Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-29
2004-12-07
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S960000, C345S215000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06828989
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The invention is related to a system and process for graphically representing sequential time-dependent information or data objects on a display device.
2. Related Art
By way of background, a typical personal information manager (PIM) allows users to manage their daily schedule, upcoming tasks, and contact information. Traditionally, a PIM provides one mutually exclusive view for each type of data. For example, a calendar application or program may be used to display the users'schedule data, while an email client may be used to list sent, received, or forwarded email messages. The problem is that because both the schedule data and the email message data are both typically important to the user, the user is forced to frequently switch between these applications. One solution to this problem is to reduce the size of windows displaying different information, and then to display such information side by side on a single screen. Similarly, a user can attach a second monitor or display device to a computer and display the separate application windows on each monitor. However, as more and more programs are used for displaying time-dependant information or data, attempting to show each of these programs simultaneously becomes overly complicated and thus effectively unworkable. Consequently, the user is left to switch between applications.
One conventional PIM has attempted to address such problems by providing an integrated scheduling or calendar program with an email client in a single application window. However, this PIM only provides the number of unread email messages in the same view as the scheduling information, without providing access to the email messages, or any specific information relating to the unread email messages. Further, this PIM does not provide access to any other types of time-dependant information that may be of interest to the user.
Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for graphically representing or displaying available time-dependant information in a single view, in a sequential order based on a time or times associated with that information. In addition, to avoid the need to switch between applications, the system and method should provide the capability to simultaneously graphically represent time-dependant information from at least program or application. Further, again to avoid the need to switch between applications, the system and method for graphically representing time-dependant information should minimize the amount of space required to display such information.
SUMMARY
The present invention involves a new system and process for graphically representing time dependent information or data objects in a sequential manner using a dynamic time strip having implicit or explicit indications of time. In particular, the dynamic time strip is a linear graphical strip comprising graphical representations of time dependent information elements or data objects, from one or more data stores, such as, for example, an application, an electronic database, or a separate program. These data objects may or may not include text or markers to indicate the time (i.e. second, minute, hour, day and/or date) along the length of the strip. As time passes, and data objects are changed, added or removed from the time strip, either automatically or through user interaction, the time strip is automatically and dynamically updated to reflect these changes along with showing the passage of time. The period of time represented by the dynamic time strip is preferably one day, with the dynamic time strip automatically scrolling forward as time passes. However, in one embodiment, the period of time represented by the dynamic time strip is user configurable.
The text or markers for indicating time along the time strip may be regularly spaced, or may be tied to each individual data object. Further, while the time dependent data objects are displayed in a sequential manner, in one embodiment, the time strip is not linear with respect to time. For example, where several data objects are spaced equally in time, i.e. one hour apart, and a next sequential data object is spaced one day later, the time strip displays the later data object immediately following the earlier data objects to avoid large gaps in the dynamic time strip. However, an indication of a discontinuity in the time strip is preferably displayed between the earlier and later data objects, such as by showing a graphical representation of a break in the strip between the data objects, or by visually indicating the time associated with the data objects.
The time dependent information or data objects represent items such as, for example, pre-scheduled events such as meetings, appointments, tasks, events, phone calls, birthdays, holidays, milestones, deadlines, etc., sent or received emails, computer files that have been created, opened, edited, printed, or otherwise accessed, or any other item that has an associated time. For example, where the data object represents an event such as a scheduled meeting, the time associated with the data object would be a start time for the meeting. Similarly, where the data object represents sent or received email, the time associated with the data object would be the time that the email was actually sent or received. Further, some data objects may have multiple times or a duration or period of time associated with them. For example, a data object representing a scheduled meeting may have both a start and an end time associated with it. A data object such as this can be displayed using distinct graphical representations, such as, for example shading or other graphics, that cover an area on the strip equal to the time during which that data object will occur. Data objects overlapping partially or completely in time are preferably displayed side by side along the dynamic time strip.
In one embodiment, the appearance of the graphical representation of data objects is dependent upon a pre-defined category (either explicitly by the user or implicitly by logic built into the software) for the data object. For example, where the data objects represent scheduled events, individual events are color coded, shaded, or represented by a picture or icon depending upon the type of event. Specifically, using the example of scheduled events, a scheduled meeting can be represented by a red area on the dynamic time strip, while a scheduled lunch date can be represented by a blue area on the dynamic time strip. Clearly, any number of categories may be used with any type of data object, with each category associated with any desired color, shape, shading, picture, or icon. These categories, and the associated graphical representation are preferably pre-defined, but in one embodiment, the categories and associated graphical representations are user-definable.
The graphical representations of data objects on the dynamic time strip are preferably active such that if a user moves a mouse, or other computer pointing device, over any graphically represented data object, a summary of that data object is automatically displayed in a pop-up window or some other mechanism for conveying more detailed information about that data object to the user. In one embodiment, the user may edit the data displayed in the summary window. Similarly, in another embodiment, if a user clicks on, or otherwise selects a graphically represented data object, the data represented by the data object is opened for the user to view and/or edit using whatever computer application is associated with that data object. For example, where a data object represents an email message that has been sent, received, printed, forwarded, etc., clicking on that data object will serve to open the associated email message in an email program or client.
In a further embodiment, a user may edit, extend or compress a time or time frame associated with a data object by simply selecting an edge of a graphically represented data object and moving that edge, using conventional techniques, either forward or backward along the ti
Bayerl Raymond J.
Lyon & Harr LLP
Microsoft Corporation
Vu Kieu D
Watson Mark A.
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