US5745113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Representing work practices
Assignee: RESEARCH ON LEARNING INSTITUTE FOR
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Filing: 1996-04-03
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Granted: 1998-04-28
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Expires: 2016-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A system for recording and displaying information about work practice through a set of at least two different graphical tools, each associated with at least one kind of information about work practice and at least one kind of workplace object. The graphical user interface of each tool has at least one characteristic display metaphor conventional for a kind of information associated with the tool. Each tool has at least one characteristic display metaphor that differs from at least one of the characteristic display metaphors of every other tool in the set of tools. The graphical user interface of one of the tools is augmented to display information of a kind associated with a different one of the tools.
Inventors
- 👤 Brigitte Jordan
- 👤 Ron Goldman
- 👤 Patricia Sachs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:38
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A system for recording and displaying information about work practice, comprising a set of graphical tools each having a graphical user interface, the set comprising at least two different tools, where: each tool is associated with at least one kind of information about work practice and at least one kind of workplace object; the graphical user interface of each tool displays information about work practice using at least one display metaphor that is characteristic of the tool and that is conventional for a kind of information associated with the tool, the display metaphor including display objects for representing workplace objects of a kind associated with the tool; the graphical user interface of each tool provides a graphical display in a display metaphor characteristic of the tool for a user to manipulate to provide information about work practice to the system; each tool has at least one characteristic display metaphor that is different from at least one of the characteristic display metaphors of every other tool in the set of tools; and the graphical user interface of a first one of the set of tools provides a graphical display with its characteristic display metaphor augmented to display information of a kind associated with a second one of the set of tools.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
210 words
A system for recording and displaying information about work practice, comprising a set of graphical tools each having a graphical user interface, the set comprising at least two different tools, where: each tool is associated with at least one kind of information about work practice and at least one kind of workplace object; the graphical user interface of each tool displays information about work practice using at least one display metaphor that is characteristic of the tool and that is conventional for a kind of information associated with the tool, the display metaphor including display objects for representing workplace objects of a kind associated with the tool; the graphical user interface of each tool provides a graphical display in a display metaphor characteristic of the tool for a user to manipulate to provide information about work practice to the system; each tool has at least one characteristic display metaphor that is different from at least one of the characteristic display metaphors of every other tool in the set of tools; and the graphical user interface of a first one of the set of tools provides a graphical display with its characteristic display metaphor augmented to display information of a kind associated with a second one of the set of tools.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 1 where each tool of the set of tools provides a graphical display with its characteristic display metaphor augmented to display information of a kind associated with a different one of the set of tools.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 1 where each tool of the set of tools provides a filter module responsive to information of the kind accepted by a different one of the set of tools, whereby information received by the system through one of the set of tools can be used by a different one of the set of tools to control or augment its display of information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 where the set of tools comprises at least two of a map editor, a relationship editor, a time line editor, and a project editor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
129 words
The system of claim 1 where the first one of the set of tools is a map editor and the second one of the set of tools is a relationship editor; the relationship editor provides for input to the system of status of workplace objects with respect to a user-selected relationship; the map editor provides, in response to a user request, a map display augmented to highlight some map objects according to the status of their corresponding workplace objects as provided to the system through the relationship editor; and the map editor provides, in response to a user request, a map display augmented to display some map objects as graphically connected according to the status of their corresponding workplace objects as provided to the system through the relationship editor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 where the set of tools comprises at least three different tools of a map editor, a relationship editor, a time line editor, and a project editor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 where the set of tools comprises a map editor, a relationship editor, a time line editor, and a project editor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 where one of the set of tools includes means for associating a textual annotation with a display or a display object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1, where each tool in the set of tools includes means for associating time-dependent properties with display objects.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 9, where at least one tool in the set of tools includes means for displaying a sequence of graphics, where each graphic in the sequence has associated with it a display time being a range of times or a point in time, and where each graphic includes a set of display objects displayed to show their properties as of the display time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a database; a database editor, having an interactive user interface, for adding data to, and retrieving data from, the database, where each of the tools in the set of tools has a programmatic interface to retrieve data from the database.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
