US5339388A — Cursor lock region

Claim 1

Independent Claim 179 words

In a multi-media collaborative computer based system including a network connecting a plurality of terminals of communication, an output display device for each terminal, a user input device for each terminal, and a shared data object concurrently accessible by a plurality of users of the system, a method of protecting transitory, floating blocks of the shared data object from concurrent manipulation originating with more than one user, the method comprising the steps performed by a computer of: responsive to a user obtaining access to the shared data object, assigning the user a cursor available for display on the output display devices; releasing a previously established cursor associated lock region upon movement of the cursor outside of the previously established cursor associated lock; responsive to the movement of the cursor, determining a position for a cursor associated lock region related to the position of the cursor in the shared data object; and if the position for the cursor associated lock region does not include a portion of an established lock region, establishing the cursor associated lock region for the cursor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 179 words

In a multi-media collaborative computer based system including a network connecting a plurality of terminals of communication, an output display device for each terminal, a user input device for each terminal, and a shared data object concurrently accessible by a plurality of users of the system, a method of protecting transitory, floating blocks of the shared data object from concurrent manipulation originating with more than one user, the method comprising the steps performed by a computer of: responsive to a user obtaining access to the shared data object, assigning the user a cursor available for display on the output display devices; releasing a previously established cursor associated lock region upon movement of the cursor outside of the previously established cursor associated lock; responsive to the movement of the cursor, determining a position for a cursor associated lock region related to the position of the cursor in the shared data object; and if the position for the cursor associated lock region does not include a portion of an established lock region, establishing the cursor associated lock region for the cursor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method of protecting transitory, floating blocks of the shared data object from concurrent manipulation originating with more than one user as set forth in claim 1, wherein the permitting step includes: determining if any user selected conditions for establishment of a cursor lock region exist; if such conditions exist determining if they are met; and if the conditions are met establishing the cursor associated lock region.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 76 words

A method of protecting transitory, floating blocks of the shared data object from concurrent manipulation originating with more than one user as set forth in claim 2, wherein the media of display include graphics and picture, the method further comprising the step of: responsive to use selection, establishing an object mode for a cursor associated lock region wherein a condition for establishing the cursor associated lock region is the presence of an object under the cursor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 95 words

A method of protecting transitory, floating blocks of the shared data object from concurrent manipulation originating with more than one user as set forth in claim 1, the method further comprising the steps of: determining whether a current user initiated action dictates modification of the shared data object; if the current user initiated action is a modification, determining if the modification would occur within a lock region; and if the modification would occur within a lock region and if attempted through a cursor other than the one associated with the lock region, preventing the modification.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method of protecting transitory, floating blocks of the shared data object from concurrent manipulation originating with more than one user as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shared data object text.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method of protecting transitory, floating blocks of the shared data object from concurrent manipulation originating with more than one user as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of modes controlling shape and size of a cursor associated lock region are permitted each user.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

A method of protecting transitory, floating blocks of the shared data object from simultaneous manipulation originating with more than one user as set forth in claim 1, wherein an assigned cursor includes a visual attribute to distinguish it as to its owner.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 187 words

A collaborative multi-media computer based system for protecting transitory, floating blocks of a shared data object from concurrent manipulation originating with two or more users, the collaborative computer based system comprising: a plurality of terminals, each terminal having an output display device and a user input device; a computer; a network connecting the terminals and the computer for communication; the shared data object being simultaneously accessible through a plurality of private views by a plurality of users; means, responsive to a user obtaining access to the shared data object, for assigning the user a cursor available for display on the output display devices; means, responsive to user selection, for moving a cursor assigned the user within the shared data object; means, responsive to movement of a cursor, for determining a position for a lock region associated with the cursor in the shared data object; means, responsive to movement of the cursor outside of a previously established lock region, for releasing the previously established lock region; and means, responsive to the position not including any portion of any previously established lock region, for establishing the new lock region.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 187 words

A collaborative multi-media computer based system for protecting transitory, floating blocks of a shared data object from concurrent manipulation originating with two or more users, the collaborative computer based system comprising: a plurality of terminals, each terminal having an output display device and a user input device; a computer; a network connecting the terminals and the computer for communication; the shared data object being simultaneously accessible through a plurality of private views by a plurality of users; means, responsive to a user obtaining access to the shared data object, for assigning the user a cursor available for display on the output display devices; means, responsive to user selection, for moving a cursor assigned the user within the shared data object; means, responsive to movement of a cursor, for determining a position for a lock region associated with the cursor in the shared data object; means, responsive to movement of the cursor outside of a previously established lock region, for releasing the previously established lock region; and means, responsive to the position not including any portion of any previously established lock region, for establishing the new lock region.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 70 words

A collaborative computer based system for protecting transitory, floating blocks of a shared data object as set forth in claim 8, wherein means for establishing the new lock region further includes: means for establishing a cursor lock mode specifying coverage of any cursor associated lock region; and means, responsive to user selection of a particular lock mode for specifying conditions under which a cursor associated lock is to be generated.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 56 words

A collaborative computer based system for protecting transitory, floating blocks of a shared data object as set forth in claim 9, wherein one cursor lock mode is an object mode, wherein a cursor associated lock region extends to a defined subobject within the shared data object upon the condition that the cursor lies over the subobject.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

A collaborative computer based system for protecting transitory, floating blocks of a shared data object as set forth in claim 9, wherein the collaborative computer based system further comprises: means for serializing user commands.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 94 words

A collaborative computer based system for protecting transitory, floating blocks of a shared data object as set forth in claim 11, the collaborative computer based system further comprising: means for checking whether a command from the current user indicates modification of the shared data object; means, responsive to such a command, for determining if the indicated modification occurs within a lock region associated with a cursor other than the cursor assigned the current user; means, responsive to positive determination, for blocking the modification; and means, responsive to a negative determination, for entering the modification.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

A collaborative computer based system for protecting transitory, floating blocks of a shared data object as set forth in claim 8, wherein the shared data object is manipulated by a text editor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

A collaborative computer based system for protecting transitory, floating blocks of a shared data object as set forth in claim 8, wherein an assigned cursor includes a visual attribute to distinguish it as to its owner.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-08-15	1998-02-14	1998-08-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-08-15	2002-02-14	2002-08-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-08-15	2006-02-14	2006-08-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Cursor lock region

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