Customizable graphical user interface that automatically identifies major objects in a user-selected digitized color image and permits data to be associated with the major objects

Claim 3

A method of customizing a graphical user interface in a data processing system to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 1, further comprising the step of mapping the imported color bitmap image to a predetermined color space such that the mapped color bitmap image is scanned.

Claim 4

A method of customizing a graphical user interface in a data processing system to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 2, wherein the step of mapping the imported color bitmap image comprises mapping to color space defined by the spectral primary system.

Claim 5

A method of customizing a graphical user interface in a data processing system to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined tolerance is set within a range of 35<R<100, 10<G<50, 35<B<100, from a possible 256.

Claim 6

A method of customizing a graphical user interface in a data processing system to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 2, wherein the step of mapping the imported color bitmap image comprises mapping to color space defined by the hue saturation and intensity system.

Claim 7

A method of customizing a graphical user interface in a data processing system to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined tolerance is set within a range of 1<H<100, 1<S<255, 25<I<255, from a possible 256.

Claim 8

A method of customizing a graphical user interface in a data processing system to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 2, wherein the step of mapping the imported color bitmap image comprises mapping to color space defined by the NTSC transmission system.

Claim 9

A method of customizing a graphical user interface in a data processing system to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined tolerance is set within a range of 50<Y<100, 50<I<100, 10<Q <25, from a possible 256.

Claim 10

A method of customizing a graphical user interface in a data processing system to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 1, wherein the major objects are identified in part by a user indicating the location of the major objects in the imported color bitmap image.

Claim 11

A method of customizing a graphical user interface in a data processing system to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 1, wherein the set of data includes software instructions, wherein said step of automatically performing said particular operation comprises the step of automatically executing said software instructions to perform the particular operation whenever the selected major object is thereafter selected.

Claim 12

A method of customizing a graphical user interface in a data processing system to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 1, said step of scanning a line of pixels in the imported color bitmap image comprising the step of scanning said imported color bitmap image in at least two directions.

Claim 13

A graphical user interface for a data processing system, wherein said graphical user interface is customizable to any user-selected color bitmap image and comprises: means for importing into the data processing system a user-selected color bitmap image, wherein the color bitmap image is comprised of a plurality of pixels and contains a plurality of major objects; means for setting the imported color bitmap image as a scene for the graphical user interface; means for automatically identifying major objects in the scene, said means for automatically identifying including: means for scanning a plurality of lines of pixels in the imported color bitmap image and for comparing a color of each current pixel with a color of a previous pixel scanned; and means for setting the color of the current pixel to the color of the previous pixel if the color of the current pixel is within a predetermined tolerance of the color of the previous pixel, wherein a major object is identified as a group of adjacent pixels in the contrast image having the same color; means for selecting an identified major object; and means for associating a set of data with the selected major object such that said selected major object visually represents said set of data and such that upon subsequent selection of the selected major object alone, the data processing system automatically performs a particular operation utilizing the associated set of data.

Claim 14

A graphical user interface for a data processing system, wherein said graphical user interface is customizable to any user-selected color bitmap image and comprises: means for importing into the data processing system a user-selected color bitmap image, wherein the color bitmap image is comprised of a plurality of pixels and contains a plurality of major objects; means for setting the imported color bitmap image as a scene for the graphical user interface; means for automatically identifying major objects in the scene, said means for automatically identifying including: means for scanning a plurality of lines of pixels in the imported color bitmap image and for comparing a color of each current pixel with a color of a previous pixel scanned; and means for setting the color of the current pixel to the color of the previous pixel if the color of the current pixel is within a predetermined tolerance of the color of the previous pixel, wherein a major object is identified as a group of adjacent pixels in the contrast image having the same color; means for selecting an identified major object; and means for associating a set of data with the selected major object such that said selected major object visually represents said set of data and such that upon subsequent selection of the selected major object alone, the data processing system automatically performs a particular operation utilizing the associated set of data.

Claim 15

A graphical user interface in a data processing system that is customizable to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 12, further comprising means for mapping the imported color bitmap image to a predetermined color space such that the mapped color bitmap image is scanned.

Claim 16

A graphical user interface in a data processing system that is customizable to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 13, wherein the means for mapping the imported color bitmap image comprises means for mapping to color space defined by the spectral primary system.

Claim 17

A graphical user interface in a data processing system that is customizable to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined tolerance is set within a range of 35<R<100, 10<G<50, 35<B<100, from a possible 256.

Claim 18

A graphical user interface in a data processing system that is customizable to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 13, wherein the means for mapping the imported color bitmap image comprises means for mapping to color space defined by the hue saturation and intensity system.

Claim 19

A graphical user interface in a data processing system that is customizable to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined tolerance is set within a range of 1<H<100, 1<S<255, 25<I<255, from a possible 256.

Claim 20

A graphical user interface in a data processing system that is customizable to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 13, wherein the means for mapping the imported color bitmap image comprises means for mapping to color space defined by the NTSC transmission system.

Claim 21

A graphical user interface in a data processing system that is customizable to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined tolerance is set within a range of 50<Y<100, 50<I<100, 10<Q<25, from a possible 256.

Claim 22

A graphical user interface in a data processing system that is customizable to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 12, wherein the means for identifying identifies major objects in part by a user indicating the location of the major objects in the imported color bitmap image.

Claim 23

A graphical user interface in a data processing system that is customizable to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 12, wherein the set of data includes software instructions, said means for automatically performing comprising means for automatically executing said software instructions to perform said particular operation whenever the selected major object is thereafter selected.

Claim 24

A graphical user interface in a data processing system that is customizable to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 12, said means for scanning a line of pixels in the imported color bitmap image comprising means for scanning said imported color bitmap image in at least two directions.

Claim 25

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image for a graphical user interface in a data processing system, said computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for customizing any user selected color bitmap image for a graphical user interface, the computer readable program code means including: computer readable program code means for importing a user-selected color bitmap image into the data processing system, wherein the color bitmap image is comprised of a plurality of pixels and contains a plurality of major objects; computer readable program code means for setting the imported color bitmap image as a scene for the graphical user interface of the data processing system; computer readable program code means for automatically identifying major objects in the scene, said computer readable program code means for automatically identifying including: computer readable program code means for scanning a plurality of lines of pixels in the imported color bitmap image and for comparing a color of each current pixel with a color of a previous pixel scanned; and computer readable program code means for setting the color of the current pixel to the color of the previous pixel if the color of the current pixel is within a predetermined tolerance of the color of the previous pixel, wherein a major object is identified as a group of adjacent pixels in the contrast image having the same color; computer readable program code means for selecting an identified major object; and computer readable program code means for associating a set of data with the selected major object such that said selected major object visually represents said set of data and such that upon subsequent selection of the selected major object alone, the data processing system automatically performs a particular operation utilizing the associated set of data.

Claim 26

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image for a graphical user interface in a data processing system, said computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for customizing any user selected color bitmap image for a graphical user interface, the computer readable program code means including: computer readable program code means for importing a user-selected color bitmap image into the data processing system, wherein the color bitmap image is comprised of a plurality of pixels and contains a plurality of major objects; computer readable program code means for setting the imported color bitmap image as a scene for the graphical user interface of the data processing system; computer readable program code means for automatically identifying major objects in the scene, said computer readable program code means for automatically identifying including: computer readable program code means for scanning a plurality of lines of pixels in the imported color bitmap image and for comparing a color of each current pixel with a color of a previous pixel scanned; and computer readable program code means for setting the color of the current pixel to the color of the previous pixel if the color of the current pixel is within a predetermined tolerance of the color of the previous pixel, wherein a major object is identified as a group of adjacent pixels in the contrast image having the same color; computer readable program code means for selecting an identified major object; and computer readable program code means for associating a set of data with the selected major object such that said selected major object visually represents said set of data and such that upon subsequent selection of the selected major object alone, the data processing system automatically performs a particular operation utilizing the associated set of data.

Claim 27

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 23, and further comprising computer readable program code means for mapping the imported color bitmap image to a predetermined color space such that the mapped color bitmap image is scanned.

Claim 28

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 24, wherein the computer readable program code means for mapping the imported color bitmap image comprises computer readable program code means for mapping to color space defined by the spectral primary system.

Claim 29

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 25, wherein the predetermined tolerance is set within a range of 35<R<100, 10<G<50, 35<B<100, from a possible 256.

Claim 30

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 24, wherein the computer readable program code means for mapping the imported color bitmap image comprises computer readable program code means for mapping to color space defined by the hue saturation and intensity system.

Claim 31

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined tolerance is set within a range of 1<H<100, 1 <S<255, 25<I<255, from a possible 256.

Claim 32

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 24, wherein the computer readable program code means for mapping the imported color bitmap image comprises computer readable program code means for mapping to color space defined by the NTSC transmission system.

Claim 33

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 29, wherein the predetermined tolerance is set within a range of 50<Y<100, 50<I<100, 10<Q<25, from a possible 256.

Claim 34

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 23, wherein the computer readable program code means for identifying identifies major objects in part by a user indicating the location of the major objects in the imported color bitmap image.

Claim 35

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 23, wherein the set of data includes software instructions, said computer readable program code means comprising computer readable program code means for automatically performing the particular operation whenever the selected major object is thereafter selected.

Claim 36

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 23, said means for scanning a line of pixels in the imported color bitmap image comprising means for scanning said imported color bitmap image in at least two directions.

Claim 37

A method of customizing a graphical user interface in a data processing system to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 11, wherein a first and a second of said at least two directions are orthogonal.

Claim 38

A graphical user interface in a data processing system that is customizable to any user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 22, wherein a first and a second of said at least two directions are orthogonal.

Claim 39

A computer program product for customizing any user selected color bitmap image user selected color bitmap image, according to claim 33, wherein a first and a second of said at least two directions are orthogonal.