US6075531A — Computer system and method of manipulating multip…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 82 words

A method of manipulating a plurality of windows on a computer display, the method comprising: (a) displaying a plurality of windows on a computer display; (b) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (c) defining as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (d) in response to user input to move the pointer, concurrently manipulating the affected windows.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 82 words

A method of manipulating a plurality of windows on a computer display, the method comprising: (a) displaying a plurality of windows on a computer display; (b) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (c) defining as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (d) in response to user input to move the pointer, concurrently manipulating the affected windows.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 1, wherein each window includes a boundary including at least one boundary segment, wherein each affected window includes an affected boundary segment that is at least partially disposed within the proximity range, and wherein concurrently manipulating the affected windows includes concurrently moving at least the affected boundary segments of the affected windows.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 2, wherein concurrently moving at least the affected boundary segments of the affected windows includes moving the affected windows.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 2, wherein concurrently moving at least the affected boundary segments of the affected windows includes resizing the affected windows by maintaining at least one additional boundary segment in the boundary of each affected window at a fixed location.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving user input to move the pointer along a first vector, and wherein concurrently moving at least the affected boundary segments includes moving the affected boundary segment of at least one affected window along a second vector.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 5, wherein the second vector extends in the same direction as the first vector.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 5, wherein the second vector is perpendicular to the affected boundary segment.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 2, further comprising concurrently moving at least each of the affected boundary segments of the affected windows in one of an inwardly and an outwardly direction relative to the origin in response to user input.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively enabling defining the first and second windows as affected windows in response to a predetermined user input.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined user input includes user selection of a predetermined mode.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined user input includes user selection of one of a move mode and a resize mode, wherein in the move mode, concurrently manipulating the affected windows includes moving the affected windows, and wherein in the resize mode, concurrently manipulating the affected windows includes resizing the affected windows.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 9, wherein displaying the pointer includes selectively displaying one of first and second pointer representations in response to whether defining the first and second windows as affected windows is enabled.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 9, wherein concurrently moving at least the affected boundary segments is performed in response to a second predetermined user input.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 13, wherein the second predetermined user input includes depression of at least one mouse button while defining the first and second windows as affected windows is enabled.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 13, further comprising highlighting the affected windows on the computer display.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 15, wherein highlighting the affected windows includes highlighting the affected windows prior to receiving the second predetermined user input.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising defining the origin at a location pointed to by the pointer.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity range includes an ellipsoid circumscribing the origin.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 18, wherein the proximity range includes a circle centered at the origin.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting between first and second geometric shapes as the proximity range in response to user input, the first and second geometric ranges each circumscribing the origin and each extending generally in opposite directions from one another.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of windows are each defined at one of a plurality of levels, the method further comprising selectively increasing or decreasing the level of each affected window in response to user input.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of windows are each defined at one of a plurality of levels, wherein the proximity range includes a depth associated with a predetermined range of levels, and wherein defining the first and second windows as affected windows includes defining as affected windows only windows defined in the predetermined range of levels.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 22, wherein the proximity range includes separate geometric shapes defined at each level in the predetermined range of levels.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 1, wherein concurrently manipulating the affected windows includes activating the first window.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 1, wherein concurrently manipulating the affected windows includes updating positions of the affected windows, the method further comprising refreshing the computer display.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 25, further comprising updating the position of the pointer prior to refreshing the computer display.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 1, wherein concurrently manipulating the affected windows includes performing an operation on the affected windows selected from the group consisting of closing the affected windows, minimizing the affected windows into individual icons, minimizing the affected windows into a single icon, and combinations thereof.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 95 words

A computer system, comprising: (a) a computer display upon which is displayed a plurality of windows and a pointer; (b) a user input device configured to receive user input; and (c) a processor, coupled to the computer display and the user input device, the processor configured to define as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer, and, in response to user input to move the pointer, to concurrently manipulate the affected windows.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 95 words

A computer system, comprising: (a) a computer display upon which is displayed a plurality of windows and a pointer; (b) a user input device configured to receive user input; and (c) a processor, coupled to the computer display and the user input device, the processor configured to define as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer, and, in response to user input to move the pointer, to concurrently manipulate the affected windows.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 101 words

A program product, comprising: (a) a program configured to perform a method of manipulating a plurality of windows on a computer display, the method comprising: (1) displaying a plurality of windows on a computer display; (2) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (3) defining as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (4) in response to user input to move the pointer, concurrently manipulating the affected windows; and (b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 101 words

A program product, comprising: (a) a program configured to perform a method of manipulating a plurality of windows on a computer display, the method comprising: (1) displaying a plurality of windows on a computer display; (2) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (3) defining as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (4) in response to user input to move the pointer, concurrently manipulating the affected windows; and (b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 15 words

The program product of claim 29, wherein the signal bearing media is transmission type media.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 14 words

The program product of claim 29, wherein the signal bearing media is recordable media.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 103 words

A method of manipulating a plurality of graphical user interface components on a computer display, the method comprising: (a) displaying a plurality of graphical user interface components on a computer display; (b) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (c) defining as affected graphical user interface components first and second graphical user interface components from the plurality of graphical user interface components, each affected graphical user interface component at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (d) in response to user input to move the pointer, concurrently manipulating the affected graphical user interface components.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 103 words

A method of manipulating a plurality of graphical user interface components on a computer display, the method comprising: (a) displaying a plurality of graphical user interface components on a computer display; (b) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (c) defining as affected graphical user interface components first and second graphical user interface components from the plurality of graphical user interface components, each affected graphical user interface component at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (d) in response to user input to move the pointer, concurrently manipulating the affected graphical user interface components.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 32, wherein the plurality of graphical user interface components includes at least one window.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 96 words

A method of manipulating a plurality of windows on a computer display, the method comprising: (a) displaying a plurality of windows on a computer display; (b) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (c) defining as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (d) in response to user input, concurrently moving at least a portion of each affected window in one of an inwardly and an outwardly direction relative to the origin.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 96 words

A method of manipulating a plurality of windows on a computer display, the method comprising: (a) displaying a plurality of windows on a computer display; (b) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (c) defining as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (d) in response to user input, concurrently moving at least a portion of each affected window in one of an inwardly and an outwardly direction relative to the origin.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 34, wherein each window includes a boundary including at least one boundary segment, wherein each affected window includes an affected boundary segment that is at least partially disposed within the proximity range, and wherein concurrently moving at least a portion of each affected window includes concurrently moving at least the affected boundary segments of the affected windows.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 35, wherein concurrently moving at least the affected boundary segments of the affected windows includes moving the affected boundary segments radially with respect to the origin.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 35, wherein concurrently moving at least the affected boundary segments of the affected windows includes: (a) moving the affected boundary segments inwardly toward the origin in response to first user input; and (b) moving the affected boundary segments outwardly from the origin in response to second user input.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 35, wherein concurrently moving at least a portion of each affected window includes moving the affected windows.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 35, wherein concurrently moving at least the affected boundary segments of the affected windows includes resizing the affected windows by maintaining at least one additional boundary segment in the boundary of each affected window at a fixed location.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 34, further comprising highlighting the affected windows on the computer display.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 34, further comprising defining the origin at a location pointed to by the pointer.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 109 words

A computer system, comprising: (a) a computer display upon which is displayed a plurality of windows and a pointer; (b) a user input device configured to receive user input; and (c) a processor, coupled to the computer display and the user input device, the processor configured to define as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and, in response to user input, to concurrently move at least a portion of each affected window in one of an inwardly and an outwardly direction relative to the origin.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 109 words

A computer system, comprising: (a) a computer display upon which is displayed a plurality of windows and a pointer; (b) a user input device configured to receive user input; and (c) a processor, coupled to the computer display and the user input device, the processor configured to define as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and, in response to user input, to concurrently move at least a portion of each affected window in one of an inwardly and an outwardly direction relative to the origin.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 115 words

A program product, comprising: (a) a program configured to perform a method of manipulating a plurality of windows on a computer display, the method comprising: (1) displaying a plurality of windows on a computer display; (2) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (3) defining as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (4) in response to user input, concurrently moving at least a portion of each affected window in one of an inwardly and an outwardly direction relative to the origin; and (b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 115 words

A program product, comprising: (a) a program configured to perform a method of manipulating a plurality of windows on a computer display, the method comprising: (1) displaying a plurality of windows on a computer display; (2) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (3) defining as affected windows first and second windows from the plurality of windows, each affected window at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (4) in response to user input, concurrently moving at least a portion of each affected window in one of an inwardly and an outwardly direction relative to the origin; and (b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 15 words

The program product of claim 43, wherein the signal bearing media is transmission type media.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 14 words

The program product of claim 43, wherein the signal bearing media is recordable media.

Claim 53

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of manipulating a plurality of graphical user interface components on a computer display, the method comprising: (a) displaying a plurality of graphical user interface components on a computer display; (b) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (c) defining as affected graphical user interface components first and second graphical user interface components from the plurality of graphical user interface components, each affected graphical user interface component at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (d) in response to user input, concurrently moving at least a portion of each affected graphical user interface component in one of an inwardly and an outwardly direction relative to the origin.

Claim 54

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of manipulating a plurality of graphical user interface components on a computer display, the method comprising: (a) displaying a plurality of graphical user interface components on a computer display; (b) displaying a pointer on the computer display; (c) defining as affected graphical user interface components first and second graphical user interface components from the plurality of graphical user interface components, each affected graphical user interface component at least partially disposed within a proximity range defined around an origin located proximate the pointer; and (d) in response to user input, concurrently moving at least a portion of each affected graphical user interface component in one of an inwardly and an outwardly direction relative to the origin.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 46, wherein the plurality of graphical user interface components includes at least one window.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-06-13	2003-12-13	2004-06-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-06-13	2007-12-13	2008-06-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-06-13	2011-12-13	2012-06-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Computer system and method of manipulating multiple graphical user interface components on a computer display with a proximity pointer

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