US5900874A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Icon transformation system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1992-05-11
•
Granted: 1999-05-04
•
Expires: 2012-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A method, system and program for transforming one or more icons in an object-oriented, graphical environment. The icon transformations entail the changing of an icon from one state to another using drag and drop techniques. The user drops an input object icon onto the transformer object icon. The transformer object removes the input object from the graphical environment, changes its contents and/or attributes, and places the new output icon on the desktop. Icon transformers convert objects in a one-to-one, many-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many fashion.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore Jack London Shrader
- 👤 Keith James Scully
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04817; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0486
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
An apparatus for converting a data object from a first form to a second form, said apparatus comprising: (a) cursor selection means for selecting a first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (b) means for positioning the first icon over a transformation icon, wherein said transformation icon is associated with conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (c) means for retrieving attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon; (d) means for determining if said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (e) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for removing said first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (f) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for executing said conversion code to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; and (g) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for creating a second icon associated with said data object converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
267 words
An apparatus for converting a data object from a first form to a second form, said apparatus comprising: (a) cursor selection means for selecting a first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (b) means for positioning the first icon over a transformation icon, wherein said transformation icon is associated with conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (c) means for retrieving attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon; (d) means for determining if said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (e) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for removing said first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (f) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for executing said conversion code to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; and (g) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for creating a second icon associated with said data object converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for transforming more than one icon at a time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including data structure means, associated with the transformation icon, for storing rules defining the characteristics of the transformation operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon do not match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for creating a third icon indicating that said first data object associated with said first icon cannot be converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code associated with said transformation icon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for transforming the first icon into one or more of the second icon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for transforming one or more of the first icon into the second icon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for transforming one or more of the first icon into one or more of the second icon.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for converting a data object from a first form to a second form, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (b) positioning the first icon over a transformation icon, wherein said transformation icon is associated with conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (c) retrieving attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon; (d) determining if said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (e) removing said first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (f) executing said conversion code to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; and (g) creating a second icon associated with said data object converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for converting a data object from a first form to a second form, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (b) positioning the first icon over a transformation icon, wherein said transformation icon is associated with conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (c) retrieving attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon; (d) determining if said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (e) removing said first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (f) executing said conversion code to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; and (g) creating a second icon associated with said data object converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 8, including the step of transforming more than one icon at a time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 8, including the step of associating a data structure with the transformation icon to store rules defining the characteristics of the transformation operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as recited in claim 8, including the step of creating a third icon indicating that said first data object associated with said first icon cannot be converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code associated with said transformation icon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 8, including the step of transforming the first icon into one or more of the second icon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 8, including the step of transforming one or more of the first icon into the second icon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 8, including the step of transforming one or more of the first icon into of the second icon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
294 words
A computer program product for converting a data object from a first form to a second form for execution with a computer system having a central processing unit and display adapter for displaying information including a plurality of icons with at least one transformation icon, said computer program stored on a computer readable medium in a binary digital format directly executable by a processor in a computer system device, comprising: (a) cursor selection means for selecting a first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (b) means for positioning the first icon over a transformation icon, wherein said transformation icon is associated with conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (c) means for retrieving attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon; (d) means for determining if said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (e) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for removing said first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (f) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for executing said conversion code to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; and (g) means for creating a second icon associated with said data object converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
294 words
A computer program product for converting a data object from a first form to a second form for execution with a computer system having a central processing unit and display adapter for displaying information including a plurality of icons with at least one transformation icon, said computer program stored on a computer readable medium in a binary digital format directly executable by a processor in a computer system device, comprising: (a) cursor selection means for selecting a first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (b) means for positioning the first icon over a transformation icon, wherein said transformation icon is associated with conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (c) means for retrieving attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon; (d) means for determining if said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (e) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for removing said first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (f) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for executing said conversion code to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; and (g) means for creating a second icon associated with said data object converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer program as recited in claim 15, including means for transforming more than one icon at a time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer program as recited in claim 15, including data structure means, associated with the transformation icon, for storing rules defining the characteristics of the transformation operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 15, including means for creating a third icon indicating that said first data object associated with said first icon cannot be converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code associated with said transformation icon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said data object is a word processing document.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4813013A
Cited
US4899136A
Cited
US4939507A
Cited
US5113517A
Cited
US4811240A
Cited
US5072412A
Cited
US4974173A
Cited
US5008853A
Cited
US5079723A
Cited
US5065347A
Cited
US5060135A
Cited
US5122959A
Cited
US5021976A
Cited
US5230063A
Cited
US5122717A
Cited
US5101425A
Cited
US5049931A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-03 | 2002-11-02 | 2003-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-03 | 2006-11-02 | 2007-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-03 | 2010-11-02 | 2011-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |