Apparatus and method for selecting actions for visually associated files and applications
US7386808B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 22, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/45512
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for use within a graphical user interface visually associate a graphical representation of a file and a graphical representation of an application, and select an action from a menu appearing in proximity to the association. In the invention, selecting a file icon or file listing with a pointing device and drags it to an application icon or taskbar button. As the file icon is dragged over the application icon, a menu appears listing actions that can be taken on the file by the selected application. The user can select an action listed in the menu by dragging the file icon over the action. Releasing the button over the selected action causes the application to take that action on the file.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.