Patent US5917487A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5917487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Data-driven method and system for drawing user interface objects
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-10
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Granted: 1999-06-29
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Expires: 2016-05-10
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods for drawing objects on a display and, in particular, on a graphical user interface are described. Arbitrarily sized objects having straight sides and arbitrarily shaped corners can be drawn using one or more concentric rings which enclose an optional face. Each ring is specified as part of a data structure in terms of position, fill pattern and bits to be turned on. As a result, changes to the object's appearance attributes, such as, size, shape and color, can be made without requiring new program code.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Ulrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:53
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for drawing an object on a display relative to a reference shape comprising the steps of: defining a ring as a plurality of pixels including four sets of corner pixels, each set separated from adjacent sets by a side part having a number of side part pixels associated therewith; receiving a data structure which includes at least one ring specification, said at least one ring specification used to draw a portion of at least one said ring on said display, each of said at least one ring specifications including: a position relative to said reference shape; a pattern identifier; and a value which identifies at least one of said plurality of pixels associated with said portion of said at least one ring; and drawing said object by filling in those pixels identified by said value using said pattern at said position for each said at least one ring specification.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for drawing an object on a display relative to a reference shape comprising the steps of: defining a ring as a plurality of pixels including four sets of corner pixels, each set separated from adjacent sets by a side part having a number of side part pixels associated therewith; receiving a data structure which includes at least one ring specification, said at least one ring specification used to draw a portion of at least one said ring on said display, each of said at least one ring specifications including: a position relative to said reference shape; a pattern identifier; and a value which identifies at least one of said plurality of pixels associated with said portion of said at least one ring; and drawing said object by filling in those pixels identified by said value using said pattern at said position for each said at least one ring specification.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each of said corner pixels can be individually identified in said value but at least some of said side part pixels are jointly identified in said value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said number of side part pixels is variable based upon a size of said reference shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said pattern identifier is an index to a pattern look-up table, which table includes a plurality of different patterns which can be retrieved to fill pixel spaces in said at least one ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each set of corner pixels includes seven pixels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each set of corner pixels includes 15 pixels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said data structure further comprises: at least one secondary ring specification including a second position, a second pattern and a second value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step of drawing further comprises the steps of: determining how many colors are available for drawing on said display; and drawing said object using either said at least one ring specification or said secondary ring specification based upon a result of said determining step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving further comprises the step of: including, within said at least one ring specification, a set of flags which indicate an orientation for drawing said pattern within each pixel identified by said value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure that can be used to draw an object on a display, said data structure comprising: at least one object portion specification, each of said at least one object portion specifications including: a position value; a fill identifier; and a pixel identifier which identifies at least one of a plurality of pixels associated with a portion of said object which are to be filled as specified by said fill identifier at a position determined based upon a position of said at least one of said plurality of pixels within said pixel identifier and said position value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure that can be used to draw an object on a display, said data structure comprising: at least one object portion specification, each of said at least one object portion specifications including: a position value; a fill identifier; and a pixel identifier which identifies at least one of a plurality of pixels associated with a portion of said object which are to be filled as specified by said fill identifier at a position determined based upon a position of said at least one of said plurality of pixels within said pixel identifier and said position value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said pixel identifier identifies said at least one of said plurality of pixels using a numbering scheme that associates pixels within said portion of said object with bits in said pixel identifier, said bits including: a plurality of sets of corner bits, each corner bit associated with an individual pixel within said portion of said object; and a plurality of side bits, each side bit having a number of side part pixels associated therewith.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said number of side part pixels associated with a side bit is dependent upon a size of said portion of said object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein each of a plurality of corner pixels can be individually identified in said pixel identifier but at least some side part pixels are jointly identified in said pixel identifier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said fill identifier is an index to a pattern look-up table, which table includes a plurality of different patterns which can be retrieved to fill pixel spaces in said portion of said object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said at least one object portion specification further comprises: a secondary object portion specification including a second position identifier, a second pattern identifier and a second pixel identifier.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said object portion specification further comprises: a set of flags which indicate an orientation for drawing a pattern identified by said fill identifier within each pixel identified by said pixel identifier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said data structure includes at least two said object portion specifications having a same position value and a different fill identifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said fill identifier identifies a color to be drawn for pixels identified by said pixel identifier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer system comprising: a display for outputting images; a processor for processing an instruction to draw an object on said display using a data structure; a computer-readable storage device for storing said data structure, wherein said data structure comprises: a pixel identifier which identifies at least one of a plurality of pixels associated with a portion of said object which are to be filled, said plurality of pixels divided into corner pixels and side pixels, said corner pixels each having a bit associated therewith in said pixel identifier and said side pixels having associated therewith a bit within said pixel identifier for each side of said object.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer system comprising: a display for outputting images; a processor for processing an instruction to draw an object on said display using a data structure; a computer-readable storage device for storing said data structure, wherein said data structure comprises: a pixel identifier which identifies at least one of a plurality of pixels associated with a portion of said object which are to be filled, said plurality of pixels divided into corner pixels and side pixels, said corner pixels each having a bit associated therewith in said pixel identifier and said side pixels having associated therewith a bit within said pixel identifier for each side of said object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
83 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein said data structure further comprises: a second pixel identifier which identifies a different at least one of a plurality of pixels associated with a portion of said object which are to be filled, said plurality of pixels divided into corner pixels and side pixels, said corner pixels each having a bit associated therewith in said pixel identifier and said side pixels having associated therewith a bit within said pixel identifier for each side of said object.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer system of claim 20, wherein said processor decides which of said pixel identifier and said second pixel identifier to use in drawing said object on said display based upon a number of colors available in said computer system for drawing objects.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein said data structure further comprises: a position identifier for indicating a position of said object relative to a reference.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein said data structure further comprises: a fill identifier for identifying at least one of a pattern and color with which to fill pixels identified by said pixel identifier.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein said computer-readable storage device is a bank of semiconductor memory chips.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein said computer-readable storage device is a magnetic hard drive.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein said computer-readable storage device is an optical storage device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein said processor is also for processing an instruction to change a size of said object, which change is performed by changing a number of pixels associated with at least one of said side bits.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure that can be used to draw an object on a display, said data structure comprising: at least one object portion specification, each of said at least one object portion specifications including: a pixel identifier which identifies at least one of a plurality of pixels associated with a portion of said object which are to be filled, said plurality of pixels divided into corner pixels and side pixels, said corner pixels each having a bit associated therewith in said pixel identifier and said side pixels having associated therewith a bit within said pixel identifier for each side of said object.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure that can be used to draw an object on a display, said data structure comprising: at least one object portion specification, each of said at least one object portion specifications including: a pixel identifier which identifies at least one of a plurality of pixels associated with a portion of said object which are to be filled, said plurality of pixels divided into corner pixels and side pixels, said corner pixels each having a bit associated therewith in said pixel identifier and said side pixels having associated therewith a bit within said pixel identifier for each side of said object.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein said data structure further comprises: a position identifier for indicating a position of said object relative to a reference.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein said data structure further comprises: a fill identifier for identifying at least one of a pattern and color with which to fill pixels identified by said pixel identifier.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
120 words
A computer system comprising: a display for outputting images; a processor for processing an instruction to draw an object on said display using a data structure; a computer-readable storage device for storing said data structure, wherein said data structure comprises: at least one object portion specification, each of said at least one object portion specifications including: a position value; a fill identifier; and a pixel identifier which identifies at least one of a plurality of pixels associated with a portion of said object which are to be filled as specified by said fill identifier at a position determined based upon a position of said at least one of said plurality of pixels within said pixel identifier and said position value.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
120 words
A computer system comprising: a display for outputting images; a processor for processing an instruction to draw an object on said display using a data structure; a computer-readable storage device for storing said data structure, wherein said data structure comprises: at least one object portion specification, each of said at least one object portion specifications including: a position value; a fill identifier; and a pixel identifier which identifies at least one of a plurality of pixels associated with a portion of said object which are to be filled as specified by said fill identifier at a position determined based upon a position of said at least one of said plurality of pixels within said pixel identifier and said position value.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
81 words
The computer system of claim 31, wherein said pixel identifier identifies said at least one of said plurality of pixels using a numbering scheme that associates pixels within said portion of said object with bits in said pixel identifier, said bits including: a plurality of sets of corner bits, each corner bit associated with an individual pixel within said portion of said object; and a plurality of side bits, each side bit having a number of side part pixels associated therewith.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer system of claim 32, wherein said number of side part pixels associated with a side bit is dependent upon a size of said portion of said object.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer system of claim 31, wherein each of a plurality of corner pixels can be individually identified in said pixel identifier but at least some side part pixels are jointly identified in said pixel identifier.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer system of claim 31, wherein said fill identifier is an index to a pattern look-up table, which table includes a plurality of different patterns which can be retrieved to fill pixel spaces in said portion of said object.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 31, wherein said at least one object portion specification further comprises: a secondary object portion specification including a second position identifier, a second pattern identifier and a second pixel identifier.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer system of claim 31, wherein said object portion specification further comprises: a set of flags which indicate an orientation for drawing a pattern identified by said fill identifier within each pixel identified by said pixel identifier.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer system of claim 31, wherein said data structure includes at least two said object portion specifications having a same position value and a different fill identifier.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 31, wherein said fill identifier identifies a color to be drawn for pixels identified by said pixel identifier.
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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) | 2002-06-28 | 2002-12-28 | 2003-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-06-28 | 2006-12-28 | 2007-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-06-28 | 2010-12-28 | 2011-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |