Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-21
2001-02-06
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S960000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06184881
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of graphical icons. More specifically, the present invention relates to using color, coding and status related icons to provide additional visual indicators to the user.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
The prior art is replete with examples of using icons in various schemes to present visual information related to a particular object. Many applications contain visual indicators that relate icons for existing objects of a particular type to an icon for creating new objects of that type. One known method is to superimpose the image of a star on the upper left-hand corner of an “existing” icon. For example, the icon for a document in Lotus WordPro® 96 is a blank page with the upper right-hand corner turned down, while the icon for a new document is the same but with a star in the upper left-hand corner. This metaphor is not carried any firther than this, however; specifically, it is not carried into user assistance programs, e.g. wizards. In known user assistance programs, icons are used to indicate the start and finish of a user assistance program. For instance, a green “start” auto racing flag and a black and white checkered “finish” auto racing flag reflect the beginning and end of a program or series of program steps respectively, but the flag icon does not relate in any way to the icon for a specific data or file object. What the prior art has failed to teach is a method of using persistent color, encoding and status themes throughout the development of an object of similar type.
Whatever the precise merits, features and advantages of the above cited references, none of them achieves or fulfills the purposes of the present invention. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide for the use of persistent background color schemes for iconic symbols and corresponding related objects.
It is an additional object of the present invention to use the persistent color schemes throughout the development of an object of similar type.
It is an additional object of the present invention to use persistent symbols for icons representing objects, as well as related object types.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide symbol coded visual cues to provide status or progress information.
These and other objects are achieved by the detailed description that follows.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an initial color background for an icon. As a user traverses related objects of similar type the color background is persistent throughout each of the related objects. In addition, iconic symbols present in the original icon will be retained throughout various stages of related object development. To provide relative status information, a graphical icon is also added to the related object which conveys the present status of a processing sequence. In the preferred embodiment, a graphical icon for the Intelligent Miner Graphical Interface (co-pending application entitled, GUI Smart Guide for Data Mining) sequences through a series of object development panels. Within each panel in the series are the corresponding icon background colors, iconic symbols and status indicating graphical icons. The specific status indicating graphical icons of the preferred embodiment starts as a representation of a rough stone and end as a polished diamond. The rough stone represents the starting point in the series and the polished diamond, the ending or completion of the series.
The present invention relates to the relationship between icons for the following items: (1) an object of a given type, (2) a new object of a give type, (3) a Smartguide's Start panel (GUI SMART GUIDE FOR DATA MINING)for an object of a given type and (4) the Smartguide's Summary panel (GUI SMART GUIDE FOR DATA MINING) for an object of a given type. Specifically, the rules are as follows:
1. Each object type's icon has a unique foreground image on a unique background color.
2. The icon which indicates the “new” object of any give type is the icon for the object of that type with a star superimposed on that icon; the foreground image and background color are the same as that for the existing object of that type.
3. The icon for the Start panel of the object's Smartguide is an enlarged, 3-D version of the icon representing an existing object of that type with the image of a rough stone superimposed below and to the right of the enlarged image; the foreground image and background color are the same as that for the existing object of that type.
4. The icon for the Summary panel of the object's Smartguide is an enlarged, 3-D version of the icon representing an existing object of that type with the image of a diamond superimposed below and to the right of the enlarged image; the foreground image and background color are the same as that for the existing object of that type.
The present invention improves on the prior art and eliminates many problems associated with the prior art including, but not limited to, those previously discussed above.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5524195 (1996-06-01), Clanton, III et al.
patent: 5644334 (1997-07-01), Jone et al.
patent: 5767855 (1998-06-01), Bardon et al.
patent: 5877766 (1999-03-01), Bates et al.
Microsoft Front Page, Rondall et al, Que Publishing p. 12, 22-23, 32-43, 1996.
Bayerl Raymond J.
Foerster, Esq. Ingrid M.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Lacasse Randy W.
Lacasse & Associates
LandOfFree
Color and symbol coded visual cues for relating screen menu... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Color and symbol coded visual cues for relating screen menu..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Color and symbol coded visual cues for relating screen menu... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2604436