Method and system for distributing multiple dragged objects
First Claim
1. A method, operable on a computer system, for streamlining the manual distribution of a plurality of objects within a display using an input device, the display presenting a surface suitable for dropping objects into, the input device capable of converting user input into a two-dimensional position to drive the position of a cursor on the display, the method comprising:
- Detecting the user action of dragging one or more objects from an external source over said display using said input device While at least one said object remains undropped, continuing to execute the following actions;
a) Displaying a set of visual representations of said objects proximal to current position of said cursor representing a subset or all of said dragged objects, and b) When the user'"'"'s intention to drop an object is detected, executing the following actions;
b1) Processing the dropping of the first object in the said list of attached objects, and b2) Removing the said representation of said dropped object from said set visual representations attached to said cursor
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and computer program executed by a processor is described for visually distributing a multiplicity of data objects within a visual computing environment. The user directly manipulates a cursor using a pointing device such as a computer mouse to sequentially indicate where a plurality of objects are to be positioned: these objects are presented as visual controls attached to the cursor, providing feedback as to the identification, order, and number of objects to be distributed. As the user indicates the desire to place the next-to-be dropped object (for example by clicking a button on the computer mouse), that object is dropped at the current cursor position, the representation of that object removed from the set of visual controls attached to the cursor, and the subsequent objects to be dropped advanced by one. The user may optionally re-order the objects to be dropped prior to actually dropping them, and may optionally exit and return to the dropping mode at any time.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, operable on a computer system, for streamlining the manual distribution of a plurality of objects within a display using an input device, the display presenting a surface suitable for dropping objects into, the input device capable of converting user input into a two-dimensional position to drive the position of a cursor on the display, the method comprising:
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Detecting the user action of dragging one or more objects from an external source over said display using said input device While at least one said object remains undropped, continuing to execute the following actions;
a) Displaying a set of visual representations of said objects proximal to current position of said cursor representing a subset or all of said dragged objects, and b) When the user'"'"'s intention to drop an object is detected, executing the following actions;
b1) Processing the dropping of the first object in the said list of attached objects, and b2) Removing the said representation of said dropped object from said set visual representations attached to said cursor - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer readable medium having computer instructions stored thereon for implementing a method of streamlining the manual distribution of a plurality of objects within a display using an input device, the display presenting a surface suitable for dropping objects into, the input device capable of converting user input into a two-dimensional position to drive the position of a cursor on the display, the method comprising:
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Detecting the user action of dragging one or more objects from an external source over the display using the input device While at least one object remains undropped, continuing to execute the following actions;
a) Displaying a set of visual representations of data proximal to the current cursor position representing a subset or all of the dragged objects b) When the user'"'"'s intention to drop an object is detected, executing the following actions;
b1) Processing the dropping of the first object in the said list of attached objects b2) Removing the said representation of said dropped object from said set visual representations attached to said cursor - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification