Patent US5146556A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5146556A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for managing graphic images
Assignee: Next Software Inc
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Filing: 1991-02-27
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Granted: 1992-09-08
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Expires: 2011-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A graphic user interface for a computer is provided in which representations of application programs can be placed on the display in a specified area reserved for such a purpose in which area they could not be so readily obscured and forgotten, and which includes a facility for controlling the placement of such representations within the reserved area. The graphic images are guided into specific locations, or "docks" in the reserved area, and their removal from the docks is restricted to prevent accidental withdrawal.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Marie Hullot
- 👤 Steven P. Jobs
- 👤 Christopher M. Franklin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04845
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
In a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved and released within boundaries of said display, a graphic image display control system comprising: means for moving said graphic images within at least a portion of said display within said boundaries; means for providing a parking region for said graphic images within said boundaries of said display; means for providing a retention field, distinct from said parking region, within said portion of said display within said boundaries; and means for automatically transferring one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said retention field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved and released within boundaries of said display, a graphic image display control system comprising: means for moving said graphic images within at least a portion of said display within said boundaries; means for providing a parking region for said graphic images within said boundaries of said display; means for providing a retention field, distinct from said parking region, within said portion of said display within said boundaries; and means for automatically transferring one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said retention field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 1 wherein said means for automatically transferring said one of said graphic images into said parking region comprises: means for delineating within said parking region at least one receptacle for receiving said one of said graphic images; and means for transferring said one of said graphic images into an unoccupied one of said at least one receptacle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 2 wherein said means for automatically transferring said one of said graphic images into said parking region further comprises means for displaying a location of said unoccupied receptacle when said one of said graphic images, responsive to said moving means, is moved into said retention field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 3 wherein said means for automatically transferring said graphic image into said parking region inserts said graphic image into said displayed unoccupied receptacle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 2 wherein said transferring means transfers said graphic image into said unoccupied one of said at least one receptacle to which said graphic image is nearest.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 1 further comprising means for preventing overlying, by at least some other images displayed on said visual display, of at least one of said graphic images in said parking region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 1 further comprising means for locking a graphic image into said parking region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 1 further comprising means for moving said parking region partially but not completely out of said boundaries of said display.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 1 wherein said graphic images represent application programs that may be run on said computer system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
For use in a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved and released within boundaries of said display, a graphic image display control method comprising the steps of: moving said graphic images within at least a portion of said display within said boundaries; providing a parking region for said graphic images within said boundaries of said display; providing a retention field, distinct from said parking region, within said portion of said display within said boundaries; and automatically transferring one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said retention field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
For use in a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved and released within boundaries of said display, a graphic image display control method comprising the steps of: moving said graphic images within at least a portion of said display within said boundaries; providing a parking region for said graphic images within said boundaries of said display; providing a retention field, distinct from said parking region, within said portion of said display within said boundaries; and automatically transferring one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said retention field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 10 wherein said step of automatically transferring said one of said graphic images into said parking region comprises the steps of: delineating within said parking region at least one receptacle for receiving said one of said graphic images; and transferring said one of said graphic images into an unoccupied one of said at least one receptacle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 11 wherein said step of automatically transferring said one of said graphic images into said parking region further comprises displaying a location of said unoccupied receptacle when said one of said graphic images is moved into said retention field.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 12 wherein said step of automatically transferring said graphic image into said parking region comprises automatically inserting said graphic image into said displayed unoccupied receptacle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 11 wherein said transferring step comprises transferring said graphic image into said unoccupied one of said at least one receptacle to which said graphic image is nearest.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 10 further comprising preventing overlying, by at least some other images displayed on said visual display, of at least one of said graphic images in said parking region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 10 further comprising allowing the locking of a graphic image into said parking region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 10 further comprising allowing the movement of said parking region partially but not completely out of said boundaries of said display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 10 wherein said graphic images represent application programs that may be run on said computer system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved on at least a portion of said display, a graphic image display system comprising: a mouse for moving and releasing said graphic images on said display; a parking region on said display; a retention field, distinct from said parking region, in said portion of said display; and a programmed processor for automatically inserting one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said retention field.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved on at least a portion of said display, a graphic image display system comprising: a mouse for moving and releasing said graphic images on said display; a parking region on said display; a retention field, distinct from said parking region, in said portion of said display; and a programmed processor for automatically inserting one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said retention field.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The graphic image display system of claim 19 further comprising at least one receptacle within said parking region for receiving said one of said graphic images.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The graphic image display system of claim 20 wherein a location of an unoccupied receptacle is displayed when said one of said graphic images is moved into said retention field by said mouse.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The graphic image display system of claim 20 wherein said graphic image is automatically inserted into an unoccupied receptacle when said graphic image is released in said parking region.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The graphic image display system of claim 22 wherein said graphic image is automatically inserted into an unoccupied receptacle to which said graphic image is nearest.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The graphic image display system of claim 19 wherein at least one graphic image in said parking region is incapable of being overlaid by other graphic images displayed on said visual display.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The graphic image display system of claim 19 wherein a graphic image may be locked into said parking region.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The graphic image display system of claim 19 wherein said parking region may be moved partially but not completely out of said boundaries of said display.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The graphic image display system of claim 19 wherein said graphic images represent application programs that may be run on said computer system.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved and released within boundaries of said display, a graphic image display control system comprising: means for moving said graphic images within at least a portion of said display within said boundaries; means for providing a parking region within said boundaries of said display; and means for automatically transferring one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said portion of said display within said boundaries and outside said parking region.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved and released within boundaries of said display, a graphic image display control system comprising: means for moving said graphic images within at least a portion of said display within said boundaries; means for providing a parking region within said boundaries of said display; and means for automatically transferring one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said portion of said display within said boundaries and outside said parking region.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
65 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 28 wherein said means for automatically transferring said one of said graphic images into said parking region comprises: means for delineating within said parking region at least one receptacle for receiving said one of said graphic images; and means for transferring said one of said graphic images into an unoccupied one of said at least one receptacle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
79 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 29 wherein said means for automatically transferring said one of said graphic images into said parking region further comprises means for displaying a location of said unoccupied receptacle when said one of said graphic images, responsive to said moving means, is moved into an area of said portion of said display from which said means for automatically transferring can automatically transfer said one of said graphic images into said parking region.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 30 wherein said means for automatically transferring said graphic image into said parking region inserts said graphic image into said displayed unoccupied receptacle.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 29 wherein said transferring means transfers said graphic image into an unoccupied one of said at least one receptacle to which said graphic image is nearest.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 28 further comprising means for preventing overlying, by at least some other images displayed on said visual display, of at least one of said graphic images in said parking region.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 28 further comprising means for locking a graphic image into said parking region.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 28 further comprising means for moving said parking region partially but not completely out of said boundaries of said display.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The graphic image display control system of claim 28 wherein said graphic images represent application programs that may be run on said computer system.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
96 words
For use in a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved and released within boundaries of said display, a graphic image display control method comprising the steps of: moving said graphic images within at least a portion of said boundaries of said display; providing a parking region within said boundaries of said display; and automatically transferring one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said portion of said display within said boundaries and outside said parking region.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
96 words
For use in a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved and released within boundaries of said display, a graphic image display control method comprising the steps of: moving said graphic images within at least a portion of said boundaries of said display; providing a parking region within said boundaries of said display; and automatically transferring one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said portion of said display within said boundaries and outside said parking region.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
64 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 37 wherein said step of automatically transferring said one of said graphic images into said parking region comprises the steps of: delineating within said parking region at least one receptacle for receiving said one of said graphic images; and transferring said one of said graphic images into an unoccupied one of said at least one receptacle.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
73 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 38 wherein said step of automatically transferring said one of said graphic images into said parking region further comprises displaying a location of said unoccupied receptacle when said one of said graphic images, responsive to said moving means, is moved into an area of said portion of said display from which said one of said graphic images can be automatically transferred into said parking region.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
33 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 39 wherein said step of automatically transferring said graphic image into said parking region comprises automatically inserting said graphic image into said displayed unoccupied receptacle.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
35 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 38 wherein said transferring step comprises transferring said graphic image into an unoccupied one of said at least one receptacle to which said graphic image is nearest.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
36 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 37 further comprising preventing overlying, by at least some other images displayed on said visual display, of at least one of said graphic images in said parking region.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 37 further comprising locking a graphic image into said parking region.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
29 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 37 further comprising allowing the movement of said parking region partially but not completely out of said boundaries of said display.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
24 words
The graphic image display control method of claim 37 wherein said graphic images represent application programs that may be run on said computer system.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved on at least a portion of said display, a graphic image display system comprising: a mouse for moving and releasing said graphic images on said display; a parking region on said display; and a programmed processor for automatically inserting one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said portion of said display within said boundaries and outside said parking region.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a computer system having a visual display on which graphic images are capable of being moved on at least a portion of said display, a graphic image display system comprising: a mouse for moving and releasing said graphic images on said display; a parking region on said display; and a programmed processor for automatically inserting one of said graphic images into said parking region when said one of said graphic images is released in said portion of said display within said boundaries and outside said parking region.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The graphic image display system of claim 46 further comprising at least one receptacle within said parking region for receiving said one of said graphic images.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
56 words
The graphic image display system of claim 47 wherein a location of an unoccupied receptacle is displayed when said one of said graphic images is moved by said mouse into an area of said portion of said display from which said programmed processor can automatically insert said one of said graphic images into said parking region.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
29 words
The graphic image display system of claim 47 wherein said graphic image is automatically inserted into an unoccupied receptacle when said graphic image is released in said parking region.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
38 words
The graphic image display system of claim 47 wherein said one of said graphic images is automatically inserted into an unoccupied one of said at least one receptacle to which said one of said graphic images is nearest.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
32 words
The graphic image display system of claim 46 wherein at least one graphic image in said parking region is incapable of being overlaid by other graphic images displayed on said visual display.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
19 words
The graphic image display system of claim 46 wherein a graphic image may be locked into said parking region.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
26 words
The graphic image display system of claim 46 wherein said parking region may be moved partially but not completely out of said boundaries of said display.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
23 words
The graphic image display system of claim 46 wherein said graphic images represent application programs that may be run on said computer system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-08 | 1996-03-09 | 1996-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-08 | 2000-03-09 | 2000-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-08 | 2004-03-09 | 2004-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |