Dynamically changing appearances for user interface elements during drag-and-drop operations
First Claim
1. A method for representing actions to be performed on objects in a computer system as a result of drag-and-drop operations within a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:
- classifying objects in said computer system into at least a first type and a second type corresponding to respective first and second actions that can be performed on said objects;
displaying at least one icon associated with a classified object;
detecting that an icon associated with a classified object has been selected, and determining which type of object is associated with the selected icon;
providing a destination icon that is associated with both of said first and second actions;
assigning first and second images to said destination icon that respectively correspond to said first and second actions; and
displaying said destination icon with said first image or said second image in accordance with the type of object determined to be associated with the selected icon.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user interface includes elements whose appearance dynamically changes in dependence upon functions associated with the elements. In the case of an icon that is the destination for a drag-and-drop operation, the image displayed for the icon changes in accordance with the object being dragged to it, to represent the task that will be performed as a result of the drag-and-drop operation. The appearance of other elements involved in drag-and-drop operations can also be varied, to reflect the task at hand. As a result, the user is provided with more intuitive feedback regarding the functions that will be performed by the computer as a result of a drag-and-drop operation.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for representing actions to be performed on objects in a computer system as a result of drag-and-drop operations within a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:
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classifying objects in said computer system into at least a first type and a second type corresponding to respective first and second actions that can be performed on said objects;
displaying at least one icon associated with a classified object;
detecting that an icon associated with a classified object has been selected, and determining which type of object is associated with the selected icon;
providing a destination icon that is associated with both of said first and second actions;
assigning first and second images to said destination icon that respectively correspond to said first and second actions; and
displaying said destination icon with said first image or said second image in accordance with the type of object determined to be associated with the selected icon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for representing actions to be performed on objects in a computer system as a result of drag-and-drop operations within a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:
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classifying objects in said computer system into at least a first type and a second type corresponding to respective first and second actions that can be performed on said objects;
detecting that a classified object has been selected, and determining which type of object has been selected;
assigning first and second images to an element of the graphical user interface that respectively correspond to said first and second actions; and
displaying said element with said first image or said second image in accordance with the type of object determined to have been selected. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for representing objects involved in drag-and-drop operations within a graphical user interface of a computer system, comprising the steps of:
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classifying objects in said computer system into at least a first type and a second type;
detecting that a classified object has been selected, and determining which type of object has been selected;
assigning first and second images to an element of the graphical user interface that respectively correspond to said first and second object types; and
displaying said element with said first image or said second image in accordance with the type of object determined to have been selected. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable medium containing a program which executes the following steps:
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detecting that an icon displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer system has been selected, and determining whether an object associated with the selected icon is of a first type or a second type; and
displaying a destination icon, that is associated with first and second actions that can be performed on selected objects, with either one of a first image or a second image that respectively correspond to said first and second actions, in accordance with the type of object determined to be associated with the selected icon.
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21. A computer-readable medium containing a program which executes the following steps:
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detecting that an object in a computer system has been selected, and determining whether the selected object is of a first type or a second type; and
displaying an element of a graphical user interface in said computer system with a first image or a second image, that respectively correspond to said first and second object types, in accordance with the type of object determined to have been selected.
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22. A graphical user interface for a computer system, comprising:
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a memory storing information that identifies objects in said computer system as being one of at least a first type and a second type, and first and second images for an element of the graphical user interface that respectively correspond to said first and second object types;
means for detecting that an object has been selected, and for determining which type of object has been selected; and
a display system that causes said element to be displayed with said first image or said second image in accordance with the type of object determined to have been selected. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification