Arrow logic system for creating and operating control systems

• US 20050071772A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NBOR Corp.
• Original Assignee: NBOR Corp.
• Inventors: Jaeger, Denny
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A graphic programming system for associating distinctive arrow appearances to specific transaction(s) that the arrow may convey among and between on-screen objects. The distinctive appearance features include arrow color, arrow style, and double-headed arrows, among many other possibilities. The system provides default relationships between specific arrow transactions and arrow appearance, so that, for example, a arrow of a particular color is recognized by the system (and easily identified by the user) to carry out a particular transaction. These relationships may be selectively varied by the user to suit individual needs.

Claims

1. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

said arrow including a tail end, and said configuration comprises said at least one object being disposed within a definable distance to said tail end;

said transaction being selectable by first selecting one of a plurality of line styles of said arrow, each of said plurality of line styles corresponding to a respective arrow transaction.

8. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 1, wherein said configuration includes a portion of said arrow circumscribing said at least one object.

9. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 8, including a further object disposed within a user definable distance to the head end of said arrow, said transaction being directed by said arrow to be carried out from said at least one object to said further object.

30. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 1, wherein said at least one arrow is adapted to flicker after being drawn, and further including the step of touching said flickering arrow with said input device to implement said transaction and cause said at least one arrow to disappear.

31. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 1, wherein said at least one object associated with said arrow is adapted to change the aesthetic properties of said object after said arrow is drawn, and further including the step of touching said object with said input device to implement said transaction.

32. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 1, wherein said at least one arrow is adapted to change its aesthetic properties after being drawn, and further including the step of touching said changed arrow with said input device to implement said transaction and cause said at least one arrow to reassume its original aesthetic properties.

2. (Canceled)

3. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

placing at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

said arrow including a tail end, and said configuration comprising said at least one object being disposed within a definable distance to said tail end;

further including a further object disposed within a definable distance to the head end of said arrow, said transaction being directed by said arrow to be carried out from said at least one object to said further object, said further object remaining on said screen display.

33. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 3, wherein said transaction is carried out irrespective of the angular orientation of said arrow on said screen display.

4. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object.

selecting a transaction from a set of definable transaction categories, and selecting a line style, whereby each transaction category is assigned a correlation with it a definable arrow appearance.

34. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 4, further including the step of displaying an info window depicting an arrow color palette and describing a plurality of arrow transactions, whereby said selecting step is carried out by the user choosing from said color palette and said transaction descriptions.

35. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 34, wherein said info window further displays a palette of line configurations for arrows.

5. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

said transaction being selectable from a set of definable transaction categories, each transaction category having associated with it a definable arrow appearance;

wherein said arrow appearance includes at least one of a plurality of color choices, each color choice corresponding to at least one of said transaction categories.

6. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

said transaction being selectable from a set of definable transaction categories, each transaction category having associated with it a definable arrow appearance;

wherein said arrow appearance includes at least one of a plurality of line styles, each line style corresponding to at least one of said transaction categories.

7. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

said transaction being selectable from a set of definable transaction categories, each transaction category having associated with it a definable arrow appearance;

wherein said arrow appearance includes at least one combination of a plurality of color choices and a plurality of line styles, each combination corresponding to at least one of said transaction categories.

10-13. -13. (Canceled)

14. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

wherein said at least one object comprises a previous arrow drawn from an on-screen object,

drawing said at least one arrow to extend to a portion of said previous arrow,

entering a modifier command within a definable distance to said at least one arrow, said at least one arrow acting to apply said modifier command to the transaction conveyed by said previous arrow.

15. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 14, wherein said modifier command is entered as text adjacent to said at least one arrow.

16. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

wherein said at least one object includes a previous arrow drawn from an on-screen object,

drawing said at least one arrow with a front end extending to a portion of said previous arrow, and a tail end associated with another on-screen object, said at least one arrow acting to apply the function of said another on-screen object to the transaction conveyed by said previous arrow.

17. (canceled)

18. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

wherein said transaction comprises copying said at least one object to an on-screen location adjacent to the front end of said at least one arrow.

19. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

wherein said transaction comprises placing said at least one object inside a further on-screen object disposed within a user definable distance to the front end of said at least one arrow.

20. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

wherein said transaction comprises directing an electronic signal from said at least one object to a further on-screen object disposed within a user definable distance to the front end of said at least one arrow.

36. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 20, wherein said electronic signal comprises an audio signal.

37. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 20, wherein said electronic signal comprises a video signal.

21. (Canceled)

22. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

wherein said transaction comprises changing said at least one object to acquire at least one attribute of a further on-screen object disposed within a user definable distance to the front end of said at least one arrow, said at least one object remaining onscreen after the transaction is implemented.

23. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

wherein said at least one arrow is machine-rendered and displayed after being drawn and recognized, and further including the step of touching said machine-rendered arrow with said input device to implement said transaction.

24. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 23, further including the step of entering a Show Arrow command to make visible at least one arrow previously drawn and disappeared.

25. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 24, wherein said Show Arrow command comprises a hand drawn symbol recognized by the software as a Show Arrow command.

26. In electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen displays a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

wherein said at least one object includes a variable controller, and said arrow is drawn adjacent to a portion of said variable controller to specifying the direction of movement of said controller to increase and decrease said variable.

38. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 26, wherein said variable controller comprises a rotatable knob object, and said arrow is drawn about a portion of said rotatable knob in a direction to indicate the direction of rotation to increase of said variable.

39. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 26, wherein said variable controller comprises a linear fader, and said arrow is drawn adjacent to a portion of said fader in a direction to indicate the direction of movement of said fader to increase of said variable.

27. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

wherein said at least one object comprises a sound file, and drawing said at least one arrow from a variable controller to said sound file, said transaction applying the control function of said variable controller to said sound file.

28. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 27, wherein said sound file includes a stereo audio signal having right and left channels, and said at least one arrow includes a pair of arrows drawn from a pair of variable controllers to respective right and left sides of said sound file object to apply said controllers to control said right and left channels, respectively.

29. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

inputting at least one object on said screen display;

using an input device to draw at least one arrow, said arrow having a configuration recognized by software to associate said at least one arrow with said at least one object;

said arrow conveying a transaction relating to said at least one object;

wherein said transaction includes redirecting a signal path among a plurality of on-screen objects.

40. In an electronic device that accepts graphic entries and includes a screen display, a method for programming of said device, including the steps of:

using an input device to draw at least one arrow having a head end and a tail end;

recognizing said at least one arrow;

recognizing the transaction conveyed by said at least one arrow from said tail end to said head end.

41. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 40, further including the step of placing at least one object on said screen display;

and,

associating said at least one object with one of said ends of said at least one arrow, whereby said at least one object is directed to participate in said transaction from said tail end to said head end.

42. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 40, wherein said at least one arrow is recognized irrespective of the angle at which it is drawn on the display.

43. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 40, wherein said step of recognizing said at least one arrow includes recognizing a line having an arrow head drawn at one end thereof.

44. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 40, wherein said step of recognizing said at least one arrow includes recognizing a line having a line style associated with an arrow logic.

45. The method for programming an electronic device of claim 40, wherein said step of recognizing said transaction includes recognizing a line having a line style associated with a respective arrow transaction.