Object-drag continuity between discontinuous touch screens of a single virtual desktop

• US 6,331,840 B1
• Filed: 03/26/1999
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kinawi, Husam, Nielson, Kevin W.
• Original Assignee: Kinawi, Husam, Nielson, Kevin W.
• Inventors: Nielson, Kevin W., Kinawi, Husam
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US09/277,204
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1, 345/326, 345/329, 345/339, 345/1.1, 345/700, 345/733, 345/764, 345/769
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller

Abstract

Apparatus and process are provided wherein an object can be manipulated between multiple discontinuous screens which form a single continuous virtual display. Each screen is touch or input sensitive to a pointing implement or device, and a physical discontinuity separates each of the screens from the others, this continuity being non-touch sensitive. First, a pointing implement contacts the source touch-screen to select the object, storing parameters in the computers buffer. The pointing implement is moved to the target touch-screen where the pointing implement contacts where the first object is to be dragged to; then the object is released from the buffer so that the first object is pasted to the target touch-screen. Preferably, when the object is touched at the source screen, a timer starts, and if the target screen is touched before timeout, the object appears at the target. Optionally, displayed second and third objects a context menu, or buttons on a wireless stylus can be invoked to specify cut, copy and paste functions.

Claims

1. A process for dragging a displayed first object between discontinuous source and target touch-screens of the single virtual desktop of a computer, the first object being known in the virtual desktop by unique parameters, the process comprising:

contacting a pointing implement to the source touch-screen to select the first object;

storing the selected first object'"'"'s parameters in a buffer in the computer;

moving the pointing implement to the target touch-screen;

contacting the pointing implement to the target touch-screen where the first object is to be dragged to;

releasing the selected first object'"'"'s parameters from the buffer so that the first object is pasted to the target touch-screen.

2. The process as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

initiating a timer upon selecting of the first object, the timer having a predetermined timeout; and

contacting the pointing implement to the target touch-screen wherein, if contacted before the timer reaches timeout, the selected first object'"'"'s parameters are released from the buffer so that the first object is pasted to the target touch-screen.

3. The process as recited in claim 2 wherein the first object is moved to the target screen further comprising:

deleting the selected first object from the source screen if the first object is pasted to the target touch-screen.

4. The process as recited in claim 3 wherein the first object'"'"'s parameters comprise at least a unique first object identifier on the virtual desktop.

5. The process as recited in claim 3 wherein the first object parameters comprise at least a unique first object identifier, the first object'"'"'s coordinates on the virtual desktop, and whether the first object'"'"'s association with the source touch-screen is to be deleted after dragging or to remain as a copy of the first object.

6. The process as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

contacting the pointing implement to the source or target touch-screen to select a displayed second object for initiating the storing of the selected first object'"'"'s parameters in the buffer;

contacting the pointing implement on the target touch-screen at a paste point where the first object is to be dragged to; and

contacting the pointing implement to the source or target touch-screen to select a displayed third object for initiating release of the first object'"'"'s parameters from the buffer so that the first object is pasted to the target touch-screen at the paste point.

7. The process as recited in claim 6 wherein the second object is identified as a copy function and upon selecting the displayed third object, the first object'"'"'s parameters are released from the buffer so that the first object is pasted to the target touch-screen at the paste point and the first object also remains as a copy on the source touch-screen.

8. The process as recited in claim 6 wherein the second object is identified as a cut function and upon selecting the displayed third object, the first object'"'"'s parameters are released from the buffer so that the first object is pasted to the target touch-screen at the paste point and the first object is deleted from the source touch-screen.

9. The process as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

contacting the pointing implement to the source touch-screen to select the first object;

actuating a button on the pointing implement for initiating the storing of the first object'"'"'s parameters in the buffer;

contacting the pointing implement on the target touch-screen at a paste point where the first object is to be dragged to; and

actuating the button for initiating the releasing of the first object'"'"'s parameters from the buffer so that the first object is pasted to the target touch-screen at the paste point.

10.The process as recited in claim 1 wherein the pointing implement is a stylus in wireless communication with the computer.

10. The process as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

contacting the pointing implement to the source touch-screen at the first object;

actuating a first button on the pointing implement for selecting the first object;

actuating a second button on the pointing implement for displaying a context menu on either of the touch-screens;

contacting the touch-screen displaying the context menu for selecting a first function from the menu for initiating the storing of the first object'"'"'s parameters in the buffer;

contacting the pointing implement on the target touch-screen at a paste point where the first object is to be dragged to;

actuating the second button on the pointing implement for displaying the context menu; and

contacting the touch-screen for selecting a second function from the menu for initiating the releasing of the first object'"'"'s parameters from the buffer so that the first object is pasted to the target touch-screen at the paste point.

11. The process as recited in claim 11 wherein the first function from the context menu is a copy function so that when the first object is pasted to the target touch-screen at the paste point, the first object also remains on the source touch-screen.

12. The process as recited in claim 11 wherein the first function from the context menu is a cut function so that when the first object is pasted to the target touch-screen at the paste point, the first object is deleted from the source touch-screen.

13. A process for dragging a displayed object between discontinuous source and target touch-screens of a single virtual desktop comprising:

providing a timer having a pre-determined timeout;

selecting an object from the source touch-screen using a pointing implement;

initiating the timer upon selecting of the object; and

contacting the pointing implement to the target touch-screen at a paste point where the object is to be dragged to and if contacted before the timer reaches timeout, the object pasted to the target touch-screen at the past point.