Slider control movable in a two-dimensional region for simultaneously adjusting values of multiple variables
First Claim
1. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus of a computer system to perform operations for displaying and controlling an interactive graphical user interface, the operations comprising:
- displaying a graph having two axes corresponding to first and second variables in the interactive graphical user interface, wherein a two-dimensional region between the two axes specifies values the first and second variables may assume, and wherein a combination of values that the two variables assume determines a value of a third variable;
displaying a slider control in the two-dimensional region;
receiving a command moving the slider control within the two-dimensional region to a new position, wherein the movement of the slider control to a new position determines a new combination of values for the first and second variables;
calculating a new value for the third variable based on the new combination of values for the first and second variables; and
displaying a graphical component representing the new value for the third variable in the interactive graphical user interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention concerns methods and apparatus for generating and controlling a slider control for simultaneously changing values of two variables. In the methods and apparatus of the invention a graph having two axes is displayed, wherein the axes correspond to first and second variables. The values of the first and second variables may be simultaneously adjusted using a slider control displayed in a two-dimensional region between the axes. As a user adjusts the slider control and changes values associated with the two variables, the methods of the present invention calculate the effects of the adjustment on a value of a third variable. A graphical component is then used to depict the updated value of the third variable. Additionally, curves corresponding to constant values, or ranges of values, of the third variable are displayed in the two-dimensional region to assist a user in selecting values for the first and second variables.
56 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus of a computer system to perform operations for displaying and controlling an interactive graphical user interface, the operations comprising:
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displaying a graph having two axes corresponding to first and second variables in the interactive graphical user interface, wherein a two-dimensional region between the two axes specifies values the first and second variables may assume, and wherein a combination of values that the two variables assume determines a value of a third variable;
displaying a slider control in the two-dimensional region;
receiving a command moving the slider control within the two-dimensional region to a new position, wherein the movement of the slider control to a new position determines a new combination of values for the first and second variables;
calculating a new value for the third variable based on the new combination of values for the first and second variables; and
displaying a graphical component representing the new value for the third variable in the interactive graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for displaying and controlling an interactive graphical user interface, the method comprising:
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displaying a graph having two axes corresponding to first and second variables in the interactive graphical user interface, wherein a two-dimensional region between the two axes specifies values the first and second variables may assume, and wherein a combination of values that the first and second variables assume determines a value of a third variable;
displaying a discrete number of pre-determined combinations of values for the first and second variables in the two-dimensional region;
displaying a slider control in the two-dimensional region;
receiving a command moving the slider control toward a position of a particular one of the pre-determined combinations of values for the first and second variables in the two-dimensional region;
determining that a trajectory of the slider control is toward the particular one of the pre-determined combinations of values for the first and second variables displayed in the two-dimensional region;
snapping a graphical indicator to the position of the particular one of the pre-determined combinations of values for the first and second variables in the two-dimensional region indicating that the particular one of the pre-determined combinations of values for the first and second variables has been selected;
determining a new value for the third variable based on the new combination of values for the first and second variables associated with the particular one of the pre-determined combinations of values for the first and second variable; and
displaying a graphical component representing the new value of the third variable in the interactive graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer system for displaying and controlling an interactive graphical user interface, the computer system comprising:
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at least one memory to store at least one computer program of machine-readable instructions, where the at least one program performs operations to display and control the interactive graphical user interface when executed;
a display for displaying the interactive graphical user interface; and
at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and display, wherein the at least one processor performs at least the following operations when the at least one program is executed;
displaying a graph having two axes corresponding to first and second variables in the interactive graphical user interface, wherein a two-dimensional region between the two axes specifies values the first and second variables may assume, wherein values that the two variables may assume determines a value of a third variable;
displaying a slider control in the two-dimensional region;
receiving a command moving the slider control within the two-dimensional region to a new position, wherein the movement of the slider control to a new position determines a new combination of values for the first and second variables;
calculating a new value for the third variable based on the new combination of values for the first and second variables; and
displaying a graphical component representing the new value for the third variable in the interactive graphical user interface.
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Specification