Dynamically Changing Appearances for User Interface Elements During Drag-and-Drop Operations
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBas Ording, Steven P. Jobs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A user interface includes elements whose appearance dynamically changes in dependence upon functions associated with the elements. In the case of an icon that is the destination for a drag-and-drop operation, the image displayed for the icon changes in accordance with the object being dragged to it, to represent the task that will be performed as a result of the drag-and-drop operation. The appearance of other elements involved in drag-and-drop operations can also be varied, to reflect the task at hand. As a result, the user is provided with more intuitive feedback regarding the functions that will be performed by the computer as a result of a drag-and-drop operation.
Claims19
A computer system, comprising:
- a display device that displays icons representative of objects in the computer system, at least some of the objects being classified into at least a first type or a second type corresponding to respective first and second actions that can be performed on the objects;
- a memory storing first and second images for a destination icon that is associated with both of the first and second actions, wherein the first and second images respectively correspond to said first and second actions;
- and
- an operating system that:
- detects that an icon associated with a classified object has been selected,
- determines which type of object is associated with the selected icon, and
- displays the destination icon with the first image or the second image in accordance with the type of object determined to be associated with the selected icon.
A computer system, comprising:
- a display device that displays objects in the computer system, at least some of the objects being classified into at least a first type or a second type corresponding to respective first and second actions that can be performed on the objects;
- a memory storing first and second images for an element of the graphical user interface that respectively correspond to the first and second actions;
- and
- an operating system that:
- detects that a classified object has been selected,
- determines which type of object has been selected, and
- displays the element with the first image or the second image in accordance with the type of object determined to have been selected.
A computer system, comprising:
- a display device that displays objects in the computer system, at least some of the objects being classified into at least a first type or a second type;
- a memory storing first and second images for an element of the graphical user interface that respectively correspond to the first and second object types;
- and
- an operating system that:
- detects that a classified object has been selected,
- determines which type of object has been selected, and
- displays the element with the first image or the second image in accordance with the type of object determined to have been selected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.