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EP0480859A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Computer user interface with visual indication of validity of a target object during a direct manipulation operation

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1991-09-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-09-06
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Abstract

Abstract Disclosed is a computer system user interface in which the user is provided with a visual indication of whether or not a source object is over a valid target object during direct manipulation operations. A shadow is displayed behind the source object. When the source object is over a valid target, the size of the shadow is reduced or eliminated to give the appearance that the source and target are attracted to each other. When the source object is over an invalid target, the size of the shadow is increased to give the appearance that the source object is repelled by the target object.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert J. Torres
  • 👤 David Lee Griffin
  • 👤 Stephen S. Fleming

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 22:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04817; G06F3/04812

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 44 words
A graphical method of performing a direct manipulation of a source object in a computer system, which comprises the steps of: displaying a shadow behind said source object; and decreasing the size of shadow whenever said source object is over a valid target object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 44 words
A graphical method of performing a direct manipulation of a source object in a computer system, which comprises the steps of: displaying a shadow behind said source object; and decreasing the size of shadow whenever said source object is over a valid target object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of decreasing the size of said shadow includes the step of removing said shadow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of increasing the size of said shadow whenever said source object is over an invalid target object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of: changing the orientation of the source object whenever the source object is over an invalid target object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 45 words
A graphical method of performing a direct manipulation of a source object in a computer system, which comprises the steps of: displaying a shadow behind said source object; and increasing the size of said shadow whenever said source object is over an invalid target object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 45 words
A graphical method of performing a direct manipulation of a source object in a computer system, which comprises the steps of: displaying a shadow behind said source object; and increasing the size of said shadow whenever said source object is over an invalid target object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method as claimed in claim 5, including the step of: decreasing the size of said shadow whenever said source object is over a valid target object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 45 words
In a graphical method of performing a direct manipulation of a source object in a computer system, said source object having a shadow displayed therebehind, the improvement which comprises: decreasing the size of said shadow whenever said source object is over a valid target object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 45 words
In a graphical method of performing a direct manipulation of a source object in a computer system, said source object having a shadow displayed therebehind, the improvement which comprises: decreasing the size of said shadow whenever said source object is over a valid target object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 7, including the step of: increasing the size of said shadow whenever said source object is over an invalid target.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 45 words
In a graphical method of performing a direct manipulation of a source object in a computer system, said source object having a shadow displayed therebehind, the improvement which comprises: increasing the size of said shadow whenever said source object is over an invalid target object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 45 words
In a graphical method of performing a direct manipulation of a source object in a computer system, said source object having a shadow displayed therebehind, the improvement which comprises: increasing the size of said shadow whenever said source object is over an invalid target object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 9, including the step of: decreasing the size of said shadow whenever said object is over a valid target object.

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