Patent US5852440A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5852440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for facilitating the selection of icons
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-09-18
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Granted: 1998-12-22
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Expires: 2016-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for facilitating the selection of icons. Those icons which are next likely to be used are selected and automatically moved towards a cursor thereby facilitating selection of the icons. Additionally, those icons likely to be used or other icons selected by a user may track the cursor such that those icons are always close to the cursor and capable of being easily selected. Further, in order to facilitate selection of icons, icons are provided with the capability of announcing themselves when a cursor comes close to the icon. In addition, it is possible to reduce the amount of clutter on a computer display so that icons may be easily selected. In order to clean up a computer display, icons which are least likely to be used are faded, eliminated or shrunk to a smaller size. In another embodiment, icons that are not used very often may disappear into a master icon and further, icons which have a conceptual relationship between them may be linked by a visual graphical representation.
Inventors
- 👤 Bertrand M. Grossman
- 👤 James Gordon McLean
- 👤 Clifford A. Pickover
- 👤 Michael Stephen Schwartz
- 👤 Daniel James Winarski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489; G06F3/04895; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04817; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04842; G06F3/04845; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/977
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for cleaning up a computer display having a plurality of icons, said method comprising the steps of: associating a predefined amount of time to one or more of said plurality of icons; automatically determining for one or more of said plurality of icons the likeliness that said one or more icons will be used within said predefined amount of time; and gradually changing the appearance of said one or more icons determined not likely to be used, said gradually changing commencing within said predefined amount time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for cleaning up a computer display having a plurality of icons, said method comprising the steps of: associating a predefined amount of time to one or more of said plurality of icons; automatically determining for one or more of said plurality of icons the likeliness that said one or more icons will be used within said predefined amount of time; and gradually changing the appearance of said one or more icons determined not likely to be used, said gradually changing commencing within said predefined amount time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the speed at which said gradual changing takes place is capable of being varied.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising closing a particular icon determined not likely to be used for a predefined extended amount of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising determining which, if any, of said plurality of icons are not to be gradually changed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising enhancing said appearance associated with an icon having a changed appearance when said icon is selected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said appearance comprises a color intensity associated with each of said one or more icons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said appearance comprises a shape associated with each of said one or more icons, said shape being altered during the gradually changing step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said gradually changing step comprises moving said one or more icons off the edge of the computer display.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for cleaning up a computer display having a plurality of icons, said system comprising: means for associating a predefined amount of time to one or more of said plurality of icons; means for automatically determining for one or more of said plurality of icons the likeliness that said one or more icons will be used within said predefined amount of time; and means for gradually changing the appearance of said one or more icons determined not likely to be used, said gradually changing commencing within said predefined amount of time.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for cleaning up a computer display having a plurality of icons, said system comprising: means for associating a predefined amount of time to one or more of said plurality of icons; means for automatically determining for one or more of said plurality of icons the likeliness that said one or more icons will be used within said predefined amount of time; and means for gradually changing the appearance of said one or more icons determined not likely to be used, said gradually changing commencing within said predefined amount of time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the speed at which said gradual changing takes place is capable of being varied.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 9, further comprising means for closing a particular icon determined not likely to be used for a predefined extended amount of time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 9, further comprising means for determining which, if any, of said plurality of icons are not to be gradually changed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 9, further comprising means for enhancing said appearance associated with an icon having a changed appearance when said icon is selected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 9, wherein said appearance comprises a color intensity associated with each of said one or more icons.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 9, wherein said appearance comprises a shape associated with each of said one or more icons, said shape being altered by the gradually changing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 9, wherein said gradually changing means comprises moving said one or more icons off the edge of the computer display.
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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) | 2001-12-21 | 2002-06-22 | 2002-12-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-21 | 2006-06-22 | 2006-12-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-21 | 2010-06-22 | 2010-12-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |