Method and apparatus for arranging displayed graphical representations on a computer interface
First Claim
1. A display arrangement system for a computer system having a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with repositionable graphical representations displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement system comprising:
- an arrangement criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations wherein the arrangement criterion comprises a window including at least two frames, and wherein each frame comprises an area on the graphical user interface and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules including a frame filtering criterion specifying at least one filtering property for limiting association of computer resources with a frame; and
a graphical display arrangement processor for positioning the repositionable graphical representations by applying the arrangement criterion to the set of computer resources wherein the graphical display arrangement processor includes means for applying the at least one filtering property to the computer resources and associating, with the frame, computer resources meeting the frame filtering criterion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A display arrangement system and method are disclosed for arranging repositionable graphical representations corresponding to a set of computer resources. The display arrangement system includes a layout that specifies a criterion for arranging the repositionable graphical representations. The criterion specifies at least one arrangement rule based upon the content of the computer resources. The display arrangement system also includes a graphical display arrange processor that arranges the repositionable graphical representations by applying the criterion to their corresponding computer resources. The display system may be organized as one or more frames. Each frame designates a perimeter on the graphical user interface. Each frame also includes at least one filter property value for limiting the association of individual ones of the set of computer resources with the frame. An example of a particular filter value for a frame is a filter designating only "document" type computer resources will be associated with a particular frame. The display arrange processor applies the frame filter to the computer resources in order to determine whether corresponding repositionable graphical representations will be displayed within the perimeter on the graphical user interface designated by the frame.
512 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A display arrangement system for a computer system having a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with repositionable graphical representations displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement system comprising:
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an arrangement criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations wherein the arrangement criterion comprises a window including at least two frames, and wherein each frame comprises an area on the graphical user interface and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules including a frame filtering criterion specifying at least one filtering property for limiting association of computer resources with a frame; and a graphical display arrangement processor for positioning the repositionable graphical representations by applying the arrangement criterion to the set of computer resources wherein the graphical display arrangement processor includes means for applying the at least one filtering property to the computer resources and associating, with the frame, computer resources meeting the frame filtering criterion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A display arrangement frame in a graphical user interface for a computer system including a display arrange system for positioning repositionable graphical representations associated with a set of computer resources and displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement frame comprising:
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an area on the graphical user interface; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules comprising; a set of frame filter properties designating computer resource content characteristics, the frame filter properties being utilized by the display arrangement system to selectively associate computer resources with the frame; and an automatic enforce filter property for preventing the placement of a repositionable graphical representation within the area of the graphical user interface specified by the frame when the automatic enforce filter property is activated, and the corresponding computer resource does not meet the frame filter properties. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for arranging repositionable graphical representations displayed by a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, the method for arranging repositionable graphical representations comprising:
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designating a positioning criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, including defining a window including at least two frames, each frame comprising; an area on the window; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules comprising a frame filtering criterion specifying at least one filtering property for limiting association of computer resources with a frame; and determining, by a graphical display arrangement processor, positions for the repositionable graphical representations by applying the frame filtering criterion to the set of computer resources and by associating, with the frame, a computer resource meeting the frame filtering criterion. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A display arrangement system for a computer system having a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with repositionable graphical representations displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement system comprising:
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an arrangement criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, wherein the arrangement criterion comprises a layout including at least one frame, and wherein each frame comprises an area on the graphical user interface and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules including a frame filtering criterion specifying at least one filtering property for limiting association of computer resources with a frame; and a graphical display arrangement processor for positioning the repositionable graphical representations by applying the arrangement criterion to the set of computer resources, wherein the graphical display arrangement processor includes; means for applying the at least one filtering property to the computer resources and associating, with the frame, computer resources meeting the frame filtering criterion; and means for rearranging a set of repositionable graphical representations associated with the frame in accordance with the set of frame-specific arrangement rules in response to a repositionable graphical representation corresponding to a computer resource meeting the frame filtering criterion being dropped within the area of the graphical user interface specified by the frame.
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34. A display arrangement system for a computer system having a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with repositionable graphical representations displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement system comprising:
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an arrangement criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, wherein the arrangement criterion comprises a layout including at least one frame, and wherein each frame comprises an area on the graphical user interface and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules including a frame filtering criterion specifying at least one filtering property for limiting association of computer resources with a frame; and a graphical display arrangement processor for positioning the repositionable graphical representations by applying the arrangement criterion to the set of computer resources, wherein the graphical display arrangement processor includes; means for applying the at least one filtering property to the computer resources and associating, with the frame, computer resources meeting the frame filtering criterion; and means for associating a repositionable graphical representation with the frame in response to a user dropping a repositionable graphical representation, corresponding to a computer resource meeting the frame filtering criterion, outside the area of the graphical user interface specified by the frame.
