US6907580B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Selection paradigm for displayed user interface
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 2000-12-14
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Granted: 2005-06-14
•
Expires: 2020-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A moveable displayed user interface element can be used to select an item displayed on a user interface. Once the proper item or items are selected, an area of the moveable displayed user interface element can be activated to perform an operation on the selected item or items. The moveable displayed user interface element can additionally display information about a selected item, and, in some cases, the displayed information can be edited to modify the selected item. A versatile lightweight system can be used to determine when a moveable object is over any of a number of regions associated with specified targets. The lightweight system can be used to implement moveable displayed user interface elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric H. Michelman
- 👤 Patrick Moulhaud
- 👤 Daniel L. Tripp
- 👤 Scott M. Isaacs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04812; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04842
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 65
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of presenting a computer user interface for performing an action on a selected displayed item out of a plurality of displayed items, the method comprising: presenting a moveable displayed user interface element comprising an area displayed within the user interface element for receiving an activation; responsive to detecting that a pointer of the user interface element is over a displayed item, selecting the displayed item; and responsive to receiving an activation of the area displayed within the user interface element, causing the action to be performed on the selected displayed item.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of presenting a computer user interface for performing an action on a selected displayed item out of a plurality of displayed items, the method comprising: presenting a moveable displayed user interface element comprising an area displayed within the user interface element for receiving an activation; responsive to detecting that a pointer of the user interface element is over a displayed item, selecting the displayed item; and responsive to receiving an activation of the area displayed within the user interface element, causing the action to be performed on the selected displayed item.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the selecting comprises highlighting the displayed item.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the moveable displayed user interface element comprises at least one user interface element within the displayed user interface element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one user interface element within the displayed user interface element comprises a button.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one user interface element within the displayed user interface element comprises a button for confirming the action and a button for canceling the action.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one user interface element within the displayed user interface element comprises a button and a text box.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the text box is updated to indicate information about a displayed item when the displayed user interface element moves over the displayed item.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the computer user interface comprises a displayed pointer separate from the moveable displayed user interface element, the method further comprising: responsive to determining the moveable displayed user interface element is being dragged by the displayed pointer, repositioning the moveable displayed user interface element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: responsive to detecting that the user interface element is over a displayed item, displaying information about the displayed item.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the information about the displayed item is displayed within the moveable user interface element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising: accepting a modification of the information; and modifying the displayed item in accordance with the accepted modification.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising: accepting a modification of the information; and sending the modification to a server computer for processing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: responsive to detecting that the user interface element is over one of the displayed items, displaying properties of the displayed item.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the item appears in the rendered version of a web page stored at a server; and the action modifies information for presenting the web page stored at the server.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a description of the action is presented within the moveable displayed user interface element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a description of the action is presented within the area displayed within the user interface element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the description comprises a text description of the action.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the description comprises the word ‘delete.’
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the action comprises moving the displayed item, the method further comprising: responsive to receiving the activation, moving the moveable displayed user interface element along with the item.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
114 words
A moveable displayed user interface element for performing an operation on a set of one or more items out of a plurality of items displayed on a display as part of a user interface, the moveable displayed user interface element operable to cause selection of the set of one or more items as the element is moved about the display and a pointer of the element is moved over the set of one or more items, the user interface element comprising: at least one area of the user interface element which is designated for receiving an activate indication from a user to initiate the operation on the selected set of one or more items.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
114 words
A moveable displayed user interface element for performing an operation on a set of one or more items out of a plurality of items displayed on a display as part of a user interface, the moveable displayed user interface element operable to cause selection of the set of one or more items as the element is moved about the display and a pointer of the element is moved over the set of one or more items, the user interface element comprising: at least one area of the user interface element which is designated for receiving an activate indication from a user to initiate the operation on the selected set of one or more items.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The moveable displayed user interface element of claim 20 , wherein the moveable displayed user interface element is operable to be moved by being dragged by a displayed pointer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The moveable displayed user interface element of claim 20 further comprising an area indicating a name of the operation initiated on the selected set of one or more items.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The moveable displayed user interface element of claim 20 wherein the display comprises a window presented by an Internet browser; and the moveable displayed user interface element causes selection of items displayed within the window presented by the Internet browser.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The moveable displayed user interface element of claim 20 wherein the moveable displayed user interface element further comprises a separate drag area for moving the moveable displayed user interface element about the display.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 wherein the display comprises a table, and the plurality of items comprises columns in the table.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 wherein the area designated for receiving an activate indication is a displayed button.