Double-sided, reversible electronic paper

• US 5,351,995 A
• Filed: 01/29/1992
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Booker, Susan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, FRANCES CHIN
• Application Number:
  US07/831,256
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 283/67, 283/62, 283/117
• US Class Current: 283/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

Electronic paper which has two sides, reverse of one another, which can be flipped over in response to user generated flip commands is described. When a piece of electronic paper is flipped over, a number of transition views of the paper are generated to give the user the impression that the paper is actually being turned over to reveal a reverse side. Different information can be stored on either side, and the composition of either side can be linked so that changes made to the graphic information on one side affects the graphic information on the other side. In addition, when the amount of graphic information on the reverse side of the paper exceeds the amount of available space normally available on the reverse side when the paper is flipped over, approximately the same amount of space available on the top side, the reverse side is expanded to fit the quantity of information to be displayed on the reverse side. If the reverse side has been expanded, and the user instructs the page to flip back to the top side, the reverse side shrinks back to its original size and then flips back to the top side.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of representing and manipulating a graphic image of a two dimensional sheet of paper displayed on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a central processing unit, a memory, an input device allowing a computer user to input information and commands to the central processing unit, and a cursor control device for manipulating a cursor displayed on the display device, the cursor control device including a selection device for signaling an active state and an inactive state to the central processing unit, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) generating the graphic image of the two dimensional piece of paper, the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper including a first side and a second side, the first side including first graphic information and the second side including second graphic information;

b) storing the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper in the memory of the computer system;

c) retrieving the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper from the memory;

d) displaying via the display device the first side of the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper and hiding the second side;

e) determining whether the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper may be flipped over in response to a flip command received from a one of the cursor control device and the input device;

f) if the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper may be flipped over;

1) retrieving the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper from the memory; and

2) displaying via the display device the second side of the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper and hiding the first side.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) generating flip over animation for flipping from one side to another side of the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper;

b) storing the flip over animation in the memory of the computer system;

c) if the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper may be flipped over, prior to displaying the second side of the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper;

1) retrieving the flip over animation from the memory; and

2) executing and displaying the flip over animation on the display device.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein each side of the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper includes a graphic image of a flip selector and wherein the flip command comprises the active state of the selection device while the cursor is over the graphic image of the flip selector.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the determining step includes:

a) verifying that the computer user is allowed access to the second side of the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first side of the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper is displayed in a first area of the display device and wherein after the flip the second side of the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper is displayed in substantially the first area of the display device.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) modifying the first graphic information associated with the first side of the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper in response to commands from the computer user received via a one of the cursor control device and the input device;

b) determining whether modifications in the second graphic information are necessary because of modifications to the first graphic information; and

c) modifying the second graphic information if modifications are necessary;

d) modifying the flip over animation to reflect the modifications of the first graphic information and the second graphic information; and

e) storing the modified flip over animation in the memory.

7. A computer implemented method of flipping over a graphic image of a two dimensional sheet of paper in response to a user defined action representing a flip over command, the graphic image of the sheet of paper being displayed on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a central processing unit, a memory, an input device allowing a computer user to input information and commands to the central processing unit, and a cursor control device for manipulating a cursor displayed on the display device, the cursor control device including a selection device for signaling an active state and an inactive state to the central processing unit, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) generating the graphic image of the two dimensional piece of paper, the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper including a first side and a second side, the first side including first graphic information and the second side including second graphic information;

b) storing the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper in the memory of the computer system;

c) generating a graphic image of the user defined input representing a flip command for flipping over the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper;

d) storing in the memory the graphic image of the user defined input representing a flip over command;

e) defining recognition parameters for determining whether a user input is the user defined input for the flip over command, the recognition parameters including a location parameter identifying the user input as related to the user defined input if the user input occurs within an area of the display device occupied by the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper;

f) storing the recognition parameters in the memory;

g) retrieving the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper from the memory;

h) displaying via the display device the first side of the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper and hiding the second side;

i) determining whether the flip command has been received by comparing a user input to the graphic image of the user defined input representing the flip over command and to the recognition parameters stored in the memory;

j) determining whether the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper may be flipped over in response to the flip over command;

k) if the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper may be flipped over;

1) retrieving the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper from the memory; and

2) displaying via the display device the second side of the graphic image of the two dimensional sheet of paper and hiding the first side.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein a portion of the recognition parameters are specified by the user.