US6018346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Freeform graphics system having meeting objects for supporting meeting objectives
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1998-01-12
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Granted: 2000-01-25
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Expires: 2018-01-12
Abstract
Abstract Meeting support objects for supporting meeting objectives for use in a freeform graphics system. Meeting support objects are representations of dynamic information that is used to support various common activities performed in meetings, such as decision making, assigning action items, agenda tracking, etc. Meeting support objects are defined by a domain object class. The domain object class defines attributes, a set of action rules and layouts. The attributes describe the information or data associated with the meeting support object. Further, the underlying attribute values represented by the icon may change, based on predefined spatial parameters, as the result of user actions performed on the icon (e.g. via a gesture) or upon the occurrence of a system event. The set of action rules map user actions and system events to operations that may be performed on the meeting support object. The layouts define how meeting support object information is displayed as an icon.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas P. Moran
- 👤 William J. van Melle
- 👤 Patrick Chiu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:52
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/109
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for supporting meetings comprising: a freeform graphics system having a display for displaying graphic objects on a work surface, an input device for editing graphic objects on said work surface, and a graphics editing application defining a plurality of editing actions for editing graphic objects on said work surface using said input device, and meeting support objects having functionality for supporting a meeting objective, said meeting support objects defined by an object definition class, said object definition class comprising: a list of attributes and information as to how the attributes obtain a value; a set of action rules, each of said action rules capable of defining an editing action of said graphics editing application and a corresponding operation to be performed responsive to said editing action; and one or more layouts for indicating how an instance of said meeting support object is displayed as an icon on said work surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for supporting meetings comprising: a freeform graphics system having a display for displaying graphic objects on a work surface, an input device for editing graphic objects on said work surface, and a graphics editing application defining a plurality of editing actions for editing graphic objects on said work surface using said input device, and meeting support objects having functionality for supporting a meeting objective, said meeting support objects defined by an object definition class, said object definition class comprising: a list of attributes and information as to how the attributes obtain a value; a set of action rules, each of said action rules capable of defining an editing action of said graphics editing application and a corresponding operation to be performed responsive to said editing action; and one or more layouts for indicating how an instance of said meeting support object is displayed as an icon on said work surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said meeting objective is to manage meeting agenda items and said list of attributes includes a topic attribute, a person attribute and a time allocation attribute.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said meeting objective is to manage action items and said list of attributes includes a description of the action, an action assignee and a due date.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said meeting objective is to identify attendees and said list of attributes includes information identifying an attendee.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said meeting objective is decision making and said list of attributes includes vote count information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system as recited in claim 5 wherein said set of action rules includes a first rule wherein a first editing action causes said vote count information to increase and a second rule wherein a second editing action causes said vote count information to decrease.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said meeting objective is budget allocation and a first meeting support object having a list of attributes includes item name and cost.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as recited in claim 7 wherein a second meeting support object having an object class definition includes as attributes a budget name, budget target and sum of cost items.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said meeting objective is notetaking and said list of attributes includes note contents and author.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said meeting objective is timekeeping and said list of attributes includes a time value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said editing actions are gestures performed by a user using said input device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as recited in claim 11 wherein a tap gesture has a corresponding action rule that causes an icon to be selected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system as recited in claim 11 wherein one of said layouts is a description layout that describes said meeting object class definition and wherein a hold gesture has a corresponding action rule that causes said description layout to be displayed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system as described in claim 11 wherein a first of said layouts causes display of more attribute information then a second of said layouts and wherein a right gesture has a corresponding action rule that causes said first layout to be used for display and a left gesture has a corresponding action rule that cause said second layout to be used for display.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system as described in claim 14 wherein when said second layout is being used for display and wherein a double tap gesture has a corresponding action rule that causes said first layout to be used for display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as recited in claim 11 wherein a box gesture about valid graphical objects has a corresponding action rule that causes a new domain object to be created.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for operating a freeform graphics system for supporting a meeting objective comprising the steps of: a) said system creating and displaying a plurality of icons representing meeting objects for supporting said meeting objective, each of said meeting objects being defined by a meeting object class, said meeting object class defining attributes capable of having computed values, a list of action rules, and layouts for defining information presented in the icons representing said meeting objects; b) said system detecting a user performing a user action on one of said plurality of icons, said user action identified in an action rule in said list of action rules of said meeting object class; c) said system performing an operation associated with said action rule; d) said system recomputing any attributes having computed values based on attribute values changed on performance of said operation associated with said action rule.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for operating a freeform graphics system for supporting a meeting objective comprising the steps of: a) said system creating and displaying a plurality of icons representing meeting objects for supporting said meeting objective, each of said meeting objects being defined by a meeting object class, said meeting object class defining attributes capable of having computed values, a list of action rules, and layouts for defining information presented in the icons representing said meeting objects; b) said system detecting a user performing a user action on one of said plurality of icons, said user action identified in an action rule in said list of action rules of said meeting object class; c) said system performing an operation associated with said action rule; d) said system recomputing any attributes having computed values based on attribute values changed on performance of said operation associated with said action rule.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said meeting objective is decision making and said list of attributes includes vote count information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said set of action rules includes a first rule wherein a first user action causes said vote count information to increase and a second rule wherein a second user action causes said vote count information to decrease.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
163 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for supporting a meeting objective, said method comprising the steps of: a) said system creating and displaying a plurality of icons representing meeting objects for supporting said meeting objective, each of said meeting objects being defined by a meeting object class, said meeting object class defining attributes capable of having computed values, a list of action rules, and layouts for defining information presented in the icons representing said meeting objects; b) said system detecting a user performing a user action on one of said plurality of icons, said user action identified in an action rule in said list of action rules of said meeting object class; c) said system performing an operation associated with said action rule; d) said system recomputing any attributes having computed values based on attribute values changed on performance of said operation associated with said action rule.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
163 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for supporting a meeting objective, said method comprising the steps of: a) said system creating and displaying a plurality of icons representing meeting objects for supporting said meeting objective, each of said meeting objects being defined by a meeting object class, said meeting object class defining attributes capable of having computed values, a list of action rules, and layouts for defining information presented in the icons representing said meeting objects; b) said system detecting a user performing a user action on one of said plurality of icons, said user action identified in an action rule in said list of action rules of said meeting object class; c) said system performing an operation associated with said action rule; d) said system recomputing any attributes having computed values based on attribute values changed on performance of said operation associated with said action rule.
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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) | 2003-01-24 | 2003-07-26 | 2004-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-24 | 2007-07-26 | 2008-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-24 | 2011-07-26 | 2012-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |