Method and apparatus for improved interaction with an application program according to data types and actions performed by the application program

• US 7,631,320 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Johnston, Robert George Jr., Stern, Mark Ludwig, Robinson Moller, Elizabeth Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Van H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Seye; Abdou K
• Application Number:
  US10/911,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,953 Days
• Field of Search: 715/769, 715/804, 719/329, 719/320
• US Class Current: 719/329
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing actions while selecting objects on a user interface display. A user may select a first item in an area of a display controlled by a first process and drag that item to a second area on a display controlled by a second process. The second process may negotiate with the first process to provide certain data types, and based upon those data types, the second process will determine a list of actions in hierarchical fashion which may be performed upon the data. Such actions may include, but are not limited to, printing, sending electronic mail, and performing other actions in the computer system. Alternative and primary actions may also be specified by a user, such as by selecting various keys on a keyboard or other input device. Further, a user may specify that the second process display a list of actions which may be performed upon the selected item and allow the user to select an action from a list.

Claims

1. A method of manipulating data between application programs in a computer-controlled display system comprising:

a user selecting a first item in a first window, said first window under control of a first process;

said first process specifying formats in which first data from said first item is provided;

said user dragging said selected first item to a second window, said second window under control of a second process comprising a plurality of actions, said plurality of actions comprising a primary action and an alternate action;

said user deselecting said selected first item while said first item is located at said second window;

said second process requesting said first item in a plurality of said formats specified from said first process;

said second process determining if said second process can perform the primary action based upon a first format of said formats of said first item, if so, then receiving data from said first process in said first format and performing said primary action using said first format of said first item from said first process; and

performing said alternate action using a second format of said formats of said first item if said second process cannot perform said first action based upon a first format of said first item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a list of said plurality of actions which can be performed by said second process upon said formats of said first item;

said user selecting a desired action from said list of plurality of actions; and

said second process performing said desired action using data based upon a third format of said formats of said first item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second process determining if said second process can perform a primary action comprises determining whether a user has specified said primary action, and if not, said second process performing an alternate action using said first item from said first process.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said alternate action is specified by said user selecting an alternate action indication means.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said alternate action indication means comprises a key on a user-actuated keyboard coupled to said computer controlled display system.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said alternate action comprises displaying a list of a plurality of actions which may be performed by said second process using said first item.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein if said alternate action is performed, then further performing the following:

said user selecting a desired action from said list of plurality of actions; and

said second process performing said desired action using data based using said first item.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said primary action comprises moving said first item in a file system of said computer-controlled display system, and said alternate action comprises copying said first item in said file system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said primary action comprises moving said first item in a file of said computer-controlled display system, and said alternate action comprises copying said first item in said file.

10. An apparatus for manipulating data between application programs in a computer-controlled display system comprising:

means for a user selecting a first item in a first window, said first window under control of a first process;

means for said first process specifying formats in which first data from said first item is provided;

means for said user dragging said selected first item to a second window, said second window under control of a second process comprising a plurality of actions, said plurality of actions comprising a primary action and an alternate action;

means for said user deselecting said selected first item while said first item is located at said second window;

means for said second process requesting said first item in a plurality of said formats specified from said first process;

means for said second process determining if said second process can perform the primary action based upon a first format of said formats of said first item, if so, then means for activating a means for receiving data from said first process in said first format and means for performing said primary action using said first format of said first item from said first process; and

performing said alternate action using a second format of said formats of said first item if said second process cannot perform said first action based upon a first format of said first item.

11. A computer storage device containing executable computer program instructions, which when executed by a digital processing system, causes the system to perform a method of manipulating data between application programs in a computer-controlled display system, the method comprising:

receiving user selection of a first item in a first window, said first window under control of a first process;

said first process specifying formats in which first data from said first item is provided;

detecting user dragging of said selected first item to a second window, said second window under control of a second process comprising a plurality of actions, said plurality of actions comprising a primary action and an alternate action;

detecting said user deselecting said selected first item while said first item is located at said second window;

said second process requesting said first item in a plurality of said formats specified from said first process;

said second process determining if said second process can perform the primary action based upon a first format of said formats of said first item, if so, then receiving data from said first process in said first format and performing said primary action using said first format of said first item from said first process; and

performing said alternate action using a second format of said formats of said first item if said second process cannot perform said first action based upon a first format of said first item.

12. The computer storage device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying a list of said plurality of actions which can be performed by said second process upon said formats of said first item;

detecting said user'"'"'s selection of a desired action from said list of plurality of actions; and

said second process performing said desired action using data based upon a third format of said formats of said first item.

13. The computer storage device of claim 11, wherein said second process determining if said second process can perform a primary action comprises determining whether a user has specified said primary action, and if not, said second process performing an alternate action using said first item from said first process.

14. The computer storage device of claim 13, wherein said alternate action is specified by said user selecting an alternate action indication means.

15. The computer storage device of claim 14, wherein said alternate action indication means comprises a key on a user-actuated keyboard coupled to said computer controlled display system.

16. The computer storage device of claim 13, wherein said alternate action comprises displaying a list of a plurality of actions which may be performed by said second process using said first item.

17. The computer storage device of claim 16, wherein if said alternate action is performed, then the method further comprises the following:

detecting said user'"'"'s selection of a desired action from said list of plurality of actions; and

said second process performing said desired action using data based using said first item.

18. The computer storage device of claim 11, wherein said primary action comprises moving said first item in a file system of said computer-controlled display system, and said alternate action comprises copying said first item in said file system.

19. The computer storage device of claim 11, wherein said primary action comprises moving said first item in a file of said computer-controlled display system, and said alternate action comprises copying said first item in said file.