Toolbar slot method and apparatus

• US 20050251755A1
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pixar (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Pixar (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Hunter, Steven Clay, Drukman, Maxwell O., Weber, Karon A., Archer, Katrina, Mullins, David H. II, King, Christopher M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,565,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/779
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method for a computer system includes displaying a toolbar region with user selectable icons on a display, positioning a cursor on the display over the toolbar region, and receiving a first command from the user while the cursor is positioned over the toolbar region, wherein the first command from the user comprises pressing and holding of a button on a user input device, displaying additional user selectable icons on the display in response to the first command, positioning the cursor on the display over one user selectable icon, and receiving a second command from the user while the cursor is positioned on the one user selectable icon, wherein the second command from the user comprises releasing the button on the user input device, wherein the one user icon and the user selectable icons are then displayed in the toolbar region in response to the second command.

Claims

1. A method for a computer system comprises:

displaying a toolbar region comprising a plurality of user selectable icons on a display;

positioning a cursor on the display over the toolbar region, in response to user input;

receiving a first command from the user while the cursor is positioned on the display over the toolbar region, wherein the first command from the user comprises pressing and holding of a button on a user input device;

displaying a plurality of additional user selectable icons on the display in response to the first command;

positioning the cursor on the display over one additional user selectable icon of the plurality of additional user selectable icons;

receiving a second command from the user while the cursor is positioned on the one additional user selectable icon, wherein the second command from the user comprises releasing the button on the user input device; and

displaying the one additional user selectable icon and the plurality of user selectable icons in the toolbar region in response to the second command.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically removing a display of the plurality of additional user selectable icons from the display in response to the second command.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first command is selected from the group:

pressing of a button on a mouse, pressing a button on a stylus, pressing a key on a keyboard, speaking a voice command.

4. The method of claim of claim 1

wherein the one additional user selectable icon comprises data selected from the group:

images, and text.

5. The method of claim 1

wherein displaying a plurality of additional user selectable icons on the display in response to the first command comprises displaying the plurality of additional user selectable icons on the display in a manner selected from the group:

a row, a column, rows and columns.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of additional user selectable icons includes user selectable icons already in the plurality of user selectable icons.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a third command from the user while the cursor is positioned on the one additional user selectable icon in the toolbar region; and

performing an action associated with the one additional user selectable icon.

8. A graphical user interface comprises:

a first portion configured to display a plurality of user selectable icons; and

a second portion configured to display a plurality of displayable user selectable icons;

wherein when a user makes a first selection while a cursor is positioned over the first portion, the second portion is displayed;

wherein when the user makes a second selection while the cursor is positioned over one of the plurality of displayable user selectable icons, the one displayable user selectable icon and the plurality of user selectable icons are displayed in the first portion;

wherein the first selection comprises holding a button down on a user input device; and

wherein the second selection comprises releasing the button on the user input device.

9. The graphical user interface of claim 8 wherein the second portion overlaps a portion of the first portion.

10. The graphical user interface of claim 8 wherein the plurality of displayable user selectable icons are positioned in the second portion in a manner selected from the group:

a row, a column, rows and columns.

11. The graphical user interface of claim 8 wherein the first selection comprises one of the group:

pressing of a mouse button, pressing of a stylus button, pressing of a keyboard key, speaking a voice command.

12. The graphical user interface of claim 8 wherein the second portion is automatically closed after the user makes the second selection.

13. The graphical user interface of claim 8 wherein the plurality of displayable user selectable icons includes user selectable icons also in the plurality of user selectable icons.

14. A computer program product for a computer system includes:

code that directs the processor to display a first plurality of icons on a toolbar region in a display;

code that directs the processor to receive a indication from a user to add at least one icon on the toolbar region, wherein the indication comprises holding down a button;

code that directs the processor to determine a second plurality of icons in response to data displayed on a display;

code that directs the processor to display the second plurality of icons on the display;

code that directs the processor to receive a selection from the user of one icon from the second plurality of icons on the display, wherein the selection from the user comprises releasing of the button; and

code that directs the processor to display the one icon on the toolbar region;

wherein the codes reside on a tangible media.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the code that directs the processor to display the one icon on the toolbar region comprises code that directs the processor to display the one icon and the first plurality of icons on the toolbar region.

16. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein holding down a button comprises one of the following:

holding down a mouse button, holding down a stylus button, depressing a stylus tip button, holding down a key on a keyboard, making a voice command.

17. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein releasing the button comprises one of the following:

releasing the mouse button, releasing the stylus button, releasing the stylus tip button, releasing a key on a keyboard, pressing another key on the keyboard, making a voice command.

18. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising:

code that directs the processor to receive a first selection from the user of one icon from the first plurality of icons on the toolbar region; and

code that directs the processor to enter a pre-determined mode in response to the first selection.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising:

code that directs the processor to receive a second selection from the user of the one icon from the first plurality of icons on the toolbar region;

code that directs the processor to determine a pre-determined third plurality of icons associated with the one icon;

code that directs the processor to display the third plurality of icons associated with the one icon;

code that directs the processor to receive a selection from the user of one icon from the third plurality of icons on the display; and

code that directs the processor to display a modified plurality of icons on the toolbar region, wherein the one icon from the third plurality of icons replaces the one icon from the first plurality of icons on the toolbar region;

wherein the third plurality of icons are a subset of the second plurality of icons.

20. The computer program product of claim 18

wherein a third plurality of icons can be displayed on the display;

and

wherein the third plurality of icons includes icons not within the second plurality of icons.