METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING AN OPERATOR INPUT IN AN IMAGE USING A PALETTE DIFFERENT FROM THE IMAGE PALETTE

• US 20020002565A1
• Filed: 01/07/1998
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: OHYAMA, AKIRA
• Application Number:
  US09/003,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002565A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/501.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/06 using colour palettes, e.g. look-up tables

Abstract

The operator identifies an input field by point and drag operations in an image window while in an edit mode. Upon switching from the edit mode to an input mode, the cursor is set at the first input field. A converted color palette making the whole window grayish is now applied, while a program part of the editor is applied to the current input field. Since the background color of the program part is white, the display appears as if only the current input field is zoomed in for a close-up. When the tab key or the like is pressed, the application of the program part to the current input field is released, and the program part is applied to the next input field. Thus, an operator does not lose sight of the cursor.

Claims

1. A method for discriminatingly displaying one input field of a plurality of input fields existing on an image displayed on a display screen by using a first palette, each of said plurality of input fields corresponding to positional information for identifying a position on each of said plurality of fields, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an operator input specifying an input mode;

(b) selecting one input field of said plurality of input fields;

(c) displaying said image on said display screen by using a second palette different from said first palette;

(d) applying positional information corresponding to said one input field to an input field edit control; and

(e) displaying said input field edit control by a color different from the image displayed by using said first palette;

2. A method for discriminatingly displaying one input field of a plurality of input fields which exist on an image displayed on a display screen by using a first palette, each of said plurality of input fields corresponding to positional information for identifying a position thereon, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying said image on said display screen by using a second palette different from said first palette; and

(b) displaying said one input field by a color different from the image displayed by using said first palette.

3. A data display system for discriminatingly displaying one input field of a plurality of input fields which exist on an image on a display screen by using a first palette, each of said plurality of input fields corresponding to positional information for identifying a position thereon, comprising:

(a) an image displaying unit for displaying said image on said display screen with a second palette different from said first palette; and

(b) an input field edit control for displaying said one input field with a color different from the image displayed by using said first palette.

4. A storage medium readable by a computer for storing a program for discriminatingly displaying one input field of a plurality of input fields which exist on an image on a display screen by using a first palette, each of said plurality of input fields corresponding to positional information for identifying a position on said field, comprising:

(a) program code for instructing said computer to select one input field of said plurality of input fields;

(b) program code for instructing said computer to display said image on said display screen using a second palette different from said first palette;

(c) program code for instructing said computer to attach an input field edit control to the positional information corresponding to said one input field; and

(d) program code for instructing said computer to display said input field edit control by a color different from the image displayed by using said first palette.

5. A storage medium readable by a computer for storing a program for discriminatingly displaying one input field of a plurality of input fields which exist on an image on a display screen by using a first palette, each of said plurality of input fields corresponding to positional information for identifying a position on each of said plurality of input fields, comprising:

(a) program code for instructing said computer to display said image on said display screen using a second palette different from said first palette; and

(b) program code for instructing said computer to display said one input field with a color different from the image displayed by using said first palette.