Computer system and method of manipulating a graphical user interface component on a computer display through collision with a pointer

• US 6,091,395 A
• Filed: 12/15/1997
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: DeStefano, George Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/990,370
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 345/340, 345/342, 345/332, 345/145
• US Class Current: 715/862
• 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

Abstract

A computer system and method manipulate a window or similar graphical user interface component through collision of a pointer controlled by a user with the boundary of the window. When it is determined that user manipulation of a pointer along a first vector intersects a boundary segment of a window displayed on a computer display, the boundary segment is moved along a second vector. The second vector may be identical to the first vector, or may represent only a component thereof. Moreover, either the entire boundary of the window may be moved such that the window itself is effectively moved, or one or more segments of the boundary may be maintained at a fixed location such that the window is effectively resized. In addition, this feature may be selectively enabled and/or disabled by a user. Moreover, a pointer may be defined to have a single position from which the first vector extends, or in the alternative, a pointer may also have a proximity range having a perimeter that defines the extents of the pointer, and that may or may not be coextensive with the visible shape of the pointer.

Claims

1. A method of manipulating a window on a computer display, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a window on a computer display, the window including a boundary including at least one boundary segment;

(b) displaying a pointer on the computer display;

(c) receiving user input to move the pointer along a first vector;

(d) determining whether the first vector intersects the boundary segment of the window; and

(e) in response to determining that the first vector intersects the boundary segment of the window, moving at least the boundary segment of the window along a second vector, wherein moving at least the boundary segment of the window responsive to the determination that the first vector intersects the boundary segment is further responsive to user selection of a predetermined mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively disabling moving of at least the boundary segment of the window in response to additional user input during movement of the pointer.

3. A computer system, comprising:

(a) a computer display upon which is displayed a window and a pointer, the window including a boundary including at least one boundary segment;

(b) a user input device configured to receive user input; and

(c) a processor, coupled to the computer display and the user input device, the processor configured to initiate a collision manipulation operation, to receive user input to move the pointer along a first vector after initiation of the collision manipulation operation, and, in response to receiving user input to move the pointer along a the first vector, to move at least the boundary segment of the window along a second vector if the first vector intersects the boundary segment of the window.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein a start position of the first vector is disposed outside of the window.

5. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to move at least the boundary segment of the window by moving the window.

6. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to move at least the boundary segment of the window by resizing the window and maintaining at least one additional boundary segment in the boundary at a fixed location.

7. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the second vector extends in the same direction as the first vector.

8. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the second vector is perpendicular to the boundary segment.

9. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to move at least the boundary segment of the window further responsive to receipt of additional user input.

10. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to move at least the boundary segment of the window further responsive to a predetermined characteristic of the window.

11. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to move at least the boundary segment of the window further responsive to a direction of the first vector relative to the boundary segment.

12. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the pointer includes a proximity range having a perimeter, a portion of which is spaced from a current position pointed to by the pointer, and wherein the first vector has a start position defined along the perimeter of the proximity range.

13. A program product, comprising:

(a) a program configured to perform a method of manipulating a window on a computer display, the method comprising;

(1) displaying a window on a computer display, the window including a boundary including at least one boundary segment;

(2) displaying a pointer on the computer display;

(3) initiating a collision manipulation operation;

(4) receiving user input to move the pointer along a first vector after initiation of the collision manipulation operation; and

(5) in response to receiving user input to move the pointer along the first vector, moving at least the boundary segment of the window along a second vector if the first vector intersects the boundary segment of the window; and

(b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.

14. The program product of claim 13, wherein the signal bearing media is transmission type media.

15. The program product of claim 13, wherein the signal bearing media is recordable media.

16. A method of manipulating a graphical user interface component on a computer display, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a graphical user interface component on a computer display, the graphical user interface component including a boundary including at least one boundary segment;

(b) displaying a pointer on the computer display;

(c) initiating a collision manipulation operation;

(d) receiving user input to move the pointer along a first vector after initiation of the collision manipulation operation; and

(e) in response to receiving the user input to move the pointer along the first vector, moving at least the boundary segment of the graphical user interface component along a second vector if the first vector intersects the boundary segment of the window.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the graphical user interface component includes a window.

18. A method of manipulating a window on a computer display, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a window on a computer display, the window including a boundary;

(b) displaying a pointer on the computer display, the pointer including a perimeter defining a proximity range around the pointer, wherein the perimeter extends beyond a visible extent of the pointer displayed on the computer display;

(c) moving the pointer in response to user input;

(d) determining whether the perimeter of the pointer intersects the boundary of the window during movement of the pointer; and

(e) manipulating the window responsive to determining that the perimeter of the pointer intersects the boundary of the window during movement of the pointer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein manipulating the window includes moving the window.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein manipulating the window includes resizing the window.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the perimeter is coextensive with a visible extent of the pointer displayed on the computer display.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the window boundary includes at least one boundary segment, wherein the pointer moves along a first vector having a start position disposed on the perimeter of the pointer, and wherein manipulating the window is performed in response to the first vector intersecting the boundary segment of the window.

