Three-dimensional graphical user interface for managing screen objects

• US 6,404,443 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Westerman, Larry Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/383,040
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 345/776, 345/777, 345/775, 345/848-852, 345/782, 345/653, 345/664, 345/679, 345/828-829, 345/839, 345/860, 345/763, 345/826, 707/10, 707/9, 707/230
• US Class Current: 715/776
• 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 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A user interface is provided for handling a group of screen objects. The interface establishes a viewport in a portion of the screen. The interface allows the user to define a set of planes, and to assign each object to one of the planes. A tab identifying each plane is always visible, and is used to select one plane at a time. The objects of the selected plane are thus displayed through the viewport, and available for handling as is known. The planes are stacked in a sequence, which is reflected in the order of the tabs. Also viewable in the viewport the objects of the next plane in the sequence but can not be worked upon. Navigation thus creates a sense of moving perpendicularly to the screen, which banks on the user'"'"'s preconceived sense of depth.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface for managing a plurality of screen objects found on a full area of a screen comprising:

means for establishing a viewport display area in a first portion of the full area of the screen, thereby defining a non zero second portion of the full area of the screen outside the viewport display area;

means for defining a plurality of planes;

means for assigning each object to a specific one of the planes, such that at least two planes are assigned at least one object each;

means for selecting any one of the planes; and

means for displaying in the viewport display area at least one of the objects assigned to the selected plane,

wherein none of the objects assigned to a plane can be displayed in the second portion of the full area of the screen wherein the means for selecting any one of the planes includes;

means for displaying an identifying tab for each plane; and

means for activating the tab corresponding to the plane that is desired to be selected.

2. The interface of claim 1, further comprising means for changing a size of the viewport display area.

3. The interface of claim 1, further comprising means for changing a location of the viewport display area relative to the full area of the screen.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein all of the objects assigned to the selected plane are displayed in the viewport display area.

5. The interface of claim 1, further comprising:

means for placing each object at a set of coordinates of the viewport display area, wherein

the displaying means displays each object at the coordinates that the object has been placed.

6. The interface of claim 5, further comprising means for changing the coordinates in the viewport display area where the object is displayed.

7. The interface of claim 1, further comprising means for unassigning an object from a plane.

8. The interface of claim 1, further comprising means for deleting one of the defined planes.

9. The interface of claim 1, further comprising means for arranging the planes according to a sequence.

10. The interface of claim 9, further comprising means for changing the sequence.

11. The interface of claim 1, wherein the means for selecting any one of the planes deselects all other planes.

12. The interface of claim 1, further including means for customizing an appearance of the tab.

13. The interface of claim 1, further including means for displaying the tab corresponding to the selected plane more prominently than the other tabs.

14. The interface of claim 1, further comprising means for displaying at least one other object of a second plane.

15. The interface of claim 14, wherein the planes are arranged in a sequence, and the second plane is the plane immediately after the selected plane in the sequence.

16. The interface of claim 14, wherein the means for displaying the object of the second plane displays the second object less prominently than the object belonging in the first plane.

17. The interface of claim 14, wherein the means for displaying the object of the second plane displays the second object obscured at least in part by the object belonging in the first plane.

18. The interface of claim 14, wherein the displayed object of the selected plane can be activated directly by a pointing device, while the displayed second object can not be similarly activated.

19. A method of using a graphical interface for managing a plurality of screen objects found on a full area of a screen comprising:

establishing a viewport display area in a first portion of the full area of the screen, thereby defining a non zero second portion of the full area of the screen outside the viewport display area;

defining a plurality of planes;

assigning each object to a specific one of the planes, such that at least two planes are assigned at least one object each;

selecting any one of the planes; and

displaying in the viewport display area at least one of the objects assigned to the selected plane,

while preventing all of the objects assigned to a plane from being displayed in the second portion of the full area of the screen wherein selecting any one of the planes includes;

displaying an identifying tab for each plane; and

activating the tab corresponding to the plane that is desired to be selected.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising changing a size of the viewport display area.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising changing a location of the viewport display area relative to a full area of the screen.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein all of the objects assigned to the selected plane are displayed in the viewport display area.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

placing each object at a set of coordinates of the viewport display area, wherein

the displaying step displays each object at the coordinates that the object has been placed.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising changing the coordinates in the viewport display area where the object is displayed.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising unassigning an object from a plane.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising deleting one of the defined planes.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising arranging the planes according to a sequence.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising changing the sequence.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein selecting any one of the planes deselects all other planes.

30. The method of claim 20, further including customizing an appearance of the tab.

31. The method of claim 19, further including displaying the tab corresponding to the selected plane more prominently than the other tabs.

32. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

selecting an object assigned to the selected plane; and

moving the selected object over the identifying tab of a second plane distinct from the selected plane, thereby unassigning the object from the selected plane and assigning the object to the second plane.

33. The method of claim 19, further comprising displaying at least one other object of a second plane.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising arranging the planes according to a sequence, and wherein the second plane is the plane immediately after the selected plane in the sequence.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the object of the second plane is displayed less prominently than the object belonging in the first plane.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the object of the second plane is displayed obscured at least in part by the object belonging in the first plane.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the displayed first object of the selected plane can be activated while the displayed second object can not be activated.