Method and apparatus for providing selected menu functions as an attachment menu bar on graphic user interface systems

• US 6,111,576 A
• Filed: 11/06/1995
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Moreland, Paula Jean, Tate, Bruce Alan, Nickolas, Stewart Earle
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/554,062
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 395/352, 395/353, 395/357, 395/348, 395/326, 395/339, 345/326-358, 345/145
• US Class Current: 715/841
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for coupling a user-created window, or object, to menu functions of another application is accomplished once functions of another program have been selected and an attachment menu bar is created. The attachment menu bar is then graphically attached to the user-created object. When one of the selected menu functions is invoked, the system performs the function indicated by the selected function on an object within the user-created object or on the user-created object.

Claims

1. On a graphic user interface system, a method for providing selected menu functions of a main menu for attachment to a user created object that contains a user created menu, the method comprises the step of:

a) creating an attachment menu bar that includes the selected menu functions of said main menu;

b) graphically attaching the attachment menu bar to the user created object, wherein said user created object comprises a user created menu; and

c) when one of the selected menu functions is invoked, performing a function indicated by the one of the selected menu functions on an object within the user created object or on the user created object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises the steps of:

detecting movement of the user created object; and

tracking the movement of the user created object with the attachment menu bar such that the attachment menu bar remains in a substantially similar physical position with respect to the user created object.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

detecting user input for ratcheting the attachment menu bar around the user created object; and

repositioning the attachment menu bar based on the user input.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprises the step of:

providing a feedback indicator that indicates incremental repositioning of the attachment menu bar.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

detecting user input to maximize screen size of the user created object;

detaching the attachment menu bar from the user created object; and

positioning the attachment menu bar based on user directives.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of:

attaching the attachment menu bar to the user created object, wherein the user created object includes a window.

7. On a graphic user interface system, a method for providing selected functions for attachment to a user created object, the method comprises the steps of:

a) creating an attachment menu bar that includes the selected functions of another object;

b) graphically attaching the attachment menu bar to the user created object, wherein said user created object comprises a user created menu; and

c) when one of the selected functions is invoked, performing a function indicated by the one of the selected functions on at least a portion of the user created object.

8. A computer readable storage medium for storing program instructions that, when read by a computer, causes the computer to provide menu functions of a main menu for attachment to a user created object that contains a user created menu, the computer readable storage medium comprises:

first storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to create an attachment menu bar that includes the selected menu functions of said main menu;

second storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to graphically attach the attachment menu bar to the user created object wherein said user created object comprises a user created menu; and

third storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer, when one of the selected menu functions is invoked, to perform a function indicated by the one of the selected menu functions on an object within the user created object or on the user created object.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the second storage means further comprises the functions of:

storing program instructions that cause the computer to detect movement of the user created object; and

storing program instructions that cause the computer to track the movement of the user created object with the attachment menu bar such that the attachment menu bar remains in a substantially similar physical position with respect to the user created object.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 further comprises:

fourth storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to detect user input for ratcheting the attachment menu bar around the user created object; and

fifth storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to reposition the attachment menu bar based on the user input.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprises:

sixth storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to provide a feedback indicator that indicates incremental repositioning of the attachment menu bar.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 further comprises:

fourth storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to detect user input to maximize screen size of the user created object;

fifth storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to detach the attachment menu bar from the user created object; and

sixth storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to position the attachment menu bar based on user directives.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the second storage means further comprises the functions of:

storing program instructions that cause the computer to attach the attachment menu bar to the user created object, wherein the user created object includes a window.

14. A computer readable storage medium for storing program instructions that, when read by a computer, cause the computer to provide selected functions for attachment to a user created object, the computer readable storage medium comprises:

first storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to create an attachment menu bar that includes the selected functions of another object;

second storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to graphically attach the attachment menu bar to the user created object, wherein said user created object comprises a user created menu; and

third storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer, when one of the selected functions is invoked, to perform a function indicated by the one of the selected functions on at least a portion of the user created object.

15. On a graphic user interface system, a method for providing selected functions for attachment to a user created object, the method comprises the step of:

a) copying selected menu functions of another object;

b) graphically attaching an attachment menu bar to the user created object, said attachment menu bar comprising said selected menu functions copied from said another object; and

c) when one of the selected menu functions is invoked, performing a function indicated by one of the selected menu functions on at least a portion of the user created object.

16. A computer readable storage medium for storing program instructions that, when read by a computer, cause the computer to provide selected functions for attachment to a user created object, the computer readable storage medium comprises:

first storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to copy selected menu functions of another object;

second storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to graphically attach the attachment menu bar to the user created object, said attachment menu bar comprising said selected menu functions of said another object; and

third storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer, when one of the selected menu functions is invoked, to perform a function indicated by the one of the selected menu functions on an object within the user created object or on the user created object.