Positioning and alignment aids for shape objects having authorable behaviors and appearances

• US 6,232,983 B1
• Filed: 06/01/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Felser, Lawrence David, Wallace, John Rogers
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): CUNNINGHAM, GREGORY F
• Application Number:
  US09/088,116
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 345/433, 345/348, 345/964, 345/977, 345/435, 345/436, 345/437, 345/438, 345/439, 345/441
• US Class Current: 345/649
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

An intelligent shape is displayed in conjunction with a CAD application program, wherein the intelligent shape selectively displays positioning and alignment aids on the monitor of the computer to assist a user in operating one or more functions of the host application program. When invoked, the intelligent shape displays plugs and sockets related to the shapes on the monitor and aids the user in positioning, aligning, rotating, and connecting shapes together.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information on a monitor attached to a computer, comprising:

(a) displaying a first object on the monitor;

(b) displaying a second object on the monitor;

(c) positioning the second object proximate to the first object on the monitor;

(d) displaying one or more socket objects on the first object and one or more plug objects on the second object when the second object is positioned proximate to the first object, wherein one or more of the socket objects on the first object maintain knowledge regarding interaction with one or more of the plug objects on the second object independently of the first object and second object; and

(e) automatically coupling the second object to the first object by coupling a plug object of the second object to a socket object of the first object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein an appearance of the displayed second object on the monitor is modified when a type of the plug object on the second object does not substantially match a type of the socket object on the first object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically coupling further comprises positioning the second object to align the plug object of the second object to the socket object of the first object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically coupling further comprises automatically coupling a plug object of the second object to the first object along a defined range of the first object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying one or more socket objects on the first object and one or more plug objects on the second object further comprises disabling the display of one or more socket objects on the first object when the second object is not proximate to the first object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the socket objects and plug objects are selectively programmable by a user of the computer.

7. A computer-implemented apparatus for displaying information, comprising:

a computer having a monitor attached thereto, wherein the monitor displays a first object and a second object;

means for positioning the second object proximate to the first object on the monitor;

means for displaying one or more socket objects on the first object and one or more plug objects on the second object when the second object is positioned proximate to the first object, wherein one or more of the socket objects on the first object maintain knowledge regarding interaction with one or more of the plug objects on the second object independently of the first object and the second object; and

means for automatically coupling the second object to the first object by coupling a plug object of the second object to a socket object of the first object.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein an appearance of the displayed second object on the monitor is modified when a type of the plug object on the second object does not substantially match a type of the socket object on the first object.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for automatically coupling further comprises means for positioning the second object to align the plug object of the second object to the socket object of the first object.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for automatically coupling further comprises means for automatically coupling a plug object of the second object to the first object along a defined range of the first object.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for displaying one or more socket objects on the first object and one or more plug objects on the second object further comprises means for disabling the display of socket objects on the first object when the second object is not proximate to the first object.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the socket objects and plug objects are selectively programmable by a user of the computer.

8. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program carrier readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of displaying information on a monitor attached to the computer, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a first object on the monitor;

(b) displaying a second object on the monitor;

(c) positioning the second object proximate to the first object on the monitor;

(d) displaying one or more socket objects on the first object and one or more plug objects on the second object when the second object is positioned proximate to the first object, wherein one or more of the socket objects on the first object maintain knowledge regarding interaction with one or more of the plug objects on the second object independently of the first object and the second object; and

(e) automatically coupling the second object to the first object by coupling a plug object os the second objects to a socket object of the first object.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein an appearance of the displayed second object on the monitor is modified when a type of the plug object on the second object does not substantially match a type of the socket socket on the first object.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the automatically coupling further comprises positioning the second object to align the plug object of the second object to the socket object of the first object.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the automatically coupling further comprises automatically coupling a plug object of the second object to the first object along a defined range of the first object.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the displaying one or mote socket objects on the first object and one or more plug objects on the second object further comprises disabling the display of one or more socket objects on the first object when the second object is not proximate the first object.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the socket objects and plug objects are selectively programmable by the user of the computer.