Apparatus and method for pointer drag path operations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and
a pointer drag path mechanism residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the pointer drag path mechanism comprising a pointer that allows selecting a first object that represents a first operand, dragging the first object to a second object that represents a first operator, and dropping the first object onto the second object, thereby operating on the first operand with the first operator.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for a graphical user interface allow performing operations simply by dragging a first object over a second object. One or more attributes of the second object are effectively “picked up” by virtue of dragging over the second object. In this manner, the user interface is more friendly, more intuitive, and reduces the number of pointer clicks to implement a particular function, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the user.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and
a pointer drag path mechanism residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the pointer drag path mechanism comprising a pointer that allows selecting a first object that represents a first operand, dragging the first object to a second object that represents a first operator, and dropping the first object onto the second object, thereby operating on the first operand with the first operator.
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2. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and
a pointer drag path mechanism residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the pointer drag path mechanism comprising a pointer that allows selecting a first object that represents a first operator, dragging the first object to a second object that represents a first operand, and dropping the first object onto the second object, thereby operating on the first operand with the first operator.
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3. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and
a pointer drag path mechanism residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the pointer drag path mechanism comprising a pointer that allows selecting a first object, the pointer drag path mechanism picking up at least one attribute of a second object that is in a drag path of the first object while the first object is selected. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for operating on a first operand with a first operator using a graphical user interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a first object that represents the first operand;
dragging the first object to a second object that represents the first operator;
dropping the first object onto the second object; and
in response to dropping the first object onto the second object, operating on the first operand with the first operator.
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10. A method for operating on a first operand with a first operator using a graphical user interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a first object that represents the first operator;
dragging the selected first object to a second object that represents the first operand;
dropping the selected first object onto the second object; and
in response to dropping the selected first object onto the second object, operating on the first operand with the first operator.
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11. A method for operating on first and second operand with a first operator using a graphical user interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a first object that represents the first operand;
dragging the selected first object across a third object corresponding to the first operator;
dropping the selected first object onto the second object that represents the second operand; and
in response to dropping the selected first object onto the second object, operating on the first and second operands with the first operator.
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12. A method for operating on a first operand using a graphical user interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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(A) selecting a first object using a pointer;
(B) dragging the selected first object across a second object; and
(C) in response to dragging the selected first object across the second object, picking up at least one attribute of the second object. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A program product comprising:
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a pointer drag path mechanism comprising a pointer that allows selecting a first object that represents a first operand, dragging the selected first object to a second object that represents a first operator, and dropping the selected first object onto the second object, thereby operating on the first operand with the first operator; and
computer-readable signal bearing media bearing the pointer drag path mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A program product comprising:
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a pointer drag path mechanism comprising a pointer that allows selecting a first object that represents a first operator, dragging the selected first object to a second object that represents a first operand, and dropping the selected first object onto the second object, thereby operating on the first operand with the first operator; and
computer-readable signal bearing media bearing the pointer drag path mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A program product comprising:
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a pointer drag path mechanism comprising a pointer that allows selecting a first object, the pointer drag path mechanism picking up at least one attribute of a second object that is in a drag path of the first object while the first object is selected; and
computer-readable signal bearing media bearing the pointer drag path mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification