US5093907A — Graphic file directory and spreadsheet

Claim 1

Independent Claim 101 words

A system for producing animated graphics, comprising: a) first memory means for storing a plurality of graphic files containing full-size component images to be assembled into a composite image by superposition upon one another; b) second memory means for establishing a matrix of cells; c) control means for associating selected cells of said matrix with selected ones of said graphic data files; and d) display means for displaying selected portions of said matrix, the cells within said displayed portions being displayed as an array of miniaturized images of the graphic data files associated with the cells of said displayed matrix portions.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 101 words

A system for producing animated graphics, comprising: a) first memory means for storing a plurality of graphic files containing full-size component images to be assembled into a composite image by superposition upon one another; b) second memory means for establishing a matrix of cells; c) control means for associating selected cells of said matrix with selected ones of said graphic data files; and d) display means for displaying selected portions of said matrix, the cells within said displayed portions being displayed as an array of miniaturized images of the graphic data files associated with the cells of said displayed matrix portions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

A system as in claim 1 further comprising: e) means for selecting component images thus displayed; and f) means for producing a graphic file containing a composite image composed of a combination of said selected component images.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as in claim 2 further including: g) means for sequentially displaying a series of said composite images.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The system of claim 2, including means for combining said images in a hierarchical order determined by the position in said array of said miniaturized images.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system of claim 2, including: g) means for combining selected images in a hierarchical order determined by a first dimension of said array; and h) means for sequentially reading out said combined images in a time sequence determined by a second dimension of said array.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 5, in which said matrix is three-dimensional, and including: i) means for combining said images with images in corresponding cells of other levels of said matrix.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 66 words

A method of visually manipulating large numbers of graphic data files on a computer, comprising the steps of: a) storing full-size files of graphic data; b) establishing in memory a matrix of cells; c) associating selected ones of said files with selected ones of said cells; and d) simultaneously displaying an array of miniaturized images of the files associated with a selected portion of said matrix.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 66 words

A method of visually manipulating large numbers of graphic data files on a computer, comprising the steps of: a) storing full-size files of graphic data; b) establishing in memory a matrix of cells; c) associating selected ones of said files with selected ones of said cells; and d) simultaneously displaying an array of miniaturized images of the files associated with a selected portion of said matrix.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 7 further including: e) interactively manipulating said files by selecting said miniaturized images and selecting a function to be carried out thereon.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 8, in which said function is the creation of a modified copy of a graphic file.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 8, in which said function is the creation of a combination of a plurality of graphic files.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 8, in which said function is a sequential output of a series of graphic files.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 8, in which said function is a full-size display of a selected graphic file for editing.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 8, in which said interactive manipulation includes combining selected images.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 8, in which said function is time, and said method includes the further step of sequentially reading out selected images or combinations thereof at time intervals determined by said function.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 7, including combining said images in a hierarchical order determined by the position in said array of said miniaturized images.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 111 words

A method of producing a moving picture from component images contained in full-size graphic data files in a computer, comprising the steps of: a) storing said graphic data files; b) displaying miniaturized images of said files in a first-level array of images, the display order of said miniaturized images in one dimension of said array being indicative of the hierarchical order of said images, and their display order in another dimension of said array being indicative of their sequence in time; c) sequentially combining said images along said one dimension to produce frames of said moving picture; and d) sequentially reading out enlarged versions of said frames along said other dimension.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 111 words

A method of producing a moving picture from component images contained in full-size graphic data files in a computer, comprising the steps of: a) storing said graphic data files; b) displaying miniaturized images of said files in a first-level array of images, the display order of said miniaturized images in one dimension of said array being indicative of the hierarchical order of said images, and their display order in another dimension of said array being indicative of their sequence in time; c) sequentially combining said images along said one dimension to produce frames of said moving picture; and d) sequentially reading out enlarged versions of said frames along said other dimension.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 92 words

The method as in claim 16, further including: e) displaying miniaturized images of said files in a second-level array of images, the display order of said miniaturized images in said one dimension of said array being indicative of the hierarchical order of said images, and their display order in said other dimension of said array being indicative of their sequence in time; f) sequentially combining said first-level images with respective second-level images; and g) then sequentially combining said combined images along said one dimension to produce said frames of said moving picture.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 102 words

A graphic spreadsheet, comprising: a) means for storing a matrix of cells, each cell containing: i) a full-size graphic file containing the graphic attributes of graphic information contained therein; ii) information regarding a function to be carried out on said graphic file; and iii) linkage information capable of identifying other cells involved in the carrying out of said function; and b) means for selecting a portion of said matrix for display of the cells therein as an array of miniaturized versions of said graphic files; and c) means for selecting, for each cell selected for display, said function and said other cells.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 102 words

A graphic spreadsheet, comprising: a) means for storing a matrix of cells, each cell containing: i) a full-size graphic file containing the graphic attributes of graphic information contained therein; ii) information regarding a function to be carried out on said graphic file; and iii) linkage information capable of identifying other cells involved in the carrying out of said function; and b) means for selecting a portion of said matrix for display of the cells therein as an array of miniaturized versions of said graphic files; and c) means for selecting, for each cell selected for display, said function and said other cells.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 57 words

The graphic spreadsheet of claim 18, in which the graphic files associated with the cells selected for display are arranged, when displayed, in rows and columns corresponding to the positions of their cells within said matrix, and said functions can be selected to be carried out in response to the position of said cell in said matrix.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 33 words

The graphic spreadsheet of claim 19, in which said function can be selected to be carried out in response to both the position and the graphic attributes of said cell in said matrix.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The graphic spreadsheet of claim 18, in which said function can be selected to be carried out on selected graphic attributes of said graphic files.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-03-03	1995-09-02	1996-03-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-03-03	1999-09-02	2000-03-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-03-03	2003-09-02	2004-03-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Graphic file directory and spreadsheet

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