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35. A display arrangement system for a computer system having a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with repositionable graphical representations displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement system comprising:
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an arrangement criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, wherein the arrangement criterion comprises a layout including at least one frame, and wherein each frame comprises an area on the graphical user interface and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules including a frame filtering criterion specifying at least one filtering property for limiting association of computer resources with a frame; and a graphical display arrangement processor for positioning the repositionable graphical representations by applying the arrangement criterion to the set of computer resources, wherein the graphical display arrangement processor includes; means for applying the at least one filtering property to the computer resources and associating, with the frame, computer resources meeting the frame filtering criterion; and means for preventing a user from moving a repositionable graphical representation associated with the frame.
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36. A display arrangement system for a computer system having a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with repositionable graphical representations displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement system comprising:
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an arrangement criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, wherein the arrangement criterion comprises a layout including at least one frame, and wherein each frame comprises an area on the graphical user interface and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules including a frame filtering criterion specifying at least one filtering property for limiting association of computer resources with a frame; and a graphical display arrangement processor for positioning the repositionable graphical representations by applying the arrangement criterion to the set of computer resources, wherein the graphical display arrangement processor includes; means for applying the at least one filtering property to the computer resources and associating, with the frame, computer resources meeting the frame filtering criterion; and means for exempting a frame and the computer resources enrolled within the frame from consideration when determining the association of computer resources with the at least one frame of the layout during a global arrangement operation.
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37. A display arrangement system for a computer system having a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with repositionable graphical representations displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement system comprising:
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an arrangement criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations; a filling criterion specifying at least one fill behavior property; and a graphical display arrangement processor for positioning the repositionable graphical representations by applying the arrangement criterion and the filling criterion to the set of computer resources.
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38. A display arrangement system for a computer system having a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with repositionable graphical representations displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement system comprising:
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an arrangement criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, wherein the arrangement criterion comprises a layout including at least one frame, and wherein each frame comprises an area on the graphical user interface and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules; a graphical display arrangement processor for positioning the repositionable graphical representations by applying the arrangement criterion to the set of computer resources; and means for redefining row and column dimensions of a frame in response to a change in a default size for icon cells.
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39. A display arrangement frame in a graphical user interface for a computer system including a display arrange system for positioning repositionable graphical representations associated with a set of computer resources and displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement frame comprising:
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an area on the graphical user interface; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules comprising; a set of frame filter properties designating computer resource content characteristics, the frame filter properties being utilized by the display arrangement system to selectively associate computer resources with the frame; and an automatic arrange property for re-arranging a set of repositionable graphical representations associated with the frame in accordance with the set of frame-specific arrangement rules, when the automatic arrange property is activated, in response to a repositionable graphical representation corresponding to a computer resource meeting the frame filter properties being dropped within the area of the graphical user interface specified by the frame.
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40. A display arrangement frame in a graphical user interface for a computer system including a display arrange system for positioning repositionable graphical representations associated with a set of computer resources and displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement frame comprising:
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an area on the graphical user interface; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules comprising; a set of frame filter properties designating computer resource content characteristics, the frame filter properties being utilized by the display arrangement system to selectively associate computer resources with the frame; and an automatic fetch property for associating a repositionable graphical representation with the frame, when the automatic fetch property is activated, in response to a user dropping a repositionable graphical representation, for a computer resource meeting the frame filter properties, outside the area of the graphical user interface specified by the frame.
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41. A display arrangement frame in a graphical user interface for a computer system including a display arrange system for positioning repositionable graphical representations associated with a set of computer resources and displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement frame comprising:
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a area on the graphical user interface; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules comprising; a set of frame filter properties designating computer resource content characteristics, the frame filter properties being utilized by the display arrangement system to selectively associate computer resources with the frame; and locking property for preventing a user from moving a repositionable graphic representation associated with the frame when the locking property is activated.
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42. A display arrangement frame in a graphical user interface for a computer system including a display arrange system for positioning repositionable graphical representations associated with a set of computer resources and displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement frame comprising:
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an area on the graphical user interface; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules comprising; a set of frame filter properties designating computer resource content characteristics, the frame filter properties being utilized by the display arrangement system to selectively associate computer resources with the frame; and a drop fill only automatic property for exempting a frame and the computer resources enrolled within the frame from consideration when determining the association of computer resources with the at least one frame of the layout during a global arrangement operation.
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43. A display arrangement frame in a graphical user interface for a computer system including a display arrange system for positioning repositionable graphical representations associated with a set of computer resources and displayed by the graphical user interface, the display arrangement frame comprising:
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an area on the graphical user interface; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules, the set of frame-specific arrangement rules comprising; a set of frame filter properties designating computer resource content characteristics, the frame filter properties being utilized by the display arrangement system to selectively associate computer resources with the frame; and a filling criterion specifying at least one fill behavior property for assigning positions on the graphical user interface to the repositionable graphical representations in accordance with the filling criterion.
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44. A method for arranging repositionable graphical representations displayed by a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, the method for arranging repositionable graphical representations comprising:
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designating a criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, including defining a layout including at least one frame, said frame comprising; an area on the graphical user interface; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules including a frame filtering criterion specifying at least one filtering property for limiting association of computer resources with a frame; and determining, by a graphical display arrangement processor, positions for the repositionable graphical representations, said determining comprising; applying the criterion to the set of computer resources; applying the at least one filtering property to a computer resource and associating, with the frame, a computer resource meeting the frame filtering criterion; first detecting a dropped repositionable graphical representation within the area of the graphical user interface associated with a frame having an activated automatic arrange property; and second determining that a computer resource corresponding to the dropped repositionable graphical representation meets the frame filtering criterion for the frame, and in response to the second determining step, re-arranging a set of repositionable graphical representations associated with the frame in accordance with the set of frame-specific arrangement rules.
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45. A method for arranging repositionable graphical representations displayed by a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, the method for arranging repositionable graphical representations comprising:
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designating a criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, wherein designating the criterion comprises defining a layout including at least one frame, and said frame comprising; an area on the graphical user interface; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules including a frame filtering criterion specifying at least one filtering property for limiting association of computer resources with a frame; determining, by a graphical display arrangement processor, positions for the repositionable graphical representations, said determining comprising; applying the criterion to the set of computer resources; applying the at least one filtering property to a computer resource and associating, with the frame, a computer resource meeting the frame filtering criterion; first detecting a dropped repositionable graphical representation of the graphical user interface associated outside the area of the graphical user interface associated with a frame having an activated automatic fetch property; and second determining that a computer resource corresponding to the dropped repositionable graphical representation meets the frame filtering criterion for the frame, and in response to the second determining step, associating the dropped repositionable graphical representation with the frame having an activated automatic fetch property.
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46. A method for arranging repositionable graphical representations displayed by a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated wit the repositionable graphical representations, the method for arranging repositionable graphical representations comprising:
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designating a criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, wherein designating the criterion comprises defining a layout including at least one frame, said frame comprising; an area on the graphical user interface; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules including a frame filtering criterion specifying at least one filtering property for limiting association of computer resources with a frame; determining, by a graphical display arrangement processor, positions for the repositionable graphical representations, said determining comprising; applying the criterion to the set of computer resources; applying the at least one filtering property to a computer resource and associating, with the frame, a computer resource meeting the frame filtering criterion; and first detecting an attempt by a user to move a repositionable graphical representation associated with a frame having an activated locking property, and in response preventing the user from moving the repositionable graphical representation associated with the frame having an activated locking property.
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47. A method for arranging repositionable graphical representations displayed by a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, the method for arranging repositionable graphical representations comprising:
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designating a criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, wherein designating the criterion comprises defining a layout including at least one frame, said frame comprising; an area on the graphical user interface; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules including a frame filtering criterion specifying at least one filtering property for limiting association of computer resources with a frame; determining, by a graphical display arrangement processor, positions for the repositionable graphical representations, said determining comprising; applying the criterion to the set of computer resources; applying the at least one filtering property to a computer resource and associating with the frame, a computer resource meeting the frame filtering criterion; and determining that a frame has an activated drop fill only automatic property, and in response exempting the frame having the activated drop fill only automatic property and the computer resources enrolled within the frame from consideration when selectively associating computer resources with the at least one frame of the layout during a global arrangement operation.
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48. A method for arranging repositionable graphical representations displayed by a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, the method for arranging repositionable graphical representations comprising:
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designating an arranging criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, the arranging criterion comprising a filling criterion specifying at least one fill behavior property; determining, by a graphical display arrangement processor, positions for the repositionable graphical representations, said determining comprising; applying the arranging criterion to the set of computer resources; and assigning positions on the graphical user interface to the repositionable graphical representations in accordance with the filling criterion.
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49. A method for arranging repositionable graphical representations displayed by a graphical user interface providing a user convenient access to a set of computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, the method for arranging repositionable graphical representations comprising:
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designating a criterion for positioning the repositionable graphical representations within the graphical user interface based at least upon the contents of the computer resources associated with the repositionable graphical representations, including defining a layout including at least one frame, said frame comprising; an area on the graphical user interface; and a set of frame-specific arrangement rules; determining, by a graphical display arrangement processor, positions for the repositionable graphical representations by applying the criterion to the set of computer resources; and detecting a change in default size of icon cells, and in response re-defining row and column dimensions of a frame.
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Specification