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 further comprising: an area which is designated for canceling the operation upon activation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 , further comprising: an area which is designated for saving the operation upon activation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 , wherein the operation comprises a plurality of steps.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 wherein the operation is a delete operation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 wherein the operation is a move operation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 wherein the operation is a format operation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 wherein the operation is a buy operation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 wherein the operation is a spellcheck operation.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 wherein the operation is a get information operation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 further comprising an area operable to cause the displayed user interface element to move to a displayed item neighboring a currently-selected displayed item.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 further comprising an area operable to cause the displayed user interface element to move from a currently-selected displayed item to a displayed next item.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 20 further comprising: a display area for presenting information about a selected item.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 38 wherein the information about the selected item is editable to modified the selected item.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 38 wherein the display area for presenting information about a selected area is inhibited during movement of the user interface element.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 38 wherein the display area automatically updates information about the selected item when the item is selected.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 41 wherein the information about the selected item comprises a property of the selected item.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 41 wherein the information about the selected item comprises formatting information about the selected item.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The displayed user interface element of claim 41 wherein the information about the selected item comprises a name of the selected item.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
87 words
A moveable displayed user interface element operable to select an item displayed on a user interface, the moveable displayed user interface element comprising: a hot point operable to cause selection of the item when the hot point is moved over the item; a display area comprising a name of an operation; a button for receiving an indication that the operation is to be performed on the item selected, the button at least partly comprising an area of the moveable displayed user interface other than the hot point.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
87 words
A moveable displayed user interface element operable to select an item displayed on a user interface, the moveable displayed user interface element comprising: a hot point operable to cause selection of the item when the hot point is moved over the item; a display area comprising a name of an operation; a button for receiving an indication that the operation is to be performed on the item selected, the button at least partly comprising an area of the moveable displayed user interface other than the hot point.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The moveable displayed user interface element of claim 45 wherein the moveable displayed user interface element is implemented as a DHTML DIV element.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
69 words
A user interface displayed on a display, the user interface comprising: means for selecting a displayed item displayed on the display when a hot point of a moveable displayed user interface element is moved over the displayed item; and on the moveable displayed user interface element at a location other than the hot point, displayed means for receiving an activation indication to perform an operation on the selected item.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
69 words
A user interface displayed on a display, the user interface comprising: means for selecting a displayed item displayed on the display when a hot point of a moveable displayed user interface element is moved over the displayed item; and on the moveable displayed user interface element at a location other than the hot point, displayed means for receiving an activation indication to perform an operation on the selected item.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least two displayed items are selected, and wherein responsive to receiving an activation further comprises causing the action to be performed on the at least two displayed items.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein detecting that the user interface element is over a displayed item comprises detecting that any portion of the user interface element is over the displayed item.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the moveable displayed user interface element comprises a hot point and wherein detecting that the user interface element is over a displayed item comprises detecting that the hot point is over the displayed item.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 50 wherein the hot point location can be specified by a user.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the displayed item comprises a reference area and wherein detecting that the user interface element is over a displayed item comprises detecting that the moveable displayed user interface element is over the reference area.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 52 wherein the reference area is larger than the displayed item.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 52 wherein the reference area is smaller than the displayed item.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: responsive to detecting that the user interface element has moved off a displayed item, releasing the displayed item.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
14 words
A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1 .
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for presenting the moveable displayed user interface element of claim 20 .
Claim 62
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of presenting a computer user interface for performing an action on a displayed item out of a plurality of displayed items, the method comprising: presenting a moveable displayed user interface element comprising a portion of the displayed user interface element configured to achieve selection and an area displayed within the user interface element for receiving an activation at a location other than the portion configured to achieve selection; and responsive to receiving an activation of the area displayed within the user interface element, causing the action to be performed on a displayed item under the portion of the moveable displayed user interface element configured to achieve selection.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of presenting a computer user interface for performing an action on a displayed item out of a plurality of displayed items, the method comprising: presenting a moveable displayed user interface element comprising a portion of the displayed user interface element configured to achieve selection and an area displayed within the user interface element for receiving an activation at a location other than the portion configured to achieve selection; and responsive to receiving an activation of the area displayed within the user interface element, causing the action to be performed on a displayed item under the portion of the moveable displayed user interface element configured to achieve selection.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 58 , wherein the portion comprises a plurality of X,Y coordinates.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 59 , wherein each of the coordinates is a hot point.
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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) | 2008-06-13 | 2008-12-13 | 2009-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-06-13 | 2012-12-13 | 2013-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-06-13 | 2016-12-13 | 2017-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |