US5715413A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dragging and dropping with an instantiation object
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-06-25
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Granted: 1998-02-03
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Expires: 2016-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A graphical user interface (GUI) application program implemented in an object oriented programming language permits a user to instantiate new program objects by dragging an instantiation object from one GUI window to a new GUI window and dropping the instantiation object in the new window. When the instantiation object is dropped into the new window, an object specified by the new window type is automatically instantiated. If needed, the user is automatically prompted to provide parameters needed for the object instantiation according to the window in which the object is dropped.
Inventors
- 👤 Yuval Ishai
- 👤 Christopher Thomas Kello
- 👤 Mila Keren
- 👤 Richard Kirchhofer
- 👤 Lev Kozakov
- 👤 Zvi Yosef Yehudai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of operating a computer system having a display, one or more data storage devices, and an object-oriented application program for manipulation of data files, the method comprising the steps of: instantiating objects needed for execution of the application program; producing an instantiation object of the application program on the display; receiving user input that causes the instantiation object to be dragged about the display and dropped in a destination window; determining the destination window in which the instantiation object was dropped; and responding to user dropping of the instantiation object by instantiating a member of an object class of the application program represented by the destination window.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of operating a computer system having a display, one or more data storage devices, and an object-oriented application program for manipulation of data files, the method comprising the steps of: instantiating objects needed for execution of the application program; producing an instantiation object of the application program on the display; receiving user input that causes the instantiation object to be dragged about the display and dropped in a destination window; determining the destination window in which the instantiation object was dropped; and responding to user dropping of the instantiation object by instantiating a member of an object class of the application program represented by the destination window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of responding comprises receiving parameters from the user that define the instantiated object class member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the step of responding further comprises displaying one or more display panels that permit the user to provide the object parameters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the received parameters specify attributes or behaviors of the object class members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 1, further including the step of storing the received parameters for the instantiated object in the data storage devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the instantiated object comprises a display task icon that represents a user-designated sequence of application program data operations on one or more data files, such that the application program responds to user selection of the display task icon by initiating execution of the application program data operations on the data files.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the instantiated object comprises a field range icon that represents a field range in one or more data records contained in a data file that will be used as input to data operations of the application program such that the execution of the data operations will occur on the field range.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of executing an object-oriented application program to permit user instantiation of application program objects of a computer system having a display and one or more data storage devices, the method comprising the steps of: producing an instantiation object of the application program on the display; receiving user input that causes the instantiation object to be dragged about the display and dropped in a destination window of the application program; determining the destination window in which the instantiation object was dropped; and responding to user dropping of the instantiation object by instantiating a member of an object class of the application program represented by the destination window.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of executing an object-oriented application program to permit user instantiation of application program objects of a computer system having a display and one or more data storage devices, the method comprising the steps of: producing an instantiation object of the application program on the display; receiving user input that causes the instantiation object to be dragged about the display and dropped in a destination window of the application program; determining the destination window in which the instantiation object was dropped; and responding to user dropping of the instantiation object by instantiating a member of an object class of the application program represented by the destination window.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the step of responding comprises receiving parameters from the user that define the instantiated object class member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the step of responding further comprises displaying one or more display panels that permit the user to provide the object parameters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the received parameters specify attributes or behaviors of the object class members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 8, further including the step of storing the received parameters for the instantiated object in the data storage devices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the instantiated object comprises a display task icon that represents a user-designated sequence of application program data operations on one or more data files, such that the application program responds to user selection of the display task icon by initiating execution of the application program data operations on the data files.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the instantiated object comprises a field range icon that represents a field range in one or more data records contained in a data file that will be used as input to data operations of the application program such that the execution of the data operations will occur on the field range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer system for execution of an object-oriented application program that permits user instantiation of application program objects, the computer system comprising: a processing unit executing the object-oriented application program; a data storage device in which data is stored; a display; and an instantiation object of the application program that can be dragged about the display by the user and dropped in a destination window, whereupon the application program determines the destination window in which the instantiation object was dropped and responds by automatically instantiating a member of an object class of the application program represented by the destination window.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer system for execution of an object-oriented application program that permits user instantiation of application program objects, the computer system comprising: a processing unit executing the object-oriented application program; a data storage device in which data is stored; a display; and an instantiation object of the application program that can be dragged about the display by the user and dropped in a destination window, whereupon the application program determines the destination window in which the instantiation object was dropped and responds by automatically instantiating a member of an object class of the application program represented by the destination window.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer system as defined in claim 15, wherein the application program further responds to dropping of the instantiation object by receiving parameters from the user that define the instantiated object class member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer system as defined in claim 16, wherein the application program further responds to dropping of the instantiation object by displaying one or more display panels that permit the user to provide the object parameters.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer system as defined in claim 16, wherein the received parameters specify attributes or behaviors of the object class members.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer system as defined in claim 15, wherein the application program further responds to dropping of the instantiation object by storing the received parameters for the instantiated object in the data storage device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer system as defined in claim 15, wherein the instantiated object comprises a display task icon that represents a user-designated sequence of application program data operations on one or more data files, such that the application program responds to user selection of the display task icon by initiating execution of the application program data operations on the data files.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer system as defined in claim 15, wherein the instantiated object comprises a field range icon that represents a field range in one or more data records contained in a data file that will be used as input to data operations of the application program such that the execution of the data operations will occur on the field range.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
103 words
A program product for use in a computer system, the program product comprising: a signal bearing media; and a sequence of instructions executable by the computer system, the sequence providing an object-oriented application program that instantiates objects needed for execution of the application program, produces an instantiation object of the application program that can be dragged about the display by the user and dropped in a destination window, whereupon the application program determines the destination window in which the instantiation object was dropped and responds by automatically instantiating a member of an object class of the application program represented by the destination window.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
103 words
A program product for use in a computer system, the program product comprising: a signal bearing media; and a sequence of instructions executable by the computer system, the sequence providing an object-oriented application program that instantiates objects needed for execution of the application program, produces an instantiation object of the application program that can be dragged about the display by the user and dropped in a destination window, whereupon the application program determines the destination window in which the instantiation object was dropped and responds by automatically instantiating a member of an object class of the application program represented by the destination window.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the application program further responds to dropping of the instantiation object by receiving parameters from the user that define the instantiated object class member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
A program product as defined in claim 23, wherein the application program further responds to dropping of the instantiation object by displaying one or more display panels that permit the user to provide the object parameters.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
A program product as defined in claim 24, wherein the received parameters specify attributes or behaviors of the object class members.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
A program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the application program further responds to dropping of the instantiation object by storing the received parameters for the instantiated object in the data storage device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
60 words
A program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the instantiated object comprises a display task icon that represents a user-designated sequence of application program data operations on one or more data files, such that the application program responds to user selection of the display task icon by initiating execution of the application program data operations on the data files.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
60 words
A program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the instantiated object comprises a field range icon that represents a field range in one or more data records contained in a data file that will be used as input to data operations of the application program such that the execution of the data operations will occur on the field range.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
A program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the signal bearing media comprises recordable media.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
A program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the signal bearing media comprises transmission media.
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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) | 2001-02-02 | 2001-08-04 | 2002-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-02 | 2005-08-04 | 2006-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-02 | 2009-08-04 | 2010-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |