Apparatus and method for manipulating an object in a computer system graphical user interface

• US 5,559,948 A
• Filed: 03/22/1995
• Issued: 09/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Andrew, Christopher A. H., Bloomfield, Marc A., Magid, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Cliff N.
• Application Number:
  US08/408,334
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/159, 395/161, 364/222.8, 345/117
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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

Abstract

A graphical user interface, executable on a computer system, includes a first user-selectable icon, displayable on the computer system and representing an object having desired properties within the computer system. A second user-selectable icon, also displayable on the computer system, appears visually distinguishable from the first icon and likewise represents the same object. The second icon has associated therewith at least one of user-selectable command, which enables manipulation of the properties of the object upon selection thereof. The second icon may be located remotely from the first icon on the graphical user interface to provide for convenient manipulation of the object properties without having to access the first icon repeatedly.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface, executable on a computer system, said graphical user interface comprising:

a user-selectable first icon, displayable on said computer system, said user-selectable first icon representing an object having desired properties;

a user-selectable second icon, displayable on said computer system, said user-selectable second icon having an appearance visually different from said user-selectable first icon, said user-selectable second icon representing said object and having associated therewith at least one user-selectable command, said at least one user-selectable command enabling manipulation of said object properties; and

means, responsive to selection of the user-selectable second icon and said at least one user-selectable command, and coupled to said computer system, for manipulating the property of said object, wherein all properties of said object subject to manipulation by said at least one user-selectable command are manipulated in response to selection of user-selectable second icon and said at least one user-selectable command, wherein said at least one user-selectable command includes a location command, wherein said user-selectable first icon in a folder view is displayed and said user-selectable second icon is displayed in a current folder view and wherein said means includes a location means for displaying said user-selectable first icon in the response to selection of said user-selectable second icon in the current folder view and said at least one user-selectable command.

2. A graphical user interface, executable on a computer system, said graphical user interface comprising:

a user-selectable first icon, displayable on said computer system, said user-selectable first icon representing an object having desired properties;

a user-selectable second icon, displayable on said computer system, said second user-selectable icon having an appearance visually different from said user-selectable first icon, said user-selectable second icon representing said object and having associated therewith at least one user-selectable command, said at least one command enabling manipulation of said object properties; and

means, responsive to selection of the user-selectable second icon and said at least one user-selectable command, and coupled to said computer system, for manipulating the property of said object, wherein all properties of said object subject to manipulation by said at least one user-selectable command are manipulated in response to selection of second user-selectable icon and said at least one command, wherein said at least one user-selectable command includes a delete command, wherein said first user-selectable and second user-selectable icons are deleted from said graphical user interface by selecting said user-selectable second icon and said command and wherein said means further includes deletion means for deleting said first user-selectable and said second user-selectable icons in response to a selection of said second icon and said at least one user-selectable command.

3. A method of manipulating an object in a graphical user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an object having desired properties on the computer system, wherein one of the desired properties includes a first icon displayable within a first folder view within the graphical user interface to represent the object;

providing at least one user-selectable command, wherein the at least one user-selectable command enables manipulation of the desired properties of the object upon activation of the at least one user selectable command;

creating a seragent icon visually different from the first icon, wherein the seragent icon is displayable within a second folder view within the graphical user interface;

linking the seragent icon with the first icon, wherein the at least one user selectable command is activatable through the seragent icon; and

manipulating the desired properties of the object in response to a user selection of the seragent icon, wherein all properties of the object is subject to manipulation by the at least one user-selectable command are manipulated by selection of the seragent icon.