Method for manipulating objects on a computer display
First Claim
1. A method for manipulating an object on a display of a computer system comprising the steps of:
- selecting said object on said computer display;
directing a pointing means towards a portion of a manipulating tool displayed on said computer display, where said portion is spaced apart from a desired center of rotation;
using the pointing means to rotate the spaced apart portion of the manipulating tool about the center of rotation; and
having the computer system manipulate the selected object by an amount that is a function an angular distance that the spaced apart portion of the manipulating tool is rotated about the center of rotation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a method for manipulating a selected object on a computer display of a computer system through the use of a pointing device and a screen based icon, the types of manipulation may include rotating and/or scaling the selected objects. The method includes the step of selecting a manipulating tool having a designated "axle" mark that serves as its center of rotation. The pointing device is directed towards a "handle" portion of the manipulating tool that is spaced apart from the axle to "grab" the handle. The pointing device is then used to rotate the handle about the axle. The computer system then manipulates the selected object by an amount that is a function of the angular distance that the handle is rotated about the axle user interface includes a screen based icon.
319 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for manipulating an object on a display of a computer system comprising the steps of:
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selecting said object on said computer display; directing a pointing means towards a portion of a manipulating tool displayed on said computer display, where said portion is spaced apart from a desired center of rotation; using the pointing means to rotate the spaced apart portion of the manipulating tool about the center of rotation; and having the computer system manipulate the selected object by an amount that is a function an angular distance that the spaced apart portion of the manipulating tool is rotated about the center of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of rotating a selected object that is displayed on a computer display using a pointing device and a screen based icon having an axle that functions as a designated center of rotation and a handle that is spaced apart from the axle, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning the axle proximate a desired center of rotation for the selected object; rotating the handle about the axle; and manipulating the selected object by an amount that is a function of an angular distance the handle was rotated about the axle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a computer system having a CPU, memory means, a display screen and a pointer operably connected such that objects can be displayed on the display screen and displayed objects can be selected through the use of the pointer, a user interface comprising:
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a crank icon for use in manipulating selected objects that are displayed on the display screen, the crank icon including a crank axle portion that serves as the center of rotation of the crank icon, a crank handle portion that is spaced apart from the crank axle portion, and a crank shaft portion that connects the crank axle portion to the crank handle portion; crank processing means for permitting the user to engage the handle portion of the crank icon with the pointer and to rotate the crank handle about the crank axle using the pointer; and operating means for manipulating the selected object in accordance with an angular displacement of the crank handle about the crank axle and for displaying the manipulated object. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification