User interface system having programmable user interface elements

• US 5,341,293 A
• Filed: 09/03/1992
• Issued: 08/23/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Erickson, Thomas D., Vertelney, Laurie J., Venolia, Daniel S., Hulteen, Eric A., Wong, Yin Y., Thompson-Rohrlich, John A., Gomoll, Kathleen M., Mountford, S. Joy, Salomon, Gitta B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Poinvil, Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US07/940,237
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 364/419, 364/200 MS File, 364/300, 364/900 MS File, 340/710, 340/721, 395/145-149, 395/155, 395/161, 395/159
• US Class Current: 715/236
• 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 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations

Abstract

A user interface element having a plurality of user interface elements for marking, finding, organizing, and processing data within documents stored in an associated computer system are described. Each element typically has an appearance which is uniquely related to the data or the function the element is designed to represent or perform, respectively. In their simplest form, these elements are only used to mark data within a document. Each element, however, can also be programmed to cause the computer to perform some function in association with the marked data, such as printing the data or mailing the data to someone. A user can select particular data within a document using an element and have that data associated with the element in memory. Data marked with common elements can be found by searching for a particular representative element in memory. Users can create their own elements, program elements with their own desired functionality, and modify existing elements. Elements can also be compounded together so as to cause a combination of tasks to be performed by simply activating one element.

Claims

1. A user interface system for use in a computerized system having a processor, a memory, a display and an interactive input/output system in communication with the processor, the memory and the display for operating the user interface system, comprising:

a user interface element including first means for identifying said user interface element to a user, means for marking data displayed within one or more documents on said display with said first identifying means, and second means for identifying said user interface element to said computerized system such that said marked data can subsequently be found by said computerized system through utilization of said second identifying means;

means for storing one or more of said second identifying means for one or more of said user interface elements in said memory as a proxy to said marked data;

means for finding said marked data in said memory by searching for said proxy in said memory; and

means for displaying said marked data on said display after finding said marked data.

2. A user interface system as recited in claim 1, said user interface system further comprising means for programing said user interface element to control performance of one or more operations related to said marked data by said computerized system, said second identifying means being operative to uniquely relate said user interface element to said one or more operations.

3. A user interface system as recited in claim 2, wherein one of said operations is automatically performed by said computerized system after said data is marked with said user interface element.

4. A user interface system as recited in claim 2, wherein performance of a portion or all of one of said operations is delayed by said computerized system until initiated by said user through said interactive input/output system.

5. A user interface system as recited in claim 2, wherein performance of a portion or all of one of said operations is delayed by said computerized system until occurrence of a predetermined trigger event.

6. A user interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein said marking means includes means for selecting said marked data to associate said marked data with said user interface element.

7. A user interface system as recited in claim 6, wherein said first identifying means includes a visual representation of said user interface element, and wherein said selecting means includes a framing box which is issued from said representation as said representation is moved across said display by said user through use of said interactive input/output system.

8. A user interface system as recited in claim 6, wherein said storing means is further operative to store said marked data in said memory in association with said proxy.

9. A user interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first identifying means includes a visual representation of said user interface element.

10. A user interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first identifying means includes an aural representation of said user interface element.

11. A user interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein said user interface system further comprising a plurality of user interface elements, at least two of said user interface elements having common first and second identifying means, wherein said system further comprises organizing means, wherein said organizing means includes means for compiling a list of marked data corresponding to said common second identifying means, and wherein said display means includes means for displaying said list on said display.

12. A user interface system as recited in claim 11, said organizing means further comprising means for cataloging said marked data on said list.

13. A user interface system as recited in claim 1 wherein said user interface element further includes a base and an instance, said user interface system and said base being operative to impart common attributes to said instance, said instance being derived from said base and being operative to have different attributes created by said user.

14. A user interface system as recited in claim 13, wherein said first and said second identifying means for said base and said instance are identical when said instance is first derived from said base.

15. A user interface system as recited in claim 14, said user interface system further comprising means for programming said user interface element to control performance of one or more operations related to said marked data by said computerized system, wherein said second identifying means is operative to uniquely relate said user interface element to said operations and wherein said first identifying means for said instance is modified subsequent to its derivation from said base to indicate a change in status of said operation.

16. A user interface system as recited in claim 2, wherein said first identifying means for said instance is automatically modified by said user interface system upon completion of at least one predetermined portion of one of said operations by said computerized system.

17. A user interface system as recited in claim 13, wherein said first identifying means for said instance is modified by said user subsequent to its derivation from said base.

18. A user interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein said displaying means includes means for displaying a document in such a manner so as to highlight said marked data and said first identifying means within said document after finding said marked data.

19. A user interface system as recited in claim 1, said user interface system further comprising means for programming said user interface element to control performance of one or more operations related to said marked data by said computerized system, said second identifying means being operative to uniquely relate said user interface element to said one or more operations, said user interface system further comprising a plurality of user interface elements, at least two of said user interface elements having common first and second identifying means and at least one of said user interface elements having different first and second identifying means, said user interface elements having common first and second identifying means corresponding to a common type of operation to be performed by said computerized system, said user interface elements having said different first and second identifying means corresponding to a different type of operation to be performed by said computerized system.

