US5600779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing visual cues in a graphic user interface
Assignee: Apple Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1997-02-04
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A user interface includes an object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows and provides an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. The selection of one of the button functions results in the generation and display of entries in a predefined area of the access window. Upon the selection of one of the entries by a user, phrases related to the selected entry are displayed in a working area of the access window. The selection of one of the phrases results in the display of a presentation window containing help instruction data to guide the user in the particular help task specified by the entry and phrase selection. To further assist the user, visual cues in the form of coach marks are generated for identifying features on the display which relate to the information disposed within the presentation window, but may identify any feature on the display. The coach marks are displayed generally concurrently with the display of the presentation window. The coach marks are displayed such that they appear animated as if drawn by hand and appear to approximate a geometric object, such as an arrow, a circle, an X, and the like. The coach marks encircle, point to, and/or underline objects, features, icons, folders and other display elements to assist the user in operating the computer system.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Palmer
- 👤 John R. Powers, III
- 👤 Patricia J. Coleman
- 👤 Gregory S. Brewer
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Herman
- 👤 Eli Cochran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489; G06F3/04895; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0485; G06F3/04855; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; G06F9/453; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/973
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
In a data processing display system having a display, a method for providing visual cues to a user comprising the steps of: (a) displaying on said display a user interface having a plurality of objects; (b) automatically drawing on said display a coach mark having at least one geometric shape to visually identify at least one of said objects on said user interface to said user, wherein the automatically drawing step (b) includes rendering said coach mark over time to achieve the visual appearance of being animated and drawn freehand on said user interface by a human being.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a data processing display system having a display, a method for providing visual cues to a user comprising the steps of: (a) displaying on said display a user interface having a plurality of objects; (b) automatically drawing on said display a coach mark having at least one geometric shape to visually identify at least one of said objects on said user interface to said user, wherein the automatically drawing step (b) includes rendering said coach mark over time to achieve the visual appearance of being animated and drawn freehand on said user interface by a human being.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined by claim 1 wherein said coach mark is drawn in response to said user providing a first signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined by claim 1 comprising the step of displaying at least one of said objects in a window on said display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined by claim 3 wherein said coach mark identifies one of said at least one of said objects within said window.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as defined by claim 2 wherein said user provides said first signal by inputting a help inquiry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as defined by claim 1 wherein said coach mark is circular in shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as defined by claim 1 wherein said coach mark is shaped as an arrow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as defined by claim 1 wherein said coach mark is X-shaped.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined by claim 1 wherein said coach mark identifies a location on said display for data input by said user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as defined by claim 1 wherein said coach mark is linear in shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as defined by claim 1 wherein said coach mark is displayed in color.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as defined by claim 1 wherein said coach mark is translucent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
A data processing display system for providing visual cues to a user, said data processing display system comprising: a display; and a data processing system, coupled to said display, for displaying on said display a user interface having a plurality of objects; said data processing system automatically drawing on said display a coach mark having at least one geometric shape to visually identify at least one of said objects on said user interface to said user, said data processing system automatically drawing said coach mark by rendering said coach mark over time to achieve the visual appearance of being animated and drawn freehand on said user interface by a human being.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
111 words
A data processing display system for providing visual cues to a user, said data processing display system comprising: a display; and a data processing system, coupled to said display, for displaying on said display a user interface having a plurality of objects; said data processing system automatically drawing on said display a coach mark having at least one geometric shape to visually identify at least one of said objects on said user interface to said user, said data processing system automatically drawing said coach mark by rendering said coach mark over time to achieve the visual appearance of being animated and drawn freehand on said user interface by a human being.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display system as defined by claim 13 wherein said data processing system draws said coach mark in response to said user providing a first signal to said data processing system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The display system as defined by claim 13 wherein said data processing system displays at least one of said objects in a window on said display.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The display system as defined by claim 15 wherein said coach mark identifies one of said at least one of said objects within said window.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The display system as defined by claim 14 wherein said data processing system draws said coach mark in response to said user providing said first signal by inputting a help inquiry to said data processing system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display system as defined by claim 13 wherein said coach mark is circular in shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display system as defined by claim 13 wherein said coach mark is shaped as an arrow.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The display system as defined by claim 13 wherein said coach mark is X-shaped.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display system as defined by claim 13 wherein said coach mark identifies a location on said display for data input by said user.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display system as defined by claim 13 wherein said coach mark is linear in shape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display system as defined by claim 13 wherein said coach mark is displayed in color.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The display system as defined by claim 13 wherein said coach mark is translucent.
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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) | 2000-02-04 | 2000-08-05 | 2001-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-04 | 2004-08-05 | 2005-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-04 | 2008-08-05 | 2009-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |