Method for enabling interactive manipulation of data retained in computer system, and a computer system for implementing the method

• US 6,037,939 A
• Filed: 09/27/1996
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Minakuchi, Mitsuru, Masui, Toshiyuki, Kashiwagi, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/725,654
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 345/340, 345/341, 345/342, 345/339, 345/346, 345/127, 345/128, 345/129, 345/130, 345/131, 345/433, 345/439
• US Class Current: 715/798
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour

Abstract

A method for enabling a user to interactively manipulate data retained in a computer system includes the steps of: comparing a variable value with a predetermined threshold value, the variable value varying in accordance with a predetermined instruction which is input to the computer system; selecting one of a plurality of interaction tools in accordance with the result of comparison of the variable value with the predetermined threshold value, each of the plurality of interaction tools providing a different method for manipulating the same data; and displaying the selected one of the plurality of interaction tools.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to interactively manipulate data retained in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

comparing a variable value with a predetermined threshold value, the variable value varying in accordance with a predetermined instruction which is input to the computer system;

selectively converting, in accordance with the result of comparison of the variable value with the predetermined threshold value, an interaction tool providing a method for manipulating the data into another interaction tool providing a different method for manipulating the same data; and

displaying the selectively converted interaction tool.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the selectively converted interaction tool includes changing, in accordance with the predetermined instruction, a displayed image of the selectively converted interaction tool.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the steps of comparing a variable value with a predetermined threshold value, selectively converting an interaction tool, and displaying the selected interaction tool, are repeated continuously.

4. A computer system comprising:

input means for inputting a predetermined instruction;

a comparator for comparing a variable value with a predetermined threshold value, the variable value varying in accordance with a predetermined instruction which is input via the input means;

a selector for selectively converting, in accordance with the result of comparison of the variable value with the predetermined threshold value, an interaction tool providing a method for manipulating the data into another interaction tool providing a different method for manipulating the same data; and

a display for displaying the selectively converted interaction tool.

5. A computer system according to claim 4, wherein the display changes, in accordance with the predetermined instruction input via the input means, a displayed image of the selected interaction tool.

6. A computer system according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined instruction input via the input means is an instruction for magnifying or reducing an overall image, and the variable value is a zoom ratio of the overall image.

7. A computer system according to claim 4, wherein the interaction tool includes at least one of:

a GUI component for enabling the user to manipulate data;

means for enabling the user to directly manipulate a graphical object which is a visual representation of data; and

means for providing a graphical operation implicitly assigned to input facilities of the input means.

8. A computer system according to claim 4, wherein the interaction tool includes an object having data and a method for manipulating the data.

9. A computer system according to claim 4, wherein the operation of the comparator, the selector and the display is continuously performed in response to the variable value.

10. A method for enabling a user to interactively manipulate data retained in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) comparing a variable value with a predetermined threshold value, the variable value varying in accordance with a predetermined instruction which is input to the computer system;

(b) selecting one of a plurality of tools as a controller in accordance with a result of comparison of the variable value with the predetermined threshold value, each of the plurality of tools having a shape adapted for a specific data manipulation method, the controller enabling the user to change a value of one of the data; and

(c) displaying the selected one of the plurality of tools as a controller in a display region.

11. A method for enabling a user to interactively manipulate one or more data associated with a graphical object retained in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) comparing a variable value with a predetermined threshold value, the variable value varying in accordance with a predetermined instruction which is input to the computer system;

(b) selecting one of a plurality of tools as a controller in accordance with a result of comparison of the variable value with the predetermined threshold value, each of the plurality of tools having a shape adapted for a specific data manipulation method, the controller enabling the user to change a value of one of the data; and

(c) displaying the selected one of the plurality of tools as a controller in a display region.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the graphical object is a building object which is drawn on a map.

13. A method for manipulating data retained in a computer system, the computer system retaining an object which has associated therewith one or more data and one or more data manipulation method for manipulating the one or more data, at least one of the one or more data manipulation method comprising the step of interacting with a user, wherein the step of interacting comprises the steps of:

(a) comparing a variable value with a predetermined threshold value, the variable value varying in accordance with a predetermined instruction which is input to the computer system;

(b) selecting one of a plurality of tools as a controller in accordance with a result of comparison of the variable value with the predetermined threshold value, each of the plurality of tools having a shape adapted for a specific data manipulation method, the controller enabling the user to change a value of one of the data; and

(c) displaying the selected one of the plurality of tools as a controller in a display region.

14. The method according to claim 13,

wherein the object is a schedule object to be shown on a calendar, and

wherein the plurality of tools comprises a tool for controlling text data associated with the schedule object,

the tool comprising one or more tools selected from the group consisting of a non-editable text box, an editable text box, an editable text box having multiple functions in word-processor-like fashion, and a word processor program.