Patent US6259446B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6259446B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Menu state system
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1992-12-23
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Granted: 2001-07-10
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Expires: 2012-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for a menu based system containing size and location information is disclosed. Each menu contains a list of menu items containing a command and variables that reflect the command's current appearance. This includes status information determinative of the menu item's state (enabled/disabled), its name, its associated graphic, and whether its appearance is currently valid. Each of these were initialized when the menu item was created. The invention creates a menu item from a command, where a menu item is another object data structure containing a command sequence. The menu item is added to a list of menu items, and initialized as an invalid appearance. Later when the menu item is selected from a pull down menu, the appearance state is recomputed based on the system state.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Matheny
- 👤 Christopher White
- 👤 David R. Anderson
- 👤 Arn J. Schaeffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/54; G06F9/542; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0482; G06F8/00; G06F8/20; G06F8/24; G06F8/30; G06F8/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A menu based system reflecting a plurality of menu item's current status in a consistent manner, comprising: (a) memory means for encapsulating a command object with status information and logic for determining at least one menu item's state; (b) object processing means for creating at least one menu item from a data structure in the command object; (c) object processing means for initializing the at least one menu item by updating the status information determinative of at least one menu item's state; and (d) object processing means for determining a system's status and updating the at least one menu item's status information in the command object when the at least one menu item is selected from a menu.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A menu based system reflecting a plurality of menu item's current status in a consistent manner, comprising: (a) memory means for encapsulating a command object with status information and logic for determining at least one menu item's state; (b) object processing means for creating at least one menu item from a data structure in the command object; (c) object processing means for initializing the at least one menu item by updating the status information determinative of at least one menu item's state; and (d) object processing means for determining a system's status and updating the at least one menu item's status information in the command object when the at least one menu item is selected from a menu.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the object data structure associated with the at least one menu item contains at least one menu item's name.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the object data structure associated with the at least one menu item contains at least one menu item's graphic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the object data structure associated with the at least one menu item contains at least one menu item's current state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the object data structure associated with the at least one menu item contains at least one menu item's data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , including display means for displaying an active menu item indicia.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , including display means for displaying an inactive menu item indicia.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor means for determining a system's status and updating the at least one menu item's status information includes processor means for examining a current system state to ascertain if a function associated with the at least one menu item is active in the current context.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one menu item is a pull down menu item.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one menu item is a control panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one menu item is a radio button.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one menu item is a slider bar.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A menu based system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one menu item is a check box.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for enabling a menu based framework, including a command object, reflecting a plurality of menu item's current status in a consistent manner, comprising the steps of: (a) encapsulating status information and logic in the command object for determining at least one menu item's state; (b) creating at least one menu item from a data structure in the command object; (c) initializing the at least one menu item by updating the status information in the command object determinative of at least one menu item's state; and (d) determining a system's status and updating the at least one menu item's status information in the command object when the at least one menu item is selected from a menu.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for enabling a menu based framework, including a command object, reflecting a plurality of menu item's current status in a consistent manner, comprising the steps of: (a) encapsulating status information and logic in the command object for determining at least one menu item's state; (b) creating at least one menu item from a data structure in the command object; (c) initializing the at least one menu item by updating the status information in the command object determinative of at least one menu item's state; and (d) determining a system's status and updating the at least one menu item's status information in the command object when the at least one menu item is selected from a menu.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the object data structure associated with the at least one menu item contains at least one menu item's name.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the object data structure associated with the at least one menu item contains at least one menu item's graphic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the object data structure associated with the at least one menu item contains at least one menu item's current state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the object data structure associated with the at least one menu item contains at least one menu item's data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , including the step of displaying an active menu item indicia.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , including the step of displaying an inactive menu item indicia.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the processor means for determining a system's status and updating the at least one menu item's status information includes processor means for examining a current system state to ascertain if a function associated with the at least one menu item is active in the current context.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the at least one menu item is a pull down menu item.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the at least one menu item is a control panel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the at least one menu item is a radio button.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the at least one menu item is a slider bar.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for a menu based system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the at least one menu item is a check box.
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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) | 2004-07-09 | 2005-01-08 | 2005-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-09 | 2009-01-08 | 2009-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-09 | 2013-01-08 | 2013-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |