User interfaces, methods, and computer program products that can conserve space on a computer display screen by associating an icon with a plurality of operations
US6462760B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S715/977
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
User interfaces, methods, and computer program products can conserve space on a computer system screen by associating an icon with a plurality of operations. In an illustrative embodiment, an icon's visual appearance is used to associate the icon with a particular operation. In response to input from a user, the icon's appearance changes to indicate that the icon is now associated with an alternative operation. Thus, a graphical user interface (GUI) for operating a computer system can use a single icon to represent and provide access to a plurality of operations that otherwise may require several icons, which can consume valuable space on a computer system display or monitor. Therefore, the user interfaces, methods, and computer program products may be particularly useful in small computer systems, such as laptop computers, handheld computers, palmtop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and pervasive computing devices.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.