US5801698A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic information display during busy cycle of a processing system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-05-19
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Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2017-05-19
Abstract
Abstract Methods, systems and program products are provided which provide dynamic status to a user during the busy cycle of a processing system. The status information may be provided by displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system by formatting the busy cursor to provide dynamic information which is unrelated to the application program in the computer system to the user during the display of the busy cursor. The dynamic information to be displayed to the user may be obtained from a source other than the application program on the computer system. The obtained dynamic information would then be used to format the busy cursor to provide the dynamic information to the user. Multiple information sources may also be utilized and the information display prioritized by a user.
Inventors
- 👤 David Bruce Lection
- 👤 David Allen Schell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04812
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, the method comprising the step of: providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats; obtaining information to be displayed to a user from a source other than the application program on the computer system; selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed; and formatting the busy cursor utilizing the selected one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, the method comprising the step of: providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats; obtaining information to be displayed to a user from a source other than the application program on the computer system; selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed; and formatting the busy cursor utilizing the selected one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method of displaying information according to claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining information comprises the step of obtaining a plurality of types of information and wherein said selecting step is preceded by the steps of: prioritizing information to be displayed to associate a priority with each of the plurality of types of information obtained by said step of obtaining dynamic information; and selecting for display the type of obtained dynamic information with the highest priority.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of displaying information according to claim 2, further comprising the step of obtaining user input to select priorities for each of said plurality of types of information obtained by said obtaining step and wherein said prioritizing step associates a priority based upon the user input.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of displaying information according to claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining information comprises the steps of: establishing at least one information source based upon user input; and monitoring the at least one information source to provide information to be displayed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of displaying information according to claim 1, further comprising the step of revising the predefined set of busy cursor formats so as to incorporate into the set of predefined busy cursor formats a busy cursor format which reflects the obtained information to be displayed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of displaying information according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic information is selected from the group consisting of weather information, stock quote information and daily planner information.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, the apparatus comprising: a computer display for displaying information to a user, wherein a busy cursor is displayed on the computer display when the application program is in a busy state; means for providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats: means for obtaining information to be displayed to a user from a source other than the application program on the computer system: means for selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed; and means for formatting the busy cursor utilizing the selected one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, the apparatus comprising: a computer display for displaying information to a user, wherein a busy cursor is displayed on the computer display when the application program is in a busy state; means for providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats: means for obtaining information to be displayed to a user from a source other than the application program on the computer system: means for selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed; and means for formatting the busy cursor utilizing the selected one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for displaying information according to claim 7, wherein said means for obtaining information comprises means for obtaining a plurality of types of information and wherein said means for selecting comprises: means for prioritizing information to be displayed to associate a priority with each of the plurality of types of information obtained by said means for obtaining information; and means for selecting for display the type of obtained information with the highest priority.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus for displaying information according to claim 8, further comprising means for obtaining user input to select priorities for each of said plurality of types of information obtained by said means for obtaining dynamic information and wherein said means for prioritizing associates a priority based upon the user input.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for displaying information according to claim 7, wherein said means for obtaining information comprises: means for establishing at least one information source based upon user input; and means for monitoring the at least one information source to provide information to be displayed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus for displaying information according to claim 7, further comprising means for revising the predefined set of busy cursor formats so as to incorporate into the set of predefined busy cursor formats a busy cursor format which reflects the obtained information to be displayed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus for displaying information according to claim 7, wherein the dynamic information is selected from the group consisting of weather information, stock quote information and daily planner information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer program product for displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising: computer-readable program code means for providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats; computer-readable program code means for obtaining information to be displayed to a user from a source other than the computer program on the computer system; computer-readable program code means for selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed; and computer-readable program code means for formatting the busy cursor utilizing the selected one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer program product for displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising: computer-readable program code means for providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats; computer-readable program code means for obtaining information to be displayed to a user from a source other than the computer program on the computer system; computer-readable program code means for selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed; and computer-readable program code means for formatting the busy cursor utilizing the selected one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
