User interactive display interfaces with means for interactive formation of combination display objects representative of combined interactive functions

• US 6,657,642 B1
• Filed: 07/03/1997
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Martin, Shirley Lynn, Mullaly, John Martin, Bardon, Didier Daniel Claude, Berry, Richard Edmond, Isensee, Scott Harlan
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAO H
• Application Number:
  US08/887,830
• Time in Patent Office: 2,343 Days
• Field of Search: 345/329, 345/333, 345/334, 345/339, 345/355, 345/336, 345/356, 345/357, 345/419, 345/976, 345/733, 345/762, 345/765, 345/764, 345/848, 345/853, 345/854
• US Class Current: 715/762
• 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

Abstract

A system, method and computer program are provided for an interactive data processor controlled display interface wherein the user may dynamically select a plurality of objects (tools) and combine these tools into a combination tool which simultaneously performs the combined interactive functions of the individual tools. The invention is particularly effective when the combined functions being performed are graphic in nature and the results of the combination are shown on the display.

Claims

1. A user interactive data processor controlled display system comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of selectable user interactive objects for respectively performing interactive graphical functions, the results of said functions being displayed,

means for designating a set of said objects for combination into a single object,

means for combining the designated objects into a single combination object having an image representative of the combined graphical functions, and

user interactive means for activating said combination object to perform said combined graphical functions.

2. The display system of claim 1 wherein said set of objects are three-dimensional objects.

3. The display system of claim 2 further including means for storing data representative of each respective displayed object and data for performing the respective interactive functions of each object as a programming entity.

4. The display system of claim 3 further including means for storing data representative of the combination object and data for performing said combined functions as a single programming entity.

5. The display system of claim 1 wherein said display system displays a three-dimensional workspace, said set of designated objects are three-dimensional and said combination object is three-dimensional.

6. A computer implemented method for displaying user interactive objects selectable to perform functions comprising:

displaying a plurality of selectable user interactive objects for respectively performing interactive graphical functions, the results of said functions being displayed,

designating a set of said objects for combination into a single object,

combining the designated objects into a single combination object, having an image representative of the combined graphical functions, and

interactively activating said combination object to perform said combined graphical functions.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said set of objects are three-dimensional objects.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the steps of storing data representative of each respective displayed object and the data for performing the respective interactive function of each object as a programming entity.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of storing data representative of said combination object and the data for performing the combined functions as a single programming entity.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein a three-dimensional workspace is displayed, said set of designated objects are three-dimensional and said combination object is three-dimensional.

11. A computer program having data structures included on a computer readable medium which causes the display on a data processor supported display of user interactive objects selectable to perform functions comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of selectable user interactive objects for respectively performing interactive graphical functions, the results of said functions being displayed,

means for designating a set of said objects for combination into a single object,

means for combining the designated objects into a single combination object having an image representative of the combined graphical functions, and

user interactive means for activating said combination object to perform said combined graphical functions.

12. The computer program according to claim 11 wherein said set of objects are three-dimensional objects.

13. The computer program according to claim 12 further including means for storing data representative of each respective displayed object and data for performing the respective interactive functions of each object as a programming entity.

14. The computer program according to claim 13 further including means for storing data representative of the combination object and data for performing said combined functions as a single programming entity.

15. The computer program according to claim 11 wherein said display system displays a three-dimensional workspace, said set of designated objects are three-dimensional and said combination object is three-dimensional.

16. A data processor controlled user interactive display interface comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of selectable user interactive objects for respectively performing user interactive graphical functions, the results of said functions being displayed,

means for a user pointing to a set of said objects for combination into a single object,

means for the user interactively combining on said interface, the designated objects into a single combination object having an image representative of the combined graphical functions, and

user interactive means for manipulating said combination object on said interface to perform said combined graphical functions.

17. A method for user interactive manipulation of interactive objects to perform graphical functions on a data processor controlled display interface comprising:

displaying a plurality of selectable user interactive objects for respectively performing user interactive graphical functions, the results of said functions being displayed,

pointing to a set of said objects by said user for combination into a single object,

user interactive combining on said interface, the designated objects into a single combination object having an image representative of the combined graphical functions, and

user interactively manipulating said combination object on said interface to perform said combined graphical functions.

18. A computer program having data structures included on a computer readable medium which controls the display on a data processor supported user interactive display interface of user interactive objects manipulatable to perform graphical functions comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of selectable user interactive objects for respectively performing user interactive graphical functions, the results of said functions being displayed,

means for a user pointing to a set of said objects for combination into a single object,

means for the user interactively combining on said interface, the designated objects into a single combination object having an image representative of the combined graphical functions, and

user interactive means for manipulating said combination object on said interface to perform said combined graphical functions.