SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANIPULATING OBJECTS IN A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

• US 20120216150A1
• Filed: 02/18/2011
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Wernecke, Gregg
• Granted Patent: US 10,338,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/850
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A system, computer-readable storage medium including instructions, and a computer-implemented method for manipulating one or more objects in a graphical user interface for a display device is presented. A start of a path selection mode is detected. A first path traversed by a cursor in the graphical user interface is detected, with the first path intersecting one or more objects in a plurality of objects displayed in the graphical user interface of the display device. A curve corresponding to the first path is displayed in the graphical user interface. An end of the path selection mode is detected. A selection state of the one or more objects is updated based on the curve, the selection state including a selected state and a deselected state.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for manipulating objects in a graphical user interface for a display device, the method comprising:

detecting a start of a path selection mode;

detecting a first path traversed by a cursor in the graphical user interface, the first path intersecting one or more objects in a plurality of objects displayed in the graphical user interface of the display device;

displaying a curve corresponding to the first path in the graphical user interface;

detecting an end of the path selection mode; and

updating a selection state of the one or more objects based on the curve, the selection state including a selected state and a deselected state.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein updating the selection state of the one or more objects based on the curve includes:

for each object in the one or more objects,

determining a number of times that the curve intersects the object;

when the number of times that the curve intersects the object is an odd number, toggling the selection state; and

when the number of times that the curve intersects the object is an even number, retaining the selection state.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a pull operation in which the curve is pulled from a point on the curve along a second path, wherein portions of the curve that are on the first path are constrained to move along the first path; and

while the curve is being pulled, redrawing the curve based on the first path, the second path, and a length of the curve.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising updating the selection state of each object in the plurality of objects that is intersected by the curve by:

determining a number of times that the curve intersects the object;

when the number of times that the curve intersects the object is an odd number, toggling the selection state; and

when the number of times that the curve intersects the object is an even number, retaining the selection state.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the length of the curve remains constant during the pull operation.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the length of the curve decreases during the pull operation.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the length of the curve increases during the pull operation.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a knot point at a first point on the curve, wherein the knot point prevents the curve from being pulled through objects;

detecting a pull operation in which the curve is pulled from a second point on the curve along a second path, wherein points of the curve that are on the first path are constrained to move along the first path; and

while the curve is being pulled,

redrawing the curve based on the first path and the second path; and

when the knot point on the curve is pulled against an object in the one or more objects, repositioning the object based on the first path and the second path.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising when the object being repositioned contacts a second object on the curve, repositioning the object and the second object based on the first path and the second path.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that a hold area is placed over one or more portions on the curve, wherein the hold area is a fixed area that maintains the shape of the curve that is in the hold area;

detecting a pull operation in which the curve is being pulled from a second point on the curve along a second path, wherein portions of the curve in the hold area are constrained to move through the hold area in accordance with the shape of the curve in the hold area; and

while the curve is being pulled,

redrawing portions of the curve external to the hold area so that the portions of the curve external to the hold area are pulled closer to the hold area; and

modifying the one or more objects based on the curve.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein modifying the one or more objects includes one or more of:

repositioning the one or more objects;

resizing the one or more objects;

selecting the one or more objects; and

deselecting the one or more objects.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more objects are in the selected state, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a rotation operation in which the curve is rotated about a pivot point; and

while the curve is being rotated, repositioning the one or more objects based on a rotation of the curve.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein prior to detecting the rotation operation, the method further comprises detecting a stake operation in which a stake point is placed at the pivot point on the curve, wherein the stake point prevents the pivot point on the curve from moving.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more objects are in the selected state, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a move operation in which the curve is repositioned in the graphical user interface; and

while the curve is being moved, repositioning the one or more objects based on a movement of the curve.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a path addition operation;

detecting a third path traversed by the cursor in the graphical user interface, the third path starting from an end point of the curve;

redrawing the curve so that the curve includes the third path; and

updating the selection state of the one or more objects based on the curve.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a path modification operation;

detecting that one or more points on the curve are moved to new positions;

redrawing the curve based on the new positions of the one of more points on the curve; and

updating the selection state of the one or more objects based on the curve.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a path subtraction operation;

detecting a third path traversed by the cursor in the graphical user interface;

redrawing the curve so that portions of the curve that intersect the third path are deleted; and

updating the selection state of the one or more objects based on the curve.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selection state of the one or more objects is updated as the path is being drawn.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selection state of the one or more objects is updated after the end of the path selection mode.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the curve is displayed as the path is drawn.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the curve is displayed after the end of the path selection mode.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the curve is a curve in two-dimensional space.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the curve is a curve in three-dimensional space.

24. A system to manipulate objects in a graphical user interface for a display device, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

memory; and

at least one program stored in the memory, the at least one program comprising instructions to;

detect a start of a path selection mode;

detect a first path traversed by a cursor in the graphical user interface, the first path intersecting one or more objects in a plurality of objects displayed in the graphical user interface of the display device;

display a curve corresponding to the first path in the graphical user interface;

detect an end of the path selection mode; and

update a selection state of the one or more objects based on the curve, the selection state including a selected state and a deselected state.

25. A computer readable storage medium storing at least one program configured for execution by a computer, the at least one program comprising instructions to:

detect a start of a path selection mode;

detect a first path traversed by a cursor in a graphical user interface of a display device, the first path intersecting one or more objects in a plurality of objects displayed in the graphical user interface;

display a curve corresponding to the first path in the graphical user interface;

detect an end of the path selection mode; and

update a selection state of the one or more objects based on the curve, the selection state including a selected state and a deselected state.