US 6,857,106 B1 · Graphical user interface with moveable, mergeable elements

Abstract

A Graphical User Interface or “GUI” for use with a computer operating systems that operates dynamically according to the user's preferences. Each element of the GUI is surrounded by a dynamic edge which allows the user to combine two or more elements together to create a visually coherent unit in real time. Users can merge or fuse together two or more edges together thus creating a combined group that has aspects and qualities from the constituent elements. Particular colors and color combinations can be created by the user along with the user selected shapes and sizes of individual elements selected from a library of element shapes and sizes. The grouped elements can then be separated back to the individual elements for use in different applications or other groupings as later desired by the user.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method utilizing a graphical user interface in a computer system coupled with an input device, comprising:

executing an application program with a graphical user interface comprising a plurality of elements, each element comprising a core region selectable by a user to invoke one or more commands associated with the element and an edge region surrounding at least a portion of the core region;
signaling a user command with the input device;
moving one or more elements in response to the signal;
and
changing the graphical representation of one or more of the elements by joining two or more elements to form a group of elements when the two or more elements are positioned so that their edge regions overlap, the formed group of elements indicating the core regions for each element of the group and a combined edge region.

2 more elements

A computer program product for adjusting a graphical user interface of a computer program, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code for performing the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of elements, each element associated with at least one function of the computer program and comprising:
a functional core region that is selectable using an input device to invoke the function(s) associated with the element,
a dynamic edge that changes shape when the element is merged with one or more other elements, the dynamic edge forming a continuous dynamic edge with the dynamic edge(s) of the other element(s) merged therewith;
receiving an indication from the input device to move one or more elements within the graphical user interface;
and
in response to receiving an indication to move a first element so that the dynamic edge of the first element overlaps the dynamic edge of a second element, merging the first and second elements to form a group, the group indicating the functional core regions of the first and second elements.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Graphical user interface with moveable, mergeable elements

Life of this patent

Graphical user interface with moveable, mergeable elements

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16