Graphical user interface for computers having variable size icons

• US 20070079255A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Lindsay, Donald, Gourdol, Arnaud
• Granted Patent: US 8,429,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/815
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A computer user interface is provided which allows a user to adjust the size of icons based upon a user'"'"'s preference or based upon a characteristic of the objects that the icons represent. When the icon sizing is performed according to a user preference, a relative sizing scheme or an arbitrary icon sizing scheme can be employed to variably size icons. Providing the ability to size icons in such a manner allows users to represent a user'"'"'s categorization of object importance, for example.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a plurality of icons that respectively represent file system objects that can contain one or more items, comprising the following steps:

determining the number of items that are respectively contained in each of said file system objects;

assigning relative display sizes to said plurality of icons that are based upon the number of items contained in said file system objects, such that the assigned size for an icon is representative of the number of items contained in the file system object it represents; and

displaying said plurality of icons at their respective assigned display sizes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said file system objects comprise folders.

3. A method for displaying a plurality of icons that represent objects in a computer file system, comprising the following steps:

determining the amount of memory required to store each of said objects;

assigning relative display sizes to said plurality of icons that are based upon the amount of memory required to store said objects, such that the assigned size for an icon is representative of the amount of memory required to store the object it represents; and

displaying the plurality of icons at their respective assigned display sizes.

4. A method for displaying a plurality of icons that respectively represent file system objects that contain one or more items, comprising the following steps:

assigning a default display size to said icons;

selecting a subset of said icons;

determining the number of items that are respectively contained in each of the file system objects represented by the selected icons;

assigning relative display sizes to said selected icons that are based upon the number of items contained in the file system objects corresponding to the selected icons, such that the assigned size for an icon is representative of the number of items contained in the file system object it represents;

displaying the selected icons at their respective assigned display sizes; and

displaying the non-selected icons at the default display size.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said file system objects comprise folders.

6. A method for displaying a plurality of icons that represent objects in a computer file system, comprising the following steps:

assigning a default display size to said icons;

selecting a subset of said icons;

determining the amount of memory required to store each of the objects represented by the selected icons;

assigning relative display sizes to said selected icons that are based upon the amount of memory required to store the objects represented by the selected icons, such that the assigned size for an icon is representative of the amount of memory required to store the object it represents;

displaying the selected icons at their respective assigned display sizes; and

displaying the non-selected icons at the default display size.

7. A computer-readable medium containing a program that causes a computer to perform the following operations:

determining the number of items that are respectively contained in file system objects that can contain one or more items;

assigning relative display sizes to a plurality of icons that respectively represent said file system objects, based upon the number of items contained in said file system objects, such that the assigned size for an icon is representative of the number of items contained in the file system object it represents; and

displaying said plurality of icons at their respective assigned display sizes.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein said file system objects comprise folders.

9. A computer-readable medium containing a program that causes a computer to perform the following operations:

determining the amount of memory required to store each of a plurality of file system objects;

assigning relative display sizes to respective icons that represent said objects, based upon the amount of memory required to store said objects, such that the assigned size for an icon is representative of the amount of memory required to store the object it represents; and

displaying the plurality of icons at their respective assigned display sizes.

10. A computer-readable medium containing a program that causes a computer to perform the following operations:

receiving a designation of a subset of icons that are normally displayed at a default size;

determining the number of items that are respectively contained in file system objects represented by the selected icons;

assigning relative display sizes to said selected icons that are based upon the number of items contained in the file system objects corresponding to the selected icons, such that the assigned size for an icon is representative of the number of items contained in the file system object it represents;

displaying the selected icons at their respective assigned display sizes; and

displaying the non-selected icons at said default display size.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said file system objects comprise folders.

12. A computer-readable medium containing a program that causes a computer to perform the following operations:

receiving a designation of a subset of icons that are normally displayed at a default size;

determining the amount of memory required to store each object represented by a respective one of the selected icons;

assigning relative display sizes to said selected icons that are based upon the amount of memory required to store the objects represented by the selected icons, such that the assigned size for an icon is representative of the amount of memory required to store the object it represents;

displaying the selected icons at their respective assigned display sizes; and

displaying the non-selected icons at said default display size.

13. A computer system, comprising:

a display device; and

a graphical user interface that displays, on said display device, icons representative of file system objects that can contain one or more items, and that operates to determine the number of items that are respectively contained in each of said file system objects, assign relative display sizes to said plurality of icons that are based upon the number of items contained in said file system objects, and display said plurality of icons at their respective assigned display sizes.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said graphical user interface is responsive to the selection of a subset of said icons to display the selected icons at their assigned display sizes, and to display non-selected icons at a default size.

15. A computer system, comprising:

a display device; and

a graphical user interface that displays, on said display device, icons representative of file system objects, and that operates to determine the amount of memory required to store each of said objects, assign relative display sizes to said plurality of icons that are based upon the amount of memory required to store said objects, and display the plurality of icons at their respective assigned display sizes.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface is responsive to the selection of a subset of said icons to display the selected icons at their assigned display sizes, and to display non-selected icons at a default size.