EP0483777A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three dimensional graphic interface
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1991-10-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of graphically depicting the operation of a computer. The method includes depicting a functional aspect of a task by means of a three-dimensional abstraction (84, 86, 88) such as an icon and depicting the operation of the computer by varying the appearance of the abstraction over time. In one aspect of the invention, a window (82) displays scaled-down versions of files to indicate that the files are open but not active. In another aspect, a linear array of three-dimensional abstractions (84, 86, 88) is provided along an edge of the video display, some of the abstractions (84, 86) suggestive of a function accessible without respect to any particular application and others (88) suggestive of a group of applications. In another aspect, a three-dimensional abstraction is used to suggest a file cabinet (90) having containers (92, 94) such as drawers, notebooks and the like for files and other objects. In another aspect, the display includes a plurality of abstractions (120) suggestive of controls of a device being emulated by the computer. In another aspect, a transporter is depicted by a frame (123) on a background (125) which encloses an abstraction (133) suggestive of data to be transmitted between the computer and a remote location; alternately highlighting opposite sides of the frame, sequentially highlighting different ones of a set of nested frames (137, 139) and fading the abstraction between a distinct image (133) and an indistinct image (135) provide a visual representation of transmitting the data to, and receiving the data from, the remote location.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry R. Mathis
- 👤 Shizunori S. Kobara
- 👤 Stephen R. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04817
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of graphically depicting the operation of a computer in a computer video display of the kind which provides a plurality of representations of windows (64, 66, 68), the windows being associated with tasks performed by the computer to provide a visual interface between a user and the computer, comprising the steps of: depicting a functional aspect of a task by means of a three-dimensional abstraction (84, 86, 88) suggestive of that functional aspect; and depicting the operation of the computer by varying the appearance of the abstraction over time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein: depicting the functional aspect comprises generating a three-dimensional abstraction (33) suggestive of a workspace in which a portion of an open file is visible, and depicting the operation comprises providing a window (82) for displaying inactive files, displaying a scaled-down version of the abstraction of the workspace area and the file in said window, and removing any display of the file from any other visible window, thereby indicating any files which are open for use but not currently active.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as in claim 2 and further comprising the step of enabling the user selectively to remove the inactive file window from the display when access to inactive files is not needed and to retrieve the inactive file window when access to an inactive file is desired.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein removing the inactive file window comprises causing the window to appear to slide behind a portion (110) of a border (35) of the display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein depicting the operation comprises grouping any abstractions suggestive of files that are associated with an active workspace into a first portion (114) of the inactive file window (82) and changing the display of abstractions in the first portion according to any change from one active workspace to another, whereby the abstractions that are being displayed in the first portion at any given time are associated with that workspace which is then active.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
164 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein: depicting the functional aspect comprises generating a linear array of three-dimensional abstractions (84, 86, 88) along an edge of the video display, a first portion of the array having a plurality of abstractions (84, 86) each suggestive of a function accessible without respect to any particular application being executed by the computer, and a second portion of the array having a plurality of abstractions (88) each suggestive of a group of applications, and depicting the operation comprises expanding an abstraction of the second portion of the array to provide a plurality of choices each associated with an application in the group, whereby the user can access a function suggested by an abstraction in the first portion of the array by selecting that abstraction and the user can access an application in a group suggested by an abstraction in the second portion of the array by first expanding that abstraction and then selecting one of the resulting choices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein expanding an abstraction is depicted by a visual simulation of opening a drawer which contains a plurality of abstractions each indicative of one of the choices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein depicting the functional aspect comprises generating a three-dimensional abstraction suggestive of a file cabinet (90) having containers (92, 94) for files and other objects and a plurality of three-dimensional abstractions suggestive of objects stored in the containers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein depicting the operation comprises displaying a window (100, 96) having three-dimensional features suggestive of an object (92, 102) in the cabinet (90) in response to a selection of that object by a user, thereby suggesting removal of the object from the cabinet and opening of the object for use.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein a task comprises emulating a device, depicting the functional aspect comprises displaying a plurality of abstractions (120) suggestive of controls of the device being emulated, and depicting the operation comprises manipulating a display associated with the emulation according to user selection of various ones of the displayed controls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein: depicting the functional aspect comprises displaying a frame (123) against a background (125) and placing in the frame an abstraction (133) suggestive of data to be transmitted between the computer and a remote location, and depicting the operation comprises varying the display of the frame and the data abstraction over time in a manner suggestive of transmission of the data between the computer and the remote location.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein varying the display comprises varying the data abstraction between a relatively distinct image (133) and a relatively indistinct image (135) to represent materialization and dematerialisation of the data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein varying the display comprises alternately highlighting first and second portions of the frame by displaying the highlighted portion (129) in a relatively lighter color than that of the background and shading a portion (131) of the frame opposite the highlighted portion by displaying it in a relatively darker color than that of the background to represent motion of the data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein: depicting the functional aspect comprises displaying a plurality of frames (137, 139) of successively larger sizes, each frame except the largest being nested within the frame of next larger size, and depicting the operation comprises sequentially highlighting portions of successive ones of the frames from the largest to the smallest and varying the data abstraction from a relatively distinct image to a relatively indistinct image to simulate motion of the data away from the user and thereby to represent transmission of a message from the user to the remote location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein: depicting the functional aspect comprises displaying a plurality of frames (137, 139) of successively larger sizes, each frame except the largest being nested within the frame of next larger size, and depicting the operation comprises sequentially highlighting portions of successive ones of the frames from the smallest to the largest and varying the data abstraction from a relatively indistinct image to a relatively distinct image to simulate motion of the data toward the user and thereby to represent reception of a message from the remote location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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