Methods and apparatus for automatically grouping graphical constructs
First Claim
1. In an application that uses a graphical user interface, a computer-implemented method for automatically grouping graphical constructs in the graphical user interface, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving a selection of a graphical construct for placement within a group of graphical constructs within a graphical work area of the graphical user interface;
detecting an existing group of graphical constructs defined within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface;
graphically displaying an automatic grouping indicator that identifies that the selected graphical construct can be automatically grouped within the existing group of graphical constructs within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface;
receiving a selection of the existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface;
in response to the selection of the existing group of graphical constructs, automatically grouping the selected graphical construct into the selected existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface;
wherein the existing group of graphical constructs is an existing group of at least one radio button construct and the selected graphical construct is a radio button construct to be associated with the existing group of at least one radio button construct;
wherein the graphical work area of the graphical user interface includes multiple groups of graphical constructs;
wherein the graphical user interface includes an electronic form under development for use in collecting information;
wherein each group of graphical constructs in the workspace indicates information to collect from the electronic form;
wherein detecting the existing group of graphical constructs defined within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface includes determining existing groups among the multiple groups of graphical constructs within the workspace to which the selected radio button construct can be added; and
wherein automatically grouping the selected radio button construct into the selected existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface comprises;
creating and displaying a new radio button construct to be associated with the selected existing group of graphical constructs in the graphical work area of the graphical user interface, the new radio button construct representing the selected radio button construct.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an application that uses a graphical user interface, a technique for automatically grouping graphical constructs receives a selection of a graphical construct for placement within a group of graphical constructs within a graphical work area of a graphical user interface. The system detects an existing group of graphical constructs already defined in a group and graphically displays an automatic grouping indicator that identifies, to a user of the graphical user interface, that the selected graphical construct can be automatically grouped within the existing group. The system receives, from the user, a selection of the existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed, and in response, automatically groups the selected graphical construct into the selected existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface.
94 Citations
23 Claims
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1. In an application that uses a graphical user interface, a computer-implemented method for automatically grouping graphical constructs in the graphical user interface, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving a selection of a graphical construct for placement within a group of graphical constructs within a graphical work area of the graphical user interface; detecting an existing group of graphical constructs defined within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface; graphically displaying an automatic grouping indicator that identifies that the selected graphical construct can be automatically grouped within the existing group of graphical constructs within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface; receiving a selection of the existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface; in response to the selection of the existing group of graphical constructs, automatically grouping the selected graphical construct into the selected existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface; wherein the existing group of graphical constructs is an existing group of at least one radio button construct and the selected graphical construct is a radio button construct to be associated with the existing group of at least one radio button construct; wherein the graphical work area of the graphical user interface includes multiple groups of graphical constructs; wherein the graphical user interface includes an electronic form under development for use in collecting information; wherein each group of graphical constructs in the workspace indicates information to collect from the electronic form; wherein detecting the existing group of graphical constructs defined within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface includes determining existing groups among the multiple groups of graphical constructs within the workspace to which the selected radio button construct can be added; and wherein automatically grouping the selected radio button construct into the selected existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface comprises; creating and displaying a new radio button construct to be associated with the selected existing group of graphical constructs in the graphical work area of the graphical user interface, the new radio button construct representing the selected radio button construct. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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14. A computer system comprising:
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a memory; a processor; a display; an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the display allowing communication there between; wherein the memory is encoded with a development application including a grouping process, the when executed in the processor, provides a development process including the grouping process that renders a graphical user interface on the display, the grouping process, when executed, providing automatic grouping of graphical constructs in the graphical user interface by causing the computer system to perform the operations of; receiving a selection of a graphical construct for placement within a group of graphical constructs within a graphical work area of the graphical user interface on the display; detecting an existing group of graphical constructs defined within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface on the display; and graphically displaying, on the display, an automatic grouping indicator that identifies that the selected graphical construct can be automatically grouped within the existing group of graphical constructs within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface; wherein the grouping process, when executed, causes the computer system to perform the operations of; receiving a selection of the existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface; in response to the selection of the existing group of graphical constructs, automatically grouping the selected graphical construct into the selected existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface; wherein the existing group of graphical constructs is an existing group of at least one radio button construct and the selected graphical construct is a radio button construct to be associated with the existing group of at least one radio button construct; wherein the graphical work area of the graphical user interface includes multiple groups of graphical constructs; wherein the graphical user interface includes an electronic form under development for use in collecting information; wherein each group of graphical constructs in the workspace indicates information to collect from the electronic form; wherein detecting the existing group of graphical constructs defined within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface includes determining existing groups among the multiple groups of graphical constructs within the workspace to which the selected radio button construct can be added; and wherein automatically grouping the selected radio button construct into the selected existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface comprises; creating and displaying a new radio button construct to be associated with the selected existing group of graphical constructs in the graphical work area of the graphical user interface, the new radio button construct representing the selected radio button construct. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A computer readable storage medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that represents an application including a grouping process, that, when executed on a computer system that provides a graphical user interface, causes the computer system to automatically group graphical constructs in the graphical user interface by performing the operations of:
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receiving a selection of a graphical construct for placement within a group of graphical constructs within a graphical work area of the graphical user interface; detecting an existing group of graphical constructs already defined in a group within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface; graphically displaying an automatic grouping indicator that identifies that the selected graphical construct can be automatically grouped within the existing group of graphical constructs already defined within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface; receiving a selection of the existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface; in response to the selection of the existing group of graphical constructs, automatically grouping the selected graphical construct into the selected existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface; wherein the existing group of graphical constructs is an existing group of at least one radio button construct and the selected graphical construct is a radio button construct to be associated with the existing group of at least one radio button construct; wherein the graphical work area of the graphical user interface includes multiple groups of graphical constructs; wherein the graphical user interface includes an electronic form under development for use in collecting information; wherein each group of graphical constructs in the workspace indicates information to collect from the electronic form; wherein detecting the existing group of graphical constructs defined within the graphical work area of the graphical user interface includes determining existing groups among the multiple groups of graphical constructs within the workspace to which the selected radio button construct can be added; and wherein automatically grouping the selected radio button construct into the selected existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface comprises; creating and displaying a new radio button construct to be associated with the selected existing group of graphical constructs in the graphical work area of the graphical user interface, the new radio button construct representing the selected radio button construct. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification