Method and apparatus for control of a parameter value using a graphical user interface

• US 5,956,031 A
• Filed: 07/31/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Berteig, Rolf Walter, Hudson, Thomas Dene, Yost, Gary S., Brittain, Donald Lee, Silva, Daniel David
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Chadwick A.
• Application Number:
  US08/903,828
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 345/420, 345/437, 345/438, 345/439, 345/334, 345/339, 345/347, 345/341
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2016 Rotation, translation, scaling

Abstract

A method and system for controlling parameter values. One such system includes a number of functions for controlling parameter values, i.e. "parameter control functions," to enable a user to quickly and easily control variable parameter values using a graphical user interface and to enable the user to obtain the desired precision of control of such variables. One such system provides four control functions: a data entry function, single step function, a scroll function, and a translation function. The user can select the particular control function used to control a parameter value in light of the particular amount or type of control that needs to be accomplished.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an appearance of an object displayed by a graphics application program using a computer system and a graphical user interface, wherein the appearance is defined in part by a parameter value, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first control area in the graphical user interface;

providing a plurality of parameter control functions, wherein at least one of the parameter control functions is associated with and controls the parameter value and is configured to be manipulated using the first control area;

displaying a cursor in the first control area;

in response to a first translation input of a cursor control device that controls the cursor, in which the first translation input defines a translation out of the first control area in a first direction, changing the parameter value and the appearance of the object using one of the parameter control functions that is associated with the parameter value, according to the first direction;

wherein the first translation input is an operation that moves said cursor to a first location that is in said first direction relative to said first control area;

while said cursor is at said first location, and in the same operation, receiving second a translation input that moves said cursor from said first location in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; and

in response to said second translation input, changing the parameter value and the appearance of the object in a manner opposite to that caused by the first translation input.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the rate at which the parameter value changes by:

receiving user input that indicates a snap value; and

while changing the parameter value in response to receiving said first transaction input, limiting the magnitude of successive changes to the parameter value to said snap value.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first translation input and the second translation input comprise one continuous operation.

4. A method for controlling a parameter value and an appearance of virtual graphical object having at least one visual attribute using a computer system and a graphical user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying on the graphical user interface a user interface control that is associated with said parameter value;

displaying a cursor on the graphical user interface;

receiving input from a cursor control device associated with said cursor, wherein said cursor control device is capable of generating activation input and translation input;

in response to receiving activation input but not translation input from said cursor control device while said cursor is within said user interface control, invoking a first parameter control function that changes the parameter value and proportionately increasing the visual attribute of the virtual graphical object;

in response to receiving a first translation input that activates said cursor within said user interface control and moves said cursor in a particular direction outside said user interface control, invoking a second parameter control function; and

in response to being invoked, said second parameter control function changing the parameter value based on said particular direction;

wherein the first translation input is an operation that moves said cursor to a first location that is in said first direction relative to said user interface control;

while said cursor is at said first location, and in the same operation, receiving second a translation input that moves said cursor from said first location in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; and

in response to said second translation input, changing the parameter value and the visual attribute of the virtual graphical object in a manner opposite to that caused by the first translation input.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of invoking a first parameter control function that changes the parameter value includes invoking a step function that changes the magnitude of the particular parameter by a predetermined amount.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

displaying a visual object that has an appearance that is dictated in part by a visual attribute that corresponds to said parameter value; and

responding to changes to said parameter value by changing the appearance of said visual object to reflect the changes to said parameter value.

7. A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for controlling an appearance of an object displayed by a graphics application program, wherein the appearance is defined in part by a parameter value, using a computer system and a graphical user interface, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of:

providing a first control area in the graphical user interface;

providing a plurality of parameter control functions, wherein at least one of the parameter control functions is associated with and controls the parameter value and is configured to be manipulated using the first control area;

displaying a cursor in the first control area; and

in response to a first translation input of a cursor control device that controls the cursor, in which the first translation input defines a translation out of the first control area in a first direction, changing the parameter value, and the appearance of the object using one of the parameter control functions that is associated with the parameter value, according to the first direction;

wherein the first translation input moves said cursor to a first location that is in said first direction relative to said first control area, and the method further includes the steps of;

while said cursor is at said first location, receiving a second translation input that moves said cursor from said first location back towards said first control area; and

in response to said second translation input, changing the parameter value and the appearance of the object in a manner opposite to that caused by the first translation input.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions for controlling the rate at which the parameter value changes by:

receiving user input that indicates a snap value; and

while changing the parameter value in response to receiving said first transaction input, limiting the magnitude of successive changes to the parameter value to said snap value.

9. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 7, wherein the first translation input and the second translation input form one continuous operation.

10. A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for controlling a parameter value and an appearance of virtual graphical object having at least one visual attribute using a computer system and a graphical user interface, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of:

displaying on the graphical user interface a user interface control that is associated with said parameter value;

displaying a cursor on the graphical user interface;

receiving input from a cursor control device associated with said cursor, wherein said cursor control device is capable of generating activation input and translation input;

in response to receiving activation input but not translation input from said cursor control device while said cursor is within said user interface control, invoking a first parameter control function that changes the parameter value and proportionately increasing the visual attribute of the virtual graphical object;

in response to receiving a first translation input that activates said cursor within said user interface control and moves said cursor in a particular direction outside said user interface control, invoking a second parameter control function; and

in response to being invoked, said second parameter control function changing the parameter value based on said particular direction;

wherein the first translation input is an operation that moves said cursor to a first location that is in said first direction relative to said user interface control;

while said cursor is at said first location, and in the same operation, receiving a second translation input that moves said cursor from said first location in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; and

in response to said second translation input, changing the parameter value and the visual attribute of the virtual graphical object in a manner opposite to that caused by the first translation input.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the step of invoking a first parameter control function that changes the parameter value includes invoking a step function that changes the magnitude of the particular parameter by a predetermined amount.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further including instructions for performing the steps of:

incrementing the new value in response to translation input that moves the cursor further from said user interface control; and

decrementing the new value in response to translation input that moves the cursor towards said user interface control.