US6054985A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data processing system and method for simulating compound objects
Assignee: Google LLC
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Filing: 1997-01-27
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Granted: 2000-04-25
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Expires: 2017-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A data processing system and method is provided for performing "drag and drop" operations of compound objects using system platforms, such as JAVA, which do not support compound objects or nested containment interface designs. In the data processing system and method of operating said system, a container object will include software and logic necessary to call up a contained object in a separate window. The second window is then handled by a window associated with the container object and a modified parent-child relationship. A size and a position of the second window are defined relative to the first window. Therefore, the second window associated with the contained object can be super imposed and precisely positioned over the window associated with the container object. Furthermore, when the window associated with the container object is dragged or resized, the position and size of the second window are modified and moved in unison. However, it should be noted that the second window associated with a contained object can be dragged independently. Thus, the contained object may be dragged from the container object.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott Anthony Morgan
- 👤 John Martin Mullaly
- 👤 Craig Ardner Swearingen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/54; G06F9/543; G06F9/44; G06F9/451
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A data processing system, comprising: a display device for displaying a first object and a second object, wherein one of the first and second objects is selectively superimposed over an other one of the first object and the second object, said first and second objects being independent windows; a user interface for receiving a plurality of control inputs for controlling an appearance of the first object and the second object displayed by the display device; and a data processor, comprising a central processing unit, wherein the central processing unit is coupled to the user interface for receiving the plurality of control inputs and coupled to the display device to provide a plurality of object control signals for selectively modifying an appearance of the first object and an appearance of the second object concurrently when one of the first and the second objects is superimposed over the other of the first object and second object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A data processing system, comprising: a display device for displaying a first object and a second object, wherein one of the first and second objects is selectively superimposed over an other one of the first object and the second object, said first and second objects being independent windows; a user interface for receiving a plurality of control inputs for controlling an appearance of the first object and the second object displayed by the display device; and a data processor, comprising a central processing unit, wherein the central processing unit is coupled to the user interface for receiving the plurality of control inputs and coupled to the display device to provide a plurality of object control signals for selectively modifying an appearance of the first object and an appearance of the second object concurrently when one of the first and the second objects is superimposed over the other of the first object and second object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the second object is superimposed over the first object to simulate a compound object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The data processing system of claim 2 wherein the first object simulates a container object and the second object simulates a contained object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the appearance of the second object is modified independently of the appearance of the first object when the second object is in a first position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The data processing system of claim 4 wherein the second object is in the first position when the second object is not superimposed over the first object.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for simulating compound objects in a data processing system, comprising the steps of: displaying a first object on a display device; displaying a second object on the display device; selectively simulating a compound object on the display device by superimposing one of the first and the second objects over the other of the first object and second object; selectively modifying an appearance of the first object and the second object concurrently when the second object is in a superimposed position; and selectively independently modifying the appearance of the first object and the appearance of the second object when the second object is in a first position, wherein the first position is distinguishable from the superimposed position.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for simulating compound objects in a data processing system, comprising the steps of: displaying a first object on a display device; displaying a second object on the display device; selectively simulating a compound object on the display device by superimposing one of the first and the second objects over the other of the first object and second object; selectively modifying an appearance of the first object and the second object concurrently when the second object is in a superimposed position; and selectively independently modifying the appearance of the first object and the appearance of the second object when the second object is in a first position, wherein the first position is distinguishable from the superimposed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the second object is superimposed over the first object when the second object is in the superimposed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the second object is separate from the first object when the second object is in the first position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: moving the first object and the second object concurrently as the compound object when the second object is in the superimposed position; and moving the first object and the second object independently when the second object is in the first position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: scaling the first object and the second object concurrently as the compound object when the second object is in the superimposed position; and scaling the first object and the second object independently when the second object is in the first position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: closing the first object and the second object concurrently as the compound object when the second object is in the superimposed position; and closing the first object and the second object independently when the second object is in the first position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for simulating compound objects in a data processing system, said method steps comprising: displaying a first object on a display device; displaying a second object on the display device; selectively simulating a compound object on the display device by superimposing one of the first and the second objects over the other of the first object and second object; selectively modifying an appearance of the first object and the second object concurrently when the second object is in a superimposed position; and selectively independently modifying the appearance of the first object and the appearance of the second object when the second object is in a first position, wherein the first position is distinguishable from the superimposed position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for simulating compound objects in a data processing system, said method steps comprising: displaying a first object on a display device; displaying a second object on the display device; selectively simulating a compound object on the display device by superimposing one of the first and the second objects over the other of the first object and second object; selectively modifying an appearance of the first object and the second object concurrently when the second object is in a superimposed position; and selectively independently modifying the appearance of the first object and the appearance of the second object when the second object is in a first position, wherein the first position is distinguishable from the superimposed position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The program storage device of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: moving the first object and the second object concurrently as the compound object when the second object is in the superimposed position; and moving the first object and the second object independently when the second object is in the first position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The program storage device of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: scaling the first object and the second object concurrently as the compound object when the second object is in the superimposed position; and scaling the first object and the second object independently when the second object is in the first position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The program storage device of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: closing the first object and the second object concurrently as the compound object when the second object is in the superimposed position; and closing the first object and the second object independently when the second object is in the first position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The program storage device of claim 12 wherein the second object is superimposed over the first object when the second object is in the superimposed position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The program storage device of claim 12 wherein the second object is separate from the first object when the second object is in the first position.
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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) | 2003-04-25 | 2003-10-25 | 2004-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-25 | 2007-10-25 | 2008-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-25 | 2011-10-25 | 2012-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |