US5977970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for moving information displayed in a window
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-11-14
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Granted: 1999-11-02
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Expires: 2017-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for providing the user of a computing device displaying information to control the navigational aspects of the displaying while retaining ease of use and other desireable characteristics. Specifically, the user is provided with an opaque box having a dot located in the center which can be dragged and dropped. The dragging and dropping of the dot controlling the distance and direction with which the information is moved.
Inventors
- 👤 Hatim Yousef Amro
- 👤 John Paul Dodson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0485
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of navigating an image contained in a window, the method comprising the steps of: creating a navigational area superimposed on the image and having a shape and color so as to provide minimal interference with the image; inserting a location indicator into the navigational area; dragging the location indicator from an initial position to a final position; indicating, prior to moving the image, the distance from the initial position to the final position; and moving the image, within the confines of the window, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of navigating an image contained in a window, the method comprising the steps of: creating a navigational area superimposed on the image and having a shape and color so as to provide minimal interference with the image; inserting a location indicator into the navigational area; dragging the location indicator from an initial position to a final position; indicating, prior to moving the image, the distance from the initial position to the final position; and moving the image, within the confines of the window, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: repositioning, after the image has moved, the location indicator back to the initial position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of dragging is performed using a mouse.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of dragging is performed using a touch screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the navigational area has a one-to-one correspondence with the window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of: dropping the location indicator on the final position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the step of moving the image includes: moving the image, within the confines of the window and in response to the dropping of the location indicator, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for navigating an image contained in a window, the apparatus comprising: means for creating a navigational area superimposed on the image and having a shape and color so as to provide minimal interference with the image; means for inserting a location indicator into the navigational area; means for dragging the location indicator from an initial position to a final position; means for indicating, prior to moving the image, the distance from the initial position to the final position; and means for moving the image, within the confines of the window, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for navigating an image contained in a window, the apparatus comprising: means for creating a navigational area superimposed on the image and having a shape and color so as to provide minimal interference with the image; means for inserting a location indicator into the navigational area; means for dragging the location indicator from an initial position to a final position; means for indicating, prior to moving the image, the distance from the initial position to the final position; and means for moving the image, within the confines of the window, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: means for repositioning, after the image has moved, the location indicator back to the initial position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for dragging is performed using a mouse.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for dragging is performed using a touch screen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the navigational area has a one-to-one correspondence with the window.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: means for dropping the location indicator on the final position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for moving the image includes: means for moving the image, within the confines of the window and in response to the dropping of the location indicator, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer readable usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for navigating an image contained in a window, the computer readable program code means including means for creating a navigational area superimposed on the image and having a shape and color so as to provide minimal interference with the image; means for inserting a location indicator into the navigational area; means for dragging the location indicator from an initial position to a final position; means for indicating, prior to moving the image, the distance from the initial position to the final position; and means for moving the image, within the confines of the window, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer readable usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for navigating an image contained in a window, the computer readable program code means including means for creating a navigational area superimposed on the image and having a shape and color so as to provide minimal interference with the image; means for inserting a location indicator into the navigational area; means for dragging the location indicator from an initial position to a final position; means for indicating, prior to moving the image, the distance from the initial position to the final position; and means for moving the image, within the confines of the window, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer readable program code means further comprises: means for repositioning, after the image has moved, the location indicator back to the initial position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the navigational area has a one-to-one correspondence with the window.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the computer readable program code means further includes: means for dropping the location indicator on the final position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the means for moving the image includes: means for moving the image, within the confines of the window and in response to the dropping of the location indicator, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.
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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) | 2002-11-01 | 2003-05-03 | 2003-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-01 | 2007-05-03 | 2007-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-01 | 2011-05-03 | 2011-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |