Color labeling in a graphical user interface

• US 7,873,916 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIENER, ERIC A
• Application Number:
  US10/875,076
• Time in Patent Office: 2,401 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715853-859, 715/846, 715/765, 715/763, 715/764, 715766-768, 715/775, 715/777, 715/783, 715/794, 715/802, 715/803, 715/807, 715/817, 715/821, 715/823, 715/860, 715/861
• US Class Current: 715/823
• 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for providing visual cues to a user of a graphical user interface (GUI) for a computer system is disclosed. The visual cues indicate a relationship with an icon having text and/or image elements. In some embodiments, the method receives a color for labeling an icon that has a text-element and an image-element. The method applies the color to a background-region of the text-element of the icon without applying the color to the image-element. In some embodiments, the method does not affect the font of the text. In some embodiments, the method receives a selection of an icon. The icon has a background-region that has a first color. The method changes the first color of the background-region to a second color but retains the first color in a section of the background-region. In some of these embodiments, the method outlines the section of the background-region with a third color.

Claims

1. A method for providing, in a graphical user interface (GUI) for a computer system, a visual cue to a user, the method comprising:

receiving a first user selection of an icon that comprises a background region;

receiving a user selection of a first color to color label the icon;

in response to the user selection of the first color, applying the first color to the background region of the icon in order to color label the icon;

receiving a second user selection of the icon after the application of the first color to the background region of the icon; and

in response to the second user selection of the icon, replacing said first color of said background region with a second color in a first section of the background region in order to identify the selection of the icon while retaining said first color in a second section of said background region in order to retain an indication of the color label of the icon, wherein the second section is a geometric shape.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising outlining said background region with a third color in order to delineate the color-labeling of the icon from a display area in the GUI in which the icon is located.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second user selections of the icon each comprise a click operation of a cursor controller by a user of the computer system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the click operation is a single click of said cursor controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the geometric shape is a circle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the geometric shape is a square.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for providing a graphical user interface, said computer program executable by at least one processor, said computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

receiving a first selection of an icon that comprises a background region;

receiving a selection of a first color to label the icon;

in response to the selection of the first color, applying the selected first color to the background region of the icon in order to color label the icon;

after applying the first color to the background region of the icon, receiving a second selection of the icon; and

in response to the second selection of the icon;

(i) retaining said first color in a first section of said background region in order to retain an indication of the color label of the icon, wherein the first section is a geometric shape; and

(ii) replacing said first color in a different section of said background region with a second color in order to indicate the selection of the icon.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) for a computer system, said GUI comprising:

a user-interface tool for displaying a plurality of colors that are selectable by a user to label at least two different icons with at least two different colors; and

a display area for displaying at least one icon, said at least one icon comprising a background region, said background region comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions are for;

(i) display without any color when the icon is not selected and no color has been selected to label the icon; and

(ii) display in a first color from the plurality of user-selectable colors when the icon is unselected and the first color has been selected from the plurality of user-selectable colors in order to color label the icon,

wherein the first portion is further for display with a second color replacing the first color when the icon is selected after the first color has been selected in order to indicate the selection of the icon while the second portion is further for display with the first color retained when the icon is selected after the first color has been selected in order to continue indicating the color label of the icon wherein the second portion is a geometric shape.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein said second color is a selection-color.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein said GUI further comprises an outline around said second portion, said outline comprising a third color.

11. A method for specifying a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on a display device, the method comprising:

in response to a user selection of a first color, applying the first color to a particular icon in order to label the particular icon; and

upon a subsequent user selection of the particular icon, applying a second color to the particular icon except for a portion of the particular icon which retains the first color, the second color providing an indication of the selection of the particular icon while the retention of the first color provides a continuing label of the particular icon while the particular icon is selected, wherein the portion is a geometric shape,

wherein said first and second colors are different from a third color of a background of a display area in which said particular icon is located.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the particular icon comprises more than one element, wherein the first color is retained for a first portion of a particular element and the second color is applied to a second portion of the particular element.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the particular icon comprises a text element, wherein the first color is retained for a first portion of the text element and the second color is applied to a second portion of the text element.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying the particular icon when the second color is applied.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the portion of the particular icon that retains the first color is an outline of the particular icon.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first color is applied to the particular icon after receiving a selection of a label color for the particular icon.

17. A method for specifying a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on a display device, the method comprising:

providing a particular icon for labeling with a first color in order to provide a visual cue about the particular icon when the particular icon is selected via a first user selection of the particular icon and the first color is selected via a user selection of the first color; and

specifying a second color for applying to a first portion of the particular icon to indicate selection of the particular icon when the particular icon is selected after the application of the first color to the particular icon, wherein a second portion of the particular icon retains the first color when the particular icon is selected in order to continue providing the visual cue about the particular icon, wherein the second portion is a geometric shape.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second portion of the particular icon that retains the first color is an outline of the particular icon.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) for a computer system, said GUI comprising:

a) a display area for displaying icons; and

b) at least one particular icon displayed in the display area, the particular icon comprising a particular element that is displayed by using a first labeling color, applied in response to a user selection of the first labeling color, to provide a visual cue to a user about the particular icon when the particular icon is not selected by a user, wherein when the particular icon is selected by a user while the particular element is displayed with the first labeling color a second color is applied to the particular icon, the second color applied only to a first portion of the particular element to indicate the selection of the particular icon while a second portion of the particular element retains the first color to provide the visual cue to the user, wherein the second portion is a geometric shape.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the second portion of the particular element is an outline located about the particular element.

21. A method for providing, in a graphical user interface (GUI) for a computer system, a visual cue to a user, the method comprising:

receiving a first user selection of an icon that comprises a background region;

receiving a user selection of a first color to color label the icon;

in response to the user selection of the first color, applying the first color to the background region of the icon in order to color label the icon;

receiving a second user selection of the icon after the application of the first color to the background region of the icon; and

in response to the second user selection of the icon, replacing said first color of said background region with a second color in a first section of the background region in order to identify the selection of the icon while retaining said first color in a second section of said background region in order to retain an indication of the color label of the icon, wherein the second section is a section outlining the background region.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said first and second user selections of the icon each comprise a click operation of a cursor controller by a user of the computer system.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for providing a graphical user interface, said computer program executable by at least one processor, said computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

receiving a first selection of an icon that comprises a background region;

receiving a selection of a first color to label the icon;

in response to the selection of the first color, applying the selected first color to the background region of the icon in order to color label the icon;

after applying the first color to the background region of the icon, receiving a second selection of the icon; and

in response to the second selection of the icon;

(i) retaining said first color in a first section of said background region in order to retain an indication of the color label of the icon, wherein the first section is a section outlining the background region; and

(ii) replacing said first color in a different section of said background region with a second color in order to indicate the selection of the icon.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein said first and second user selections of the icon each comprise a click operation of a cursor controller by a user of the computer system.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) for a computer system, said GUI comprising:

a user-interface tool for displaying a plurality of colors that are selectable by a user to label at least two different icons with at least two different colors; and

a display area for displaying at least one icon, said at least one icon comprising a background region, said background region comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions are for;

(i) display without any color when the icon is not selected and no color has been selected to label the icon; and

(ii) display in a first color from the plurality of user-selectable colors when the icon is unselected and the first color has been selected from the plurality of user-selectable colors in order to color label the icon,

wherein the first portion is further for display with a second color replacing the first color when the icon is selected after the first color has been selected in order to indicate the selection of the icon while the second portion is further for display with the first color retained when the icon is selected after the first color has been selected in order to continue indicating the color label of the icon, wherein the second portion is a portion outlining the background region.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein said second color is a selection-color.

27. A method for specifying a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on a display device, the method comprising:

in response to a user selection of a first color, applying the first color to a particular icon in order to label the particular icon; and

upon a subsequent user selection of the particular icon, applying a second color to the particular icon except for a portion of the particular icon which retains the first color, the second color providing an indication of the selection of the particular icon while the retention of the first color provides a continuing label of the particualr icon while the particular icon is selected, wherein the portion is a portion outlining the particular icon,

wherein said first and second colors are different from a third color of a background of a display area in which said icon is located.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the particular icon comprises more than one element, wherein the first color is retained for a first portion of a particular element and the second color is applied to a second portion of the particular element.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the particular icon comprises a text element, wherein the first color is retained for a first portion of the text element and the second color is applied to a second portion of the text element.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising displaying the particular icon when the second color is applied.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the first color is applied to the particular icon after receiving a selection of a label color for the particular icon.

32. A method for specifying a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on a display device, the method comprising:

providing a particular icon for labeling with a first color in order to provide a visual cue about the particular icon when the particular icon is selected via a first user selection of the particular icon and the first color is selected via a user selection of the first color; and

specifying a second color for applying to a first portion of the particular icon to indicate selection of the particular icon when the particular icon is selected after the application of the first color to the particular icon, wherein a second portion of the particular icon retains the first color when the particular icon is selected in order to continue providing the visual cue about the icon, wherein the second portion is a portion outlining the particular icon.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the particular icon comprises a text element, wherein the first color is retained for a first portion of the text element and the second color is applied to a second portion of the text element.

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) for a computer system, said GUI comprising:

a display area for displaying icons; and

at least one particular icon displayed in the display area, the particular icon comprising a particular element that is displayed by using a first labeling color, applied in response to a user selection of the first labeling color, to provide a visual cue to a user about the particular icon when the particular icon is not selected by a user, wherein when the particular icon is selected by a user while the particular element is displayed with the first labeling color a second color is applied to the particular icon, the second color applied only to a first portion of the particular element to indicate the selection of the particular icon while a second portion of the particular element retains the first color to provide the visual cue to the user, wherein the second portion is a portion outlining the particular element.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the particular icon comprises more than one element, wherein the first color is retained for a first portion of the particular element and the second color is applied to a second portion of the particular element.