US5608860A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for multiple source and target object direct manipulation techniques
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-03-04
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Granted: 1997-03-04
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Expires: 2016-03-04
Abstract
Abstract In a multi-windowed environment, a direct manipulation technique adds the ability to add and delete source objects and target objects to a direct manipulation list. After the direct manipulation operation has begun, a group object is formed. The group object may be positioned proximate without being dropped or released another object which may be a source or a target object. Upon passage of a pre-determined period of time, a menu will open allowing selection of an appropriate option to add to or delete from the group object.
Inventors
- 👤 Greg P. Fitzpatrick
- 👤 Thom R. Haynes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/448; G06F9/4488; G06F9/4493; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0486; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S345/00; Y10S345/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
In a multi-windowed electronic data processing system in which a drag and drop operation has been initiated with at least one source graphical object selected to create a direct manipulation list, a method of selectively adding and deleting graphical objects from the direct manipulation list prior to completion of the drag and drop operation, comprising the steps of: creating a group graphical object comprising all graphical objects on the direct manipulation list; hovering said group graphical object proximate at least one other graphical object for a predetermined period of time while continuing to select said group graphical object; after said predetermined period of time, automatically opening a menu comprising a plurality of selectable options including at least add to the direct manipulation list and delete from the direct manipulation list; while continuing to select said group graphical object, designating at least one of said plurality of selectable options; and continuing the drag and drop operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a multi-windowed electronic data processing system in which a drag and drop operation has been initiated with at least one source graphical object selected to create a direct manipulation list, a method of selectively adding and deleting graphical objects from the direct manipulation list prior to completion of the drag and drop operation, comprising the steps of: creating a group graphical object comprising all graphical objects on the direct manipulation list; hovering said group graphical object proximate at least one other graphical object for a predetermined period of time while continuing to select said group graphical object; after said predetermined period of time, automatically opening a menu comprising a plurality of selectable options including at least add to the direct manipulation list and delete from the direct manipulation list; while continuing to select said group graphical object, designating at least one of said plurality of selectable options; and continuing the drag and drop operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of hovering said group graphical object comprises: hovering said group graphical object proximate at least a second source graphical object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said step of designating further comprises: designating an option to add said at least a second source graphical object to a source list on said direct manipulation list; and adding said at least a second source graphical object to said group graphical object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said step of designating further comprises: designating an option to delete said at least a second source graphical object from a source list on said direct manipulation list; and deleting said at least a second graphical source object from said group graphical object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of hovering said group graphical object comprises: hovering said group graphical object proximate at least a first target graphical object for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said step of automatically opening further comprises: automatically opening a menu comprising a plurality of selectable options including at least add to a target list and delete from a target list, said target list comprising a portion of the direct manipulation list.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said step of designating comprises: designating an option to add said at least a first target graphical object to said target graphical list; and adding said at least a first target object to said group graphical object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said step of designating comprises: designating an option to delete said at least a first target graphical object from said target list; and deleting said at least a first target graphical object from said group graphical object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 in which the direct manipulation operation has been initiated in a first window wherein said step of hovering further comprises: hovering said group graphical object proximate said at least a second graphical object in a second window separate from the first window.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
136 words
A multi-windowed data processing system for selectively adding and deleting graphical objects from a direct manipulation list after initiating but prior to completing a drag and drop operation, comprising: means for creating a group graphical object comprising all graphical objects on the direct manipulation list; means for hovering said group graphical object proximate at least one other graphical object for a predetermined period of time while continuing to select said group graphical object; means for automatically opening, after said predetermined period of time, a menu comprising a plurality of selectable options including at least add to the direct manipulation list and delete from the direct manipulation list; means for designating, while continuing to select said group graphical object, at least one of said plurality of selectable options; and means for continuing the drag and drop operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
136 words
A multi-windowed data processing system for selectively adding and deleting graphical objects from a direct manipulation list after initiating but prior to completing a drag and drop operation, comprising: means for creating a group graphical object comprising all graphical objects on the direct manipulation list; means for hovering said group graphical object proximate at least one other graphical object for a predetermined period of time while continuing to select said group graphical object; means for automatically opening, after said predetermined period of time, a menu comprising a plurality of selectable options including at least add to the direct manipulation list and delete from the direct manipulation list; means for designating, while continuing to select said group graphical object, at least one of said plurality of selectable options; and means for continuing the drag and drop operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said means for hovering further comprises; means for hovering said group graphical object proximate at least a second source graphical object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said means for designating further comprises: means for designating an option to add said at least a second source graphical object to a source list on said direct manipulation list; and means for adding said at least a second source graphical object to said group graphical object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said means for designating further comprises: means for designating an option to delete said at least a second source graphical object from a source list on said direct manipulation list; and means for deleting said at least a second source graphical object from said group graphical object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said means for hovering further comprises: means for hovering said group graphical object proximate at least a first target graphical object for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 14, wherein said means for automatically opening further comprises: means for automatically opening a menu comprising a plurality of selectable options including at least add to a target list and delete from a target list, said target list comprising a portion of the direct manipulation list.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said means for designating comprises: means for designating an option to add said at least a first target graphical object to said target list; and means for adding said at least a first target graphical object to said group graphical object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said means for designating comprises: means for designating an option to delete said at least a first target graphical object from said target list; and means for deleting said at least a first target graphical object from said group graphical object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 10 in which the drag and drop operation has been initiated in a first window wherein said means for hovering further comprises: means for hovering said group graphical object proximate said at least a second graphical object in a second window separate from the first window.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-03 | 2000-09-02 | 2001-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-03 | 2004-09-02 | 2005-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-03 | 2008-09-02 | 2009-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |