Patent US5570281A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5570281A
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Method and system for facilitating visual connections between objects using handles
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1995-01-31
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Granted: 1996-10-29
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Expires: 2015-01-31
Abstract
Abstract Objects are provided with handles representing the most frequently used events and actions for that particular object. Each handle has a label indicating the name of the event or action it represents. The functions of the objects can be connected together using these handles. In addition, tile events and actions that are shown as handles can be changed by selecting them from a list. The display of the handles and/or labels can be turned off if desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard E. Berry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F8/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A method, of facilitating connections between objects in an object oriented development environment adapted for execution on a data processing system, comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality of objects, each of said objects having an associated handle, on a display device of said data processing system; selecting a first handle associated with a first of said objects; dragging said selected handle to a second handle associated with a second of said objects, forming a connection between said first object and said second object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A method, of facilitating connections between objects in an object oriented development environment adapted for execution on a data processing system, comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality of objects, each of said objects having an associated handle, on a display device of said data processing system; selecting a first handle associated with a first of said objects; dragging said selected handle to a second handle associated with a second of said objects, forming a connection between said first object and said second object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: displaying said connection on said display device as a line from said first handle to said second handle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each of said associated handles is one of a plurality of handle types.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said handle types comprise: event handles; and action handles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3, wherein each of said handle types has a predetermined characteristic associated with said display of said type of handle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: displaying a label associated with a handle associated with an object on said display device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: selecting a handle associated with an object of said objects; and moving said handle to a new position respective to said object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: editing an attribute associated with an object of said objects; and updating said display responsive to said editing of said attribute.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A data processing system for connecting objects having handles, comprising: display means for displaying objects, each of said objects having an associated handle; selecting means for selecting a first handle associated with a first of said objects; memory means for storing a coordinate location of said selected first handle; dragging means for dragging said selected first handle to a second handle associated with a second object; and processor means for forming a connection between said first object and said second object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
A data processing system for connecting objects having handles, comprising: display means for displaying objects, each of said objects having an associated handle; selecting means for selecting a first handle associated with a first of said objects; memory means for storing a coordinate location of said selected first handle; dragging means for dragging said selected first handle to a second handle associated with a second object; and processor means for forming a connection between said first object and said second object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The data processing system of claim 9, wherein said processor means further comprises means for displaying said connection on said display device as a line from said first handle to said second handle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The data processing system of claim 9, wherein each of said associated handles is one of a plurality of handle types.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The data processing of claim 11, wherein said handle types comprise: event handles: and action handles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The data processing system of claim 11, further comprising: a predetermined characteristic associated with the display of each said type of handle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The data processing system of claim 9, wherein said memory means further comprises: means for storing labels associated with said handles, said labels to be displayed on said display means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The data processing system of claim 9, wherein said selecting means further comprises: means for selecting a handle associated with an object of said objects: means for moving said handle to a new position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The data processing system of claim 9, further comprising: editing means for editing an attribute associated with an object of said objects; updating means for updating said display means responsive to said editing of said attribute.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
An object oriented development environment having objects and handles associated with each of said objects, comprising: a first handle associated with a first object of said objects; a second handle associated with a second object of said objects: and a pointing device for selecting said first handle and dragging said first handle to said second handle, forming a connection between said first handle and said second handle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
67 words
An object oriented development environment having objects and handles associated with each of said objects, comprising: a first handle associated with a first object of said objects; a second handle associated with a second object of said objects: and a pointing device for selecting said first handle and dragging said first handle to said second handle, forming a connection between said first handle and said second handle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The object oriented development environment of claim 17, further comprising: a label associated with a handle of an object of said objects.
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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) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-04-29 | 2000-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-29 | 2004-04-29 | 2004-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-29 | 2008-04-29 | 2008-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |