User interface having click-through tools that can be composed with other tools
US5617114A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 24, 1995 |
| Grant date | Apr 1, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 24, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S345/902
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A user interface technique operates in the environment of a processor-controlled machine for executing a program that operates on a set of underlying data and displays a visible representation thereof. The system further provides a visual depiction of a set of tools. The tools include click-through tools that can be combined with other tools (including other click-through tools) to provide composite tools. A click-through tool includes a generally transparent delineated active area that is movable so that it can be placed over a desired portion of the visible representation. When the user interacts with the visible representation through the active area, the action takes on an attribute of the particular click-through tool. A click-through tool can be superimposed on another click-through tool, whereupon an action taken through the two click-through tools onto the visible representation takes on attributes of both tools.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.