System and method for arranging, manipulating and displaying objects in a graphical user interface

• US 20030179237A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation), Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Denoue, Laurent, Churchill, Elizabeth F., Nelson, Lester D., Snowdon, David N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,249,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor

Abstract

A Graphical User Interface (“GUI”) that provides a user with the ability to manipulate display objects in a non-uniform manner on a display surface is provided. For example, a user can manipulate an object so that it appears, torn, bent, folded, angled, etc. Additionally, a method and system for digitally attaching display objects to a display surface is described. The attachments include digital staples, digital push-pins, digital tape, etc. In still another aspect of the present invention a technique for transmitting and updating the display of non-uniform objects is described.

Claims

1. A method for altering the visual appearance of a graphical object, comprising the steps of:

assigning a property to said graphical object;

receiving an input;

altering said graphical object responsive to said input and based on said property; and

,

displaying said altered graphical object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said altered graphical object is displayed with an irregular edge.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said altered graphical object is displayed as a folded object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said altered graphical object is displayed as a bent object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said altered graphical object is displayed as an angled object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said property is selected from a group of properties consisting of:

bendable, tearable, buckleable, foldable, rollable, and rotatable.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said graphical object is assigned a plurality of properties.

8. A graphical user interface (“

GUI”

), comprising;

a graphical display surface; and

,

a graphical object, displayable on said graphical display surface, wherein said graphical object may be manipulated in a non-uniform manner.

9. The GUI of claim 8, wherein said graphical display surface is displayed as a curved display surface.

10. The GUI of claim 8, wherein said graphical object is assigned a property, and wherein said graphical object is manipulated according to said property.

11. The GUI of claim 8, further comprising:

a digital attachment device, said digital attachment device having a characteristic representative of said device.

12. The GUI of claim 11, said digital attachment device selected for a group of digital attachment devices consisting of:

digital staples, digital tape, digital Push-pins, and digital glue.

13. The GUI of claim 11, wherein said digital attachment device is used to digitally attach said graphical object to said graphical display surface according to said digital attachment characteristic.

14. The GUI of claim 8, wherein said graphical object comprises:

a suggestive graphical object boundary identifying an action which may be performed on said graphical object.

15. The GUI of claim 14, wherein said action is selected from a group of actions consisting of:

creating irregular edges, restoring regular edges, selecting posting material, angling display objects, extending display object beyond display area, selecting a graphical display surface, affixing an object, and locking.

16. The GUI of claim 8, wherein said graphical object comprises:

an action marker identifying an action which may be performed on said graphical object.

17. The GUI of claim 16, wherein said action is selected from a group of actions consisting of:

creating irregular edges, restoring regular edges, selecting posting material, angling display objects, extending display object beyond display area, selecting a graphical display surface, affixing an object, and locking.

18. A Graphical User Interface (“

GUI”

), comprising;

a means for displaying a graphical display surface;

a means for displaying a graphical object; and

a means for manipulating said graphical object.

19. The GUI of claim 18, further comprising:

a means for modifying said graphical display surface.

20. The GUI of claim 18, wherein said means for manipulating said graphical object is a cursor control device.

21. The GUI of claim 18, wherein said display of said graphical object is altered responsive to a manipulation.