System and method for processing an event of a graphical object

• US 6,480,203 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Igrafx LLC
• Original Assignee: Corel Incorporated (Corel Holdings LP)
• Inventors: Carter, Eric H., Schanel, Scott J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US09/272,928
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 345/433, 345/501, 345/666, 345/751, 345/788, 345/619, 707/500.1
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A system for processing an event of a graphical object includes a processor coupled to an input device, an output device, a memory, and a data retrieval device. The processor executes an application that supports an event manager which detects the initiation of an event upon a graphical object. The application further supports an interface module that dynamically associates with and dissociates from the graphical object to communicate event information to a client.

Claims

1. A system for processing an event of a graphical object, comprising:

a memory operable to store a plurality of graphical objects;

an event manager coupled to the memory and operable to detect the initiation of a first event upon a first one of the graphical objects, and further operable to detect the termination of the first event and to detect the initiation of a second event upon a second one of the graphical objects prior to the first event termination; and

an interface module coupled to the event manager and operable to associate with the first graphical object in response to the detected first event initiation, to communicate event information to a client, and, in response to the detected second event initiation, to maintain an association log having information defining the association with the first graphical object, to dissociate from the first graphical object, to associate with the second graphical object, to communicate event information from the second graphical object to the client, to dissociate from the second graphical object, and to associate with the first graphical object using the association log after dissociating from the second graphical object, the interface module further operable to dissociate from the first graphical object in response to the detected first event termination.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first graphical object comprises one of a plurality of different types of graphical objects; and

the event manager selects the interface module from a plurality of different types of interface modules based upon the type of the particular graphical object.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the different types of graphical objects comprise a document, a graphical diagram, a graphical shape, or a graphical connector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

each of the graphical objects is characterized by a type and is arranged in a plurality of classes;

each of the classes defines a particular scope of graphical objects of a particular type; and

the interface module is operable to associate with any of the graphical objects of a particular class.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a display coupled to the memory and operable to display the graphical objects; and

a processor coupled to the display and operable to present a plurality of options to be selected by a user to define the particular class of graphical objects.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the event comprises an input action executed upon the first graphical object.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the client comprises a process that executes in response to the event information.

8. An interface module for processing an event of a graphical object, comprising:

a first interface operable to associate with a first one of a plurality of graphical objects in response to the initiation of a first event upon the first graphical object, the first interface further operable, in response to the initiation of a second event upon a second graphical object, to dissociate, from the first graphical object, to associate with the second graphical object, to dissociate from the second graphical object, and to associate with the first graphical object, the interface further operable to dissociate from the first graphical object in response to the termination of the first event;

a memory that stores a client roster identifying clients of the interface module; and

a second interface coupled to the first interface and operable to communicate event information to a client.

9. The interface module of claim 8, further comprising a memory that stores an association log having information defining the association between the first interface and the first graphical object.

10. The interface module of claim 9, wherein:

the first interface is further operable to associate with the first graphical object using the association log after dissociating from the second graphical object; and

the second interface is further operable to communicate event information defining the second event to the client.

11. The interface module of claim 8, wherein:

each of the graphical objects is characterized by a type and is arranged in a plurality of classes;

each of the classes defines a particular scope of graphical objects of a particular type; and

the interface module is operable to associate with any of the graphical objects of a particular class.