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US5680561A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Effectively locating an object within a compound document using an elevator

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-08-26
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Granted: 1997-10-21
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Expires: 2016-08-26
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Abstract

Abstract A method, apparatus and memory direct a computer system, having at least a processor, display, and user controls, to locate at least one portion (e.g., page containing one or more objects and text) of a compound document. The method includes creating an outline for each portion of the compound document, displaying on the display an elevator in a first position, wherein the first position of the elevator corresponds to a first portion of the compound document, in response to invoking a command by user controls, displaying on the display a display container, wherein the display container displays the outline of the portion corresponding to the first position of the elevator, and in response to scrolling the elevator to at least a second position, displaying the outline for the second portion corresponding to the second position of the elevator in the display container on the display.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hatim Yousef Amro
  • 👤 John Paul Dodson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 08:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0485; G06F3/04855

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 141 words
A method for directing a computer system, having at least a processor, display, user controls, and memory, to locate at least one portion within a compound document, comprising the steps of: creating an outline for each portion of the compound document; displaying on the display an elevator in a first position, wherein the first position of the elevator corresponds to a first portion of the compound document; in response to invoking a command by user controls, displaying on the display a display container, wherein the display container displays the outline of the first portion corresponding to the first position of the elevator; and in response to scrolling the elevator to at least a second position, displaying the outline for a second portion of the compound document, corresponding to the second position of the elevator, in the display container on the display.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 141 words
A method for directing a computer system, having at least a processor, display, user controls, and memory, to locate at least one portion within a compound document, comprising the steps of: creating an outline for each portion of the compound document; displaying on the display an elevator in a first position, wherein the first position of the elevator corresponds to a first portion of the compound document; in response to invoking a command by user controls, displaying on the display a display container, wherein the display container displays the outline of the first portion corresponding to the first position of the elevator; and in response to scrolling the elevator to at least a second position, displaying the outline for a second portion of the compound document, corresponding to the second position of the elevator, in the display container on the display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 94 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of creating an outline for each portion of the compound document comprises the following steps: scanning each line of each portion of the compound document for indicators designating a beginning and end of text and object sections; storing screen coordinates for each indicator into a database table; defining a box around each text and object section; storing screen coordinates for each corner of each box in the database table; and storing a unique symbol for text and each type of object into the database table.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 48 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein the step of displaying the outline comprises the step of: (a) connecting the corners of each box on the display; and (b) displaying the unique symbol in each box corresponding to the type of object or text represented by the box.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein each portion corresponds to one page of the compound document.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 145 words
An apparatus for directing a computer system, having at least a processor, display, and user controls, to locate at least one portion of a compound document, comprising: means for creating an outline for each portion of the compound document; means for displaying on the display an elevator in a first position, wherein the first position of the elevator corresponds to a first portion of the compound document; in response to invoking a command by user controls, means for displaying on the display a display container, wherein the display container displays the outline of the first portion corresponding to the first position of the elevator; and in response to scrolling the elevator to at least a second position, means for displaying the outline for a second portion of the compound document, corresponding to the second position of the elevator, in the display container on the display.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 145 words
An apparatus for directing a computer system, having at least a processor, display, and user controls, to locate at least one portion of a compound document, comprising: means for creating an outline for each portion of the compound document; means for displaying on the display an elevator in a first position, wherein the first position of the elevator corresponds to a first portion of the compound document; in response to invoking a command by user controls, means for displaying on the display a display container, wherein the display container displays the outline of the first portion corresponding to the first position of the elevator; and in response to scrolling the elevator to at least a second position, means for displaying the outline for a second portion of the compound document, corresponding to the second position of the elevator, in the display container on the display.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 88 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising: means for scanning each line of each portion of the compound document for indicators designating a beginning and end of text and object sections; means for storing screen coordinates for each indicator into a database table; means for defining a box around each text and object section; means for storing screen coordinates for each corner of each box in the database table; and means for storing a unique symbol for text and each type of object into the database table.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 38 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising: means for connecting the corners of each box; and means for displaying the unique symbol in each box corresponding to the type of object or text represented by the box.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each portion corresponds to one page of the compound document.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 176 words
An article of manufacture, comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means for directing a computer system, having at least a processor, display, and user controls, to locate at least one portion in a compound document, the computer readable program code means comprising: computer readable program code means for creating an outline for each portion of the compound document; computer readable program code means for displaying on the display an elevator in a first position, wherein the first position of the elevator corresponds to a first portion of the compound document; in response to invoking a command by user controls, computer readable program code means for displaying on the display a display container, wherein the display container displays the outline of the first portion corresponding to the first position of the elevator; and in response to scrolling the elevator to at least a second position, computer readable program code means for displaying the outline of the second portion, corresponding to the second position of the elevator, in the display container on the display.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 176 words
An article of manufacture, comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means for directing a computer system, having at least a processor, display, and user controls, to locate at least one portion in a compound document, the computer readable program code means comprising: computer readable program code means for creating an outline for each portion of the compound document; computer readable program code means for displaying on the display an elevator in a first position, wherein the first position of the elevator corresponds to a first portion of the compound document; in response to invoking a command by user controls, computer readable program code means for displaying on the display a display container, wherein the display container displays the outline of the first portion corresponding to the first position of the elevator; and in response to scrolling the elevator to at least a second position, computer readable program code means for displaying the outline of the second portion, corresponding to the second position of the elevator, in the display container on the display.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-10-20 2001-04-21 2001-10-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-10-20 2005-04-21 2005-10-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-10-20 2009-04-21 2009-10-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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