Apparatus and methods for moving/copying objects using destination and/or source bins

• US 5,638,505 A
• Filed: 08/16/1991
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Hemenway, Kathleen, Jerome, Mitchell I., Mullet, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Cliff N.
• Application Number:
  US07/746,328
• Time in Patent Office: 2,125 Days
• Field of Search: 395/157, 395/161, 395/155, 395/159
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

Three modes of moving and copying an object within an application or between applications are provided to a computer system having a graphical user interface. The three modes of moving/copying are: a) unmodified move and unmodified or modified copy from a data pane of a first display window to a "destination bin" of a second display window, b) unmodified copy from a "source bin" of a first display window to a data pane of a second display window, and 3) unmodified copy from a "source bin" of a first display window to a "destination bin" of a second display window. The three modes of moving/copying are performed with a CPU coupled to a display device, a cursor control device and a keyboard. Visual feedback is provided to the user throughout the different modes of moving and copying.

Claims

1. In a computer system comprising a display coupled to a central processing unit (CPU) executing a first and second applications on behalf of a user, a method for executing a copy operation of objects between said first and second applications by said user, comprising the steps of:

a) generating and displaying a first and second display windows on said display for said first and second applications by said CPU, said first and second display windows comprising a source and destination bin images respectively, said source bin image containing a content image denoting said first application having an object, said source and destination bin images on said display being at least partially visible to said user;

b) positioning a cursor over at least a portion of said source bin image on said display by said user, using a cursor control device coupled to said CPU;

c) providing a select signal to said CPU to denote the selection of said object by said user, said select signal being generated by placing a select switch coupled to said CPU in a select position;

d) positioning said cursor over a portion of said destination bin image, said select switch being maintained in said select position until said cursor is positioned over said portion of said destination bin image by said user;

e) placing said select switch in a unselect position once said cursor has been positioned over said portion of said destination bin image by said user; and

f) copying by said CPU of said object to said second application.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said object is a group of selected data;

said group of selected data being displayed in said first display window, said data being one of text and non-text data.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said object is a data object;

said data object being displayed in said first display window.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said source bin image is in a form of a substantially rectangular filled open box with a sunken look, said source bin image further comprised of a content image.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said destination bin image is in a form of a substantially rectangular open box with a sunken look, said destination bin image further comprises one of an empty and a content images.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said select switch is disposed on said cursor control device.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cursor is in a form of a pointer.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of repeatedly generating and displaying said cursor on said display modified after said cursor has moved over a pre-determined number of pixels of said display signifying the beginning of said copy operation, and while said cursor is being repositioned from one of said object'"'"'s selected position and said source bin image in said first display window to one of said portion of said destination bin image and said second display window, thereby giving said user a perception that said object is being copied from said first application to said second application.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said modified cursor is in a form of a copy pointer having an object icon attached to it.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein,

if said object is a group of selected data, said object icon is one of a first and second substantially rectangular boxes identifying the selected data as one of text and non-text data;

if said object is a data object, said object icon is a data object icon; and

if said object is a data object container, said object icon is a data object container icon.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of regenerating and redisplaying said cursor on said display modified denoting whether said second application is eligible to accept said object, immediately after said cursor is repositioned over one of said portion of said destination bin image and said second display window and before said select switch is placed into said unselect position.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein,

if said second application is eligible to receive said object, said modified cursor is in a form of a copy pointer having an object icon attached to it and one of an on target and cross hair images superimposed on said attached object icon;

and

if said second application is not eligible to receive said object, said modified cursor is in a form of a copy pointer having an object icon attached to it and a no entry image superimposed on said attached object icon.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of repeatedly generating and displaying said destination bin image to give said user a perception that said object is being copied into said second application, after said cursor has been repositioned over said portion of said destination bin image, said select switch has been placed in said unselect position, and while said object is being copied from said first application to said second application by said CPU.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said modified destination bin image is in a form of a substantially rectangular filled open box with a content and busy look.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of regenerating and redisplaying said second display window to reflect said object having been copied from said first application to said second application after said object has been copied from said first application to said second application by said CPU, said second display window being regenerated and redisplayed with said object and said destination bin image modified.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said modified destination bin image is in a form of a substantially rectangular filled open box with one of an empty and a content images.

17. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said object being copied from said first application replaces a current object in said second application.

18. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second applications are the same application, said object being copied from a first part to a second part of said same application.

