Graphical user interface for modifying object characteristics using coupon objects

A method for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on a display screen of a computer in accordance with commands issued by a user, the method comprising:

• operating the computer system in an object-oriented environment;
• creating a coupon object which represents a particular value of the characteristic;
• displaying, in the display screen, a representation of the coupon object;
• dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen;
• dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object;
• altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value;
• and
• forming a viewable class of objects which can be represented in the display screen wherein the first object is a member of the viewable class.

A method for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on a display screen of a computer in accordance with commands issued by a user, the method comprising:

• operating the computer system in an object-oriented environment;
• creating a coupon object which represents a particular value of the characteristic;
• displaying, in the display screen, a representation of the coupon object;
• dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen;
• dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object;
• and
• altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value;
• wherein the particular value of the characteristic represented by the coupon object is the value of the characteristic of a second object.

A method comprising:

• forming within a memory of a computer operating in an object-oriented environment a first object and a second object, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value;
• forming, within the memory, a coupon object representing the particular value of the characteristic;
• displaying, in a display screen of the computer, a representation of the coupon object;
• dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen;
• dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object;
• altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value;
• and
• forming a tinker window which includes one or more coupon objects, each of which represents a corresponding value of a respective characteristic of the first object, the tinker window for holding and accessing characteristics that are associated with the first object;
• wherein the one or more coupon objects include the coupon object.

A method comprising:

• forming within a memory of a computer operating in an object-oriented environment a first object and a second object, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value;
• forming, within the memory, a coupon object representing the particular value of the characteristic;
• displaying, in a display screen of the computer, a representation of the coupon object;
• dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen;
• dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object;
• altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value;
• and
• forming a coupon class wherein each of the one or more coupons is a member of the coupon class.

A method comprising:

• forming within a memory of a computer operating in an object-oriented environment a first object and a second object, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value;
• forming, within the memory, a coupon object representing the particular value of the characteristic;
• displaying, in a display screen of the computer, a representation of the coupon object;
• dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen;
• dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object;
• altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value;
• and
• forming a viewable class of objects which can be represented in the display screen wherein the first and second objects are each a member of the viewable class.

A method for altering a characteristic of a first object, a representation of the first object being a display on a display device of a computer system, the method comprising:

• operating the computer system in an object-oriented environment;
• creating a coupon object, the coupon object including a particular value of the characteristic;
• displaying, on the display device, a representation of the coupon object;
• selecting the coupon object via the representation of the coupon object;
• indicating to the coupon object to alter the characteristic of the first object to the particular value;
• altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value;
• and
• indicating that the first object can accept the coupon object to alter the characteristic to the particular value.

A system comprising:

• a computer having a display screen and operating in an object-oriented environment for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on the display screen in accordance with commands issued by a user;
• a coupon object which is stored within a memory of the computer and which represents a particular value of the characteristic;
• a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, for displaying a representation of the coupon object;
• a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object;
• and
• means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value;
• wherein the coupon object is a member of a coupon class.

A system comprising:

• a computer having a display screen and operating in an object-oriented environment for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on the display screen in accordance with commands issued by a user;
• a coupon object which is stored within a memory of the computer and which represents a particular value of the characteristic;
• a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, for displaying a representation of the coupon object;
• a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object;
• and
• means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value;
• wherein the first object is a member of a viewable class of objects which can be displayed in the display screen.

A system comprising:

• a computer having a display screen and operating in an object-oriented environment for altering a characteristic of a first object displayed on the display screen in accordance with commands issued by a user;
• a coupon object which is stored within a memory of the computer and which represents a particular value of the characteristic;
• a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, for displaying a representation of the coupon object;
• a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the first object;
• and
• means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value;
• wherein the particular value of the characteristic represented by the coupon object is the value of the characteristic of a second object.

A system comprising:

• a computer operating in an object-oriented environment;
• a memory coupled to the computer;
• a first object and a second object stored within the memory of the computer, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value;
• a coupon object stored within the memory and which represents the particular value of the characteristic;
• a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, which can display a representation of the coupon object;
• a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object;
• means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value;
• and
• a tinker window, displayed in the display screen and stored in the memory, which includes one or more coupon objects stored in the memory and displayed in the display screen, each of which represents a corresponding value of a respective characteristic of the first object, the tinker window for holding and accessing characteristics that are associated with the first object;
• wherein the one or more coupon objects include the coupon object.

A system comprising:

• a computer operating in an object-oriented environment;
• a memory coupled to the computer;
• a first object and a second object stored within the memory of the computer, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value;
• a coupon object stored within the memory and which represents the particular value of the characteristic;
• a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, which can display a representation of the coupon object;
• a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object;
• and
• means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value;
• wherein each of the one or more coupons is a member of a coupon class.

A system comprising:

• a computer operating in an object-oriented environment;
• a memory coupled to the computer;
• a first object and a second object stored within the memory of the computer, the first and second objects each having a characteristic, the characteristic of the first object having a particular value;
• a coupon object stored within the memory and which represents the particular value of the characteristic;
• a display screen, operatively coupled to the memory, which can display a representation of the coupon object;
• a user interface, operatively coupled to the display screen, for dragging, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object across the display screen and for dropping, in response to commands issued by the user, the representation of the coupon object over the second object;
• and
• means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the second object to the particular value;
• wherein the first and second objects are each a member of a viewable class of objects which can be represented in the display screen.

A system comprising:

• a computer operating in an object-oriented environment;
• a memory coupled to the computer;
• a display device coupled to the computer;
• a first object stored within the memory of the computer and having a characteristic, a representation of the first object being a display on the display device;
• a coupon object, stored in the memory of the computer and having a representation displayed on the display device, the coupon object including a particular value of the characteristic;
• a user interface, operatively coupled to the display device, for selecting the coupon object via the representation of the coupon object and for indicating to the coupon object to alter the characteristic of the first object to the particular value;
• means, operatively coupled to the memory, for altering the characteristic of the first object to the particular value;
• and
• means, operatively coupled to the display device, for indicating that the first object can accept the coupon object to alter the characteristic to the particular value.