US5666504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for displaying a graphical rocker button control
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1995-09-29
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Granted: 1997-09-09
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Expires: 2015-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A computer system, method, and storage medium for providing a control button for interfacing with a user of the computer system. According to a preferred embodiment, the computer system comprises a display device for displaying the control button, the control button having a three-dimensional appearance and at least first and second regions, wherein the control button is a window. The computer system comprises a processor running an operating system comprising a window data structure, the processor also running an application comprising a window procedure and a window parent. The window data structure notifies the window procedure when the user pushes the control button with a user input means, and the window data structure containing a pointer to the window procedure. The window procedure: (1) captures the user input means in response to the notification; (2) determines the region of the control button being pushed by the user; (3) changes the appearance of the control button in accordance with the region being pushed so that the control button appears to be physically tilted toward a pushed region; and (4) transmits to the window parent a message in accordance with the region being pushed.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul D. Crutcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04847
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A computer system for providing a control button for interfacing with a user of the computer system, the computer system comprising: (a) display means for displaying the control button, the control button having a three-dimensional appearance and at least first and second regions; (b) means for determining the region of the control button being pushed by a user input means; (c) means for changing the appearance of the control button in accordance with the region being pushed so that the control button appears to be tilted toward the pushed region; and (d) means for transmitting a message in accordance with the region being pushed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A computer system for providing a control button for interfacing with a user of the computer system, the computer system comprising: (a) display means for displaying the control button, the control button having a three-dimensional appearance and at least first and second regions; (b) means for determining the region of the control button being pushed by a user input means; (c) means for changing the appearance of the control button in accordance with the region being pushed so that the control button appears to be tilted toward the pushed region; and (d) means for transmitting a message in accordance with the region being pushed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
The computer system of claim 1, further comprising: a processor capable of running an operating system comprising a window data structure, the processor further being capable of running an application comprising a window procedure and a window parent; wherein: the window data structure comprises means for notifying the window procedure when the user pushes the counsel button with a user input means, the window data structure containing a pointer to the window procedure; means (b) further comprises means for capturing the user input means in response to the notification; means (d) transmits the message to the window parent; the control button is a window; and the operating system is a windows-based graphical operating system and the application is a video conferencing application.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the control button is presented from a plan view on the display means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 1, the user input means comprising a mouse having a mouse button.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the control button is a rocker button.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer system of claim 5, wherein the rocker button has first and second regions only, wherein the first and second regions are for adjusting the value of a parameter in accordance with the region pushed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer system of claim 6, wherein the first region is a positive region corresponding to an increase of the parameter and the second region is a negative region corresponding to a decrease in the parameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The computer system of claim 7, wherein: the rocker button appears to be tilted toward the positive region and the parameter is increased while the positive region is pushed by the positioning element; and the rocker button appears to be tilted toward the negative region and the parameter is decreased while the negative region is pushed by the positioning element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the control button comprises a plurality of regions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the control button further comprises third, fourth, and fifth regions, wherein the regions are for controlling pan and tilt parameters of a video camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer system of claim 10, wherein the first region corresponds to pan left, the second region corresponds to pan right, the third region corresponds to tilt up, the fourth region corresponds to tilt down, and the fifth region corresponds to centering of the video camera.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for providing a control button for interfacing with a user of a computer system, the computer system comprising a processor and a display means for displaying the control button, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying the control button, the control button having a three-dimensional appearance and at least first and second regions; (b) determining the region of the control button being pushed by a user input means; (c) changing the appearance of the control button in accordance with the region being pushed so that the control button appears to be tilted toward the pushed region; and (d) transmitting a message in accordance with the region being pushed.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for providing a control button for interfacing with a user of a computer system, the computer system comprising a processor and a display means for displaying the control button, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying the control button, the control button having a three-dimensional appearance and at least first and second regions; (b) determining the region of the control button being pushed by a user input means; (c) changing the appearance of the control button in accordance with the region being pushed so that the control button appears to be tilted toward the pushed region; and (d) transmitting a message in accordance with the region being pushed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
158 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising steps of: running an operating system comprising a window data structure on the processor; running an application comprising a window procedure and a window parent on the processor; and notifying the window procedure with the window data structure when the user pushes the control button with a user input means, the window data structure containing a pointer to the window procedure; wherein: step (b) comprises the steps of capturing the user input means in response to the notification and determining with the window procedure the region of the control button being pushed; step (c) comprises the step of changing the appearance of the control button with the window procedure in accordance with the region being pushed; step (d) comprises the step of transmitting the message from the window procedure to the window parent; and the operating system is a windows-based graphical operating system and the application is a video conferencing application.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the control button is presented from a plan view on the display means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12, the user input means comprising a mouse having a mouse button.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the control button is a rocker button.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the rocker button has first and second regions only, wherein the first and second regions are for adjusting the value of a parameter in accordance with the region pushed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the first region is a positive region corresponding to an increase of the parameter and the second region is a negative region corresponding to a decrease in the parameter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 18, wherein: the rocker button appears to be tilted toward the positive region and the parameter is increased while the positive region is pushed by the positioning element; and the rocker button appears to be tilted toward the negative region and the parameter is decreased while the negative region is pushed by the positioning element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the control button comprises a plurality of regions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the control button further comprises third, fourth, and fifth regions, wherein the regions are for controlling pan and tilt parameters of a video camera.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the first region corresponds to pan left, the second region corresponds to pan right, the third region corresponds to tilt up, the fourth region corresponds to tilt down, and the fifth region corresponds to centering of the video camera.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
134 words
A storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions for providing a control button for interfacing with a user of a computer system, the computer system comprising a processor and a display means for displaying the control button, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by a processor of a computer, cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a) displaying the control button, the control button having a three-dimensional appearance and at least first and second regions; (b) determining the region of the control button being pushed by a user input means; (c) changing the appearance of the control button in accordance with the region being pushed so that the control button appears to be tilted toward the pushed region; and (d) transmitting a message in accordance with the region being pushed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
134 words
A storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions for providing a control button for interfacing with a user of a computer system, the computer system comprising a processor and a display means for displaying the control button, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by a processor of a computer, cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a) displaying the control button, the control button having a three-dimensional appearance and at least first and second regions; (b) determining the region of the control button being pushed by a user input means; (c) changing the appearance of the control button in accordance with the region being pushed so that the control button appears to be tilted toward the pushed region; and (d) transmitting a message in accordance with the region being pushed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
169 words
The storage medium of claim 23, wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the processor to perform the steps of: running an operating system comprising a window data structure on the processor; running an application comprising a window procedure and a window parent on the processor; and notifying the window procedure with the window data structure when the user pushes the control button with a user input means, the window data structure containing a pointer to the window procedure; wherein: step (b) comprises the steps of capturing the user input means in response to the notification and determining with the window procedure the region of the control button being pushed; step (c) comprises the step of changing the appearance of the control button with the window procedure in accordance with the region being pushed; step (d) comprises the step of transmitting the message from the window procedure to the window parent; and the operating system is a windows-based graphical operating system and the application is a video conferencing application.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The storage medium of claim 23, wherein the control button presented from a plan view on the display means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The storage medium of claim 23, the user input means comprising a mouse having a mouse button.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The storage medium of claim 23, wherein the control button is a rocker button.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The storage medium of claim 27, wherein the rocker button has first and second regions only, wherein the first and second regions are for adjusting the value of a parameter in accordance with the region pushed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The storage medium of claim 28, wherein the first region is a positive region corresponding to an increase of the parameter and the second region is a negative region corresponding to a decrease in the parameter.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
60 words
The storage medium of claim 29, wherein: the rocker button appears to be tilted toward the positive region and the parameter is increased while the positive region is pushed by the positioning element; and the rocker button appears to be tilted toward the negative region and the parameter is decreased while the negative region is pushed by the positioning element.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The storage medium of claim 23, wherein the control button comprises a plurality of regions.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
The storage medium of claim 23, wherein the control button further comprises third, fourth, and fifth regions, wherein the regions are for controlling pan and tilt parameters of a video camera.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
46 words
The storage medium of claim 32, wherein the first region corresponds to pan left, the second region corresponds to pan right, the third region corresponds to tilt up, the fourth region corresponds to tilt down, and the fifth region corresponds to centering of the video camera.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-08 | 2001-03-10 | 2001-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-08 | 2005-03-10 | 2005-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-08 | 2009-03-10 | 2009-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |