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US 6,088,027 AGranted
Method and apparatus for screen object manipulation
AssigneeMacromedia, Inc.
InventorsMurat N. Konar, Josh Rosen
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AssigneeMacromedia, Inc.
InventorsMurat N. Konar, Josh Rosen
Estimating the term…
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for manipulating screen objects utilizing multiband regions of influence. Positioning a reference point of an object within a particular band invokes a particular functionality or operation related to that band. In one embodiment, three types of functionality are provided. Moving a reference datum (for example, a line representing an edge or a user defined reference point) of an object A into a first band of an object B places object A under the influence of object B's gravity, causing object A to be pulled into precise alignment with object B. Moving the reference point of object A from the first band into a second band turns off object B's gravity, allowing object A to be freely moved to any arbitrary position near the object B. Moving the reference point of the object A to a position outside all bands causes object B's gravity function to be turned back on. In other embodiments, the bands of the invention provide other kinds of functionalities or operations. For example, one embodiment comprises bands that provide different types of precise positioning. In one embodiment, multiple bands are provided, each one causing objects to be positioned so as to be spaced apart by one of several precise, predetermined distances.
A method for manipulating objects displayed on a display screen comprising the steps of:
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for manipulating objects displayed on a display screen, said method comprising the steps of:
A method for manipulating objects displayed on a display screen comprising the steps of:
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for manipulating objects displayed on a display screen, said method comprising the steps of:
A method for manipulating objects displayed on a display screen comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
For the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a…:…
Based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like…:…
For the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a…:…
Computing and data processing
Term ended 8 Jan 2018 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the manipulation of objects displayed on a display screen, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for positioning objects using direct manipulation.
2. Background Art
FIG. 1 shows a first arrangement of two example screen objects.
FIG. 2 shows a second arrangement of the screen objects of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a third arrangement of the screen objects of FIG. 1.
A method and apparatus for manipulation of screen objects is described. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.
FIG. 10 shows an example embodiment of a multiband region of influence of the invention. In FIG. 10, a multiband region of influence 1001 comprising bands 1005, 1010 and 1015 is shown extending outwards adjacent to left edge 1045 of a first screen object B 1000. Dotted lines are used to show multiband region of influence 1001 in FIG. 10 to indicate that multiband region of influence 1001 is not normally displayed to a user. FIG. 10 also shows a second screen object A 1030 located to the left of object B 1000, and a horizontal coordinate axis 1020. Coordinate axis 1020 is provided to indicate relative horizontal positions. For example, the right edge 1040 of object A 1030 is located at coordinate "eA" on axis 1020, while the left edge 1045 of object B 1000 is located at coordinate "eB." For the example of FIG. 10, object A 1030 is initially constrained to move horizontally only. However, no such constraints are necessary to practice the invention.
In the example of FIG. 10, multiband region of influence is associated with an edge, namely left edge 1045, of object B 1000. However, in other embodiments, the multiband region of influence of the invention may be associated with other reference points of a screen object, including user defined reference points.