Patent · US Expired

Method and system for stacking toolbars in a computer display

US5644737A · kind A · utility

254Cited by
2References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 6, 1995
Grant dateJul 1, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 6, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0481
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A plurality of toolbars that include graphic objects, which can be selected by the user, are arranged in a stack. Only the graphic objects on one or more selected toolbars are displayed. The user can selectively choose a toolbar that has graphic objects currently hidden by the selected toolbar(s), causing one or more of the toolbars to move aside, exposing the group of graphic objects associated with the toolbar newly selected by the user. Movement of the toolbar(s) to disclose the graphic objects on the newly selected toolbar is preferably accomplished by animating the toolbar(s) to slide to different positions, so that the graphic objects or buttons on the newly selected toolbar are displayed. For added realism, the animation sequence used to disclose graphic objects on a selected toolbar includes an audible sound and a "bump" as the toolbar(s) reach a rest position.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.