Method and apparatus in a data processing system for list ordering with multiple selection

• US 20020178191A1
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company, LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sielken, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,117,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/530
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for ordering multiple elements within a set of elements in a list in a data processing system. The set of elements are presented in a list format in a graphical user interface. The present invention waits for a first user input selecting the elements within the set of elements. In response to detecting the first user input, monitoring is performed for a second user input indicating a movement of the selected elements within the set of elements. In response to detecting the second user input, the selected elements are automatically reordered within the set of elements based on the user input. In this manner, the elements may be manipulated within the list using a single user input rather that requiring a user input to manipulate each element individually.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for ordering elements within a set of elements in a list, the method comprising:

presenting the set of elements in a list format in a graphical user interface;

waiting for a first user input selecting the elements within the set of elements;

responsive to detecting the first user input, monitoring for a second user input, indicating a movement of the elements within the set of elements; and

responsive to detecting the second user input, automatically ordering the elements within the set of elements based on the second user input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving each element in the elements in a first direction within the set of elements list by a selected number of locations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving each element in the elements in a second direction within the set of elements by a selected number of locations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving the elements to a first end of the list.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving the elements to a second end of the list.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input is received by a selection of a control associated with the set of elements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the control is a navigation button.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input includes an identification of a direction in which the elements are to be moved and wherein the automatically ordering step comprises:

determining whether the elements can be moved in the direction identified by the second user input; and

responsive to a determination that the elements can be moved in the direction, moving each element in the set of elements in the direction.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising;

determining whether all the elements are to be moved to an end; and

responsive to a determination that all the elements are to be moved, moving all the elements to the end, wherein the elements are located together.

10. A method in a data processing system for manipulating elements in an ordered set of elements, the method comprising:

receiving a user input to move the elements within the ordered set of elements; and

responsive to receiving the user input, moving the elements within the ordered set of elements based on the user input.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user input is a first user input and further comprising:

identifying the elements within the ordered set of elements from a second user input.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

displaying the ordered set of elements in a window.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user input is received from a user selection of a control displayed with the ordered set of elements.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein user input causes the elements to be reordered by moving each element in the elements in a first direction within the ordered set of elements list by a selected number of locations.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the user input causes the elements to be moved to a first end of the ordered set of elements.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the user input causes the elements to be moved to a second end of the ordered set of elements.

20. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving each element in the elements in a first direction within the set of elements list by a selected number of locations.

21. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving each element in the elements in a second direction within the set of elements by a selected number of locations.

22. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving the elements to a first end of the list.

23. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving the elements to a second end of the list.

24. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the second user input is received by a selection of a control associated with the set of elements.

25. The data processing system of claim 24, wherein the control is a navigation button.

26. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the second user input includes an identification of a direction in which the elements are to be moved and wherein the automatically ordering means comprises:

first means for determining whether the elements can be moved in the direction identified by the second user input; and

second means, responsive to a determination that the elements can be moved in the direction, for moving each element in the set of elements in the direction.

27. The data processing system of claim 26, wherein the automatically ordering means further comprises;

determining means for determining whether all the elements are to be moved to an end; and

moving means, responsive to a determination that all the elements are to be moved, for moving all the elements to the end, wherein the elements are located together.

29. The data processing system of claim 28, wherein the user input is a first user input and further comprising:

identifying means for identifying the elements within the ordered set of elements from a second user input.

30. The data processing system of claim 28 further comprising:

displaying means for displaying the ordered set of elements in a window.

31. The data processing system of claim 30, wherein the user input is received from a user selection of a control displayed with the ordered set of elements.

32. The data processing system of claim 28, wherein user input causes the elements to be reordered by moving each element in the elements in a first direction within the ordered set of elements list by a selected number of locations.

33. The data processing system of claim 28, wherein the user input causes the elements to be moved to a first end of the ordered set of elements.

34. The data processing system of claim 28, wherein the user input causes the elements to be moved to a second end of the ordered set of elements.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving each element in the elements in a first direction within the set of elements list by a selected number of locations.

37. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving each element in the elements in a second direction within the set of elements by a selected number of locations.

38. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving the elements to a first end of the list.

39. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the second user input causes the elements to be ordered by moving the elements to a second end of the list.

40. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the second user input is received by a selection of a control associated with the set of elements.

41. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the control is a navigation button.

42. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the second user input includes an identification of a direction in which the elements are to be moved and wherein the fourth instructions comprises:

first sub-instructions for determining whether the elements can be moved in the direction identified by the second user input; and

second sub-instructions, responsive to a determination that the elements can be moved in the direction, for moving each element in the set of elements in the direction.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the fourth instructions further comprises;

third sub-instructions for determining whether all the elements are to be moved to an end; and

fourth sub-instructions, responsive to a determination that all the elements are to be moved, for moving all the elements to the end, wherein the elements are located together.

17. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to present a set of elements in a list format in a graphical user interface;

wait for a first user input selecting elements within the set of elements;

monitor for a second user input, indicating a movement of the elements within the set of elements in response to detecting the first user input; and

automatically order the elements within the set of elements based on the second user input in response to detecting the second user input.

18. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a user input to move the elements within the ordered set of elements; and

move the elements within the ordered set of elements based on the user input responsive to receiving the user input.

19. A data processing system for ordering elements within a set of elements in a list, the data processing system comprising:

presenting means for presenting the set of elements in a list format in a graphical user interface;

waiting means for waiting for a first user input selecting the elements within the set of elements;

monitoring means, responsive to detecting the first user input, for monitoring for a second user input, indicating a movement of the elements within the set of elements; and

ordering means, responsive to detecting the second user input, for automatically ordering the elements within the set of elements based on the second user input.

28. A data processing system for manipulating elements in an ordered set of elements, the data processing system comprising:

receiving means for receiving a user input to move the elements within the ordered set of elements; and

moving means, responsive to receiving the user input, for moving the elements within the ordered set of elements based on the user input.

35. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for ordering elements within a set of elements in a list, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for presenting the set of elements in a list format in a graphical user interface;

second instructions for waiting for a first user input selecting the elements within the set of elements;

third instructions, responsive to detecting the first user input, for monitoring for a second user input indicating a movement of the elements within the set of elements; and

fourth instructions, responsive to detecting the second user input, for automatically ordering the elements within the set of elements based on the second user input.

44. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for manipulating elements in an ordered set of elements, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving a user input to move the elements within the ordered set of elements; and

second instructions, responsive to receiving the user input, for moving the elements within the ordered set of elements based on the user input.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the user input is a first user input and further comprising:

third instructions for identifying the elements within the ordered set of elements from a second user input.

46. The computer program product of claim 44 further comprising:

third instructions for displaying the ordered set of elements in a window.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the user input is received from a user selection of a control displayed with the ordered set of elements.

48. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein user input causes the elements to be reordered by moving each element in the elements in a first direction within the ordered set of elements list by a selected number of locations.

49. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the user input causes the elements to be moved to a first end of the ordered set of elements.

50. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the user input causes the elements to be moved to a second end of the ordered set of elements.