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User interface and method for controlling and displaying multimedia motion, visual, and sound effects of an object on a display

  • US 5,592,602 A
  • Filed: 05/17/1994
  • Issued: 01/07/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A computer user interface apparatus for controlling a motion effect and a visual effect of an object in a computer system, comprising:

  • a memory means, for storing at least one object, including a motion effect and a visual effect, wherein each object includes an object duration between an appearance of the object and a disappearance of the object, the object duration stored in the memory means with the object;

    a processor, operatively coupled to the memory means, for retrieving the object from the memory means, and manipulating the object;

    a display, operatively coupled to the processor and the memory means, for displaying the object and the motion effect and visual effect of the object;

    an electronic pointing means operatively coupled to the processor, for selecting and manipulating the object on the display;

    a plurality of motion direction indicating means responsive to selection by the electronic pointing means, and displayable on the display, each motion direction indicating means representing a motion effect with a direction applied to the object by the processor, wherein the motion effect is stored by the processor in the memory means with the object;

    a motion direction setting means operatively coupled to the processor the display, and the memory means, for controlling the processor to apply to the object the motion effect stored with the object in the memory, wherein the object is displayed on the display with the stored motion effect;

    a plurality of visual effect indicating means responsive to selection by the electronic pointing means, and displayable on the display, each visual effect indicating means representing a visual effect applied to the object by the processor, wherein the visual effect is stored by the processor in the memory means with the object;

    a visual effect setting means operatively coupled to the processor, the display, and the memory means, for controlling the processor to apply to the object the visual effect stored with the object in the memory, wherein the object is displayed on the display with the stored visual effect;

    means, operatively coupled to the display, and the processor, for displaying on the display a motion control palette including the plurality of motion direction indicating means;

    means, operatively coupled to the display, and the processor, for displaying on the display a visual effect palette including the plurality of visual effect indicating means;

    duration display means, operatively coupled to the display and the memory means, for displaying on the display an indicator of the object duration of the object;

    segmenting means, operatively coupled to the memory means and the display, for segmenting on the display the object duration of the object into a plurality of contiguous time segments, each time segment comprising a beginning time partition and an end time partition, and a segment duration between the time partitions, each time segment including a visual effect applied by the visual effect setting means, the means for segmenting the object duration responsive to selection by the electronic pointing means, and for storing each time segment with the object in the memory means;

    first adjusting means, operatively coupled to the memory means and the display, for concurrently adjusting on the display the segment duration of a first time segment and a third time segment separated by a second time segment adjacent to both the first and third time segments, by moving with the electronic pointing means the second time segment toward either the first or third time segment, such that the segment duration of each of the first and third time segments changes relative to the movement of the second time segment, and for storing each time segment with the object in the memory means; and

    second adjusting means, operatively coupled to the memory means and the display, for concurrently adjusting on the display the segment duration of both the first and second time segments by moving a time partition separating the first and second time segments with the electronic pointing means, such that the segment duration of each of the first and second time segments changes relative to the movement of the time partition, and for storing each time segment with the object in the memory means.

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