Method and system for automatic presentation of default-drop target icons at window borders

• US 5,745,111 A
• Filed: 11/13/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cline, Troy Lee, Poston, Ricky Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US08/748,667
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145, 345/119, 395/333, 395/335, 395/340, 395/342, 395/339, 395/338, 395/346, 395/348
• US Class Current: 715/769
• 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 method and system for automatically presenting default-drop target icons displayed within a data processing system. Default-drop target icons are representative of data processing system events, and the data processing system includes containers within a graphical user interface border. An object within a container surrounded by a graphical user interface border is selected and in response to initiation of dragging the icon, default-drop target icons are identified which are representative of data processing system events appropriate for the selected object. Thereafter, if the selected object is dragged across the graphical user interface border; at least one default-drop target icon is automatically displayed at a location proximate a point where the selected object crosses the graphical user interface border, in response to the dragging, such that a data processing system event may be invoked by dropping the selected object upon the default-drop target icon. As a result, the distance a selected object is dragged to invoke a data processing system event is minimized. A data processing system event is thereafter invoked in response to the object being dropped upon the default-drop target icon.

Claims

1. A method for efficient invocation of data processing system events utilizing a plurality of target icons, wherein each of said target icons is representative of at least one data processing system event, and wherein said data processing system includes at least one container displayed within a graphical user interface border, comprising the steps of:

selecting an object within a container surrounded by a graphical user interface border;

identifying selected target icons among said plurality of target icons which are representative of data processing system events appropriate for said selected object in response to said selection;

dragging said selected object across said graphical user interface border; and

automatically displaying at least one selected target icon at a location proximate a point where said selected object crosses said graphical user interface border in response to said dragging such that a data processing system event may be invoked by dropping said selected object upon said at least one selected target icon wherein a distance said selected object is dragged to invoke said data processing system event is minimized.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of invoking a data processing system event in response to said object being dropped upon said at least one selected target icon.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the step of returning said at least one selected target icon to an original display position of said at least one selected target icon.

4. A system for efficient invocation of data processing system events utilizing a plurality of target icons, wherein each of said target icons is representative of at least one data processing system event, and wherein said data processing system includes at least one container displayed within a graphical user interface border, comprising:

at least one container displayed within said data processing system within a graphical user interface border and surrounded by said graphical user interface border;

means for selecting an object within said at least one container;

means for identifying selected target icons among said plurality of target icons which are representative of data processing system events appropriate for said object;

means for dragging said object across said graphical user interface border;

means for automatically displaying at least one selected target icon at a location proximate a point where said object crosses said graphical user interface border; and

means for invoking a data processing system event in response to said object being dropped upon said at least one selected target icon wherein a distance said object is dragged to invoke said data processing system event is minimized.

5. The system of claim 4 further including means for invoking a data processing system event in response to said object being dropped upon said at least one selected target icon.

6. The system of claim 5 further including means for returning said at least one selected target icon to an original display position of said at least one selected target icon.