US6404443B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three-dimensional graphical user interface for managing screen objects
Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Inc
•
Filing: 1999-08-25
•
Granted: 2002-06-11
•
Expires: 2019-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A user interface is provided for handling a group of screen objects. The interface establishes a viewport in a portion of the screen. The interface allows the user to define a set of planes, and to assign each object to one of the planes. A tab identifying each plane is always visible, and is used to select one plane at a time. The objects of the selected plane are thus displayed through the viewport, and available for handling as is known. The planes are stacked in a sequence, which is reflected in the order of the tabs. Also viewable in the viewport the objects of the next plane in the sequence but can not be worked upon. Navigation thus creates a sense of moving perpendicularly to the screen, which banks on the user's preconceived sense of depth.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry Alan Westerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:00
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/14; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A graphical user interface for managing a plurality of screen objects found on a full area of a screen comprising: means for establishing a viewport display area in a first portion of the full area of the screen, thereby defining a non zero second portion of the full area of the screen outside the viewport display area; means for defining a plurality of planes; means for assigning each object to a specific one of the planes, such that at least two planes are assigned at least one object each; means for selecting any one of the planes; and means for displaying in the viewport display area at least one of the objects assigned to the selected plane, wherein none of the objects assigned to a plane can be displayed in the second portion of the full area of the screen wherein the means for selecting any one of the planes includes: means for displaying an identifying tab for each plane; and means for activating the tab corresponding to the plane that is desired to be selected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A graphical user interface for managing a plurality of screen objects found on a full area of a screen comprising: means for establishing a viewport display area in a first portion of the full area of the screen, thereby defining a non zero second portion of the full area of the screen outside the viewport display area; means for defining a plurality of planes; means for assigning each object to a specific one of the planes, such that at least two planes are assigned at least one object each; means for selecting any one of the planes; and means for displaying in the viewport display area at least one of the objects assigned to the selected plane, wherein none of the objects assigned to a plane can be displayed in the second portion of the full area of the screen wherein the means for selecting any one of the planes includes: means for displaying an identifying tab for each plane; and means for activating the tab corresponding to the plane that is desired to be selected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The interface of claim 1 , further comprising means for changing a size of the viewport display area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The interface of claim 1 , further comprising means for changing a location of the viewport display area relative to the full area of the screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The interface of claim 1 , wherein all of the objects assigned to the selected plane are displayed in the viewport display area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The interface of claim 1 , further comprising: means for placing each object at a set of coordinates of the viewport display area, wherein the displaying means displays each object at the coordinates that the object has been placed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The interface of claim 5 , further comprising means for changing the coordinates in the viewport display area where the object is displayed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The interface of claim 1 , further comprising means for unassigning an object from a plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The interface of claim 1 , further comprising means for deleting one of the defined planes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The interface of claim 1 , further comprising means for arranging the planes according to a sequence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The interface of claim 9 , further comprising means for changing the sequence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The interface of claim 1 , wherein the means for selecting any one of the planes deselects all other planes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The interface of claim 1 , further including means for customizing an appearance of the tab.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The interface of claim 1 , further including means for displaying the tab corresponding to the selected plane more prominently than the other tabs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The interface of claim 1 , further comprising means for displaying at least one other object of a second plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The interface of claim 14 , wherein the planes are arranged in a sequence, and the second plane is the plane immediately after the selected plane in the sequence.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The interface of claim 14 , wherein the means for displaying the object of the second plane displays the second object less prominently than the object belonging in the first plane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The interface of claim 14 , wherein the means for displaying the object of the second plane displays the second object obscured at least in part by the object belonging in the first plane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The interface of claim 14 , wherein the displayed object of the selected plane can be activated directly by a pointing device, while the displayed second object can not be similarly activated.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of using a graphical interface for managing a plurality of screen objects found on a full area of a screen comprising: establishing a viewport display area in a first portion of the full area of the screen, thereby defining a non zero second portion of the full area of the screen outside the viewport display area; defining a plurality of planes; assigning each object to a specific one of the planes, such that at least two planes are assigned at least one object each; selecting any one of the planes; and displaying in the viewport display area at least one of the objects assigned to the selected plane, while preventing all of the objects assigned to a plane from being displayed in the second portion of the full area of the screen wherein selecting any one of the planes includes: displaying an identifying tab for each plane; and activating the tab corresponding to the plane that is desired to be selected.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of using a graphical interface for managing a plurality of screen objects found on a full area of a screen comprising: establishing a viewport display area in a first portion of the full area of the screen, thereby defining a non zero second portion of the full area of the screen outside the viewport display area; defining a plurality of planes; assigning each object to a specific one of the planes, such that at least two planes are assigned at least one object each; selecting any one of the planes; and displaying in the viewport display area at least one of the objects assigned to the selected plane, while preventing all of the objects assigned to a plane from being displayed in the second portion of the full area of the screen wherein selecting any one of the planes includes: displaying an identifying tab for each plane; and activating the tab corresponding to the plane that is desired to be selected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising changing a size of the viewport display area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising changing a location of the viewport display area relative to a full area of the screen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein all of the objects assigned to the selected plane are displayed in the viewport display area.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising: placing each object at a set of coordinates of the viewport display area, wherein the displaying step displays each object at the coordinates that the object has been placed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 , further comprising changing the coordinates in the viewport display area where the object is displayed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising unassigning an object from a plane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising deleting one of the defined planes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising arranging the planes according to a sequence.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 27 , further comprising changing the sequence.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein selecting any one of the planes deselects all other planes.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 20 , further including customizing an appearance of the tab.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 , further including displaying the tab corresponding to the selected plane more prominently than the other tabs.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising: selecting an object assigned to the selected plane; and moving the selected object over the identifying tab of a second plane distinct from the selected plane, thereby unassigning the object from the selected plane and assigning the object to the second plane.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising displaying at least one other object of a second plane.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 33 , further comprising arranging the planes according to a sequence, and wherein the second plane is the plane immediately after the selected plane in the sequence.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the object of the second plane is displayed less prominently than the object belonging in the first plane.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the object of the second plane is displayed obscured at least in part by the object belonging in the first plane.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the displayed first object of the selected plane can be activated while the displayed second object can not be activated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4555775A
Cited
US4555775B1
Cited
US4688167A
Cited
US5442795A
Cited
US5060135A
Cited
US5774122A
Cited
US5347628A
Cited
US5339390A
Cited
US5600346A
Cited
US5289574A
Cited
US5668962A
Cited
US5293529A
Cited
US5651107A
Cited
US5469540A
Cited
US5583984A
Cited
US5689666A
Cited
US5561757A
Cited
US5808614A
Cited
US5838326A
Cited
US5847709A
Cited
US5986662A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-10 | 2005-12-10 | 2006-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-10 | 2009-12-10 | 2010-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-10 | 2013-12-10 | 2014-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |