carrying out or causing to be carried out any task or request, or the consequences of any task or request, or steps of any method described herein.

[34] In the context of the present specification, the expression "information" includes information of any nature or kind whatsoever capable of being stored in a computer readable information storage medium. Thus information includes, but is not limited to audiovisual works (images, movies, sound records, presentations etc.), data (IP address data, web address data, location data, numerical data, etc.), text (opinions, comments, questions, messages, etc.), documents, spreadsheets, etc. [35] In the context of the present specification, the expression "computer readable information storage medium" is intended to include computer accessible media of any nature and kind whatsoever, including RAM, ROM, disks (CD-ROMs, DVDs, floppy disks, hard drivers, etc.), USB keys, solid state-drives, tape drives, etc.

[36] Implementations of the present technology each have at least one of the above- mentioned object and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them. It should be understood that some aspects of the present technology that have resulted from attempting to attain the above-mentioned object may not satisfy this object and/or may satisfy other objects not specifically recited herein.

[37] Additional and/or alternative features, aspects and advantages of implementations of the present technology will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[38] For a better understanding of the present technology, as well as other aspects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where: [39] Figure 1 is a screen shot of a prior art Internet web browser window.

[40] Figure 2 is a screen shot of an Internet web browser window implementing the present technology.

[41] Figure 3 is a screen shot of an Internet web browser window implementing the present technology (different from the window in Fig. 2). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[42] Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a screen shot of a prior art Internet web browser window 010, the Yandex™ web browser published by Yandex LLC of Moscow, Russia. The web browser window 010 has an address bar 012 and a back button 014 (which is graphically illustrated as a back arrow). [43] Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown a screen shot of an Internet web browser window 110 implementing the present technology. This web browser also includes an application programing interface implementing the present technology and is also published by Yandex LLC. The browser is a tabbed browser. In Fig 2, two tabs 118a, 118b are open, of which tab 118b has the focus. A web page is illustrated in the browser focus tab 118b window 126. That address of that web page (www.knowledgestream.ru) 116 is shown in the address bar 112. In this example, the address 116 was not manually entered into the address bar 112. The address 116 had been received as a hyperlink in an e-mail message via the Microsoft™ Outlook™ e-mail application, having a plug-in implementing the present technology. [44] Prior to the user having clicked the hyperlink, the tab 118a was the sole tab open in the browser window 110. Upon the user having clicked the hyperlink, information about the referring application and window was passed from Microsoft Outlook to the Yandex web browser via the plug in and the API. In response to having received the information from the Microsoft Outlook application in respect of the clicked hyperlink therein, the Yandex web browser opened and moved to the focus to new virgin tab 118b and sought and displayed the web page at the address specified by the hyperlink.

[45] In this implementation, an enhanced navigational tool of the present technology is a single graphical element combining the functions of the present technology with those of a conventional back button. The enhanced navigational tool is enhanced back button 114 that displays both a back arrow and the name of the application 120 (i.e. Outlook) that is immediately prior in the combined history of browsing and window focus. (In this example, tab 118b was opened as a virgin tab upon the hyperlink having been clicked in a window of the Microsoft Outlook application. Hence, the name 120 "Outlook" is displayed in the enhanced back button 114 (since Outlook was the application that caused the present tab 118b to be opened). Also displayed in association with the enhanced back button 114 is an icon for the Outlook application as well additional information respecting the source window (e.g. message in that window) containing the hyperlink. Further, additional tools 124a, 124b regarding that window (i.e. the Outlook message window) containing the hyperlink are also displayed. In this example, button 124a allows for a reply to the original message while button 124b allows for a forwarding of the original message. Note that these tools allow for the functions in Microsoft Outlook to be executed without that window (i.e. the Outlook message window) or any other Outlook window having the focus of the operating system.

[46] In this implementation, were the user to click on the enhanced back button 114, the message display window of the Microsoft Outlook application containing the hyperlink would come into focus. Were that window closed it would be reopened. Were that window minimized it would be restored. That window would be scrolled such that hyperlink would be showing therein. If that message had been deleted, the window showing the user's inbox in Microsoft Outlook would receive the focus (be reopened / be restored - as the case might be). [47] Referring to Fig. 3, there is shown a screen shot of another Internet web browser window 210 implementing the present technology. This web browser also includes an application programing interface implementing the present technology and is also published by Yandex LLC. The browser is a tabbed browser. In Fig 3, one tab 218 is open. A web page is illustrated in the window 226. That address of that web page (www.medium.com) 216 is shown in the address bar 212. In this example, the address 216 was not manually entered into the address bar 212. The address 212 had been displayed as a hyperlink in the news feed of the user in the Facebook™ social networking service in a dedicated application allowing for accessing that service having a plug-in implementing the present technology.

[48] Upon the user having clicked the hyperlink, information about the referring application and window was passed from the Facebook application to the Yandex web browser via the plug in and the API. In response to having received the information from the Microsoft Outlook application in respect of the clicked hyperlink therein, the Yandex web browser opened and moved to the focus to new virgin window 210 and sought and displayed the web page at the address specified by the hyperlink.

[49] In this implementation, an enhanced navigational tool of the present technology is a single graphical element combining the functions of the present technology with those of a conventional back button. The enhanced navigational tool is enhanced back button 214 that displays both a back arrow and the name of the application 220 (i.e. Facebook) which s immediately prior in the combination of window focus history and browsing history. (In this example, window 210 was opened as a virgin window upon the hyperlink having been clicked in a window of the Facebook application. Hence, the name 220 "Facebook" is displayed in the enhanced back button 214. Also displayed in association with the enhanced back button 214 is the picture of the relevant user of the Facebook social networking service as well additional information respecting the source window (e.g. Facebook application window) containing the hyperlink.

[50] In this implementation, were the user to click on the enhanced back button 214, the window of the Facebook application containing the hyperlink would come into focus. Were that window closed it would be reopened. Were that window minimized it would be restored. That window would be scrolled such that hyperlink would be showing therein. If the hyperlink were no longer present in the user's news feed, the news feed would be shown with the most recent items. [51] As is evident from the above description, the present technology can be implemented in respect of an application (or an operating system) in any number of ways. One implementation is via an application programing interface (API). Another implementation is via a plug-in (for those applications allowing for plug-ins). A third implementation is via the creation of an appropriate framework in the operating system. It is simply necessary that the appropriate information and instructions be capable of being passed (either directly or indirectly) from one application to another to allow for implementation of the present technology.

[52] The present technology can be implemented in a number of conventional software applications in addition to web browsers. Non-limiting examples include: ICQ™, Skype™, Microsoft Outlook, Messages (Apple OS X), Mail (Apple OS X), Microsoft Word™, Microsoft Excel™, Microsoft PowerPoint™, OpenOffice™, Adobe™ Acrobat™ Reader, Facebook™, Twitter™, etc.

[53] Modifications and improvements to the above-described implementations of the present technology may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The foregoing description is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting. The scope of the present technology is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A computer- implemented method for use on an electronic device having a graphical user interface suitable for displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen associated with the electronic device and having a user input device, the method comprising:

(v) reorienting a focus of the graphical user interface such that one of the first window and another window of the first application comes into focus.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one of the first window and another window of the first application is the first window.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising,

after (ii) and before (iv), closing the first window; and

after (iv) and before (v), reopening the first window.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising,

after (ii) and before (iv), minimizing the first window; and

after (iv) and before (v), restoring the first window.

5. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising, after (v), displaying the hyperlink within the first window.

6. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising, after (iv), closing the second window.

7. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising, after (iv), minimizing the second window.

8. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising, after (iii) and before (iv),

displaying the graphical element on the display screen; and

9. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising, after (iii) and before (iv),

displaying the graphical element on the display screen; and

displaying information in respect of the first window in the graphical element of the second window and an additional selectable graphical element providing a function in respect of the first application.

10. The computer-implemented method of one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the information in respect of the first window is an icon related to the first application.

11. The computer-implemented method of one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the information in respect of the first window includes information in respect of a window focus history.

12. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising, after (iii) and before (iv),

13. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the second window is a second application window, the first application being distinct from the second application.

14. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the graphical element is a navigation button.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the navigation button is distinct from a back button and a forward button.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the navigation button is one of a back button and a forward button.

17. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the first window is a first tab in a common window and the second window is a second tab in the common window.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one of the first window and another window of the first application is the another window of the first application.

19. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1-18, further comprising, after (v),

20. An electronic device comprising:

a computer processor;

a user input device in operative electronic computer processor;

(i) displaying on the display screen a first window of a first application and a hyperlink within the first window; (ii) receiving from a user of the electronic device via the user input device a selection of the hyperlink as an indication that the user is to be presented with data referenced by the hyperlink;

(iv) receiving from the user of the electronic device via the user input device a selection of a graphical element of the second window as an indication that the user is to be re -presented with the first window; and

21. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the one of the first window and another window of the first application is the first window.

22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect:

after (ii) and before (iv), closing the first window; and

after (iv) and before (v), reopening the first window.

23. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect:

after (ii) and before (iv), minimizing the first window; and

after (iv) and before (v), restoring the first window.

24. The electronic device of any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect: after (v), displaying the hyperlink within the first window.

25. The electronic device of any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect: after (iv), closing the second window.

26. The electronic device of any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the information storage medium further storing program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect: after (iv), minimizing the second window.

27. The electronic device of any one of claims 20 to 26, wherein the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect: after (iii) and before (iv),

displaying the graphical element on the display screen; and

28. The electronic device of any one of claims 20 to 26, wherein the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect: after (iii) and before (iv),

displaying the graphical element on the display screen; and

29. The electronic device of one of claims 27 and 28, wherein the information in respect of the first window is an icon related to the first application.

30. The electronic device of one of claims 27 and 28, wherein the information in respect of the first window includes information in respect of a window focus history.

31. The electronic device of any one of claims 20 to 30, wherein the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect: after (iii) and before (iv),

32. The electronic device of any one of claims 20 to 31, wherein the second window is a second application window, the first application being distinct from the second application.

33. The electronic device of any one of claims 20 to 32, wherein the graphical element is a navigation button.

34. The electronic device of claim 33, wherein the navigation button is distinct from a back button and a forward button.

35. The electronic device of claim 33, wherein the navigation button is one of a back button and a forward button.

36. The electronic device of claims 20 to 35, wherein the first window is a first tab in a common window and the second window is a second tab in the common window.

37. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the one of the first window and another window of the first application is the another window of the first application.

38. The electronic device of any one of claims 20 to 37, wherein the information storage medium further stores program instructions that when executed by the computer processor effect: after (v),

(v) reorienting a focus of the graphical user interface such the second window comes into focus.