Method and apparatus for removable menu window

• US 4,931,783 A
• Filed: 07/26/1988
• Issued: 06/05/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Atkinson, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US07/224,304
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 340/710, 340/721, 340/723, 340/724, 364/521
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for removing a menu window from a menu bar on a display device in a computer controlled display system is described. The menu window is removed from the menu bar by positioning the cursor on a display device over a command option on the menu bar and then by manipulating a signal generating device to indicate to the computer display system that the user has selected the command option and then by manipulating a cursor control device to cause the cursor to cross a border of the menu window while the menu window is being displayed.

Claims

1. In a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a command option is displayed along a menu bar and command items corresponding to said command option are displayed once said command option has been selected, said command items being displayed within a menu window having a border, a method for removing said menu window from said menu bar comprising the steps of:

generating and displaying said menu bar having said command option;

positioning a cursor on said display using a cursor control means, the manipulation of said cursor control means by a user resulting in a corresponding movement of said cursor on said display;

displaying said menu window by selecting said command option, said command option being selected by said user'"'"'s control of a signal generation means being coupled to said computer controlled display system;

removing said menu window from said menu bar while displaying said menu window by manipulating said cursor control means so as to move said cursor across said border, whereby said menu window may be removed from said menu bar.

2. In a computer controlled display system having a display means wherein a plurality of command options are displayed along a menu bar and command items corresponding to each command option are displayed once said command option has been selected, said command items corresponding to each command option being displayed within a menu window being defined by a first edge being juxtaposed to said menu bar and by at least two sides, a method for removing said menu window from said menu bar and manipulating said menu window on said display means, said method comprising the steps of:

generating and displaying said menu bar having said plurality of command options;

positioning a cursor on said display means using a cursor control means, the movement of said cursor control means by a user resulting in a corresponding movement of said cursor on said display means;

displaying said menu window by placing said cursor over said command option and selecting said command option, said user selecting said command option by placing a switch means coupled to said display system in a second position while positioning said cursor over a first predetermined area on said display corresponding to said command option;

removing said menu window from said menu bar while displaying said menu window by keeping said switch means in said second position while moving said cursor across one of said sides, said menu window following said cursor around said display means while said switch means is in said second position, said menu window being positioned on said display at a user selected position when said switch means is changed from said second position to a first position,

whereby said menu window may be removed from said menu bar and positioned on said display by said user.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein once said menu window has been removed from said menu bar, said menu window further comprises a handle icon for moving said menu window, said handle icon having a second predetermined area in said menu window, said user moving said menu window by positioning said cursor over said second predetermined area and placing said switch means in said second position and then moving said cursor around said display, said menu window following said cursor around said display means until said switch is placed in said first position, said menu window being positioned on said display means where said menu window was located when said switch was placed in said first position, whereby said menu window may be moved around said display means after said menu window has been removed from said menu bar.

4. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein once said menu window has been removed from said menu bar, said menu window further comprises a close icon for closing said menu window to cause said menu window to disappear from said display, said close icon having a third predetermined area in said menu window, said user closing said menu window by positioning said cursor over said third predetermined area while placing said switch means in said second position and then placing said switch in said first position thereby causing said menu window to close and disappear from said display, whereby said menu window after it has been removed from said menu bar may be deleted from said display.

5. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein said menu window before being removed from said menu bar is defined by said first edge and by three sides of said menu window and wherein said menu window is removed from said menu bar by keeping said switch in said second position while moving said cursor across one of said three sides of said menu window.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 wherein said cursor control means is a mouse.

7. A method as defined in claim 5 wherein said cursor control means is a mouse having said switch means.

8. In a computer system, a computer controlled display system for providing an interface with a user of said computer system, said computer controlled display system comprising:

a display means for producing a display having a plurality of command options displayed along a menu bar and for producing command items corresponding to each command option once said command option has been selected, said command items corresponding to each command option being displayed when said command option is selected within a menu window having

a first edge being juxtaposed to said menu bar and having sides and having a border corresponding to said sides of said menu window;

a cursor control means coupled to said computer controlled display system, said cursor control means controlling the position of a cursor on said display;

a switch means coupled to said computer controlled display system, said switch means having a first position and a second postion, said switch means for selecting said command option by setting said switch means in said second position while positioning said cursor over a first predetermined area on said display corresponding to said command option, thereby causing said menu window to be displayed, said menu window being removed from said menu bar by keeping said switch means in said second position while moving said cursor across said border, said menu window following said cursor around said display while said switch means is in said second position, said menu window being positioned on said display at a user selected position when said switch means is changed from said second position to a first position,

whereby said menu window may be removed from said menu bar and positioned on said display by said user.

9. A computer controlled display system as defined in claim 8 wherein once said menu window has been removed from said menu bar, said menu window further comprises a handle icon for moving said menu window, said handle icon having a second predetermined area in menu window, said user moving said menu window by positioning said cursor over said second predetermined area and placing said switch means in said second position and then moving said cursor, thereby dragging said menu window with said cursor around said display until said switch means is placed in said first position, said menu window being positioned on said display where said menu window was located when said switch means was placed in said first position, whereby said menu window may be moved around said display after said menu window has been removed from said menu bar.

10. A computer controlled display system as defined in claim 9 wherein once said menu window has been removed from said menu bar, said menu window further comprises a close icon for closing said menu window to cause said menu window to disappear from said display, said close icon having a third predetermined area in said menu window, said user closing said menu window by positioning said cursor over said third predetermined area while placing said switch means in said second position and then placing said switch means in said first position thereby causing said menu window to close and disappear from said display, whereby said menu window after it has been removed from said menu bar may be deleted from said display.

11. In a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a command option is displayed along a menu bar and command items corresponding to said command option are displayed once said command option has been selected, said command items being displayed within a menu window having at least two sides and having a border associated with at least one of said two sides of said menu window, a method for removing said menu window from said menu bar comprising the steps of:

generating and displaying said menu bar having said command option;

positioning a cursor on said display using a cursor control means, the manipulation of said cursor control means by a user resulting in a corresponding movement of said cursor on said display;

displaying said menu window by placing said cursor over said command option and selecting said command option by setting a switch means in a second position while positioning said cursor over a first predetermined area on said display corresponding to said command option, said switch means having a first position and said second position and being coupled to said computer controlled display system;

removing said menu window from said menu bar while displaying said menu window by keeping said switch means in said second position while moving said cursor across said border, said menu window following said cursor around said display while said switch means is in said second position, said menu window being positioned on said display at a user selected position when said switch is changed from said second position to said first position,

whereby said menu window may be removed from said menu bar and positioned on said display by said user.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said menu window has three sides and said border of said menu window before being removed from said menu bar is defined by said three sides of said menu window and wherein said menu window is removed from said menu bar by keeping said switch in said second position while moving said cursor across one of said three sides of said menu window.