Graphical user interface system and method for multiple simultaneous targets

• US 5,742,286 A
• Filed: 11/20/1995
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kung, Jonathan Sc, Lentz, James Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/560,870
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 395/326-358
• US Class Current: 715/839
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

Source and target objects are differentiated by an attribute visible to the user and detectable by an application with source objects and target objects residing in respective containers. When a user desires to perform multiple source and target transfer operations, the desired collection of target objects is first selected by interaction with the target object container, including range selection or pointer device clicks, whereupon each selected target object indicates selection. Using similar operations, one or more source objects is selected, the user interface thereafter displaying a collection of selected target objects and one or more source objects shown with selection emphasis. The source objects are then moved using a standard transfer function from the source container to one of the target containers. In the target container, all valid selected target objects in view then provide acceptance feedback by a visual indication that each of these user-selected objects will accept the drop action. Upon releasing a pointing device button over a valid selected target objects, visual feedback indicates a successful transfer operation of a single or multiple source objects simultaneously to the multiple selected target objects.

Claims

1. A computerized method for graphically facilitating interaction of one or more source objects with multiple target objects utilizing a graphic user interface in a computer network, comprising:

registering selection of said one or more source objects in said interface by selecting one from a group comprised of one of said selected source objects or a source container object associated with a plurality of selected source objects;

registering selection of said multiple target objects as a subset of a target objects in said interface by selecting one from a group comprised of one of said selected target objects or a target container object associated with a plurality of selected target objects; and

initiating interaction of said one or more source objects with said subset of multiple target objects in response to an action in said graphic user interface, said interaction comprising

moving said selected one from a group comprised of said one of said selected source objects or said source container object onto said one of said group comprised of said one of said selected targets or said target container object, and wherein

in response to said interaction said one of said selected target objects registers acceptance or rejection of one or more of said selected source objects;

in response to said registering by said one of said selected target objects and said acceptance of said one or more of said selected source objects, at least one of said selected target objects registers in said graphical user interface a visual indication of an ongoing process of said one or more of said selected source objects onto said selected one of said target objects; and

upon termination of said install process, said at least one of said selected target objects having said visual indication of said ongoing install remains with a visual indication of being said selected one of said target objects.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said registering selection of said one or more source objects comprises establishing a source container around a subset of source objects;

wherein said step of registering selection of said multiple target objects comprises establishing a target container around a plurality of target objects; and

wherein said interaction comprises moving an icon representing said source container to said target container on said interface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said registering selection of said one or more source objects comprises establishing a source container around a plurality of source objects;

wherein said step of registering selection of said multiple target objects comprises establishing a target container around a plurality of target objects; and

wherein said action comprises moving an icon representing said source container onto one of said plurality of target objects in said target container.

4. An apparatus for graphically facilitating interaction of one or more source objects with multiple target objects utilizing a graphic user interface in a computer network, comprising:

means for registering selection of said one or more source objects in said interface comprising

means for selecting one from a group comprised of one of said selected source objects or a source container object associated with a plurality of selected source objects;

means for registering selection of said multiple target objects as a subset of a target objects in said interface comprising

means for selecting one from a group comprised of one of said selected target objects or a target container object associated with a plurality of selected target objects; and

means for initiating interaction of said one or more source objects with said subset of multiple target objects in response to an action in said graphic user interface comprising

means for moving said selected one from a group comprised of said one of said selected source objects or said source container object onto said one of said group comprised of said one of said selected targets or said target container object; and

wherein

in response to said interaction, said one of said selected target objects registers acceptance or rejection of one or more of said selected source objects;

in response to said means for registering by said one of said selected target objects and said acceptance of said one or more of said selected source objects, at least one of said selected target objects registers in said graphical user interface a visual indication of an ongoing process of said one or more of said selected source objects onto said selected one of said target objects;

upon termination of said install process, said at least one of said selected target objects having said visual indication of said ongoing process remains with a visual indication of being said selected one of said target objects.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for registering selection of said one or more source objects comprises means for establishing a source container around a subset of source objects;

wherein said means for registering selection of said multiple target objects comprises means for establishing a target container around a plurality of target objects; and

wherein said means for initiating interaction comprises means for moving an icon representing said source container to said target container on said interface.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for registering selection of said one or more source objects comprises means for establishing a source container around a plurality of source objects;

wherein said means for registering selection of said multiple target objects comprises means for establishing a target container around a plurality of target objects; and

wherein said action comprises moving an icon representing said source container onto one of said plurality of target objects in said target container.

7. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for graphically facilitating interaction of one or more source objects with multiple target objects utilizing a graphic user interface in a computer network;

computer readable program code means for registering selection of said one or more source objects in said interface comprising

computer readable program code means for selecting one from a group comprised of one of said selected source objects or a source container object associated with a plurality of selected source objects;

computer readable program code means for registering selection of said multiple target objects as a subset of a target objects in said interface comprising

readable code means for selecting one from a group comprised of one of said selected target objects or a target container object associated with a plurality of selected target objects; and

computer readable program code means for initiating interaction of said one or more source objects with said subset of multiple target objects in response to an action in said graphic user interface comprising

computer readable program code means for moving said selected one from a group comprised of said one of said selected source objects or said source container object onto said one of said group comprised of said one of said selected targets or said target container object; and

wherein

in response to said computer readable program code means for registering by said one of said selected target objects and said acceptance of said one or more of said selected source objects, at least one of said selected target objects registers in said graphical user interface a visual indication of an ongoing process of said one or more of said selected source objects onto said selected one of said target objects; and

upon termination of said process, said at least one of said selected target objects having said visual indication of said ongoing process remains with a visual indication of being said selected one of said target objects.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein said computer readable program code means for registering selection of said one or more source objects comprises computer readable program code means for establishing a source container around a subset of source objects;

wherein said computer readable program code means for registering selection of said multiple target objects comprises computer readable program code means for establishing a target container around a plurality of target objects; and

wherein said computer readable program code means for initiating interaction comprises computer readable program code means for moving an icon representing said source container to said target container on said interface.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein said computer readable program code means for registering selection of said one or more source objects comprises:

computer readable program code means for establishing a source container around a plurality of source objects;

wherein said computer readable program code means for registering selection of said multiple target objects comprises computer readable program code means for establishing a target container around a plurality of target objects; and

wherein said action comprises computer readable program code means for moving an icon representing said source container onto one of said plurality of target objects in said target container.