Patent US6037937A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6037937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Navigation tool for graphical user interface
Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
•
Filing: 1997-12-04
•
Granted: 2000-03-14
•
Expires: 2017-12-04
Abstract
Abstract The system and method consistent with the present invention provides improved graphical navigation tool for electronic devices. The graphical navigation tools may be used to navigate through documents at any direction at varying speeds. The navigation tool is preferably transparent to prevent obscuring the text of the underlying document. Accordingly, the navigational tool does not take up additional screen real estate. The GUI of the present invention may be especially useful in portable electronic devices with small displays.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Finlay Beaton
- 👤 Colin Donald Smith
- 👤 Bruce Dale Stalkie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0485; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04804; H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72469
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of activating functions responsive to a user input, comprising: providing a manipulable area portion in a physical viewing area, said manipulable area portion having at least one manipulation function associated therewith; displaying a representation of a control tool overlaying the manipulable area portion, said control tool having at least one control tool function associated therewith; receiving a user input to the physical viewing area corresponding to the manipulable area portion and the representation of the control tool; determining if the user input selects the control tool; and activating the at least one manipulation function when the user input does not select the control tool or permitting the at least one control tool function to be activated when the user input does select the control tool.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of activating functions responsive to a user input, comprising: providing a manipulable area portion in a physical viewing area, said manipulable area portion having at least one manipulation function associated therewith; displaying a representation of a control tool overlaying the manipulable area portion, said control tool having at least one control tool function associated therewith; receiving a user input to the physical viewing area corresponding to the manipulable area portion and the representation of the control tool; determining if the user input selects the control tool; and activating the at least one manipulation function when the user input does not select the control tool or permitting the at least one control tool function to be activated when the user input does select the control tool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one control tool function includes a function of changing a display of information in the manipulable area portion, the method further including: after at least one control tool function is permitted to be activated, receiving a subsequent user input selecting a predetermined portion of the control tool; and activating the function of changing a display of information in response to the subsequent user input.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the function of changing a display of information includes shifting information in the manipulable area portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the shifting includes scrolling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the shifting includes jumping.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the function of changing a display of information includes control of the speed of the change of the display of information based on the subsequent user input.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the changing includes displaying a different one of a plurality of pages of information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying a representation of the control tool includes displaying arrows indicating direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the information displayed in the manipulable area portion includes a portion of a document and wherein the at least one control tool function includes a function related to the document.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying the representation of the control tool includes displaying a virtually transparent representation of the control tool.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying the representation of the control tool includes displaying an opaque representation of the control tool.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one manipulation function includes an editing function for a document.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for activating functions responsive to a user input, comprising: means for providing a manipulable area portion in a physical viewing area, said manipulable area portion having at least one manipulation function associated therewith; means for displaying a representation of a control tool overlaying the manipulable area portion, said control tool having at least one control tool function associated therewith; means for receiving a user input to the physical viewing area corresponding to the manipulable area portion and the representation of the control tool; means for determining if the user input selects the control tool; and means for activating the at least one manipulation function when the user input does not select the control tool or permitting the at least one control tool function to be activated when the user input does select the control tool.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for activating functions responsive to a user input, comprising: means for providing a manipulable area portion in a physical viewing area, said manipulable area portion having at least one manipulation function associated therewith; means for displaying a representation of a control tool overlaying the manipulable area portion, said control tool having at least one control tool function associated therewith; means for receiving a user input to the physical viewing area corresponding to the manipulable area portion and the representation of the control tool; means for determining if the user input selects the control tool; and means for activating the at least one manipulation function when the user input does not select the control tool or permitting the at least one control tool function to be activated when the user input does select the control tool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one control tool function includes a function of changing a display of information in the manipulable area portion, the apparatus further including: means for receiving a subsequent user input selecting a predetermined portion of the control tool, after at least one control tool function is permitted to be activated, and means for activating the function of changing a display of information in response to the subsequent user input.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the function of changing a display of information includes shifting information in the manipulable area portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the shifting includes scrolling.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the shifting includes jumping.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the function of changing a display of information includes control of the speed of the change of the display of information based on the subsequent user input.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the changing includes displaying a different one of a plurality of pages of information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for displaying a representation of the control tool includes displaying arrows indicating direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the information displayed in the manipulable area portion includes a portion of a document, and wherein the at least one control tool function includes a function related to the document.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for displaying the representation of the control tool includes displaying a virtually transparent representation of the control tool.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for displaying the representation of the control tool includes displaying an opaque representation of the control tool.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one manipulation function includes an editing function for a document.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4954967A
Cited
US5590257A
Cited
US5297253A
Cited
EP0565253A2
Cited
US5563996A
Cited
US5570109A
Cited
US5600765A
Cited
US5796406A
Cited
EP0605945A1
Cited
US5809267A
Cited
EP0684543A1
Cited
US5592195A
Cited
US5760773A
Cited
US5748926A
Cited
US5745716A
Cited
US5812134A
Cited
US5808605A
Cited
US5745116A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-14 | 2003-09-13 | 2004-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-14 | 2007-09-13 | 2008-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-09-13 | 2012-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |