EP0636974A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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System and method for control of a computer
Assignee: NCR International Inc
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Filing: 1994-07-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for controlling a computer which includes a single control program having the functionality of an operating system and a plurality of separate application programs. The control program includes a graphic user interface which comprises interface data objects instead of separate application programs. A first embodiment of a computer system under the present invention includes a keyboard which is specially tailored to work with the graphic user interface and includes a graphic input device and special function keys in addition to standard alphanumeric keys. A second embodiment of a computer system under the present invention comprises a pen computer having a digitizer and a stylus for entering user input into the program.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Stephen 1Miller
- 👤 Wesley Gene Hunter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/038; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/021; G06F3/0213; G06F3/0219; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/48; G06F9/4806; G06F9/4843
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A computer system characterized by a processor which executes a single program which includes the functionality of an operating system and a plurality of separate application programs and which includes a graphic user interface; a display device coupled to the processor which displays the graphic user interface; and a user input means coupled to the processor for entering user input into the program.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer system according to claim 1, characterized in that the graphic user interface comprises interface data objects instead of the separate application programs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A computer system according to claim 2, characterized in that the graphic user interface comprises: a plurality of subsystems including: a content structuring sub-system which organizes data in ways that make sense to the user; a search and navigation subsystem a graphic manipulation subsystem; which provides graphic functions to graphically manipulate displayed objects; a text entry subsystem which allows a user to enter and edit text; a command subsystem which allows the user to perform functions on selected objects; and an input manager which provides pathways that connect the user input means and the display to user tasks and which controls operation of the subsystems.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a permanent storage medium coupled to the processor; and a temporary storage medium coupled to the processor; wherein the permanent and temporary storage media represent a single storage medium to a user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user input means incorporates a keyboard.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer system according to claim 5, characterized in that the keyboard comprises content structuring keys.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer system according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the keyboard comprises: a graphic input device; and a leap key; wherein the graphic input device and the leap key provide a single displayed text marker.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the keyboard comprises a spider key which causes a graphics cursor to be displayed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer system according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the keyboard comprises selection keys including: a select key for creating a current selection; a more key for adding objects to the current selection; and a less key for removing objects from the current selection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the user input means incorporates a digitizer coupled to the processor, and a stylus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A computer system according to claim 10, characterized in that the display device comprises a plurality of distinct areas established by the program for displaying information associated with each area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer system according to claim 10 or claim 11, characterized in that the stylus comprises a tip switch at the writing end and a barrel switch for implementing a predetermined function.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of controlling a computer system characterized by the steps of: executing a single program in a processor which has the functionality of an operating system and a plurality of separate application programs and which includes a graphic user interface; displaying the graphic user interface on a display coupled to the processor; and entering user input into the processor, including the substeps of contacting a stylus against the surface of a digitizer coupled to the processor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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