Method and apparatus for entering and editing data of a data icon in an enlarged and minimized size

• US 5,428,736 A
• Filed: 10/05/1994
• Issued: 06/27/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Torres, Robert J., Kahl, Daryl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/318,575
• Time in Patent Office: 265 Days
• Field of Search: 375/155-161, 375/700, 375/137, 375/200, 375/275, 375/131, 345/131, 345/117-120
• US Class Current: 715/839
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A data icon comprises a hybrid of the advantages available with a conventional icon and a conventional window. The data icon has a minimized size and an enlarged size, both of which allow interactive entry of information. The enlarged data icon presents a format allowing the entry of information relating to an event similar to a conventional window. When minimized, the enlarged data icon is positioned in a selected location and size depending upon the information contained therein. The minimized data icon displays at least a portion of the information entered into the enlarged data icon.

Claims

1. A method of interactively entering data into an application in a data processing system which includes a monitor and at least one input device, comprising the steps of:

selecting with the input device a data icon appearing on the monitor, said data icon having a first minimized size and upon selection thereof an enlarged size, wherein said first size data icon may be selectively directly manipulated;

entering data with the input device into said enlarged size data icon, wherein a textual summary of said data is presented for observation in said minimized size; and

directly editing said data in said first minimized size data icon.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

reducing said enlarged size data icon to said minimized size data icon.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

editing said data in said enlarged size data icon.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

dragging said first size icon to a different position in the application in order to change the data in said first size icon.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

changing a location of said first size data icon by changing data in said first size data icon.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

changing said first minimized size of data icon by entering additional data into said data icon.

7. A computer system for interactively inputting data into an application running thereon, comprising:

a data icon having a first minimized size and upon selection of said first minimized size, a second enlarged size, wherein said first size data icon may be selectively directly manipulated;

means for entering with an input device, data into said enlarged data icon, wherein a textual summary of the data is presented for observation in said minimized data icon; and

means for directly editing said data in said first minimized size data icon.

8. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for reducing said enlarged size data icon to said minimized size data icon.

9. The computer system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for editing said data in said enlarged size data icon.

10. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for dragging said first data icon to a different location in the application in order to change the data in said first size data icon.

11. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for changing a location of said first size data icon by altering the data in said first size data icon.

12. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for changing said first data icon size by entering additional data into said data icon.