Dynamically changing appearances for user interface elements during drag-and-drop operations

• US 8,316,321 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ording, Bas, Jobs, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Belousov, Andrey
• Application Number:
  US12/582,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20100077336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 715/769, 715/861, 715/817, 715/821, 715/825, 715/765
• US Class Current: 715/817
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

A user interface includes elements whose appearance dynamically changes in dependence upon functions associated with the elements. In the case of an icon that is the destination for a drag-and-drop operation, the image displayed for the icon changes in accordance with the object being dragged to it, to represent the task that will be performed as a result of the drag-and-drop operation. The appearance of other elements involved in drag-and-drop operations can also be varied, to reflect the task at hand. As a result, the user is provided with more intuitive feedback regarding the functions that will be performed by the computer as a result of a drag-and-drop operation.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a display device that displays icons representative of objects in the computer system, at least some of the objects being classified into at least a first type or a second type corresponding to respective first and second actions that can be performed on the objects;

a memory storing first and second images for a destination icon that is associated with both of the first and second actions, wherein the first and second images respectively correspond to said first and second actions; and

an operating system that;

detects that an icon associated with a classified object has been selected,

determines which type of object is associated with the selected icon, and

displays the destination icon with the first image or the second image in accordance with the type of object determined to be associated with the selected icon.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the destination icon is associated with actions pertaining to the removal of an object from the computer system, and the first and second images correspond to whether an object being removed is a physical object.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the destination icon is associated with the storage of an object, and the first and second images designate different storage operations.

4. The computer system of claim 3 wherein the different storage operations pertain to different destinations for the objects being stored.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the first and second images pertain to different destinations for objects being acted upon.

6. A computer system, comprising:

a display device that displays objects in the computer system, at least some of the objects being classified into at least a first type or a second type corresponding to respective first and second actions that can be performed on the objects;

a memory storing first and second images for an element of the graphical user interface that respectively correspond to the first and second actions; and

an operating system that;

detects that a classified object has been selected,

determines which type of object has been selected, and

displays the element with the first image or the second image in accordance with the type of object determined to have been selected.

7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the element is an icon that represents a destination to which the selected object can be dragged.

8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the destination icon is associated with actions pertaining to the removal of a selected object from the computer system, and the first and second images correspond to whether a selected object is a physical object.

9. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the destination icon is associated with the storage of an object, and the first and second images designate different storage operations.

10. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the different storage operations pertain to different destinations for the objects being stored.

11. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the first and second images pertain to different destinations for objects being acted upon.

12. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the element is an icon associated with the selected object.

13. A computer system, comprising:

a display device that displays objects in the computer system, at least some of the objects being classified into at least a first type or a second type;

a memory storing first and second images for an element of the graphical user interface that respectively correspond to the first and second object types; and

an operating system that;

detects that a classified object has been selected,

determines which type of object has been selected, and

displays the element with the first image or the second image in accordance with the type of object determined to have been selected.

14. The computer system of claim 13 wherein the element is an icon that represents a destination to which the selected object can be dragged.

15. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the destination icon is associated with the removal of a selected object from the computer system, and the first and second images correspond to whether the selected object is a physical object.

16. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the destination icon is associated with the storage of an object, and the first and second images designate different storage operations.

17. The computer system of claim 16 wherein the different storage operations pertain to different destinations for the objects being stored.

18. The computer system of claim 13 wherein the first and second images pertain to different respective destinations for a selected object.

19. The computer system of claim 13 wherein the element is an icon associated with the selected object.