Browsing and manipulating objects using movie like icons
First Claim
1. In a graphical user interface computer system, a method to access a specific object from a predetermined group of objects stored in a storage means accessible to the computer system, comprising the steps ofa. executing a programmed means to animate icons of objects in the group within a container region on screen, in a sequence related to a date order, and upon detecting specific user input during animationb. to execute a programmed action related to the current animated icon, enabling access to past or recent objects in an intuitive movie like "rewind" or "forward" browsing manner and reducing visual clutter of the objects scattered spatially on screen.
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Abstract
A method to access appropriate versions of files or objects in a computer with a graphical user interface. The invention creates a container "movie" object which "contains" a user or program selected group of contained objects--which are typically versions of a file, data at different stages in processing or any other set of files which are temporally related. Since such temporally related objects are usually accessed "one at a time", the container displays within itself an icon for only one of the contained objects--typically the most recent or currently active file. The other non-active versions are kept hidden, to prevent accidental access and reduce visual clutter. To access any of these hidden versions, a method is disclosed which forces the user to "rewind" or "forward" in a movie like fashion to the past or recent versions with an animation rate indicative of the date proximities between adjacent versions--thereby giving the user a "feel" for recency or newness. The user may change the active version during animation using a keystroke or pointing action. The major new effect of the present method is that when a plurality of movie icons are browsed the computing environment or file system can be made partially reversible, assisting users to revert back and allowing programs to access older files or drivers which were known to be stable.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a graphical user interface computer system, a method to access a specific object from a predetermined group of objects stored in a storage means accessible to the computer system, comprising the steps of
a. executing a programmed means to animate icons of objects in the group within a container region on screen, in a sequence related to a date order, and upon detecting specific user input during animation b. to execute a programmed action related to the current animated icon, enabling access to past or recent objects in an intuitive movie like "rewind" or "forward" browsing manner and reducing visual clutter of the objects scattered spatially on screen.
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12. In a graphical user interface computer system, a method to browse a container movie icon containing frame icons of temporally related objects, stored in a storage means accessible to the computer system, comprising the steps of
a. a display programmed means to prominently display within the movie icon, only one predetermined active frame icon, and b. to access other non-prominently displayed frame icons or hidden frame icons, a programmed means to animate frame icons in the movie icon region, with a user pausing ability and direction control, such that the animated sequence is related to a date order of said temporally related objects, whereby a user is forced to feel the temporal relationship of frame icons before launching an object, preventing hasty pointing actions toward non-active icons and at the same time, enabling intuitive access to any frame icon when required.
Specification