Business card system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in a computer system having a memory, an object-oriented operating system, a display and a plurality of users each having user information stored in the memory, the apparatus making available part of information stored in the memory for one of the plurality of users to another of the plurality of users, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) business card class information stored in the memory, the business card class information including information defining a data structure and logic for storing references to user information in the data structure, logic for copying user information from another business card object into the data structure and logic for displaying contents of the data structure on the display;
(b) means responsive to a request from the one user for instantiating a master business card object from the business card class information;
(c) means controlled by the one user for executing the storing logic for storing references to part of the information pertaining to the one user including information for contacting the one user in the data structure of the master business card object;
(d) means responsive to a request from the another user for instantiating a replicated business card object from the business card class information;
(e) means controlled by the another user for executing the copying logic in the replicated business card object to copy contents of the data structure in the master business card object into the data structure of the replicated business card object; and
(f) means controlled by the another user for executing the displaying logic in the replicated business card for displaying contents of the data structure in the replicated business card on the display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for representing the attributes of an object representing a person or entity in an object oriented operating system running on a computer. The information is presented in the form of a graphic depiction of a business card with information specific to a particular person, place or thing appearing on the business card. The information on the business card and the card itself can be used to invoke various actions. Further, any information on the card can be copied, pasted or otherwise manipulated by the system.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in a computer system having a memory, an object-oriented operating system, a display and a plurality of users each having user information stored in the memory, the apparatus making available part of information stored in the memory for one of the plurality of users to another of the plurality of users, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) business card class information stored in the memory, the business card class information including information defining a data structure and logic for storing references to user information in the data structure, logic for copying user information from another business card object into the data structure and logic for displaying contents of the data structure on the display; (b) means responsive to a request from the one user for instantiating a master business card object from the business card class information; (c) means controlled by the one user for executing the storing logic for storing references to part of the information pertaining to the one user including information for contacting the one user in the data structure of the master business card object; (d) means responsive to a request from the another user for instantiating a replicated business card object from the business card class information; (e) means controlled by the another user for executing the copying logic in the replicated business card object to copy contents of the data structure in the master business card object into the data structure of the replicated business card object; and (f) means controlled by the another user for executing the displaying logic in the replicated business card for displaying contents of the data structure in the replicated business card on the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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13. A method for use in a computer system having a memory, an object-oriented operating system, a display and a plurality of users each having user information stored in the memory, the method making available part of information stored in the memory for one of the plurality of users to another of the plurality of users, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing business card class information in the object-oriented system including information defining a data structure and program code defining logic for storing references to user information in the data structure, logic for copying user information from another business card object into the data structure and logic for displaying contents of the data structure on the display; (b) instantiating a master business card object from the business card class information in response to a request from the one user; (c) executing the storing logic for storing references to part of the information pertaining to the one user including information for contacting the one user in the data structure of the master business card object; (d) instantiating a replicated business card object from the business card class information in response to a request from the another user; (e) executing the copying logic in the replicated business card object to copy contents of the data structure in the master business card object into the data structure of the replicated business card object; and (f) executing the displaying logic in the replicated business card for displaying contents of the data structure in the replicated business card. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification