Methods and apparatus for graphical object interaction and negotiation
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method in which a computer system initiates execution of software instructions stored in memory to provide interaction between graphical objects and a management application, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- detecting that a first graphical object is moved within a spatial proximity of a second graphical object in a graphical user interface;
in response to the detecting, notifying the first graphical object of presence information related to the second graphical object;
forming an association between the first graphical object and the second graphical object; and
graphically altering a representation of the first graphical object in response to formation of the association;
wherein graphically altering the representation of the first graphical object further comprises modifying the representation of the first graphical object based on an exchange of information from the second graphical object to the first graphical object; and
wherein modifying the representation of the first graphical object further comprises displaying the representation of the first graphical object to include information received from the second graphical object.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system provides interaction between graphical objects and a managing application by detecting that movement of a first graphical object relative to a second graphical object on the graphical user interface is within a spatial proximity. In response to the detection of movement, the system notifies the first graphical object of presence information related to the second graphical object. The presence information includes at least an identity of the second graphical object. The system forms an association between the first graphical object and the second graphical object based on the presence information, and then graphically alters a representation of at least one of the first graphical object and the second graphical object on the graphical user interface in response to the formation of the association with each other.
15 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method in which a computer system initiates execution of software instructions stored in memory to provide interaction between graphical objects and a management application, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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detecting that a first graphical object is moved within a spatial proximity of a second graphical object in a graphical user interface; in response to the detecting, notifying the first graphical object of presence information related to the second graphical object; forming an association between the first graphical object and the second graphical object; and graphically altering a representation of the first graphical object in response to formation of the association; wherein graphically altering the representation of the first graphical object further comprises modifying the representation of the first graphical object based on an exchange of information from the second graphical object to the first graphical object; and wherein modifying the representation of the first graphical object further comprises displaying the representation of the first graphical object to include information received from the second graphical object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-implemented method in which a computer system initiates execution of software instructions stored in memory to provide interaction between graphical objects and a management application, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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detecting that movement of a first graphical object relative to a second graphical object on a graphical user interface is within a spatial proximity, the first graphical object being rendered on the graphical user interface by a first independently executing software process, the second graphical object being rendered on the graphical user interface by a second independently executing software process; in response to the detecting, notifying the first graphical object of presence information related to the second graphical object comprising; identifying and notifying the first graphical object of presence information published by the second graphical object that matches presence information consumed by the first graphical object; and identifying and notifying the second graphical object of presence information published by the first graphical object that matches presence information consumed by the second graphical object; and forming an association between the first graphical object and the second graphical object based on the presence information. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer-implemented method in which a computer system initiates execution of software instructions stored in memory to provide interaction between graphical objects and a management application, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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detecting that movement of a first graphical object relative to a second graphical object on a graphical user interface is within a spatial proximity, the first graphical object is rendered on the graphical user interface by a first independently executing software process, the second graphical object is rendered on the graphical user interface by a second independently executing software process; at the first graphical object, receiving a user selection of a portion of the first graphical object on the graphical user interface; and detecting that the user has graphically manipulated the portion of the first graphical object to be within a predetermined distance from the second graphical object; notifying the first graphical object of presence information related to the second graphical object comprising; indicating, to the first graphical object, a connection interface of the second graphical object that can be called by the first graphical object to obtain connection information concerning the second graphical object to allow the portion of the first graphical object to be graphically connected with the second graphical object; forming an association between the first graphical object and the second graphical object based on the presence information comprising; the first graphical object calling the connection interface to obtain the connection information concerning the second graphical object; and the first graphical object receiving the connection information concerning the second graphical object; and graphically altering a representation of either the first graphical object or the second graphical object on the graphical user interface comprising; the first graphical object using the connection information concerning the second graphical object to render, on the graphical user interface, the portion of the first graphical object selected by the user to appear to be connected to the second graphical object. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computerized device comprising:
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a memory; a processor; a communications interface; an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface; wherein the memory is encoded with executable instructions stored thereon that when executed on the processor, causes the computerized device to perform the operations of; detecting that a first graphical object is moved within a spatial proximity of a second graphical object in a graphical user interface; in response to the detecting, notifying the first graphical object of presence information related to the second graphical object, the presence information including at least an identity of the second graphical object; forming an association between the first graphical object and the second graphical object based on the presence information; and graphically altering a representation of the first graphical object in response to formation of the association by modifying the representation of the first graphical object based on an exchange of information from the second graphical object to the first graphical object and displaying the representation of the first graphical object to include information received from the second graphical object. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A computer-readable storage medium having executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed on a processor in a computerized device, cause the computerized device to perform the operations of:
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detecting that a first graphical object is moved within a spatial proximity of a second graphical object in a graphical user interface; in response to the detecting, notifying the first graphical object of presence information related to the second graphical object, the presence information including at least an identity of the second graphical object; forming an association between the first graphical object and the second graphical object based on the presence information; and graphically altering a representation of the first graphical object in response to formation of the association by modifying the representation of the first graphical object based on an exchange of information from the second graphical object to the first graphical object and displaying the representation of the first graphical object to include information received from the second graphical object.
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Specification