A computer program product for displaying information according to claim 13, wherein said computer-readable program code means for obtaining information comprises computer-readable program code means for obtaining a plurality types of information and wherein said computer-readable program code means for selecting comprises: computer-readable program code means for prioritizing information to be displayed to associate a priority with each of the plurality of types of information obtained by said computer-readable program code means for obtaining dynamic information; and computer-readable program code means for selecting for display the type of obtained information with the highest priority.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
A computer program product for displaying information according to claim 14, further comprising computer-readable program code means for obtaining user input to select priorities for each of said plurality of types of information obtained by said computer-readable program code means for obtaining dynamic information and wherein said computer-readable program code means for prioritizing associates a priority based upon the user input.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
A computer program product for displaying information according to claim 13, wherein said computer-readable program code means for obtaining information comprises: computer-readable program code means for establishing at least one information source based upon user input; and computer-readable program code means for monitoring the at least one information source to provide information to be displayed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer program product for displaying information according to claim 13, further comprising computer-readable program code means for revising the predefined set of busy cursor formats so as to incorporate into the set of predefined busy cursor formats a busy cursor format which reflects the obtained information to be displayed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer program product for displaying information according to claim 13, wherein the dynamic information is selected from the group consisting of weather information, stock quote information and daily planner information.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, the method comprising: monitoring an information source unrelated to the application program on the computer system to obtain dynamic information; determining if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed; providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats: and selecting one of the -redefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to he displayed if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed; providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats; and selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, the method comprising: monitoring an information source unrelated to the application program on the computer system to obtain dynamic information; determining if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed; providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats: and selecting one of the -redefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to he displayed if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed; providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats; and selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 19, further comprising: formatting the busy cursor to display the selected one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method of displaying information according to claim 20, wherein said monitoring step comprises the step of monitoring a plurality of information sources, the method further comprising: prioritizing information to be displayed to associate a priority with each of the plurality of types of information monitored by said monitoring step; and selecting for display the type of information with the highest priority.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, comprising: means for monitoring an information source unrelated to the application program on the computer system to obtain dynamic information; means for determining if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed; means for providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats; and means for selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, comprising: means for monitoring an information source unrelated to the application program on the computer system to obtain dynamic information; means for determining if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed; means for providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats; and means for selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising: means for formatting the busy cursor to display the selected one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus for displaying information according to claim 22, wherein said means for monitoring comprises means for monitoring a plurality of information sources, the apparatus further comprising: means for prioritizing information to be displayed to associate a priority with each of the plurality of types of information monitored by said means for monitoring; and means for selecting for display the type of information with the highest priority.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
129 words
A computer program product for displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising: computer-readable program code means for monitoring an information source unrelated to the application program on the computer system to obtain dynamic information; computer-readable program code means for determining if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed; computer-readable program code means for providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats; computer-readable program code means for selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
129 words
A computer program product for displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system, comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising: computer-readable program code means for monitoring an information source unrelated to the application program on the computer system to obtain dynamic information; computer-readable program code means for determining if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed; computer-readable program code means for providing a predefined set of busy cursor formats; computer-readable program code means for selecting one of the predefined set of busy cursor formats based upon the information to be displayed if information from the monitored information source is to be displayed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer program product according to claim 25, further comprising: computer-readable program code means for formatting the busy cursor to display the selected one of the predefined met of busy cursor formats.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
86 words
A computer program product for displaying information according to claim 34, wherein said computer-readable program code means for monitoring comprises computer-readable program code means for monitoring a plurality of information sources, the computer program product further comprising: computer-readable program code means for prioritizing information to be displayed to associate a priority with each of the plurality of types of information monitored by said computer-readable program code means for monitoring; and computer-readable program code means for selecting for display the type of information with the highest priority.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5710897A
Cited
US5572643A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |