Data transfer displaying/operating method

• US 6,011,553 A
• Filed: 11/05/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Komiyama, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/964,650
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 345/348, 345/349, 345/339, 345/335, 345/970, 345/977, 345/334, 395/701
• US Class Current: 715/839
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

When a pointer is clicked on a connector (subicon) graphically attached to a source object (text file icon) to be transferred, the connector moves together with the pointer. The source object and the connector are connected with a connection line. When the source object is connected to a socket of a destination object, and all preparations for transfer are made, data is transferred.

Claims

1. A method for transferring and displaying data in a computer having a graphical user interface, comprising:

displaying a pair of icons representing source and destination objects for data transfer on a screen of a display;

connecting the source and destination icons with a displayed line; and

transferring data from the source to the destination objects, wherein data transfer between the source and destination objects is performed upon displaying the connection line, without a pop-up or pull-down menu on the screen of the display.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of connecting includes manipulating a pointing icon to draw and display the line, said line graphically indicating the transfer of data to a user.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said source and destination icons have at least one subicon attached thereto on the screen of the display.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the subicon is at least one of a connector shape and a projecting and recessed shape.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of connecting further includes moving the subicon attached to the source icon with a pointing icon.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the pointing icon is in the shape of a hand grasping the subicon.

7. The method according to claim 1, further including cutting the line connecting source and destination icons for data transfer with a pointing icon to terminate data transfer.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the pointing icon has the shape of scissors.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein data transfer between the source and destination icons is determined from a data type correlation table stored in a memory of the computer.

10. The method according to claim 9, further including displaying subicons having plug and socket shapes or projecting and recessed shapes with the source and destination icons, when it is determined from the data type correlation table that data transfer is enabled.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the source and destination icons have subicons of connector or projecting and recessed shapes attached thereto when it is determined from the data type correlation table that data transfer is enabled.

12. A method for transferring and displaying data in a computer having a graphical user interface, comprising:

displaying a pair of icons representing source and destination objects for data transfer on a screen of a display;

connecting the source and destination icons with a connection line between the source and destination icon, said connection line drawn by moving a pointing icon on the screen;

transferring data from the source to destination; and

changing the shape of the pointing icon upon completion of data transfer.

13. The method according to claim 12, further including graphically cutting the connection line with the pointing icon to terminate data transfer.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the pointing icon is in the shape of scissors.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein each of said source and destination icons have at least one subicon attached thereto on the screen of the display.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the subicon is at least one of a connector shape and a projecting and recessed shape.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of connecting further includes moving the subicon attached to the source icon with the pointing icon.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the pointing icon is in the shape of a hand grasping the subicon.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein data transfer between the source and destination icons is determined from a data type correlation table stored in a memory of the computer.

20. The method according to claim 19, further including displaying subicons having plug and socket shapes or projecting and recessed shapes with the source and destination icons, when it is determined from the data type correlation table that data transfer is enabled.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the source and destination icons have subicons of connector or projecting and recessed shapes attached thereto when it is determined from the data type correlation table that data transfer is enabled.