Linking graphical user interfaces

• US 6,493,003 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Martinez, Anthony Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, KIEU D
• Application Number:
  US09/240,016
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 345/331, 345/332, 345/340, 345/329, 345/348, 345/349, 345/967, 345/966, 345/969, 345/339, 345/346, 345/356, 345/751, 345/759, 345/781, 345/733, 345/835, 345/839, 345/764, 345/709, 709/328, 709/329, 709/310, 709/313
• US Class Current: 715/781
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/966 Computer process, e.g. operation of computer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

A method and implementing computer system is provided in which a user program-linking interface is presented on a computer screen to enable a user to select an input or source program, as well as one of several available functional operators. The linking program is effective to receive data from the input program, perform a selected functional operation on the data as may be selected by a user, and deliver the resulting information in a manner chosen by the user. In one exemplary embodiment, the resulting information is delivered to a selected output or target program which may be coupled to the linking program. In another example, the linking program is effective to provide a display window to show the results of the functional operation performed on the source program as selected by the user.

Claims

1. A method for processing input information received from at least a first computer program and outputting said processed information, said method comprising:

providing at least a first program image on a display device at a user terminal, said first program image being representative of said first computer program;

providing a processing program image on said display device, said processing program image being representative of a processing program, said processing program being independent from said first computer program;

receiving input information by said processing program from said first computer program;

selecting at least one of a plurality of available processing functions which may be performed by said processing program to provide a processed output; and

continuously performing said selected processing function on input information as said input information is input to said first computer program by a user at said user terminal for providing said processed output.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

providing an output window on said display device, said output window being associated with said processing program; and

displaying said processed output within said output window.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

providing a second program image on said display device at said user terminal, said second program image being representative of a second computer program; and

receiving said processed output by said second computer program.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 and further including:

providing a plurality of program images on said display device at said user terminal, said plurality of program images being representative of a corresponding plurality of computer programs, said processing program being selectively operable for outputting said processed output to a number of said computer programs as may be selected by said user.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said processing program image includes an input receiving screen area and an output providing screen area, said method further including:

visually coupling said input receiving screen area to a selected field in said first program image to visually indicate that said selected field of said first program image is coupled to said processing program input receiving screen area and information from said first computer program is provided as input to said processing program; and

visually coupling said output providing screen area to a selected field of said second program image to visually indicate that said processing program image is coupled to said second program image and information from said processing program is provided as output to said selected field of said second computer program.

6. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said user terminal is connected in a network, and at least one of said first and second computer programs are accessed by said user terminal from a network site remote from said user terminal.

7. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said processing program image includes a process selection indicium, said method further including:

presenting a listing of said plurality of available processing functions in response to a user activation of said process selection indicium; and

making said selection of said processing functions from said listing.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said available processing functions include a copying function selectively operable for copying selected content from said first computer program, and providing said copied content to said second computer program.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein results from said copying function are displayed on said display device in said second program image.

10. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said available processing functions include a conversion function selectively operable for converting selected content from said first computer program from one form to another, and providing said converted content to said second computer program.

11. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said available processing functions include a trigger function selectively operable for automatically triggering a predetermined action upon detecting a predetermined content from said input information.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said input information from said first computer program is received from an input field selected by a user, said method further including:

visually marking said input field in said first program image to be visually distinctive from other fields in said first program image.

13. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said input information from said first computer program is received from an input field selected by a user, said method further including:

visually marking said input field in said first program image to be visually distinct from other fields in said first program image.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said processed output is provided to a selected output field of said second program image, said method further including:

visually marking said output field in said second program image to be visually distinct from other fields in said second program image.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

providing a plurality of program images on said display device at said user terminal, said plurality of program images being representative of a corresponding plurality of computer programs, said processing program being selectively operable for receiving inputs from a number of said computer programs as may be selected by said user.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said processing program image includes an input receiving screen area, said method further including:

visually coupling said input receiving screen area to a selected field in said first program image to visually indicate that said selected field of said first program image is coupled to said processing program input receiving screen area and information from said first computer program is provided as input to said processing program.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said processing program image includes an output providing screen area, said method further including:

visually coupling said output providing screen area to said output window to visually indicate that said processing program image is coupled to said output window and information from said processing program is provided as output to said output window.

18. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said user terminal is connected in a network, and said first computer program being accessed by said user terminal from a network site remote from said user terminal.

19. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said processing program image includes a process selection indicium, said method further including:

presenting a listing of said plurality of available processing functions in response to a user activation of said process selection indicium; and

making said selection of said processing functions from said listing.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said available processing functions include a searching function selectively operable for searching said input information for items designated by said user;

and

displaying results from said searching function on said display device.

21. The method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said available processing functions include a counting function selectively operable for counting selected items occurring in said input information;

and

displaying results from said counting function on said display device.

22. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said processing program is selectively operable on a continuing basis, said processing program image further including a toggle indicium, said toggle indicium being selectively actuated by said user for toggling said processing program between an “

on”

state in which input information is being processed and provided as said processed output, and an “

off”

state in which said input information is not being processed by said processing program.

23. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first computer program is a messenger program operable for displaying content input from said user at said user terminal and also communicating and displaying said content input from said user to a second terminal remote from said user terminal.

24. A storage medium including machine readable coded indicia, said storage medium being selectively coupled to a reading device, said reading device being selectively coupled to a computer system, said reading device being selectively operable to read said machine readable coded indicia and provide program signals representative thereof, said program signals being effective to enable a processing of selected input information received from at least a first computer program and outputting said processed information to a selected output display, said program signals being selectively operable to accomplish the steps of:

providing a processing program image on said display device, said processing program image being representative of a processing program, said processing program being independent from said first computer program;

receiving input information by said processing program from said first computer program;

enabling a user selection of at least one of a plurality of available processing functions which may be performed by said processing program to provide a processed output; and

continuously performing said selected processing function on input information as said input information is input to said first computer program by a user at a user terminal to provide a processed output to said selected output display.

25. A computer system comprising:

a signal bus for transferring signals between various components of said computer system;

a central processing means coupled to said signal bus;

a user input means coupled to said signal bus, said user input means being arranged for receiving user input;

memory means coupled to said signal bus, said memory means being arranged for storing information; and

a display device coupled to said signal bus, said computer system being selectively operable in response to a processing program and user input for providing a processing program image on said display device, said processing program image being representative of said processing program, said processing program being operable for receiving input information from a first computer program running on said computer system, and displaying, for a user selection, at least one of a plurality of available processing functions which may be performed by said processing program on said input information, said computer system being further operable for continuously performing a selected processing function on said input information as said input information is input to said first computer program by a user at said user input means to provide a processed output to a selected output display area on said display device.