Method and system for graphic interaction between data and applications within a data processing system

• US 5,375,200 A
• Filed: 11/13/1992
• Issued: 12/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, William J., Williams, Marvin L., Fitzpatrick, Greg P., Dugan, Pamela A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURRASTON, NEIL
• Application Number:
  US07/976,227
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/156, 395/159, 395/160, 395/161, 395/144, 395/145, 395/146, 395/147, 364/419.14, 364/419.17
• US Class Current: 715/804
• 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 40/131 Fragmentation of text files, e.g. creating reusable text-blocks; Linking to fragments, e.g. using XInclude; Namespaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for permitting automatic interaction between data and multiple applications in a data processing system. A selectable graphic representation associated with each application is displayed within the data processing system and after user selection of a particular graphic representation, designated data is automatically transferred to or utilized to access the associated application. A distinctive highlight overlay is associated with each graphic representation and utilized to graphically highlight data selected by user for interaction with a selected application. Alternately, data selected by a user may be utilized to automatically select a particular application to transfer that data to or for access and the distinctive highlight overlay associated with the particular application is then utilized to visually confirm access to that application.

Claims

1. A method for automatically transferring selected textual data within a data processing system having a graphical pointing device to one of a plurality of applications within said data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying within said data processing system a graphic representation of each of said plurality of applications;

associating a distinctive highlight overlay with each graphic representation of each of said plurality of applications;

displaying within said data processing system a plurality of textual data;

permitting a user to graphically select a particular graphic representation of a selected one of said plurality of applications utilizing said graphical pointing device;

permitting a user to thereafter select particular portions of said plurality of textual data displayed within said data processing system;

displaying an associated distinctive highlight overlay in association with said selected particular portion of said plurality of textual data in response to a selection of said particular portion of said plurality of textual data and a selection of a graphic representation of a particular one of said plurality of applications; and

automatically transferring only said selected particular portions of said plurality of textual data within said data processing system to said selected one of said plurality of applications in response to said selection of said particular portion of said plurality of textual data.

2. The method for automatically transferring selected textural data within a data processing system according to claim 1, further including the step of preprocessing said selected particular portions of said plurality of textural data within said data processing system prior to transferring said selected particular portions of said plurality of textural data to said selected one of said plurality of applications.

3. A method for visually confirming access to one of a plurality of applications within a data processing system having a graphical pointing device in response to a graphic selection of data within said data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying within said data processing system a graphic representation of each of said plurality of applications;

associating a distinctive highlight overlay with each graphic representation;

specifying a particular one of said plurality of applications to be accessed in response to selection of a particular type of data;

displaying within said data processing system a plurality of data;

permitting a user to select particular portions of said plurality of data displayed within said data processing system;

selecting a particular one of said plurality of applications to access in response to a type of data within said selected particular portion of said plurality of data; and

displaying a distinctive highlight overlay associated with said particular one of said plurality of applications over said selected particular portion of said plurality of data wherein visual confirmation of access to said particular one of said plurality of applications is provided.

4. The method for visually confirming access to one of a plurality of applications within a data processing system according to claim 3, further including the step of selecting an alternate one of said plurality of applications in response to a subsequent user input following said display of said distinctive highlight overlay associated with said particular one of said plurality of applications.

5. A data processing system for automatically transferring selected textual data to one of a plurality of applications within said data processing system, said data processing system comprising:

means for displaying within said data processing system a graphic representation of each of said plurality of applications;

means for associating a distinctive highlight overlay with each graphic representation of each of said plurality of applications;

means for displaying a plurality of textual data within said data processing system;

means for permitting a user to select a particular graphic representation of a selected one of said plurality of applications;

means for permitting a user to thereafter select particular portions of said plurality of textual data displayed within said data processing system;

means for displaying an associated distinctive highlight overlay association with said selected particular portion of said plurality of textual data in response to a selection of said particular portion of said plurality of textual data and a selection of a representation and a particular one of said plurality of applications; and

means for automatically transferring only said selected particular portions of said plurality of textual data within said data processing system to said selected one of said plurality of applications in response to said selection of said particular portion of said plurality of textual data.

6. The method for automatically transferring selected textural data to one of a plurality of applications within said data processing system according to claim 5, further including means for preprocessing said selected particular portion of said plurality of textural data within said data processing system prior to transferring said selected particular portion of said plurality of textural data to said selected one of said plurality of applications.

7. A system for visually confirming accessing to one of a plurality of applications within a data processing system having a graphical pointing device in response to a graphic selection of data within said data processing system, said system comprising:

displaying within said data processing system a graphic representation of each of said plurality of applications;

associating a distinctive highlight overlay with each graphic representation;

specifying a particular one of said plurality of applications to be accessed in response to selection of a particular type of data;

displaying within said data processing system a plurality of data;

permitting a user to select particular portions of said plurality of data displayed within said data processing system;

selecting a particular one of said plurality of applications to access in response to a type of data within said selected particular portion of said plurality of data; and

displaying a distinctive highlight overlay associated with said particular one of said plurality of applications over said selected particular portion of said plurality of data wherein visual confirmation of access to said particular one of said plurality of applications is provided.

8. The system for visually confirming access to one of a plurality of applications within a data processing system according to claim 7, further including means for selecting an alternate one of said plurality of applications in response to a subsequent user input following said display of said distinctive highlight overlay associated with said particular one of said plurality of applications.