US 5,303,388 AGranted

Method to display and rotate a three-dimensional icon with multiple faces

AssigneeApple Computer, Inc.

InventorsKristee Kreitman, Joy Mountford

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A manipulable icon is displayed with multiple faces having particular application to computer displays and systems. The icon, which represents information about an object available within the computer, can be manipulated by the user to display different faces or views which provide additional information about the object represented by the icon. The user has the ability to manipulate the icon to see additional views of the icon on the computer display device, either by a mouse stroke selection command, keyboard command or menu selection. This selection causes the icon to move from one view or face of the icon to another view or face of the icon. These additional views thus provide additional space in which the icon can supply additional information to the user. Iconic movement from one face or view to another is also typically accompanied by some sound which indicates execution of the movement.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of manipulating a three-dimensional icon on a display screen of a computer system, wherein the three-dimensional icon includes a plurality of faces, each face containing at least one displayed item which is associated with an object stored in the computer system, a first face containing a two-dimensional icon representing a folder or file stored in the computer system and other faces of the three-dimensional icon displaying attributes of said folder or said file, wherein the plurality of faces are joined together to form the three-dimensional icon, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(A) marking a first button marker on the first face of the plurality of faces of the three-dimensional icon, wherein the first marker associated with a second face of the plurality of faces of the three-dimensional icon, wherein the first face is joined with the second face, when the first face is displayed front most on the display screen and the first button marker is activated by using a cursor control device to position a movable cursor displayed on the display screen onto the first button marker, the three-dimensional icon is rotated such that the second face is displayed front most on the display screen, wherein the movable cursor is controlled by the cursor control device of the computer system to move on the display screen;
(B) marking a second button marker on the second face that is associated with the first face, when the second face is displayed front most and the second button marker is activated by using the cursor control device to position the movable cursor onto the second button marker, the three-dimensional icon is rotated such that the first face is displayed front most;
(C) rotating the three-dimensional icon by activating the first button marker with the movable cursor to display the second face front most;
and
(D) rotating the three-dimensional icon by activating the second button marker with the movable cursor to display the first face front most.

2 more elements

A method of manipulating a three-dimensional icon on a display screen of a computer system, wherein the three-dimensional icon includes a plurality of faces, each face containing at least one displayed item which is associated with an object stored in the computer system, the plurality of faces are joined together to form the three-dimensional icon, a first face containing a two-dimensional icon representing a folder or file stored in the computer system and other faces of the three-dimensional icon displaying attributes of said folder or said file, the method comprises the steps of:

(A) marking a first button marker on the first face of the plurality of faces of the three-dimensional icon, wherein the first marker associated with a second face of the plurality of faces of the three-dimensional icon, when the first face is displayed front most on the display screen and the first button marker is activated, the three-dimensional icon is rotated such that the second face is displayed front most on the display screen;
(B) rotating the three-dimensional icon by activating the first button marker to display the first face front most.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/052,865Filed 23 Apr 1993 · continuation
Priority: 9 May 1990
Granted: 12 Apr 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G06F 3/04817
Based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like…:…
G06F 3/04815
Based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like…:…
G06F 2203/04802
Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/048: 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional…
Y10S 715/976
Data processing: presentation processing of document, operator interface processing, and screen saver display processing: 3-D Icon