US5491782A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for loosely ganging sliders on a user interface of a data processing system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1993-06-29
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Granted: 1996-02-13
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Expires: 2013-06-29
Abstract
Abstract The movement of first and second sliders on a user interface of a data processing system is loosely coordinated by way of pusher member. The pusher is coupled to one of the sliders and extends over to the other slider, where it is adapted to contact a side of the other slider. The sliders move independently of each other if the pusher does not contact the other slider, as in for example, the sliders moving apart. If the pusher does contact the other slider, then both sliders become ganged and move in unison.
Inventors
- 👤 Chen D. King
- 👤 Raymond E. Lee
- 👤 Peter Scannell
- 👤 Robert J. Torres
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04847; G06F3/0486; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/974
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system; comprising the steps of: a) displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along a first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path, said first and second paths being separate from each other; b) displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path; (c) selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system; comprising the steps of: a) displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along a first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path, said first and second paths being separate from each other; b) displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path; (c) selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining if said movement of either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then moving both of said first and second sliders together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
125 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said one of said first slider that is moving along said first path or said second slider that is moving along said second path is a moving slider and said other of said first slider or second slider is a ganged slider, further comprising the steps of: a) determining if said movement of either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path causes said second slider to contact said member and if so that moving both of said first and second sliders together. b) said step of moving both of said first and second sliders together further comprises the step of moving said ganged slider with said member and said moving slider.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system, comprising the steps of: a) displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along a first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path; b) displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path; c) selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device; d) determining if said movement of either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then moving both of said first and second sliders together; e) said step of determining if said movement causes said second slider to contact said member further comprises the step of moving said respective moving slider without moving said respective nonmoving slider if said second slider does not contact said member.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system, comprising the steps of: a) displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along a first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path; b) displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path; c) selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device; d) determining if said movement of either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then moving both of said first and second sliders together; e) said step of determining if said movement causes said second slider to contact said member further comprises the step of moving said respective moving slider without moving said respective nonmoving slider if said second slider does not contact said member.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system; comprising: a) means for displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along a first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path, said first and second paths being separate from each other; b) means for displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path; c) means for selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system; comprising: a) means for displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along a first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path, said first and second paths being separate from each other; b) means for displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path; c) means for selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for determining if said movement of either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then for moving both of said first and second sliders together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
141 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said one of said first slider that is moving along said first path or said second slider that is moving along said second path is a moving slider and said other of said first slider or second slider is a ganged slider, further comprising; a) means for determining if said movement of either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then for moving both of said first and second sliders together; b) said means for determining if said movement causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then for moving both of said first and second sliders together further comprises means for moving said gang slider with said member and said moving slider.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system, comprising: a) means for displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along is first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path; b) means for displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path; c) means for selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device; d) means for determining if said movement causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then for moving both of said first and second sliders together; e) said means for determining if said movement causes said second slider to contact said member further comprises means for moving said respective moving slider without moving said respective nonmoving slider if said second slider does not contact said member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system, comprising: a) means for displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along is first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path; b) means for displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path; c) means for selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device; d) means for determining if said movement causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then for moving both of said first and second sliders together; e) said means for determining if said movement causes said second slider to contact said member further comprises means for moving said respective moving slider without moving said respective nonmoving slider if said second slider does not contact said member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-12 | 1999-08-14 | 2000-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-12 | 2003-08-14 | 2004-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-12 | 2007-08-14 | 2008-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |