Data processing system and method for invoking a function of a multifunction icon in a graphical user interface
First Claim
1. A method of invoking a function within a data processing system, said method comprising:
- displaying a first graphical object and a second graphical object within a display device of a data processing system, wherein said second graphical object includes a plurality of regions that each have an associated function;
in response to a selection of said first graphical object, determining if said first graphical object is within a selected proximity of said second graphical object;
in response to said determination, graphically indicating a particular region among said plurality of regions of said second graphical object that would be selected in response to a deselection of said first graphical object by displaying a graphical element extending from said first graphical object to said particular region of said second graphical obiect; and
in response to a deselection of said first graphical object while said particular region is indicated, performing said function associated with said particular region.
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Abstract
A data processing system and method of invoking a function within a data processing system are disclosed. The data processing system includes a processing unit, a display device that displays graphical objects in response to receipt of signals from the processing unit, a memory coupled to the processing unit, and a graphical user interface (GUI) manager stored within the memory and executable by the processing unit. In accordance with the method of the present invention, first and second graphical objects are displayed within the display device. The second graphical object includes a plurality of regions that each have an associated function. In response to a selection of the first graphical object, a determination is made whether the first graphical object is within a selected proximity of the second graphical object. If so, a particular region among the plurality of regions of the second graphical object, which would be selected in the event of a deselection of the first graphical object, is graphically indicated. In response to a deselection of the first graphical object while the first graphical object is within the selected proximity of the second graphical object, the function associated with the particular region is performed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the graphical indication of the particular region of the second graphical object comprises a drag pointer that extends between the first graphical object and the particular region. In this embodiment, a textual indication of the action associated with the particular region is also displayed.
106 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of invoking a function within a data processing system, said method comprising:
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displaying a first graphical object and a second graphical object within a display device of a data processing system, wherein said second graphical object includes a plurality of regions that each have an associated function; in response to a selection of said first graphical object, determining if said first graphical object is within a selected proximity of said second graphical object; in response to said determination, graphically indicating a particular region among said plurality of regions of said second graphical object that would be selected in response to a deselection of said first graphical object by displaying a graphical element extending from said first graphical object to said particular region of said second graphical obiect; and in response to a deselection of said first graphical object while said particular region is indicated, performing said function associated with said particular region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A data processing system, comprising:
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a processing unit; a display device coupled to said processing unit, wherein said display device displays a first graphical object and a second graphical object in response to receipt of signals from said processing unit, said second graphical object including a plurality of regions; a memory coupled to said processing unit; and a plurality of routines stored within said memory, wherein each of said plurality of routines is associated with one of said plurality of regions within said second graphical object; a graphical user interface (GUI) manager stored within said memory and executable by said processing unit, wherein in response to a selection of said first graphical object and said first graphical object being located within a selected proximity of said second graphical object, said GUI manager causes a graphical indication of a particular region among said plurality of regions that would be selected in response to a deselection of said first graphical object to be displayed within said display device, said graphical indication including a graphical element extending from said first graphical object to said particular region of said second graphical object, and wherein in response to a deselection of said first graphical object while said particular region is indicated, said GUI manager invokes a routine among said plurality of routines that is associated with said particular region. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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- 15. An electronic readable medium encoded with a graphical user interface (GUI) manager that includes a plurality of routines that are each associated with one of a plurality of regions within a second graphical object, wherein in response to a selection of a first graphical object and said first graphical object being located within a selected proximity of said second graphical object, said GUI manager causing a graphical indication of a particular region among said plurality of regions that would be a selected in response to a deselection of said first graphical object to be displayed within a display device, said graphical indication including a graphical element extending from said first graphical object to said particular region of said second graphical object, and wherein said GUI manager invokes a routine associated with said particular region in response to a deselection of said first graphical object while said particular region is indicated.
Specification