US5611031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Graphical user interface for modifying object characteristics using coupon objects
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC
•
Filing: 1994-04-29
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Granted: 1997-03-11
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Expires: 2014-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A graphical user interface for changing characteristics, properties, or attributes of graphical objects in which particular values of particular characteristics are represented themselves as graphical objects called coupons. A user changes a characteristic of a graphical object by selecting a coupon representing a desired value of the characteristic and indicating that the coupon is to be applied to the graphical object. A coupon is selected and applied using a drag and drop technique. Particular values of particular characteristics of a first graphical object can be transferred to a second graphical object by use of a tinker window graphical user interface. A tinker window contains one or more coupons representing the state of the first object in terms of characteristics of the first object. The user selects a coupon from the tinker window and applies the coupon to the second object to transfer to the second object a characteristic of the first object. In some instances, the particular characteristic represented by the coupon is a series of computer instructions associated with a graphical object.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew J. Hertzfeld
- 👤 William D. Atkinson
- 👤 Susan D. Kare
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04845
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on a display screen of a computer in accordance with commands issued by a user, the method comprising: operating the computer system in an object-oriented environment; creating a coupon object which represents a particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in the display screen, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; and forming a coupon class wherein the coupon object is a member of the coupon class.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on a display screen of a computer in accordance with commands issued by a user, the method comprising: operating the computer system in an object-oriented environment; creating a coupon object which represents a particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in the display screen, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; and forming a coupon class wherein the coupon object is a member of the coupon class.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining that the representation of the coupon object is over the first object; and displaying the first object in a highlighted state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of displaying the first object in a highlighted state comprises: drawing a box around the first object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of displaying the first object in a highlighted state comprises: drawing a thickened border around the first object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of displaying the first object in a highlighted state comprises: drawing a starburst pattern around the first object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining that the representation of the coupon object is over the first object; and displaying the coupon object in a faded state.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on a display screen of a computer in accordance with commands issued by a user, the method comprising: operating the computer system in an object-oriented environment; creating a coupon object which represents a particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in the display screen, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; and forming a viewable class of objects which can be represented in the display screen wherein the first object is a member of the viewable class.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on a display screen of a computer in accordance with commands issued by a user, the method comprising: operating the computer system in an object-oriented environment; creating a coupon object which represents a particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in the display screen, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; and forming a viewable class of objects which can be represented in the display screen wherein the first object is a member of the viewable class.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on a display screen of a computer in accordance with commands issued by a user, the method comprising: operating the computer system in an object-oriented environment; creating a coupon object which represents a particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in the display screen, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; and altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; wherein the particular value of the characteristic represented by the coupon object is the value of the characteristic of a second object.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on a display screen of a computer in accordance with commands issued by a user, the method comprising: operating the computer system in an object-oriented environment; creating a coupon object which represents a particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in the display screen, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; and altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; wherein the particular value of the characteristic represented by the coupon object is the value of the characteristic of a second object.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
171 words
A method comprising: forming within a memory of a computer operating in an object-oriented environment a first object and a second object, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; forming, within the memory, a coupon object representing the particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in a display screen of the computer, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; and forming a tinker window which includes one or more coupon objects, each of which represents a corresponding value of a respective characteristic of the first object, the tinker window for holding and accessing characteristics that are associated with the first object; wherein the one or more coupon objects include the coupon object.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
171 words
A method comprising: forming within a memory of a computer operating in an object-oriented environment a first object and a second object, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; forming, within the memory, a coupon object representing the particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in a display screen of the computer, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; and forming a tinker window which includes one or more coupon objects, each of which represents a corresponding value of a respective characteristic of the first object, the tinker window for holding and accessing characteristics that are associated with the first object; wherein the one or more coupon objects include the coupon object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of forming a coupon class wherein each of the one or more coupons is a member of the coupon class.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of forming a viewable class of objects which can be represented in the display screen wherein the first and second objects are each a member of the viewable class.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of forming a tinker window class wherein the tinker window is a member of the tinker window class.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
138 words
A method comprising: forming within a memory of a computer operating in an object-oriented environment a first object and a second object, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; forming, within the memory, a coupon object representing the particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in a display screen of the computer, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; and forming a coupon class wherein each of the one or more coupons is a member of the coupon class.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
138 words
A method comprising: forming within a memory of a computer operating in an object-oriented environment a first object and a second object, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; forming, within the memory, a coupon object representing the particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in a display screen of the computer, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; and forming a coupon class wherein each of the one or more coupons is a member of the coupon class.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
147 words
A method comprising: forming within a memory of a computer operating in an object-oriented environment a first object and a second object, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; forming, within the memory, a coupon object representing the particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in a display screen of the computer, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; and forming a viewable class of objects which can be represented in the display screen wherein the first and second objects are each a member of the viewable class.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
147 words
A method comprising: forming within a memory of a computer operating in an object-oriented environment a first object and a second object, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; forming, within the memory, a coupon object representing the particular value of the characteristic; displaying, in a display screen of the computer, a representation of the coupon object; dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen; dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; and forming a viewable class of objects which can be represented in the display screen wherein the first and second objects are each a member of the viewable class.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for altering a characteristic of a first object, a representation of the first object being a display on a display device of a computer system, the method comprising: operating the computer system in an object-oriented environment; creating a coupon object, the coupon object including a particular value of the characteristic; displaying, on the display device, a representation of the coupon object; selecting the coupon object via the representation of the coupon object; indicating to the coupon object to alter the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; and indicating that the first object can accept the coupon object to alter the characteristic to the particular value.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for altering a characteristic of a first object, a representation of the first object being a display on a display device of a computer system, the method comprising: operating the computer system in an object-oriented environment; creating a coupon object, the coupon object including a particular value of the characteristic; displaying, on the display device, a representation of the coupon object; selecting the coupon object via the representation of the coupon object; indicating to the coupon object to alter the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; and indicating that the first object can accept the coupon object to alter the characteristic to the particular value.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of selecting the coupon includes dragging the coupon object.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of indicating to the coupon includes dragging the representation of the coupon over the representation of the first object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of indicating that the first object can accept includes providing an indication when the representation of the coupon object is dragged over the representation of the first object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of providing an indication when the representation of the coupon object is dragged over the representation of the first object comprises: displaying the first object in a highlighted state.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the step of displaying the first object in a highlighted state comprises: drawing a box around the first object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the step of displaying the first object in a highlighted state comprises: drawing a thickened border around the first object.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the step of displaying the first object in a highlighted state comprises: drawing a starburst pattern around the first object.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
153 words
A system comprising: a computer having a display screen and operating in an object-oriented environment for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on the display screen in accordance with commands issued by a user; a coupon object which is stored within a memory of the computer and which represents a particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, for displaying a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; and means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; wherein the coupon object is a member of a coupon class.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
153 words
A system comprising: a computer having a display screen and operating in an object-oriented environment for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on the display screen in accordance with commands issued by a user; a coupon object which is stored within a memory of the computer and which represents a particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, for displaying a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; and means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; wherein the coupon object is a member of a coupon class.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
163 words
A system comprising: a computer having a display screen and operating in an object-oriented environment for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on the display screen in accordance with commands issued by a user; a coupon object which is stored within a memory of the computer and which represents a particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, for displaying a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; and means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; wherein the first object is a member of a viewable class of objects which can be displayed in the display screen.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
163 words
A system comprising: a computer having a display screen and operating in an object-oriented environment for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on the display screen in accordance with commands issued by a user; a coupon object which is stored within a memory of the computer and which represents a particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, for displaying a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; and means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; wherein the first object is a member of a viewable class of objects which can be displayed in the display screen.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
164 words
A system comprising: a computer having a display screen and operating in an object-oriented environment for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on the display screen in accordance with commands issued by a user; a coupon object which is stored within a memory of the computer and which represents a particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, for displaying a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; and means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; wherein the particular value of the characteristic represented by the coupon object is the value of the characteristic of a second object.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
164 words