114 words
The system of claim 11, where the set of tools comprises: a map editor for a user to draw, modify, and display a map including map objects representing workplace objects, and for a user to create map objects and user-defined map object types, including a map object representing a person, where the map editor includes pre-defined map object types of a wall, a desk, a computer, a telephone, a window, or a door; and a relationship editor for a user to enter, modify, and display a relationship diagram including display objects representing workplace objects, and for a user to create user-defined relationship types and create instances of relationship types between or among workplace objects.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 12, where the relationship editor includes means for displaying an organization chart, a kinship diagram, a set diagram, or a social network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 12, where the map editor includes means for a user to record activities on a map; and the relationship editor includes means for a user to record activities on a relationship diagram.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 12, where the map editor includes means for associating time-dependent properties with map objects; and the relationship editor includes means for associating time-dependent properties with relationships.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 12, where the map editor includes means for storing in the database information recorded on a map; and the relationship editor includes means for storing in the database information recorded on a relationship diagram.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 12, where the map editor creates a sequence of maps in response to a user request, each map in the sequence other than the first being an overlay layer to the previous map in the sequence; and the relationship editor creates a sequence of relationship diagrams in response to a user request, each relationship diagram in the sequence other than the first being an overlay layer to the previous relationship diagram in the sequence.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
126 words
The system of claim 12, where the map editor displays a sequence of maps in response to a user request, where each map in the sequence has associated with it a display time being a range of times or a particular time, and where each map includes a set of map objects displayed to show properties of the objects as of the display time; and, the relationship editor creates a sequence of relationship diagrams in response to a user request, where each relationship diagram in the sequence has associated with it a display time being a range of times or a particular time, and where each relationship diagram includes a set of display objects displayed to show properties of the objects as of the display time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 12, where the map editor displays, in response to a user request, a subset of a map for processing or display based on information in the database; and the relationship editor displays, in response to a user request, a subset of a relationship diagram for processing or display based on information in the database.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 12, further comprising: a time line editor for a user to draw, modify, and display a time line including display objects representing activities or events relating to workplace objects, including activities or events recorded in the database by other tools in the set of tools, and for a user to create display objects representing activities or events.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
89 words
The system of claim 20, where the time line editor provides for a user to create user-defined display object types for representing activities or events; and where the time line editor displays a sequence of time lines in response to a user request, where each time line in the sequence has associated with it a display time being a range of times or a particular time, and where each time line includes a set of display objects displayed to show properties of the objects as of the display time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 12, further comprising: a project editor for a user to draw, modify, and display a task network diagram including display objects representing tasks, including tasks recorded in the database by other tools in the set of tools, and for a user to create display objects representing tasks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 22, where the project editor provides for a user to create user-defined display object types for representing tasks; and where the project editor draws, modifies, and displays, in response to user requests, a task time line including display objects representing tasks, the task time line providing a time line view of the information displayed in the task network diagram.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 22, where the project editor displays a sequence of task network diagrams in response to a user request, where each task network diagram in the sequence has associated with it a display time being a range of times or a particular time, and where each task network diagram includes a set of display objects displayed to show properties of the objects as of the display time.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for recording and displaying information about work practice, comprising: a relationship editor for a user to enter, modify, and display a relationship diagram including display objects representing workplace objects, and for a user to create user-defined relationship types and create instances of them between or among workplace objects, and a database editor having an interactive user interface for adding data to, and retrieving data from, a database; where the relationship editor has a graphical user interface for displaying information about work practice for at least two different kinds of relationship diagram; the relationship editor has a programmatic interface to retrieve data from the database; and the relationship editor simultaneously displays in response to a user request two relationship diagrams of different kinds selected from organization chart, kinship diagram, set diagram, or social network, as overlays one over the other.