Interactive object property region for graphical user interface

• US 8,056,008 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Castrucci, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin; Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heffington; John
• Application Number:
  US10/940,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,611 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715/715, 715/791, 715/808, 715/809
• US Class Current: 715/715
• 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

An interactive object property region displayable in a graphical user interface for an application program is disclosed. The interactive object property region is preferably automatically generated in response to a mouse pointer being moved over the object, but may also be affirmatively selected. Preferably, the region is initially positioned proximate to the object when generated. The interactive object property region, preferably a window, displays one or more properties of the selected object, and is interactive in the sense that the user can edit the displayed values in the region without the need to access further menu options in the graphical user interface. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the pointer can be moved from the object to the region to automatically change the displayed properties from a static display to an editable mode. Alternatively, the displayed property as soon as they are generated or can be editable upon affirmative selection.

Claims

1. A method of allowing a user to change the properties of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, the method comprising:

positioning a pointer over the object, wherein said positioning the pointer over the object causes the display of the at least one property value to occur automatically; and

subsequently positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property value, wherein said positioning the pointer over the property value automatically causes the property value to transition from a static state to an editable state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the at least one property value using a computer input device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, a microphone, a touch screen, a stylus, a cursor positioner, and a mouse.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pointer comprises a mouse pointer controlled by a computer mouse.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one property value is displayed in a displayable region proximate to the object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property value to allow the property value to be changed comprises changing the pointer to an editing cursor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property value to allow the property value to be changed comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed property value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the property value comprises a property affecting the display of the object in the graphical user interface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the property value comprises information indicative of the content of the object.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the property value comprises information concerning the object.

11. A method for allowing a user to change the properties of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, comprising:

positioning a pointer over the object, and in response generating a displayed region containing at least one property value concerning the object, wherein said positioning causes the display of the at least one property value to occur automatically; and

subsequently, positioning the pointer over the displayed region, wherein said positioning the pointer over the displayed region automatically causes the property value to transition from a static state to an editable state.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed region is generated proximate to the object.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the pointer comprises a pointer controlled by a mouse.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed region to allow the at least one property value to be changed comprises moving the pointer over the displayed at least one property value.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein allowing the at least one property value to be changed comprises changing the pointer to an editing cursor.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed region further comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed at least one property value.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically eliminating the displayable region upon occurrence of a condition.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising allowing the user to affirmatively select that the displayed region become persistent.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising moving the displayed region within the graphical user interface.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the property value comprises a property affecting the display of the object in the graphical user interface.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the property value comprises information indicative of the content of the object.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein the property value comprises information concerning the object.

23. A method to change the property values of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, comprising:

automatically generating an object property region proximate to the object in response to positioning a mouse pointer over the object, wherein the object property region displays at least one property value concerning the object; and

automatically transitioning the at least one property value from a static state to an edit state in response to positioning the mouse pointer over the object property region.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein positioning the mouse pointer over the object property region further comprises changing the mouse pointer to an editing cursor.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein changing one property value comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed object.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising eliminating the object property region after a predetermined amount of time.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising automatically eliminating the object property region upon the occurrence of a condition.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising allowing the user to affirmatively select that the object property region become persistent.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising allowing the object property region to be moved within the graphical user interface using the mouse pointer.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein said automatically transitioning comprises moving the pointer over the displayed at least one property value.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the property value comprises a property affecting the display of the object in the graphical user interface.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein the property value comprises information indicative of the content of the object.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein the property value comprises information concerning the object.

34. A computer-readable medium containing a program for performing a method of allowing a user to change the property values of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, the method comprising:

positioning a pointer over the object, wherein said positioning the pointer over the object causes the display of the at least one property value to occur automatically; and

subsequently, positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property value wherein said positioning the pointer over the property value automatically causes the property value to transition from a static state to an editable state.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the pointer comprises a mouse pointer controlled by a computer mouse.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the at least one property value is displayed in a displayable region proximate to the object.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property value to allow the property value to be changed comprises changing the pointer to an editing cursor.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed at least one property value to allow the property value to be changed comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed property value.

39. A computer-readable medium containing a program for performing a method of allowing a user to change the properties of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, the method comprising:

positioning a pointer over the object, and in response generating a displayed region containing at least one property value concerning the object, wherein generating the displayed region occurs automatically in response to positioning the pointer over the object; and

subsequently positioning the pointer over the displayed region, wherein said positioning the pointer over the displayed region automatically causes the one property value to transition from a static state to an editable state.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the displayed region is generated proximate to the object.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the pointer comprises a pointer controlled by a mouse.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed region to allow the at least one property value to be changed comprises moving the pointer over the displayed at least one property value.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein allowing the at least one property value to be changed comprises changing the pointer to an editing cursor.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein positioning the pointer over the displayed region further comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed at least one property value.

45. A computer-readable medium containing a program for performing a method to change the properties of an object in a graphical user interface for a computer, the method comprising:

automatically generating an object property region proximate to the object in response to positioning a mouse pointer over the object, wherein the object property region displays at least one property value concerning the object; and

automatically transitioning the state of the at least one property value from a static state to an edit state in response to positioning the mouse pointer over the object property region.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 45, wherein positioning the mouse pointer over the object property region further comprises changing the mouse pointer to an editing cursor.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 45, wherein said automatically transitioning comprises changing a display characteristic of the displayed at least one property value.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 45, further comprising automatically eliminating the object property region upon the occurrence of a condition.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 45, wherein transitioning the at least one property value from a static state to an edit state in response to positioning the mouse pointer over the object property region comprises moving the pointer over the displayed at least one property value.