A system comprising: a computer having a display screen and operating in an object-oriented environment for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on the display screen in accordance with commands issued by a user; a coupon object which is stored within a memory of the computer and which represents a particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, for displaying a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object; and means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; wherein the particular value of the characteristic represented by the coupon object is the value of the characteristic of a second object.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
222 words
A system comprising: a computer operating in an object-oriented environment; a memory coupled to the computer; a first object and a second object stored within the memory of the computer, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; a coupon object stored within the memory and which represents the particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, which can display a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; and a tinker window, displayed in the display screen and stored in the memory, which includes one or more coupon objects stored in the memory and displayed in the display screen, each of which represents a corresponding value of a respective characteristic of the first object, the tinker window for holding and accessing characteristics that are associated with the first object; wherein the one or more coupon objects include the coupon object.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
222 words
A system comprising: a computer operating in an object-oriented environment; a memory coupled to the computer; a first object and a second object stored within the memory of the computer, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; a coupon object stored within the memory and which represents the particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, which can display a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; and a tinker window, displayed in the display screen and stored in the memory, which includes one or more coupon objects stored in the memory and displayed in the display screen, each of which represents a corresponding value of a respective characteristic of the first object, the tinker window for holding and accessing characteristics that are associated with the first object; wherein the one or more coupon objects include the coupon object.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 26 wherein each of the one or more coupons is a member of a coupon class stored in the memory.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the first and second objects are each a member of a viewable class of objects which can be represented in the display screen.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the tinker window is a member of a tinker window class.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
166 words
A system comprising: a computer operating in an object-oriented environment; a memory coupled to the computer; a first object and a second object stored within the memory of the computer, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; a coupon object stored within the memory and which represents the particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, which can display a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; and means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; wherein each of the one or more coupons is a member of a coupon class.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
166 words
A system comprising: a computer operating in an object-oriented environment; a memory coupled to the computer; a first object and a second object stored within the memory of the computer, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; a coupon object stored within the memory and which represents the particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, which can display a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; and means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; wherein each of the one or more coupons is a member of a coupon class.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
175 words
A system comprising: a computer operating in an object-oriented environment; a memory coupled to the computer; a first object and a second object stored within the memory of the computer, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; a coupon object stored within the memory and which represents the particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, which can display a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; and means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; wherein the first and second objects are each a member of a viewable class of objects which can be represented in the display screen.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
175 words
A system comprising: a computer operating in an object-oriented environment; a memory coupled to the computer; a first object and a second object stored within the memory of the computer, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value; a coupon object stored within the memory and which represents the particular value of the characteristic; a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, which can display a representation of the coupon object; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object; and means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value; wherein the first and second objects are each a member of a viewable class of objects which can be represented in the display screen.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
164 words
A system comprising: a computer operating in an object-oriented environment; a memory coupled to the computer; a display device coupled to the computer; a first object stored within the memory of the computer and having a characteristic, a representation of the first object being a display on the display device; a coupon object, stored in the memory of the computer and having a representation displayed on the display device, the coupon object including a particular value of the characteristic; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display device, for selecting the coupon object via the representation of the coupon object and for indicating to the coupon object to alter the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; and means, operatively coupled to the display device, for indicating that the first object can accept the coupon object to alter the characteristic to the particular value.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
164 words
A system comprising: a computer operating in an object-oriented environment; a memory coupled to the computer; a display device coupled to the computer; a first object stored within the memory of the computer and having a characteristic, a representation of the first object being a display on the display device; a coupon object, stored in the memory of the computer and having a representation displayed on the display device, the coupon object including a particular value of the characteristic; a user interface, operatively coupled to the display device, for selecting the coupon object via the representation of the coupon object and for indicating to the coupon object to alter the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value; and means, operatively coupled to the display device, for indicating that the first object can accept the coupon object to alter the characteristic to the particular value.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the user interface includes means, operatively coupled to the display device, for dragging the coupon object.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the user interface includes means, operatively coupled to the display device, for dragging the representation of the coupon over the representation of the first object.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the means for indicating that the first object can accept includes means for providing an indication when the representation of the coupon object is dragged over the representation of the first object.
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) | 2000-03-10 | 2000-09-09 | 2001-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-10 | 2004-09-09 | 2005-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-10 | 2008-09-09 | 2009-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |