Method and apparatus for grouping graphic objects on a computer based system having a graphical user interface
US5861886A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/04842
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system for creating and manipulating groups of graphic objects using enclosures. A persistent graphic object, such as a closed loop is drawn around a set of graphic objects as an enclosure. When the enclosure is selected the enclosure and the set of graphic objects within are grouped. Besides moving graphic objects into and out of the enclosure, the contents of a group can then be modified by 1) graphically altering the enclosure loop to include or remove graphic objects, 2) fusing groups by moving one of them so that their enclosure loops overlap (i.e., they "fuse" into one), 3) fusing groups through gestures which "touch" enclosure loops of the groups to be fused or 4) splitting the group into multiple groups through a splitting gesture.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.