Method and apparatus for indicating a change in status of an object and its disposition using animation

Claim 3

A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of drawing a perimeter around said converging portions comprising a plurality of straight-line segments.

Claim 4

A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising the step of randomizing said straight-line segments to form a plurality of jagged line segments.

Claim 5

A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said step of randomizing said straight-line segments comprises: identifying a straight-line segment from a bit map area located in RAM to be converted into a ragged line segment; recursively dividing said straight-line segment while adding a random factor to create a ragged line segment in a bit map area located in RAM; and drawing said ragged line segment on a computer screen to provide a paper crumpling effect.

Claim 6

A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of animating said sprite.

Claim 7

A method as recited in claim 5 wherein said step of animating said sprite comprises rotating said sprite.

Claim 8

A pointer based computer system comprising: computer processing unit; display assembly coupled to said computer processing unit, said display assembly including a screen displaying at least one object; a pointer for inputting information to the computer processing unit; means for receiving a deletion command indicating the desired deletion of a selected object displayed on the display screen of the pointer based computer system, the deletion command being initiated using the pointer, and the selected object having an initial visual appearance indicative of an initial status; modification means for modifying the visual appearance of the image of the selected object displayed on the display screen through graphical animation to provide the user with an animated indication of the deletion of the selected object, the modification means being responsive to the deletion command without requiring any additional inputs from the user, the animated indication of the deletion including an animation that appears as a crumpling of the image of the selected object; means for automatically moving said modified image of the selected object across the display screen to a position that overlaps an icon displayed on the screen which indicates the deletion of said object, said means for automatically moving said modified image being responsive to the deletion command without requiring any additional inputs from the user; and means for executing the deletion command on the selected object, said means for executing the deletion command being responsive to the deletion command without requiring any additional inputs from the user.

Claim 9

A pointer based computer system comprising: computer processing unit; display assembly coupled to said computer processing unit, said display assembly including a screen displaying at least one object; a pointer for inputting information to the computer processing unit; means for receiving a deletion command indicating the desired deletion of a selected object displayed on the display screen of the pointer based computer system, the deletion command being initiated using the pointer, and the selected object having an initial visual appearance indicative of an initial status; modification means for modifying the visual appearance of the image of the selected object displayed on the display screen through graphical animation to provide the user with an animated indication of the deletion of the selected object, the modification means being responsive to the deletion command without requiring any additional inputs from the user, the animated indication of the deletion including an animation that appears as a crumpling of the image of the selected object; means for automatically moving said modified image of the selected object across the display screen to a position that overlaps an icon displayed on the screen which indicates the deletion of said object, said means for automatically moving said modified image being responsive to the deletion command without requiring any additional inputs from the user; and means for executing the deletion command on the selected object, said means for executing the deletion command being responsive to the deletion command without requiring any additional inputs from the user.

Claim 10

A computer system as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for receiving a deletion command includes: means for selecting said object on said screen; and means for specifying said object should be deleted.

Claim 11

A computer system as recited in claim 7 wherein said pointer is a stylus and said display assembly is a dual-function display assembly of a pen-based computer system, the dual-function display assembly includes a display screen and a position sensitive membrane responsive to said stylus for receiving said change in status command.

Claim 12

A computer system as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for receiving a deletion command is implemented by the computer system without user input beyond the deletion command initiated using the pointer.

Claim 15

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said icon represents the deletion of said object.

Claim 16

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said icon represents the storage of said object.

Claim 17

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said modified object is moved along an arcuate path to said icon.

Claim 18

A method as recited in claim 14 wherein said arcuate path is substantially hyperbolic.

Claim 19

A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said arcuate path includes a loop.

Claim 20

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said modified object is moved along a path including at least one substantially straight segment to said icon.

Claim 21

A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of animating said object as it moves along said path.

Claim 22

A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said step of animating said object comprises rotating said object.

Claim 23

A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said step of animating said object comprises wobbling said object.

Claim 24

A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of providing an audible user feedback as said object is modified in visual appearance.

Claim 25

A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of providing audible user feedback as said modified object is automatically moved.

Claim 26

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the icon which indicates the deletion of the object is a trash icon.

Claim 27

A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the computer system is a pen based computer system having a stylus and a dual-function display assembly, the dual-function display assembly including the screen and a position sensitive membrane that covers said screen, and wherein the stylus is used to input information to the computer by contacting the display screen and the change of status command is entered by the stylus.

Claim 28

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said animation that appears as a crumpling of the image includes a method for drawing a ragged line segment on a computer screen comprising: identifying a straight-line segment from a bit map area located in RAM to be converted into a ragged line segment; recursively dividing said straight-line segment while adding a random factor to create a ragged line segment in a bit map area located in RAM; and drawing said ragged line segment on a computer screen to provide a paper crumpling effect.