Visualizing degrees of information object attributes

• US 6,337,699 B1
• Filed: 06/27/1996
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Jakob
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/673,184
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 395/348, 395/349, 395/326, 395/333, 395/334, 395/335, 395/339, 345/348, 345/349, 345/326, 345/333, 345/334, 345/335, 345/339, 345/835, 345/837, 345/838, 345/839, 345/764, 345/765, 345/772, 345/775, 345/776, 345/777, 345/866
• US Class Current: 715/837
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

Display of an icon is modified to permit information about at least four independent multiple valued variables to be readily received by a viewer. Frequency of blinking, degree of blinking, color and degree of fill of interior space of an icon are used to represent variable information. Classification of e-mail by “importance” of originator, by priority and by due date is reflected in the icon display is illustrated in one example. In another, the percent of files changing since the last access is displayed using a folder icon.

Claims

1. Apparatus for displaying information, comprising:

a. a computer

b. a display controller configured to control the display of icons so that each displayed icon can simultaneously depict more than one independent information variable corresponding to said each displayed icon, a level of each independent variable being respectively depicted by at least one of frequency of blinking, degree of blinking and degree of fill of the icon; and

c. a display connected to said computer by said display controller.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 in which said more than one independent variable comprises four independent variables.

3. Apparatus of claim 2 in which said four independent variables are represented by frequency of blinking, degree of blinking, degree of fill and color of icon, respectively.

4. Apparatus of claim 1 in which said degree of blinking includes a no blink state, a subtle blink state, an intermediate blink state and an aggressive blink state.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said aggressive blink state reduces and restores intensity of internal and external borderlines of said icon and a fill of said icon, said intermediate blink state reduces and restores said fill of said icon, and said subtle blink state reduces and restores said color of said icon.

6. A method for displaying information, comprising a step of:

a. providing an element for performing the step of independently setting two or more visual characteristics of an icon to simultaneously represent two or more different items of information about an information object represented by said icon, said visual characteristics being selected from the group comprising frequency of blinking, degree of blinking, degree of fill and color of the icon.

7. The method of claim 6 in which said information object is a file folder and said information includes a percentage of files having a revision date subsequent to the last time the user viewed the file.

8. The method of claim 7 in which said percentage is represented by degree of fill.

9. The method of claim 6 in which said information object is an e-mail message and said information includes information about an originator of the message.

10. The method of claim 9 in which said information about the originator is represented by at least one of color of icon, degree of blink or frequency of blink.

11. The method of claim 6 in which said information object is an e-mail message and said information includes information about content of the message.

12. The method of claim 11 in which said information about the content is due date.

13. The method of claim 11 in which said information about the content is priority.

14. A method for displaying information, comprising the steps of:

a. providing an element for performing a step of scanning a text of an e-mail message for key words or phrases, and

b. providing an element for performing the step of setting visual characteristics of an icon based on said key words or phrases.

15. A computer system, comprising:

a. a network; and

b. a plurality of computers connected to said network, least one of said computers configured to control a display of icons so that more than one independent variable can be simultaneously depicted in a visual display of an icon, a level of each independent variable being respectively depicted by at least one of frequency of blinking, degree of blinking and degree of fill of the icon.

16. A computer program product for displaying information, comprising:

a. a memory medium; and

b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for independently setting two or more visual characteristics of an icon to simultaneously represent two or more different items of information about an information object represented by said icon, said visual characteristics being selected from a group comprising frequency of blinking, degree of blinking, and degree of fill of the icon.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 in which said visual characteristics are further selected from the color of the icon.

18. A computer program product for displaying information, comprising:

a. a memory medium; and

b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for scanning text of an e-mail message for key words or phrases, and for setting visual characteristics of an icon based on said key words or phrases.