Method and apparatus for interlocking graphical objects

• US 5,546,524 A
• Filed: 12/15/1993
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chow, Alex C., Wang, John S.-Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Ruay L.
• Application Number:
  US08/167,754
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 395/139, 395/155, 395/156, 395/157, 395/158, 395/159, 395/160, 395/161, 395/500, 395/700, 395/800
• US Class Current: 715/782
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/40 Hidden part removal

Abstract

An apparatus for moving graphical objects including a display for displaying multiple graphical objects according to a display priority, apparatus for moving, responsive to a user input, a displayed graphical object, and apparatus for modifying, responsive to a user input, a display priority of the moved graphical object as the graphical object is moved so that the moved graphical object is displayed under a portion of a second displayed graphical object. In addition, a method for moving graphical objects including displaying multiple graphical objects according to a display priority on a display, moving, responsive to a user input, a displayed graphical object, and modifying, responsive to a user input, a display priority of the moved graphical object as the graphical object is moved so that the moved graphical object is displayed under a portion of a second displayed graphical object.

Claims

1. An apparatus for moving graphical objects comprising:

a display for displaying a plurality of graphical objects according to a display priority;

means for moving, responsive to a user input, a first displayed graphical object; and

means for modifying, responsive to a user input, a display priority of the moved graphical object as the graphical object is moved such that the moved graphical object is displayed under a first portion and above a second portion of a second displayed graphical object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for computing whether the moved graphical object interlocks the second displayed graphical object.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for preventing said moved graphical object from being moved any further if the moved graphical object is computed to interlock the second displayed graphical object.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for grouping said second displayed graphical object with said moved graphical object so that both objects are moved together.

5. A data processing system comprising:

a display for displaying a plurality of graphical objects according to a display priority;

a memory for storing data,

a processor for processing said stored data, said processor including;

means for moving, responsive to a user input, a first displayed graphical object; and

means for modifying, responsive to a user input, a display priority of the moved graphical object as the graphical object is moved such that the moved graphical object is displayed under a first portion and above a second portion of a second displayed graphical object.

6. The data processing system of claim 5 wherein said processor further includes means for computing whether the moved graphical object interlocks the second displayed graphical object.

7. The data processing system of claim 6 wherein said processor further includes means for preventing said moved graphical object from being moved any further if the moved graphical object is computed to interlock the second displayed graphical object.

8. The data processing system of claim 6 wherein said processor further includes means for grouping said second displayed graphical object with said moved graphical object so that both objects are moved together.

9. A method for moving graphical objects comprising:

displaying a plurality of graphical objects according to a display priority on a display;

moving, responsive to a user input, a first displayed graphical object; and

modifying, responsive to a user input, a display priority of the moved graphical object as the graphical object is moved such that the moved graphical object is displayed under a first portion and above a second portion of a second displayed graphical object.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of computing whether the moved graphical object interlocks the second displayed graphical object.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of preventing said moved graphical object from being moved if the moved graphical object is computed to interlock the second displayed graphical object.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of grouping said second displayed graphical object with said moved graphical object so that both objects are moved together.

13. A computer program product for moving graphical objects comprising:

computer readable program code means for displaying a plurality of graphical objects according to a display priority on a display;

computer readable program code means for moving, responsive to a user input, a first displayed graphical object; and

computer readable program code means for modifying, responsive to a user input, a display priority of the moved graphical object as the graphical object is moved such that the moved graphical object is displayed under a first portion and above a second portion of a second displayed graphical object.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising computer readable program code means for computing whether the moved graphical object interlocks the second displayed graphical object.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising computer readable program code means for preventing said moved graphical object from being moved if the moved graphical object is computed to interlock the second displayed graphical object.

16. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising computer readable program code means for grouping said second displayed graphical object with said moved graphical object so that both objects are moved together.