19. A computer controlled display system comprising a display coupled to a central processing unit (CPU) executing a first and second applications on behalf of a user, said display system comprising:

a) display generation means coupled to said CPU for generating and displaying a first and second display windows on said display for said first and second applications, said first and second display windows comprising a source and destination bin images, said source bin image containing a content image denoting said first application having an object, said source and destination bin images on said display being at least partially visible to said user;

b) cursor control means coupled to said CPU for selectively positioning a cursor on said display; and

c) select signal generation means coupled to said CPU comprising a select switch having a select and unselect position for providing a select signal to said CPU to denote the selection of said object, said select signal being generated by placing said select switch in said select position, said select signal being generated and provided to said CPU until said select switch is placed in said unselect position;

said select switch being placed in said select position by said user once said cursor has been positioned by said user over at least a portion of said source bin image on said display, said select switch being maintained in said select position by said user until said cursor is repositioned over at least a portion of said destination bin image on said display, said select switch being returned to said unselect position by said user once said cursor has been repositioned over said portion of said destination bin image on said display;

whereby causing said object to be copied from said first application to said second application by said CPU.

20. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said object is a group of selected data;

said group of selected data being displayed in said first display window;

said data being on of text and non-text data.

21. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said object is a data object;

said data object being displayed in said first display window.

22. The method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said source bin image is in a form of a substantially rectangular filled open box with a sunken look, said source bin image further comprised of a content image.

23. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claims 19 wherein said destination bin image is in a form of a substantially rectangular open box with a sunken look, said destination bin image further comprises one of an empty and a content images.

24. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said cursor control means is a cursor control device comprises said select signal generating means, and said select switch is disposed on said cursor control device.

25. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said cursor is in a form of a pointer.

26. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said CPU repeatedly generating and displaying said cursor on said display modified after said cursor has moved over a pre-determined number of pixels of said display signifying the beginning of one of said move and copy, and while said cursor is being repositioned from one of said object'"'"'s selected position and said source bin image in said first display window to one of said portion of said destination bin image and said second display window, thereby giving said user a perception that said object is being moved/copied from said first application to said second application.

27. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 26 wherein said modified cursor is in a form of a copy pointer having an object icon attached to it.

28. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 27 wherein,

if said object is a group of selected data, said object icon is one of a first and second substantially rectangular boxes identifying the selected data as one of text and non-text data;

if said object is a data object, said object icon is a data object icon; and

if said object is a data object container, said object icon is a data object container icon.

29. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said CPU regenerates and redisplays said cursor on said display modified denoting whether said second application is eligible to accept said object, immediately after said cursor is repositioned over one of said portion of said destination bin image and said second display window and before said select switch is placed into said unselect position.

30. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 29 wherein,

if said second application is eligible to receive said object, said modified cursor is in a form of a copy pointer having an object icon attached to it and one of an on target and cross hair images superimposed on said attached object icon;

and

if said second application is not eligible to receive said object, said modified cursor is in a form of a copy pointer having an object icon attached to it and one of a no entry image superimposed on said attached object icon.

31. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said CPU repeatedly generating and displaying said destination bin image modified to give said user a perception that said object is being copied into said second application, after said cursor has been repositioned over said portion of said destination bin image, said select switch has been placed in said unselect position, and while said object is being copied from said first application to said second application by said CPU.

32. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 31 wherein said modified destination bin image is in a form of a substantially rectangular filled open box with a content and busy look.

33. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said CPU regenerates and redisplays said second display window to reflect said object having been copied from said first application to said second application after said object has been copied from said first application to said second application by said CPU, said second display window being regenerated and redisplayed with said object and said destination bin image modified.

34. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 33 wherein said modified destination bin image is in a form of a substantially rectangular filled open box with one of an empty and a content image.

35. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said object being copied from said first application replaces a current object in said second application.

36. The computer controlled display system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said first and second applications are the same application;

said object being copied from a first part to a second part of said same application.

37. An improved computer system including a user interface, said user interface comprising a first window of a first application having a source bin image and a second window of a second application having a destination bin image, said source bin image denoting said first application as a data source for a data copying operation, said destination bin image having an empty box look, a busy look and a content image look denoting said second application as an eligible recipient application of said copy data.

38. The improved computer system of claim 37, wherein said user interface further comprises a cursor having a first cursor image for normal display, a second cursor image for denoting an application as an ineligible recipient application of copy data, and a third cursor image for denoting an application as an eligible recipient application of copy data.

39. An improved computer system including a user interface, said user interface comprising:

a cursor having a first cursor image for normal display, a second cursor image for denoting an application as an ineligible recipient application of copy data, and a third cursor image for denoting an application as an eligible recipient application of said copy data;

a first window of a first application having a source bin image, said source bin image denoting said first application as a data source for a data copying operation; and

a second window of a second application having a destination bin image, said destination bin image having an empty box look, a busy look and a content image look denoting said second application as an eligible recipient application of said copy data.