US5883625A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement system for object placement on windows
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1996-04-22
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Granted: 1999-03-16
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Expires: 2016-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for automatically arranging objects inside a container of a graphical user interface in a visually attractive and effective manner. In a departure from the art, selectable grid styles are provided for arranging cells into different configurations inside the container. Depending on the grid style available, the cells may be placed in any one of many different grid styles, such as rectangular, rhombus-shaped, or circular. Furthermore, identifiers are utilized for placing objects such as icons or buttons in each cell and ordering the objects for other user applications. In this way, different grid styles can be utilized and/or easily changed and new grid styles can easily be added.
Inventors
- 👤 Chris Crawford
- 👤 Douglas Bonser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A computer operably connected to a display, comprising: a computer storage medium which contains a computer program for automatically arranging each of a plurality of objects inside a container for presentation on said display, said program configured to: provide a plurality of grid configurations, wherein the grid configurations associate a plurality of container cells with geometric patterns, and wherein at least one of said geometric patterns is a non-rectangular pattern such that at least one of said grid configurations is a non-rectangular grid configuration; dynamically select one of said grid configurations as a selected grid configuration, said selected grid configuration selected from said plurality of grid configurations by using a control panel of a graphical user interface; arrange the plurality of container cells inside the container according to said selected grid configuration associate each of said objects on said display with one of the container cells; and place each object to be presented on said display in the associated container cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A computer operably connected to a display, comprising: a computer storage medium which contains a computer program for automatically arranging each of a plurality of objects inside a container for presentation on said display, said program configured to: provide a plurality of grid configurations, wherein the grid configurations associate a plurality of container cells with geometric patterns, and wherein at least one of said geometric patterns is a non-rectangular pattern such that at least one of said grid configurations is a non-rectangular grid configuration; dynamically select one of said grid configurations as a selected grid configuration, said selected grid configuration selected from said plurality of grid configurations by using a control panel of a graphical user interface; arrange the plurality of container cells inside the container according to said selected grid configuration associate each of said objects on said display with one of the container cells; and place each object to be presented on said display in the associated container cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The program of claim 1 further comprising: accessing a position list of identifiers for each object to be presented on said display; accessing a logical list to determine a logical relationship between each object to be presented on said display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The program of claim 2 wherein the position list comprises a unique position for each object to be presented.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The program of claim 2 wherein the logical list comprises a unique coordinate for each object to be presented.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The program of claim 4 wherein each unique coordinate corresponds to one of the container cells and each coordinate can be logically compared with another coordinate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The program of claim 1 wherein the one grid style arranges the container cells in an organized manner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The program of claim 1 wherein the container is defined by a container code and each of the objects is defined by an object code such that neither the container code nor the object code is altered by the program.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The program of claim 7 wherein a new grid configuration can be added without changing either the container code or the object code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A runtime method for arranging a plurality of objects in a desktop view of a graphical user interface, the method comprising: selecting at runtime a selected template from a plurality of templates, said template corresponding to a non-rectangularly organized grid configuration; arranging a plurality of locations on a desktop in accordance with the selected template; associating a position identifier with each of the objects; and placing each of the objects in one of the locations, according to the object's position identifier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
A runtime method for arranging a plurality of objects in a desktop view of a graphical user interface, the method comprising: selecting at runtime a selected template from a plurality of templates, said template corresponding to a non-rectangularly organized grid configuration; arranging a plurality of locations on a desktop in accordance with the selected template; associating a position identifier with each of the objects; and placing each of the objects in one of the locations, according to the object's position identifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the step of selecting a selected template is done in response to a user input.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising storing each of the position identifiers in a grid record, wherein each position identifier is unique.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the grid configuration can be represented by a coordinate system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 wherein each of the grid styles can be represented by a coordinate system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising associating a logical identifier with each of the objects.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein each logical identifier comprises a unique coordinate for each of the objects.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein each coordinate corresponds to one of the locations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the grid style can be represented by a mathematical formula.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 wherein each of the objects is unaffected by changes in the grid styles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
102 words
A computer system for arranging a plurality of objects inside a desktop container of a graphical user interface, the system comprising: means for selecting, in response to an input by an end user, one of a plurality of ordered grid styles, wherein at least one of said ordered grid styles is a non-rectangular grid style; means for arranging a plurality of locations inside the container in accordance with the selected grid style; means for associating a position identifier with each of the objects; and means for placing each of the objects in one of the locations, according to the object's position identifier.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
A computer system for arranging a plurality of objects inside a desktop container of a graphical user interface, the system comprising: means for selecting, in response to an input by an end user, one of a plurality of ordered grid styles, wherein at least one of said ordered grid styles is a non-rectangular grid style; means for arranging a plurality of locations inside the container in accordance with the selected grid style; means for associating a position identifier with each of the objects; and means for placing each of the objects in one of the locations, according to the object's position identifier.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 19 further comprising a record for storing each of the position identifiers, wherein each position identifier is unique.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 19 further comprising a record for storing each of the grid styles in a grid record.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 21 wherein each of the grid styles can be represented by a coordinate system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 19 further comprising means for associating a logical identifier with each of the objects.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 23 wherein each logical identifier comprises a unique coordinate for each of the objects.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 24 wherein each unique coordinate corresponds to one of the locations.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 19 wherein the grid style is one of either rectangular, rhombus-shaped, or circular.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 19 wherein the container is unaffected by changes in the grid styles.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 19 wherein each of the objects is unaffected by changes in the grid styles.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said selected template comprises a formula.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said step of selecting a selected template is accomplished through a control panel provided by a graphical user interface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer of claim 1, said computer program further configured to: associate a new object to be displayed on said display with an empty container cell; and place said new object in said empty container cell.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The computer of claim 1, wherein said non-rectangular pattern describes an arc.
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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) | 2002-03-15 | 2002-09-14 | 2003-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-15 | 2006-09-14 | 2007-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-15 | 2010-09-14 | 2011-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |