Method of representing a set of computer menu selections in a single graphical metaphor
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorRobert J. Torres
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A data processing system includes an operating system, a graphical user interface and a plurality of applications programs. The graphical user interface generates a window relating to an executing application programs. Menu items relating to an application program may be represented by an icon. A selected group of objects is defined over a portion of the menu and represented by a metaphor. The graphic metaphor, here an icon ring is displayed on a display device. The icon ring is evocative of an ordered arrangement of items of the selected group, includes the icon for a particular object open to selection, and is subject to direct manipulation for reordering of the underlying selected group.
Claims8
A method of executing a graphical user interface to enhance display and manipulation through icons of objects in a menu on a data processing system which supports direct manipulation of icons, the method comprising the steps executed by the data processing system of:
- associating icons with each of a plurality of objects from a menu;
- displaying, on a video display device, an ordered arrangement of the icons, including an icon for a first object available for selection;
- upon user selection of the ordered arrangement, visually marking the ordered arrangement and enabling direct manipulation of the ordered arrangement by the user;
- responsive to user command, scrolling the icons in the ordered arrangement of the icons to present an icon for a second object available for selection;
- upon user selection on a presented icon, providing visual emphasis for the presented icon;
- and
- upon user deselection of the ordered arrangement, removing visual marking from the ordered arrangement while leaving the visual emphasis on any icon then having visual emphasis.
Apparatus for generating a graphical user interface for the display and manipulation through icon of objects from a menu on a data processing system, comprising:
- means for directly manipulating icons;
- icons for each of a plurality of objects from a menu;
- a video display device for imaging an ordered arrangement of the icons, including an icon for a first object available for selection;
- means responsive to user selection of the ordered arrangement for applying visual emphasis to the ordered arrangement and enabling direct manipulation of the ordered arrangement by the user;
- means responsive to user command for scrolling the ordered arrangement of the icons to present an icon for a second object available for selection;
- means responsive to user selection on a presented icon for providing visual emphasis of the presented icon;
- and
- means responsive to user deselection of the ordered arrangement for removing visual marking the ordered arrangement without removing the visual emphasis on any icon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.