Method for creating user-defined computer operations using arrows

• US 7,240,300 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2004
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NBOR Corp.
• Original Assignee: NBOR Corp.
• Inventors: Jaeger, Denny
• Primary Examiner(s): Sax; Steven P.
• Application Number:
  US10/940,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20050034080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 715/801, 715/802, 715/805, 715/767, 715/769, 715/800, 715863-864, 715771-773, 715744-747, 715/760, 715856-862, 715/765, 715/711, 705/2
• US Class Current: 715/863
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method for creating user-defined computer operations involves drawing an arrow in response to user input and associating at least one graphic to the arrow to designate a transaction to the arrow. The transaction is designated to the arrow after analyzing the graphic object and the arrow to determine if the transaction is valid for the arrow. The transaction may be validated or invalidated for the arrow using a second arrow. Furthermore, the second arrow may be used to modify the transaction for the arrow. The context for creating the modified transaction may be recorded for subsequent use.

Claims

1. A method for creating user-defined computer operations, said method comprising:

drawing an arrow in a computer operating environment in response to user input, including associating at least a source graphic object and a target graphic object displayed in said computer operating environment with said arrow;

determining whether said arrow is associated with a transaction, said transaction being a computer operation that can be performed in said computer operating environment;

analyzing said source and target graphic objects and said arrow to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow; and

enabling said transaction for said arrow if said transaction is determined to be valid for said arrow,

wherein said associating of said at least said source graphic object and said target graphic object includes intersecting, nearly intersecting or substantially encircling said source graphic object with a shaft of said arrow, while pointing a head of said arrow to said target graphic object.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining includes considering at least one of color and style of said arrow to determine whether said arrow is associated with said transaction.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said analyzing of said source and target graphic objects and said arrow includes analyzing a property of one of said source and target graphic objects to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said analyzing of said source and target graphic objects and said arrow includes analyzing a behavior of one of said source and target graphic objects to determine whether said transaction-is valid for said arrow.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said analyzing of said source and target graphic objects and said arrow includes analyzing an action of said arrow to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said associating of said at least said source graphic object and said target graphic object includes associating a plurality of graphic objects in a particular order, said particular order being used for said transaction when said arrow is implemented.

7. A tangible storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform method steps for creating user-defined computer operations, said method comprising:

drawing an arrow in a computer operating environment in response to user input, including associating at least a source graphic object and a target graphic object displayed in said computer operating environment with said arrow;

determining whether said arrow is associated with a transaction, said transaction being a computer operation that can be performed in said computer operating environment;

analyzing said source and target graphic objects and said arrow to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow; and

enabling said transaction for said arrow if said transaction is determined to be valid for said arrow,

wherein said associating of said at least said source graphic object and said target graphic object includes intersecting, nearly intersecting or substantially encircling said source graphic object with a shaft of said arrow, while pointing a head of said arrow to said target graphic object.

8. The storage medium of claim 7 wherein said determining includes considering at least one of color and style of said arrow to determine whether said arrow is associated with said transaction.

9. The storage medium of claim 7 wherein said analyzing of said source and target graphic objects and said arrow includes analyzing a property of one of said source and target graphic objects to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow.

10. The storage medium of claim 7 wherein said analyzing of said source and target graphic objects and said arrow includes analyzing a behavior of one of said source and target graphic objects to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow.

11. The storage medium of claim 7 wherein said analyzing of said source and target graphic objects and said arrow includes analyzing an action of said arrow to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow.

12. The storage medium of claim 7 wherein said associating of said at least said source graphic object and said target graphic object includes associating a plurality of graphic objects in a particular order, said particular order being used for said transaction when said arrow is implemented.

13. A method for creating user-defined computer operations, said method comprising:

drawing an arrow in a computer operating environment in response to user input, including associating at least one graphic object displayed in said computer operating environment with said arrow;

determining whether said arrow is associated with a transaction, said transaction being a computer operation that can be performed in said computer operating environment;

analyzing said graphic object and said arrow to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow;

enabling said transaction for said arrow if said transaction is determined to be valid for said arrow; and

drawing a second arrow in said computer operating environment in response to another user input such that said second arrow contacts said arrow, including introducing a new parameter to said arrow such that said transaction that had been previously determined to be invalid is now validated for said arrow.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said introducing of said parameter includes associating at least one alphanumeric character or symbol with said second arrow.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said introducing of said parameter includes adding one or more graphic objects to said arrow.

16. A method for creating user-defined computer operations, said method comprising:

drawing an arrow in a computer operating environment in response to user input, including associating at least one graphic object displayed in said computer operating environment with said arrow;

determining whether said arrow is associated with a transaction, said transaction being a computer operation that can be performed in said computer operating environment;

analyzing said graphic object and said arrow to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow;

enabling said transaction for said arrow if said transaction is determined to be valid for said arrow;

drawing a second arrow in said computer operating environment in response to another user input such that said second arrow contacts said arrow; and

enabling a modified transaction based on said second arrow for said arrow regardless of whether said transaction was determined to be valid for said arrow.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising associating at least one alphanumeric character or symbol with said second arrow, said alphanumeric character or symbol corresponding to said modified transaction.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising drawing a third arrow in said computer operating environment in response to another user input such that said third arrow contacts said arrow at an intersection of said arrow and said third arrow, and defining said modified transaction for at least one associated graphic object of said arrow, said associated graphic object being adjacent to said intersection of said arrow and said third arrow.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising recording information comprising at least one piece of information for at least one graphic object, said arrow and said second arrow, said recorded information being sufficient to reference a subsequent drawing of a new arrow to said recorded information.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising determining if a match is found between said subsequent drawing of said arrow and said recorded information.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising modifying a transaction of said new arrow if said match is found.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said recorded information is predefined or user-defined.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said recording of said information is performed in response to a manual initiation.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said recording of said information is automatically performed after said modified transaction is enabled.

25. A method for creating user-defined computer operations, said method comprising:

drawing an arrow in a computer operating environment in response to user input, including associating at least one graphic object displayed in said computer operating environment with said arrow;

determining whether said arrow is associated with a transaction, said transaction being a computer operation that can be performed in said computer operating environment;

analyzing said graphic object and said arrow to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow;

enabling said transaction for said arrow if said transaction is determined to be valid for said arrow;

implementing said transaction for said arrow;

removing said arrow such that said arrow is not displayed in said computer operating environment;

displaying a representation of said arrow;

drawing a second arrow in said computer operating environment in response to another user input such that said second arrow contacts said representation; and

enabling a modified transaction based on said second arrow for said representation.

26. A tangible storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform method steps for creating user-defined computer operations, said method comprising:

drawing an arrow in a computer operating environment in response to user input, including associating at least one graphic object displayed in said computer operating environment with said arrow;

determining whether said arrow is associated with a transaction, said transaction being a computer operation that can be performed in said computer operating environment;

analyzing said graphic object and said arrow to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow;

enabling said transaction for said arrow if said transaction is determined to be valid for said arrow; and

drawing a second arrow in said computer operating environment in response to another user input such that said second arrow contacts said arrow, including introducing a new parameter to said arrow such that said transaction that had been previously determined to be invalid is now validated for said arrow.

27. The storage medium of claim 26 wherein said introducing of said parameter includes associating at least one alphanumeric character or symbol with said second arrow.

28. The storage medium of claim 26 wherein said introducing of said parameter includes adding one or more graphic objects to said arrow.

29. A tangible storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform method steps for creating user-defined computer operations, said method comprising:

drawing an arrow in a computer operating environment in response to user input, including associating at least one graphic object displayed in said computer operating environment with said arrow;

determining whether said arrow is associated with a transaction, said transaction being a computer operation that can be performed in said computer operating environment;

analyzing said graphic object and said arrow to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow;

enabling said transaction for said arrow if said transaction is determined to be valid for said arrow;

drawing a second arrow in said computer operating environment in response to another user input such that said second arrow contacts said arrow; and

enabling a modified transaction based on said second arrow for said arrow regardless of whether said transaction was determined to be valid for said arrow.

30. The storage medium of claim 29 wherein said method steps further comprise associating at least one alphanumeric character or symbol with said second arrow, said alphanumeric character or symbol corresponding to said modified transaction.

31. The storage medium of claim 29 wherein said method steps further comprise drawing a third arrow in said computer operating environment in response to another user input such that said third arrow contacts said arrow at an intersection of said arrow and said third arrow, and defining said modified transaction for at least one associated graphic object of said arrow, said associated graphic object being adjacent to said intersection of said arrow and said third arrow.

32. The storage medium of claim 29 wherein said method steps further comprise recording information comprising at least one piece of information for at least one graphic object, said arrow and said second arrow, said information being sufficient to reference a subsequent drawing of a new arrow to said recorded information.

33. The storage medium of claim 32 wherein said method steps further comprise determining if a match is found between said subsequent drawing of said arrow and said recorded information.

34. The storage medium of claim 32 wherein said method steps further comprise modifying a transaction of said new arrow if said match is found.

35. The storage medium of claim 32 wherein said recorded information is predefined or user-defined.

36. The storage medium of claim 32 wherein said recording of said predefined information is performed in response to a manual initiation.

37. The storage medium of claim 32 wherein said recording of said predefined information is automatically performed after said modified transaction is enabled.

38. A tangible storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform method steps for creating user-defined computer operations, said method comprising:

drawing an arrow in a computer operating environment in response to user input, including associating at least one graphic object displayed in said computer operating environment with said arrow;

determining whether said arrow is associated with a transaction, said transaction being a computer operation that can be performed in said computer operating environment;

analyzing said graphic object and said arrow to determine whether said transaction is valid for said arrow;

enabling said transaction for said arrow if said transaction is determined to be valid for said arrow;

implementing said transaction for said arrow;

removing said arrow such that said arrow is not displayed in said computer operating environment;

displaying a representation of said arrow;

drawing a second arrow in said computer operating environment in response to another user input such that said second arrow contacts said representation; and

enabling a modified transaction based on said second arrow for said representation.