Method and apparatus for arranging program and I/O controls

1. A method for controlling a user interface, comprising:

providing a plurality of program controls, each program control being operable to initiate a processing task;

responsive to an activation of a selected program control, placing an I/O control associated with the selected program control proximate the selected program control to allow visual association between the I/O control and the selected program control; and

moving at least one of the program controls to allow the placement of the I/O control proximate the selected program control.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the I/O control further comprises placing the I/O control proximate the selected program control without obscuring at least those program controls adjacent the selected program control.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the I/O control further comprises placing the I/O control below the selected program control.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a control panel;

placing the program controls within the control panel: and

moving the at least one program control within the control panel to allow the placement of the I/O control proximate the selected program control.

5. A computer system, comprising:

a display; and

a processor operable to implement a user interface on the display, the user interface including a plurality of program controls for initiating processing tasks, wherein the processor is further operable to, responsive to an activation of a selected program control, place an I/O control associated with the selected program control proximate the selected program control to allow visual association between the I/O control and the selected program control, and wherein the processor is operable to provide a border around the selected program control and the I/O control.

6. A method for controlling a user interface, comprising:

providing a plurality of program controls, each program control being operable to initiate a processing task;

responsive to an activation of a selected program control, placing an I/O control associated with the selected program control proximate the selected program control to allow visual association between the I/O control and the selected program control; and

providing a border around the selected program control and the I/O control.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the I/O control comprises at least one of an input control operable to request information from a user related to the processing task associated with the selected program control and an output control operable to display information to a user related to the processing task associated with the selected program control.

8. A computer system, comprising:

a display; and

a processor operable to implement a user interface on the display, the user interface including a plurality of program controls for initiating processing tasks, wherein the processor is further operable to, responsive to an activation of a selected program control, place an I/O control associated with the selected program control proximate the selected program control to allow visual association between the I/O control and the selected program control, and wherein the processor is operable to move at least one of the program controls to allow the placement of the I/O control proximate the selected program control.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is operable to place the I/O control proximate the selected program control without obscuring at least those program controls adjacent the selected program control.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the I/O control comprises at least one of an input control operable to request informnation from a user related to the processing task associated with the selected program control and an output control operable to display information to a user related to the processing task associated with the selected program control.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the user interface includes a control panel, the program controls are disposed within the control panel, and the processor is operable to move at least one program control within the control panel to allow the placement of the I/O control proximate the selected program control.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is operable to place the I/O control below the selected program control.

13. A medical imaging system, comprising:

a display; and

a processor operable to implement a user interface on the display, the user interface including:

a data panel operable to display medical imaging data;

a control panel: and

a plurality of program controls disposed within the control panel for initiating processing tasks associated with the medical imaging data,

 wherein the processor is further operable to, responsive to an activation of a selected program control, place an I/O control associated with the selected program control proximate the selected program control to allow visual association between the I/O control and the selected program control, and wherein the processor is operable to move at least one of the program controls within the control panel to allow the placement of the I/O control proximate the selected program control.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the I/O control comprises at least one of an input control operable to request infonnation from a user related to the processing task associated with the selected program control and an output control operable to display information to a user related to the processing task associated with the selected program control.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is operable to place the I/O control proximate the selected program control without obscuring the data panel.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is operable to place the I/O control proximate the selected program control without obscuring at least those program controls adjacent the selected program control.