23. A computer system, comprising:

(a) a computer display upon which is displayed a window and a pointer, the window including a boundary, and the pointer including a perimeter defining a proximity range around the pointer, wherein the perimeter extends beyond a visible extent of the pointer displayed on the computer display;

(b) a user input device configured to receive user input; and

(c) a processor, coupled to the computer display and the user input device, the processor configured to move the pointer in response to user input, to determine whether the perimeter of the pointer intersects the boundary of the window during movement of the pointer, and, responsive to a determination that the perimeter of the pointer intersects the boundary of the window during movement of the pointer, to manipulate the window.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to manipulate the window by moving the window.

25. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to manipulate the window by resizing the window.

26. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the perimeter is coextensive with a visible extent of the pointer displayed on the computer display.

27. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the window boundary includes at least one boundary segment, wherein the pointer moves along a first vector having a start position disposed on the perimeter of the pointer, and wherein the processor is configured to manipulate the window in response to the first vector intersecting the boundary segment of the window.

28. A program product, comprising:

(a) a program configured to perform a method of manipulating a window on a computer display, the method comprising;

(1) displaying a window on a computer display, the window including a boundary;

(2) displaying a pointer on the computer display, the pointer including a perimeter defining a proximity range around the pointer, wherein the perimeter extends beyond a visible extent of the pointer displayed on the computer display;

(3) moving the pointer in response to user input;

(4) determining whether the perimeter of the pointer intersects the boundary of the window during movement of the pointer; and

(5) manipulating the window responsive to determining that the perimeter of the pointer intersects the boundary of the window during movement of the pointer; and

(b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.

29. The program product of claim 28, wherein the signal bearing media is transmission type media.

30. The program product of claim 28, wherein the signal bearing media is recordable media.

31. A method of manipulating a window on a computer display, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a window on a computer display, the window including a boundary including at least one boundary segment;

(b) displaying a pointer on the computer display;

(c) initiating a collision manipulation operation;

(d) receiving user input to move the pointer along a first vector after initiation of the collision manipulation operation; and

(e) in response to receiving the user input to move the pointer along the first vector, moving at least the boundary segment of the window along a second vector if the first vector intersects the boundary segment of the window.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein a start position of the first vector is disposed outside of the window.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein moving at least the boundary segment of the window includes moving the window.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein moving at least the boundary segment of the window includes resizing the window by maintaining at least one additional boundary segment in the boundary at a fixed location.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the second vector extends in the same direction as the first vector.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the second vector is perpendicular to the boundary segment.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the second vector has a length that is substantially equal to the distance between an end position of the first vector and an intersection point between the boundary segment and the first vector.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the second vector has a length that is based on a component of the first vector that extends perpendicular to the boundary segment.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein moving at least the boundary segment of the window responsive to the determination that the first vector intersects the boundary segment is further responsive to receipt of additional user input.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the additional user input includes depressing a mouse button.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the additional user input includes depressing a key.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the key is selected from the group consisting of a SHIFT key, a CONTROL key, an ALT key, and combinations thereof.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein moving of at least the boundary segment of the window is further responsive to a predetermined characteristic of the window.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the predetermined characteristic includes an active status of the window.

45. The method of claim 31, wherein moving of at least the boundary segment of the window is further responsive to a direction of the first vector relative to the boundary segment.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein moving at least the boundary segment of the window is performed only when an end position of the first vector is disposed within the window.

47. The method of claim 31, wherein moving at least the boundary segment of the window includes updating a position of the window, the method further comprising refreshing the computer display.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein receiving user input to move the pointer includes updating a position of the pointer prior to refreshing the computer display.

49. The method of claim 31, wherein the first vector has a start position defined at a current position pointed to by the pointer.

50. The method of claim 31, wherein the pointer includes a proximity range having a perimeter, a portion of which is spaced from a current position pointed to by the pointer, and wherein the first vector has a start position defined along the perimeter of the proximity range.

51. A method of manipulating a window on a computer display, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a window on a computer display, the window including a boundary including at least one boundary segment;

(b) displaying a pointer on the computer display, wherein the pointer includes a proximity range having a perimeter, a portion of which is spaced from a current position pointed to by the pointer;

(c) receiving user input to move the pointer along a first vector, wherein the first vector has a start position defined along the perimeter of the proximity range; and

(d) in response to receiving the user input to move the pointer along the first vector, moving at least the boundary segment of the window along a second vector if the first vector intersects the boundary segment of the window.