User interfaces and methods for displaying attributes of objects and accessing content

• US 20060168549A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eric Chan, Gerald Chan
• Original Assignee: Eric Chan, Gerald Chan
• Inventors: Chan, Eric, Chan, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/043,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168549A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• 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 user interface method includes displaying content associated with an object in a first window if the object is selected by performing a first operation using a mouse and without use of a keyboard, and displaying the content in a second window if the object is selected by performing a second operation using the mouse and without use of the keyboard. A user interface method includes informing a user, before an object is selected, that content associated with the object will be displayed in a first window if the object is selected, or that the content will be displayed in a second window if the object is selected. A user interface method includes informing a user, before an object is selected, that a script will be run if the object is selected, wherein the step of informing comprises presenting information at or adjacent to the object.

Claims

1. A user interface method, comprising:

displaying content associated with an object in a first window if the object is selected by performing a first operation using a mouse and without use of a keyboard, and displaying the content in a second window if the object is selected by performing a second operation using the mouse and without use of the keyboard.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the first operation comprises one of a single-clicking and a double-clicking a mouse button, and the performing the second operation comprises another of the single-clicking and the double-clicking the mouse button.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the first operation comprises clicking a first mouse button, and the performing the second operation comprises clicking a second mouse button.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a hyperlink.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a folder identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the first operation and the performing the second operation each does not comprise operating the mouse to open a configure-menu.

7. A computer program product that includes a medium usable by a processor, the medium having a set of stored instructions, an execution of which by the processor causes a process to be performed, the process comprising:

displaying content associated with an object in a first window if the object is selected by performing a first operation using a mouse and without use of a keyboard, and displaying the content in a second window if the object is selected by performing a second operation using the mouse and without use of the keyboard.

8. A user interface, comprising:

a first window for presenting information within a screen; and

an object in the first window, wherein a selection of the object by performing a first operation using a mouse and without use of a keyboard will cause content associated with the object to be displayed in the first window, and a selection of the object by performing a second operation using the mouse and without use of the keyboard will cause the content to be displayed in a second window.

9. A user interface method, comprising:

informing a user, before an object is selected, that content associated with the object will be displayed in a first window if the object is selected, or that the content will be displayed in a second window if the object is selected.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the informing comprises displaying the object in the first window, the object having a characteristic for indicating that the content will be displayed in the first window or in the second window.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the informing comprises displaying an indicator next to the object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the indicator is displayed independent of a position of a pointer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the indicator is displayed only when a pointer is placed at or adjacent to the object.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the informing comprises changing a configuration of a pointer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the changed configuration of the pointer indicates that the content associated with the object will be displayed in the first window if the object is selected, the first window being a current window.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the changed configuration of the pointer indicates that the content associated with the object will be displayed in the second window if the object is selected, the second window being a new window.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the object comprises a hyperlink.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the object comprises a folder identifier.

19. A computer program product that includes a medium usable by a processor, the medium having a set of stored instructions, an execution of which by the processor causes a process to be performed, the process comprising:

informing a user, before an object is selected, that content associated with the object will be displayed in a first window if the object is selected, or that the content will be displayed in a second window if the object is selected.

20. A user interface, comprising:

a first window for presenting an object within a screen; and

an indicator for informing a user, before the object is selected, that content associated with the object will be displayed in the first window if the object is selected, or that the content will be displayed in a second window if the object is selected.

21. A user interface method, comprising:

informing a user, before an object is selected, that a script will be run if the object is selected;

wherein the step of informing comprises presenting information at or adjacent to the object.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the informing comprises displaying the object, the object having a characteristic for indicating that the script will be run if the object is selected.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the informing comprises displaying an indicator next to the object.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the indicator is displayed independent of a position of a pointer.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the indicator is displayed only when a pointer is placed at or adjacent to the object.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the informing comprises changing a configuration of a pointer when the pointer is positioned at or adjacent the object, the changed configuration of the pointer indicating that the script will be run if the object is selected.

27. A computer program product that includes a medium usable by a processor, the medium having a set of stored instructions, an execution of which by the processor causes a process to be performed, the process comprising:

informing a user, before an object is selected, that a script will be run if the object is selected;

wherein the step of informing comprises presenting information at or adjacent to the object.

28. A user interface, comprising:

a first window for presenting an object within a screen; and

an indicator located at or adjacent to the object for informing a user, before the object is selected, that a script will be run if the object is selected.