Method and apparatus for loosely ganging sliders on a user interface of a data processing system

• US 5,491,782 A
• Filed: 06/29/1993
• Issued: 02/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: King, Chen D., Torres, Robert J., Scannell, Peter, Lee, Raymond E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burwell, Joseph R.
• Application Number:
  US08/084,824
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/159, 200/50 C, 200/547, 381/1, 381/104, 381/109, 381/119
• US Class Current: 715/833
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/974 Slider control as on-screen object in operator interface

Abstract

The movement of first and second sliders on a user interface of a data processing system is loosely coordinated by way of pusher member. The pusher is coupled to one of the sliders and extends over to the other slider, where it is adapted to contact a side of the other slider. The sliders move independently of each other if the pusher does not contact the other slider, as in for example, the sliders moving apart. If the pusher does contact the other slider, then both sliders become ganged and move in unison.

Claims

1. A method of displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system;

comprising the steps of;

a) displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along a first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path, said first and second paths being separate from each other;

b) displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path;

(c) selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device.

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

determining if said movement of either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then moving both of said first and second sliders together.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said one of said first slider that is moving along said first path or said second slider that is moving along said second path is a moving slider and said other of said first slider or second slider is a ganged slider, further comprising the steps of:

a) determining if said movement of either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path causes said second slider to contact said member and if so that moving both of said first and second sliders together.

b) said step of moving both of said first and second sliders together further comprises the step of moving said ganged slider with said member and said moving slider.

4. A method of displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system, comprising the steps of:

a) displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along a first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path;

b) displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path;

c) selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device;

d) determining if said movement of either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then moving both of said first and second sliders together;

e) said step of determining if said movement causes said second slider to contact said member further comprises the step of moving said respective moving slider without moving said respective nonmoving slider if said second slider does not contact said member.

5. An apparatus for displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system;

comprising;

a) means for displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along a first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path, said first and second paths being separate from each other;

b) means for displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path;

c) means for selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising

means for determining if said movement of either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then for moving both of said first and second sliders together.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said one of said first slider that is moving along said first path or said second slider that is moving along said second path is a moving slider and said other of said first slider or second slider is a ganged slider, further comprising;

a) means for determining if said movement of either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then for moving both of said first and second sliders together;

b) said means for determining if said movement causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then for moving both of said first and second sliders together further comprises means for moving said gang slider with said member and said moving slider.

8. An apparatus for displaying related parameters on a user interface of a data processing system, comprising:

a) means for displaying first and second sliders, said first slider being capable of being moved along is first path and said second slider being capable of being moved along a second path;

b) means for displaying a member coupled to said first slider and extending toward said second path of said second slider so as to contact a portion of said second slider when one of said sliders moves with respect to the other of said sliders in a predetermined direction along said first or second path;

c) means for selecting and moving either said first slider along said first path or said second slider along said second path with an input device;

d) means for determining if said movement causes said second slider to contact said member and if so then for moving both of said first and second sliders together;

e) said means for determining if said movement causes said second slider to contact said member further comprises means for moving said respective moving slider without moving said respective nonmoving slider if said second slider does not contact said member.