Data sharing software program utilizing a drag-and-drop operation and spring loaded portal

• US 9,690,469 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Michelini, Vanessa V., Martinez, Anthony E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US14/288,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20140282072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet

Abstract

Embodiments include a program for transferring of data from a source computer to a location on a target computer utilizing a drag-and-drop operation and a spring-loaded portal. I/O devices are monitored for mouse input that includes coordinates of a mouse pointer. Whether an end-user is utilizing the mouse pointer to perform the drag-and-drop operation is determined. The spring-loaded portal is expanded from a closed position to an open position. A screen snapshot image of the location on the target computer is retrieved and overlaid on the spring-loaded portal. The transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer is executed, wherein the location on the target computer is previewable at the source computer through the spring-loaded portal. Whether to abort the transferring of data is determined. The spring-loaded portal is minimized from the open position to the closed position.

Claims

1. A method for transferring of data from a source computer to a location on a target computer utilizing a drag-and-drop operation and a spring-loaded portal, the method comprising the steps of:

the source computer determining whether an end-user is utilizing a mouse pointer to perform a drag-and-drop operation by detecting when an object has been dragged over a spring-loaded portal that is viewable on a source computer, wherein the spring-loaded portal depicts and controls, at least in part, a location that (i) exists on a target computer and (ii) to which the object will be transferred to if such a transfer is allowed, and wherein the spring-loaded portal is configured to (a) respond to drag-and-drop operations by expanding from a closed position to an open position and (b) display a screen snapshot image of the location on the target computer that is previewable at the source computer through the spring-loaded portal;

responsive to a determination that the end-user is utilizing the mouse pointer to perform the drag-and-drop operation, the source computer executing the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer; and

the source computer determining whether to abort the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer without user input, when an object is dropped onto a set of coordinates within a region that corresponds to the spring-loaded portal, wherein the set of coordinates are indicated by the mouse pointer when the object was dropped, the transferring of data being initiated when the object is dropped onto the set of coordinates.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

the source computer and the target computer sending and receiving information on whether the target computer accepts the transferring of data at the location on the target computer; and

responsive to a determination not to abort the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer, executing, by the source computer, the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer when the end-user drops an object at the location on the target computer, utilizing the mouse pointer to perform the drag-and-drop operation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein aborting the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer is triggered when the end-user cancels the drag-and-drop operation, or when an object cannot be dropped at the location on the target computer.

8. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

the source computer minimizing the spring-loaded portal from the open position to the closed position if the coordinates of the mouse pointer do not correspond to a region of the spring-loaded portal.

2. The method 1, wherein:

a visual indicator is used to guide the end-user to locations, on the target computer, that accept the transferring of data, wherein the spring-loaded portal is configurable to allow the spring-loaded portal to visually indicate such locations; and

the visual indicator includes changing the appearance of the mouse pointer while the mouse pointer is over a location on the target computer that does not accept the transferring of data.

3. The method 1, wherein the step of determining if the end-user is utilizing the mouse pointer to perform the drag-and-drop operation further comprises:

the source computer determining if a coordinates of the mouse pointer correspond to a region of the spring-loaded portal, wherein the source computer monitors I/O devices for mouse input, wherein the mouse input comprises coordinates of a mouse pointer; and

the source computer expanding the spring-loaded portal from a closed position to an open position, the expanding being triggered if the coordinates of the mouse pointer correspond to the region of the spring-loaded portal, wherein the spring-loaded portal is configured for the transferring of data using the drag-and-drop operation, and wherein the location on the target computer is previewable at the source computer through the spring-loaded portal while the transferring of data is performed by the end-user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the source computer determining if the coordinates of the mouse pointer correspond to coordinates inside the region of the spring-loaded portal further comprises:

the source computer retrieving the coordinates of the mouse pointer and a mouse drag-and-drop action from the mouse input, and comparing the coordinates of the mouse pointer to coordinates of the region of the spring-loaded portal; and

the source computer retrieving a screen snapshot image of the location on the target computer and overlaying the screen snapshot image on the spring-loaded portal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of retrieving the screen snapshot image of the location on the target computer further comprises:

refreshing the spring-loaded portal with an updated screen snapshot image.

9. A computer program product for transferring of data from a source computer to a location on a target computer utilizing a drag-and-drop operation and a spring-loaded portal, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable hardware storage device and program instructions stored on the computer readable hardware storage device, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to determine whether an end-user is utilizing a mouse pointer to perform a drag-and-drop operation by detecting when an object has been dragged over a spring-loaded portal that is viewable on a source computer, wherein the spring-loaded portal depicts and controls, at least in part, a location that (i) exists on a target computer and (ii) to which the object will be transferred if such a transfer is allowed, and wherein the spring-loaded portal is configured to (a) respond to drag-and-drop operations by expanding from a closed position to an open position and (b) display a screen snapshot image of the location on the target computer that is previewable at the source computer through the spring-loaded portal;

program instructions to respond to a determination that the end-user is utilizing the mouse pointer to perform the drag-and-drop operation, by the source computer executing the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer; and

program instructions to determine whether to abort the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer without user input, when an object is dropped onto a set of coordinates within a region that corresponds to the spring-loaded portal, wherein the set of coordinates are indicated by the mouse pointer when the object was dropped, the transferring of data being initiated when the object is dropped onto the set of coordinates.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, the program instructions further comprising:

program instructions to send and receive information on whether the target computer accepts the transferring of data at the location on the target computer; and

program instructions to respond to a determination not to abort the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer, by executing the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer when the end-user drops an object at the location on the target computer, utilizing the mouse pointer to perform the drag-and-drop operation.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program instructions to abort the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer is triggered when the end-user cancels the drag-and-drop operation, or when an object cannot be dropped at the location on the target computer.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, the program instructions further comprising:

program instructions to minimize the spring-loaded portal from the open position to the closed position if the coordinates of the mouse pointer do not correspond to a region of the spring-loaded portal.

10. The computer program product 9, the program instructions further comprising:

program instructions to provide a visual indicator to guide the end-user to locations, on the target computer, that accept the transferring of data, wherein the spring-loaded portal is configurable to allow the spring-loaded portal to visually indicate such locations; and

program instructions to change the appearance of the mouse pointer while the mouse pointer is over a location on the target computer that does not accept the transferring of data.

11. The computer program product 9, wherein the program instructions to determine if the end-user is utilizing the mouse pointer to perform the drag-and-drop operation further comprise:

program instructions to determine if a coordinates of the mouse pointer correspond to a region of the spring-loaded portal, wherein the source computer monitors I/O devices for mouse input, wherein the mouse input comprises coordinates of a mouse pointer; and

program instructions to expand the spring-loaded portal from a closed position to an open position, the expanding being triggered if the coordinates of the mouse pointer correspond to the region of the spring-loaded portal, wherein the spring-loaded portal is configured for the transferring of data using the drag-and-drop operation, and wherein the location on the target computer is previewable at the source computer through the spring-loaded portal while the transferring of data is performed by the end-user.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the program instructions to determine if the coordinates of the mouse pointer correspond to coordinates inside the region of the spring-loaded portal further comprise:

program instructions to retrieve the coordinates of the mouse pointer and a mouse drag-and-drop action from the mouse input, and comparing the coordinates of the mouse pointer to coordinates of the region of the spring-loaded portal; and

program instructions to retrieve a screen snapshot image of the location on the target computer and overlaying the screen snapshot image on the spring-loaded portal.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the program instructions to retrieve the screen snapshot image of the location on the target computer further comprises:

program instructions to refresh the spring-loaded portal with an updated screen snapshot image.

17. A computer system for transferring of data from a source computer to a location on a target computer utilizing a drag-and-drop operation and a spring-loaded portal, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable hardware storage devices;

program instructions stored on the computer readable hardware storage device for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to determine whether an end-user is utilizing a mouse pointer to perform a drag-and-drop operation by detecting when an object has been dragged over a spring-loaded portal that is viewable on a source computer, wherein the spring-loaded portal depicts and controls, at least in part, a location that (i) exists on a target computer and (ii) to which the object will be transferred if such a transfer is allowed, and wherein the spring-loaded portal is configured to (a) respond to drag-and-drop operations by expanding from a closed position to an open position and (b) display a screen snapshot image of the location on the target computer that is previewable at the source computer through the spring-loaded portal;

program instructions to respond to a determination that the end-user is utilizing the mouse pointer to perform the drag-and-drop operation, by the source computer executing the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer; and

program instructions to determine whether to abort the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer without user input, when an object is dropped onto a set of coordinates within a region that corresponds to the spring-loaded portal, wherein the set of coordinates are indicated by the mouse pointer when the object was dropped, the transferring of data being initiated when the object is dropped onto the set of coordinates.

20. The computer system of claim 17, the program instructions further comprising:

program instructions to send and receive information on whether the target computer accepts the transferring of data at the location on the target computer; and

program instructions to respond to a determination not to abort the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer, by executing the transferring of data from the source computer to the location on the target computer when the end-user drops an object at the location on the target computer, utilizing the mouse pointer to perform the drag-and-drop operation.

18. The computer system 17, wherein the program instructions to determine if the end-user is utilizing the mouse pointer to perform the drag-and-drop operation further comprise:

program instructions to determine if a coordinates of the mouse pointer correspond to a region of the spring-loaded portal, wherein the source computer monitors I/O devices for mouse input, wherein the mouse input comprises coordinates of a mouse pointer; and

program instructions to expand the spring-loaded portal from a closed position to an open position, the expanding being triggered if the coordinates of the mouse pointer correspond to the region of the spring-loaded portal, wherein the spring-loaded portal is configured for the transferring of data using the drag-and-drop operation, and wherein the location on the target computer is previewable at the source computer through the spring-loaded portal while the transferring of data is performed by the end-user.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the program instructions to determine if the coordinates of the mouse pointer correspond to coordinates inside the region of the spring-loaded portal further comprise:

program instructions to retrieve the coordinates of the mouse pointer and a mouse drag-and-drop action from the mouse input, and comparing the coordinates of the mouse pointer to coordinates of the region of the spring-loaded portal; and

program instructions to retrieve a screen snapshot image of the location on the target computer and overlaying the screen snapshot image on the spring-loaded portal.