20. A user interface system as recited in claim 19, wherein said user interface elements are operative to be compounded together in such a manner that performance of an operation by a first user interface element causes performance of an operation by a second user interface element.

21. A user interface system as recited in claim 2, wherein one of said operations comprises means for recording aural data.

22. A user interface system as recited in claim 10, wherein said marked data comprises image data.

23. A user interface system as recited in claim 21, wherein said marked data comprises image data.

24. A user interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein said user interface system further comprises a plurality of user interface elements, at least two of said user interface elements having common first and second identifying means, wherein said system further comprises filtering means, said filtering means comprising means for compiling a collection of marked data corresponding to said common second identifying means, and wherein said display means includes means for displaying said marked data on said display.

25. A method of marking and finding data in a computerized system having a processor, a memory, a display, and an interactive input/output system in communication with the processor, the memory, and the display, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a first identifier for identifying a user interface element to a user;

providing a second identifier for identifying said user interface element to said computerized system;

marking data displayed within one or more documents on said display with said first identifier of said user interface element;

storing one or more of said second identifiers for one or more of said user interface elements in said memory as a proxy to said marked data;

finding said marked data in said memory by searching for said proxy in said memory; and

, displaying said marked data on said display after finding said marked data.

26. A method as recited in claim 25 further comprising the step of programming said user interface element to control performance of one or more operations related to said marked data by said computerized system, said second identifier being operative to uniquely relate said user interface element to said one ore more operations.

27. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein one of said operations is automatically performed by said computerized system after said step of marking said data with said first identifier of said user interface element.

28. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein performance of a portion or all of one of said operations is delayed by said computerized system until initiated by said user through said interactive input/output system.

29. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein performance of a portion or all of one of said operations is delayed by said computerized system until occurrence of a predetermined trigger event.

30. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising the step of selecting said marked data to associate said marked data with said user interface element.

31. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein said first identifier includes a visual representation of said user interface element, and wherein said step of selecting includes issuing a framing box from said representation as said representation is moved across said display by said user through use of said interactive input/output system.

32. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein said step of storing further comprises storing said marked data in said memory in association with said proxy.

33. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein said first identifier includes a visual representation of said user interface element.

34. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein said first identifier includes an aural representation of said user interface element.

35. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein said method further comprises providing a plurality of user interface elements, at least two of said user interface elements having common first and second identifiers, wherein said method further comprises the step of organizing said marked data, wherein said step of organizing includes compiling a list of marked data corresponding to said common second identifier, and wherein said step of displaying includes displaying said list.

36. A method as recited in claim 35, said step of organizing further comprising cataloging said marked data on said list.

37. A method as recited in claim 25 wherein said method further comprises providing a base and an instance for said user interface element, said computerized system and said base being operative to impart common attributes to said instance, said instance being derived from said base and being operative to have different attributes created by said user.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein said first and said second identifiers for said base and said instance are identical when said instance is first derived from said base.

39. A method as recited in claim 38, said method further comprising the step of programming said user interface element to control performance of one or more operations related to said marked data by said computerized system, wherein said second identifier is operative to uniquely relate said user interface element to said operations and wherein said first identifier for said instance is modified subsequent to its derivation from said base to indicate a change in status of said operation.

40. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein said first identifier for said instance is automatically modified by said user interface system upon completion of at least one predetermined portion of one of said operations by said computerized system.

41. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein said first identifier for said instance is modified by said user subsequent to its derivation from said base.

42. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein said step of displaying comprises displaying a document in such a manner so as to highlight said marked data and said first identifier within said document after finding said marked data.

43. A method as recited in claim 25 further comprising the steps of programming said user interface element to control performance of one or more operations related to said marked data by said computerized system, said second identifier being operative to uniquely relate said user interface element to said one or more operations, said user interface system further comprising a plurality of user interface elements, at least two of said user interface elements having common first and second identifiers and at least one of said user interface elements having different first and second identifiers, said user interface elements having common first and second identifiers corresponding to a common type of operation to be performed by said computerized system, said user interface elements having said different first and second identifiers corresponding to a different type of operation to be performed by said computerized system.

44. A method as recited in claim 41, wherein said user interface elements are operative to be compounded together in such a manner that performance of an operation by a first user interface element causes performance of an operation by a second user interface element.

45. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein one of said operations comprises the step of providing means for recording aural data.

46. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said marked data comprises image data.

47. A method as recited in claim 45, wherein said marked data comprises image data.

48. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein said user interface system further comprises a plurality of said user interface elements, at least two of said user interface elements having common first and second identifying means, wherein said method further comprises filtering said one or more documents to compile a collection of marked data corresponding to said common second identifying means, wherein said step of displaying said marked data comprises displaying said collection of marked data on said display.