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for recording and displaying information about work practice, comprising: a relationship editor for a user to enter, modify, and display a relationship diagram including display objects representing workplace objects, and for a user to create user-defined relationship types and create instances of them between or among workplace objects, and a database editor having an interactive user interface for adding data to, and retrieving data from, a database; where the relationship editor has a graphical user interface for displaying information about work practice for at least two different kinds of relationship diagram; the relationship editor has a programmatic interface to retrieve data from the database; and the relationship editor simultaneously displays in response to a user request two relationship diagrams of different kinds selected from organization chart, kinship diagram, set diagram, or social network, as overlays one over the other.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 25, where the relationship editor includes means for a user to record activities on a relationship diagram; the relationship editor includes means for associating time-dependent properties with relationships; and the relationship editor includes means for storing in the database information recorded on a relationship diagram.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
137 words
The system of claim 25, where the relationship editor includes means for creating a sequence of relationship diagrams in response to a user request, each relationship diagram in the sequence other than the first being an overlay layer to the previous relationship diagram in the sequence; and the relationship editor includes means for creating a sequence of relationship diagrams in response to a user request, where each relationship diagram in the sequence has associated with it a display time being a range of times or a particular time, and where each relationship diagram includes a set of display objects displayed to show properties of the objects as of the display time; and the relationship editor includes means for displaying a subset of a relationship diagram in response to a user request based on information in the database.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
227 words
A system for recording and displaying information, comprising two graphical tools, each having a graphical user interface, wherein: a first tool comprises a map editor, wherein the map editor is operable for a user to draw, modify, and display a map, a map showing a physical layout of a site, the map including map objects representing objects at the site, the map editor has pre-defined map object types and is operable for a user to create new user-defined map object types and to create map objects of both pre-defined types and user-defined types, and the map editor is operable to create a sequence of maps in response to a user request, each map in the sequence other than the first being an overlay layer to the previous map in the sequence; and a second tool comprises a relationship editor, wherein the relationship editor is operable for a user to enter, modify, and display a relationship diagram showing display objects representing objects at the site, the relationship editor is operable for a user to create new user-defined relationship types and to create instances of relationship types, and the relationship editor is operable to create a sequence of relationship diagrams in response to a user request , each relationship diagram in the sequence other than the first being an overlay layer to the previous relationship diagram in the sequence.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
227 words
A system for recording and displaying information, comprising two graphical tools, each having a graphical user interface, wherein: a first tool comprises a map editor, wherein the map editor is operable for a user to draw, modify, and display a map, a map showing a physical layout of a site, the map including map objects representing objects at the site, the map editor has pre-defined map object types and is operable for a user to create new user-defined map object types and to create map objects of both pre-defined types and user-defined types, and the map editor is operable to create a sequence of maps in response to a user request, each map in the sequence other than the first being an overlay layer to the previous map in the sequence; and a second tool comprises a relationship editor, wherein the relationship editor is operable for a user to enter, modify, and display a relationship diagram showing display objects representing objects at the site, the relationship editor is operable for a user to create new user-defined relationship types and to create instances of relationship types, and the relationship editor is operable to create a sequence of relationship diagrams in response to a user request , each relationship diagram in the sequence other than the first being an overlay layer to the previous relationship diagram in the sequence.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 28, wherein: the map editor comprises means for a user to record activities on a map drawn on a computer graphical user interface; and the relationship editor comprises means for a user to record activities on a relationship diagram.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 29, wherein: the map editor is operable for a user to define a region by drawing an enclosing figure on a computer graphical user interface showing the map, the region defining a new property of objects located in the region.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 28, wherein: the map editor is operable to allow a user to join multiple maps together logically at their edges.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-27 | 2001-10-27 | 2002-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-27 | 2005-10-27 | 2006-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-27 | 2009-10-27 | 2010-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |