US5657049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Desk drawer user interface
Assignee: Apple Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1997-08-12
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A display oriented software user interface for the generation and display of a secondary display region within a primary display region of a computer controlled information management system having windows or localized sections of displayable information and icons. The secondary display region, Desk Drawer, providing advanced capabilities to the management system by generating a readily accessible region wherein icons may be placed and always accessed thereafter when the secondary display region is present. The presence of the secondary display region may be governed by a separate screen region responsive to the cursor display position.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Ludolph
- 👤 George Norman
- 👤 Joel Spiegel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
In a computer controlled information management system including a display screen containing a first display region which allows the display of a plurality of windows, a method comprising: performing a dragging operation comprising selecting an object displayed on said display screen to associate a pointer displayed on said display screen with said object, wherein said object represents a file or a folder; dragging, during said dragging operation, said pointer to reach a trigger region displayed on said display screen, said trigger region being associated with a second display region; displaying said second display region in an open state in response to said dragging step, wherein said second display region in said open state displays information within said second display region, wherein said second display region is opened in response to said dragging step.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a computer controlled information management system including a display screen containing a first display region which allows the display of a plurality of windows, a method comprising: performing a dragging operation comprising selecting an object displayed on said display screen to associate a pointer displayed on said display screen with said object, wherein said object represents a file or a folder; dragging, during said dragging operation, said pointer to reach a trigger region displayed on said display screen, said trigger region being associated with a second display region; displaying said second display region in an open state in response to said dragging step, wherein said second display region in said open state displays information within said second display region, wherein said second display region is opened in response to said dragging step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1 further comprising depositing said object into said second display region after said second display region is displayed, and wherein said second display region is a window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein said object follows said pointer as said pointer is dragged to said trigger region and wherein said information includes icons which are displayed within said second display region when said second display region is displayed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein said second display region when displayed in response to said dragging covers at least a portion of said first display region and any windows being displayed within said portion of said first display region, said second display region when displayed being completely viewable on said display screen such that said second display region is always displayed over and covering said portion of said first display region and any windows being displayed within said portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said object follows said pointer as said pointer is dragged to said trigger region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said information includes icons which are displayed within said second display region when said second display region is displayed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said step of displaying said second display region is in response to dragging said pointer to said trigger region without any additional user input.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein said second display region represents a directory in said computer controlled information management system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said trigger region includes a hot spot region or an edge triggered region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
149 words
A computer readable medium in a digital processing system, said medium containing executable program instructions which when executed in said digital processing system cause said system to perform the steps comprising: displaying a first display region on a display screen which allows the display of a plurality of windows; performing a dragging operation comprising selecting an object displayed on said display screen to associate a pointer displayed on said display screen with said object, wherein said object represents a file or a folder; dragging, during said dragging operation, said pointer to reach a trigger region displayed on said display screen, said trigger region being associated with a second display region; displaying said second display region in an open state in response to said dragging step, wherein said second display region in said open state displays information within said second display region, and wherein said second display region is opened.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
149 words
A computer readable medium in a digital processing system, said medium containing executable program instructions which when executed in said digital processing system cause said system to perform the steps comprising: displaying a first display region on a display screen which allows the display of a plurality of windows; performing a dragging operation comprising selecting an object displayed on said display screen to associate a pointer displayed on said display screen with said object, wherein said object represents a file or a folder; dragging, during said dragging operation, said pointer to reach a trigger region displayed on said display screen, said trigger region being associated with a second display region; displaying said second display region in an open state in response to said dragging step, wherein said second display region in said open state displays information within said second display region, and wherein said second display region is opened.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer readable medium as in claim 10, wherein said executable program instructions are further for depositing said object into said second display region after said second display region is displayed, and wherein said second display region is a window.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer readable medium as in claim 11, wherein said object follows said pointer as said pointer is dragged to said trigger region and wherein said information includes icons which are displayed within said second display region when said second display region is displayed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
A computer readable medium as in claim 11, wherein said second display region when displayed in response to said dragging covers at least a portion of said first display region and any windows being displayed within said portion of said first display region, said second display region when displayed being completely viewable on said display screen such that said second display region is always displayed over and covering said portion of said first display region and any windows being displayed within said portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer readable medium as in claim 10 wherein said object follows said pointer as said pointer is dragged to said trigger region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer readable medium as in claim 14 wherein said information includes icons which are displayed within said second display region when said second display region is displayed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer readable medium as in claim 10 wherein said step of displaying said second display region is in response to dragging said pointer to said trigger region without any additional user input.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer readable medium as in claim 10, wherein said trigger region includes a hot spot region or an edge triggered region.
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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) | 2000-08-11 | 2001-02-10 | 2001-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-11 | 2005-02-10 | 2005-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-11 | 2009-02-10 | 2009-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |