STICKY FUNCTIONALITY

• US 20120210264A1
• Filed: 02/10/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: SCHLEGEL, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 9,361,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

Manipulation of elements in a graphical user interface is aided by allowing the graphical user interface to treat certain mouse button actuation and releases as holding the mouse button in an actuated state. When predetermined conditions are satisfied, the graphical user interface will treat a mouse button actuation and release as if the mouse button were held in an actuated state. A user can then manipulate elements in the graphical user interface as if the user held the mouse button in an actuated state. The types of manipulation can include the moving of a window, the resizing of a window, moving an icon, and the scrolling through the visible portion of a window.

Claims

1. A method of manipulating an element in two alternative ways in a user interface on a display device of a computer, comprising:

dragging said element in accordance with movement of an input device connected to the computer in a first mode of operation that is invoked by said input device returning to a first state pertaining to actuation of said input device from a second state pertaining to actuation of said input device when an amount of time that lapses between said input device returning to the first state after being placed in the second state is no greater than a predetermined value; and

dragging said element in accordance with movement of said input device in a second, alternative mode of operation that is invoked by said input device being in the second state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises an actuation element, and wherein said actuation element is not actuated in said first state and is actuated in said second state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said actuation element is a button.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said element is an icon.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said element is a window.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said steps of dragging said element comprises:

dragging the window about the user interface in accordance with the movement of said input device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said element is a resize box of a window, and wherein the steps of dragging said element comprises:

dragging said resize box about the user interface in accordance with the movement of said input device, thereby resizing said window.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said element is a slider, and wherein the steps of dragging said element comprises:

dragging said slider in accordance with the movement of said input device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said slider is a component of a window, and wherein said dragging changes a viewable portion of said window.

10. A computer-readable medium containing a program recorded thereon that causes a computer to control a manipulation of an element in a user interface in two alternative ways, the program causing the computer to execute the steps of:

dragging said element of said user interface in accordance with movement of an input device in a first mode of operation that is invoked by said input device returning to a first state pertaining to actuation of said input device from a second state pertaining to actuation of said input device when an amount of time that lapses between said input device returning to the first state after being placed in the second state is no greater than a predetermined value; and

dragging said element in accordance with movement of said input device in a second, alternative mode of operation that is invoked by said input device being in the second state.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said input device comprises an actuation element, and wherein said actuation element is not actuated in said first state and is actuated in said second state.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said actuation element is a button.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said element is an icon.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said element is a window.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said steps of dragging said element comprises:

dragging the window about the user interface in accordance with the movement of said input device.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said element is a resize box of a window, and wherein the steps of dragging said element comprises:

dragging said resize box about the user interface in accordance with the movement of said input device, thereby resizing said window.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said element is a slider, and wherein the steps of dragging said element comprises:

dragging said slider in accordance with the movement of said input device.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein said slider is a component of a window, and wherein said dragging changes a viewable portion of said window.

19. A computer system comprising:

an input device;

a user interface; and

a processor for controlling dragging of an element in said user interface in two alternative ways, the processor moves said element about the user interface in accordance with movement of said input device in a first mode of operation that is invoked by said input device returning to a first state pertaining to actuation of said input device from a second state pertaining to actuation of said input device when an amount of time that lapses between said input device returning to the first state after being placed in the second state is no greater than a predetermined value, and the processor moves said element about the user interface in accordance with movement of said input device in a second, alternative mode of operation that is invoked by said input device being in the second state.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said input device comprises an actuation element, and wherein said actuation element is not actuated in said first state and is actuated in said second state.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said actuation element is a button.

22. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said element is an icon.

23. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said element is a window.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein said dragging of said element comprises dragging the window about the user interface in accordance with the movement of said input device.

25. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said element is a resize box of a window, and wherein the dragging said element comprises dragging said resize box about the user interface in accordance with the movement of said input device, thereby resizing said window.

26. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said element is a slider, and wherein the dragging of said element comprises dragging said slider in accordance with the movement of said input device.

27. The computer system of claim 26, wherein said slider is a component of a window, and wherein said dragging changes a viewable portion of said window.