Interactive object property region for graphical user interface

• US 20060055670A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Castrucci, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• 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
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

An interactive object property region displayable in a graphical user interface for an application program is disclosed. The interactive object property region is preferably automatically generated in response to a mouse pointer being moved over the object, but may also be affirmatively selected. Preferably, the region is initially positioned proximate to the object when generated. The interactive object property region, preferably a window, displays one or more properties of the selected object, and is interactive in the sense that the user can edit the displayed values in the region without the need to access further menu options in the graphical user interface. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the pointer can be moved from the object to the region to automatically change the displayed properties from a static display to an editable mode. Alternatively, the displayed property as soon as they are generated or can be editable upon affirmative selection.

Claims

1. A method of allowing a user to change the properties of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, the method comprising:

positioning a pointer over the object to display at least one property concerning the object; and

positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property to allow the property to be changed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the at least one property using a computer input device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, a microphone, a touch screen, a stylus, a cursor positioner, and a mouse.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pointer comprises a mouse pointer controlled by a computer mouse.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one property is displayed in a displayable region proximate to the object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the pointer over the object to display the at least one property concerning the object causes the display of the least one property to occur automatically.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the pointer over the object to display the at least one property concerning the object further comprises affirmative selection of the object.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property to allow the property to be changed occurs automatically by moving the pointer to the displayed at least one property.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property to allow the property to be changed further comprises affirmative selection of the property.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one properties to allow the property to be changed comprises changing the pointer to an editing cursor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property to allow the property to be changed comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed property.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the property comprises a property affecting the display of the object in the graphical user interface.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the property comprises information indicative of the content of the object.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the property comprises information concerning the object.

15. A method for allowing a user to change the properties of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, comprising:

positioning a pointer over the object, and in response generating a displayed region containing at least one property concerning the object; and

positioning the pointer over the displayed region to allow the at least one property to be changed.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the displayed region is generated proximate to the object.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the pointer comprises a pointer controlled by a mouse.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein generating the displayed region occurs automatically in response to positioning the pointer over the object.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein generating the displayed region in response to positioning the pointer over the object further comprises an affirmative selection.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed region to allow the at least one property to be changed comprises moving the pointer over the displayed at least one property.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein allowing the at least one property to be changed occurs automatically in response to positioning the pointer over the displayed region.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein allowing the at least one property to be changed further comprises an affirmative selection of the displayed at least one property.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein allowing the at least one property to be changed comprises changing the pointer to an editing cursor.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed region further comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed at least one property.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising automatically eliminating the displayable region upon occurrence of a condition.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising allowing the user to affirmatively select that the displayed become persistent.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising moving the displayed region within the graphical user interface.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein the property comprises a property affecting the display of the object in the graphical user interface.

29. The method of claim 15, wherein the property comprises information indicative of the content of the object.

30. The method of claim 15, wherein the property comprises information concerning the object.

31. A method of allowing a user to change the properties of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, comprising:

automatically generating an object property region proximate to the object in response to positioning a mouse pointer over the object, wherein the object property region displays at least one property concerning the object; and

automatically allowing the displayed at least one property to be changed in response to positioning the mouse pointer over the object property region.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein positioning the mouse pointer over the object property region further comprises changing the mouse pointer to an editing cursor.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein changing automatically allowing the displayed at lest one property to be changed comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed at least one property.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising eliminating the object property region after a predetermined amount of time.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising automatically eliminating the object property region upon the occurrence of a condition.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising allowing the user to affirmatively select that the object property region become persistent.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising allowing the object property region to be moved within the graphical user interface using the mouse pointer.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein allowing the displayed at least one property to be changed in response to positioning the mouse pointer over the object property region comprises moving the pointer over the displayed at least one property.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the property comprises a property affecting the display of the object in the graphical user interface.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein the property comprises information indicative of the content of the object.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein the property comprises information concerning the object.

42. A computer-readable medium containing a program for performing a method of allowing a user to change the properties of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, the method comprising:

positioning a pointer over the object to display at least one property concerning the object; and

positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property to allow the property to be changed.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the pointer comprises a mouse pointer controlled by a computer mouse.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the at least one property is displayed in a displayable region proximate to the object.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein positioning the pointer over the object to display the at least one property concerning the object causes the display of the least one property to occur automatically.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein positioning the pointer over the object to display the at least one property concerning the object further comprises affirmative selection of the object.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property to allow the property to be changed occurs automatically by moving the pointer to the displayed at least one property.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property to allow the property to be changed further comprises affirmative selection of the property.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one properties to allow the property to be changed comprises changing the pointer to an editing cursor.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property to allow the property to be changed comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed property.

51. A computer-readable medium containing a program for performing a method of allowing a user to change the properties of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, the method comprising:

positioning a pointer over the object, and in response generating a displayed region containing at least one property concerning the object; and

positioning the pointer over the displayed region to allow the at least one property to be changed.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein the displayed region is generated proximate to the object.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein the pointer comprises a pointer controlled by a mouse.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein generating the displayed region occurs automatically in response to positioning the pointer over the object.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein generating the displayed region in response to positioning the pointer over the object further comprises an affirmative selection.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed region to allow the at least one property to be changed comprises moving the pointer over the displayed at least one property.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein allowing the at least one property to be changed occurs automatically in response to positioning the pointer over the displayed region.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein allowing the at least one property to be changed further comprises an affirmative selection of the displayed at least one property.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein allowing the at least one property to be changed comprises changing the pointer to an editing cursor.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed region further comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed at least one property.

61. A computer-readable medium containing a program for performing a method of allowing a user to change the properties of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, the method comprising:

automatically generating an object property region proximate to the object in response positioning a mouse pointer over the object, wherein the object property region displays at least one property concerning the object; and

automatically allowing the displayed at least one property to be changed in response to positioning the mouse pointer over the object property region.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 61, wherein positioning the mouse pointer over the object property region further comprises changing the mouse pointer to an editing cursor.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 61, wherein changing automatically allowing the displayed at lest one property to be changed comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed at least one property.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 61, further comprising automatically eliminating the object property region upon the occurrence of a condition.

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 61, wherein allowing the displayed at least one property to be changed in response to positioning the mouse pointer over the object property region comprises moving the pointer over the displayed at least one property.