Patent EP0816987A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0816987A2
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Computer system having alphanumeric keyboard access to objects in graphical user interface
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-06-27
Abstract
Abstract An electronic digital computer system (100) includes a graphical user interface (120) (GUI) for displaying graphical objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) such as icon buttons (50), scrolling text lists (58), and text entry fields (72) on a monitor (106). A keyboard (114) includes a label key (114b) such as a conventional alternate (Alt) key (114b) which, when depressed, causes alphanumeric characters (A-V, 1-7) to be superimposed on the graphical objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76). Depression of an alphanumericic key (114c) on the keyboard (114) corresponding to the alphanumeric character (A-V, 1-7) superimposed on a selected object (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) causes an associated operation to be launched. The GUI includes an object table (122a) having an entry for each graphical object (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76). Each entry includes an object name, corresponding alphanumeric character (A-V, 1-7), object type (e.g. icon button (56), text input field (72)), and object display position. A display generator (122) accesses the object table (122a) using the object names as inputs, obtains the alphanumeric characters (A-V, 1-7) as outputs, and superimposes and displays the alphanumeric characters (A-V, 1-7) on the objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76). The alphanumeric characters (A-V, 1-7) are displayed at positions that are offset from the object display positions by predetermined distances and directions corresponding to the object types.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald R. Gentner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A computer graphical user interface (120)
configured to display and select graphical objects (52, 56,
58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) using a keyboard (114) that has
at least one label key (114b) and a plurality of character
keys (114c), characterized by: a display controller (122) configured to superimpose
and display characters (A-V, 1-7) corresponding to the
character keys (114c) on the objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68,
72, 74, 76) respectively in response to depression of said at
least one label key (114b); and a selection controller (124) configured to select
objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) in response to
depression of character keys (114c) corresponding to the characters
(A-V, 1-7) superimposed on the objects (52, 56, 58,
62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
The interface of claim 1, characterized that the
display controller (122) comprises: an object table (122a) including an entry for each
object (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76), each entry including
an object name and a corresponding character (A-V, 1-7);
and a display generator (122b) configured to access the
object table (122a) using the object names as inputs, obtain
the characters (A-V, 1-7) as outputs, and superimpose and
display the characters (A-V, 1-7) on the objects (52, 56, 58,
62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The interface of claim 2, characterized in that
each entry in the object table (122a) further includes an object
display position ; and the display controller (122) is configured to display
the characters (A-V, 1-7) at character display positions
corresponding to the object display positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The interface of claim 3 characterized in that: each entry in the object table (122a) further includes
an object type; and the display controller (122) is configured to display
the characters (A-V, 1-7) at the character display positions
which are offset from the object display positions by
predetermined distances and directions corresponding to the
object types respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The interface of any of claims 2-4 characterized in
that the display controller (122) further comprises a label
key controller (122c) configured to detect depression of said
at least one label key (144b) and control the display generator
(122b) to access the object table (122a) using the object
names as inputs, obtain the characters (A-V, 1-7) as outputs,
and superimpose and display the characters (A-V, 1-7) on the
objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) respectively in
response thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
The interface of any of claims 1-5 characterized in
that: the display controller (122) comprises an object
table (122a) including an entry for each object (52, 56,
58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76), each entry including an object
name and a corresponding character (A-V, 1-7); and the selection controller (124) comprises: a key input controller (124a) configured to produce
characters (A-V, 1-7) corresponding to depressed character
keys (114c); an object selector (124b) configured to access the
object table (122a) using the characters (A-V, 1-7) produced
by the key input controller (124a) as inputs, obtain the
corresponding object names as outputs and select objects (52,
56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) corresponding to the object
names respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The interface of claim 6, characterized by a launch
controller (126) configured to launch operations corresponding
to selected objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76)
respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The interface of claim 7, characterized in that: the objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76)
comprise a text entry field (72); and the launch controller (126) is configured to, when
the text entry field (72) is selected, position a cursor (80)
at an end of text in the text entry field (72).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The interface of any of claim 1-8, characterized in
that the display controller (122) is configured to superimpose
and display the characters (A-V, 1-7) on the objects
(52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) only while said at least
one label key (114b) remains depressed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The interface of any of claims 1-8, characterized
in that the display controller (122) is configured to continue
to superimpose and display the characters (A-V, 1-7) on
the object (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) after said at
least one label key (114b) has been released and until a
character key (114c) has been depressed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The interface of claim 10, characterized in that
the display controller (122) is further configured to continue
to superimpose and display the characters (A-V, 1-7) on
the objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) until said
at least one label key (114b) is again depressed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The interface of any of claims 1-11, characterized
in that said at least one label key (114b) consists of one
label key (114b).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The interface of any of claims 1-11, characterized
in that: said at least one label key consists of two label
keys; and the display controller is configured to superimpose
and display characters corresponding to the character keys on
the objects respectively in response to simultaneous depression
of the two label keys.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The interface of any of claims 1-13, characterized
in that the display controller (122) is further configured to
display frames (79) around the characters (A-V, 1-7) respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The interface of claim 14, characterized in that
the frames (79) have oval shapes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The interface of any of claims 1-15, characterized
in that the objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76)
comprise at least one of an icon button (56), a scrolling
text list (58), and a text entry field (72).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
121 words
A computer implemented method for graphically displaying
and selecting objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72,
74, 76) using a keyboard (114) that has at least one label
key (114b), and a plurality of character keys (114c), characterized
by the steps of: (a) superimposing and displaying characters (A-V,
1-7) corresponding to the character keys (114c) on the objects
(52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) respectively in
response to depression of said at least one label key (114b);
and (b) selecting objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72,
74, 76) in response to depression of character keys (114c)
corresponding to characters (A-V, 1-7) superimposed on the
objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) respectively.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 17, characterized in that step
(a) comprises the substeps of: (a1) storing an entry for each object (52, 56, 58,
62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) in an entry table (122a), each entry
including an object name and a corresponding character (A-V,
1-7); (a2) accessing the object table (122a) using the
object names as inputs; (a3) obtaining the characters (A-V, 1-7) as outputs;
and (a4) superimposing and displaying the characters
(A-V, 1-7) obtained in step (a3) on the objects (52, 56, 58,
62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76) respectively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 18, characterized in that: step (a1) further comprises storing an object display
position in each entry in the object table (122a) respectively;
and step (a4) further includes displaying the characters
(A-V, 1-7) at character display positions corresponding
to the object display positions respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 19, characterized in that: step (a1) further comprises storing an object type
in each entry in the object table (122a) respectively; and step (a4) further includes displaying the characters
(A-V, 1-7) at the character display positions which
are offset from the object display positions by predetermined
distances and directions corresponding to the object types
respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
94 words
A computer system (100), comprising: a memory (102) configured to store a program (132)
including a graphical user interface (120) which displays selectable
objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76); a processor (104) configured to execute the program
(132); a graphical display (106) configured to display the
objects (52, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74, 76); and a keyboard (114) having at least one label key
(114b) and a plurality of character keys (114c); characterized in that the graphical user interface
(120) is an interface of any of claims 1-16.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A digital data storage structure (102) which stores
a computer program (132) including a graphical user interface
(120) characterized in that the graphical user interface is
an interface of any of claims 1-16.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 22, characterized by an
electronic memory (102) configured to store the computer program
(132).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 23, characterized by at
least one digital recording medium (102) configured to store
the computer program (132).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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