U.S. patent application number 10/760381 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-05 for display interface method and apparatus, and a computer-readable storage storing a program, for controlling a computer to perform displaying a plurality of objects and performing an operation for duplicating or moving at least one of the objects.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fujitsu Limited of Kawasaki, Japan. Invention is credited to Fujita, Takushi, Kamiwada, Toru.
Application Number | 20040150671 10/760381 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18543760 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040150671 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kamiwada, Toru ; et
al. |
August 5, 2004 |
Display interface method and apparatus, and a computer-readable
storage storing a program, for controlling a computer to perform
displaying a plurality of objects and performing an operation for
duplicating or moving at least one of the objects
Abstract
A display interface method and apparatus that utilize a zoom
interface are provided, in which the screen changes continuously
and moving or duplicating operation of an object can be performed
easily. The display interface method comprises the steps of
memorizing a pointer that points an object selected by an input
device in a memory, displaying a small image representing the
object pointed by the pointer as a display of the foreground layer
on the screen, and maintaining the display of the small image
representing the object without changing even if a display of other
layer is zoomed. A user uses a zooming operation so that the target
position is displayed on the screen, and then inputs the "paste"
command, for example. Thus, a copy of the object is generated and
is pasted at the designated position in the target folder.
Inventors: |
Kamiwada, Toru; (Kawasaki,
JP) ; Fujita, Takushi; (Kawasaki, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700
1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Fujitsu Limited of Kawasaki,
Japan
|
Family ID: |
18543760 |
Appl. No.: |
10/760381 |
Filed: |
January 21, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10760381 |
Jan 21, 2004 |
|
|
|
09729091 |
Dec 5, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/782 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0481
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/782 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 26, 2000 |
JP |
2000-16655 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A display interface method copying an object from a first folder
to a second folder, comprising: zooming the object in the first
folder, so as to be seen on a display screen; selecting the zoomed
object for copying; storing a pointer to the selected object in a
memory; and displaying a representation of the selected object, as
a small image on a foreground layer of the display screen.
2. The display interface method according to claim 1, wherein the
copying of the object is performed by using a zoom interface.
3. The display interface method of claim 1, wherein the object in
the first folder is an image file, and the representation is a
thumbnail image, or the object in the first folder is a text file,
and the representation is an icon.
4. The display interface method of claim 1, wherein displaying the
representation of the selected object comprises extracting an
object from a clipboard.
5. The display interface method of claim 1, further comprising:
selecting the second folder for pasting; and generating a copy of
the object, pointed to by the stored pointer, in the second
folder.
6. The display interface method of claim 1, further comprising:
selecting the second folder for link generation; and generating an
icon representing linking information, to the object in the first
folder, as a new object in the second folder.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.
09/729,091, filed Dec. 5, 2000, now pending, it being further noted
that foreign priority benefit is based upon Japanese Patent
Application 2000-16655, filed with the Japanese Patent office on
Jan. 26, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a display interface method
and apparatus for displaying plural objects on a computer display
screen and performing an operation such as duplicating or moving
the object. More specifically, the present invention relates to a
method and an apparatus of displaying contents of a clipboard that
provides a temporary memory when a text or an image is processed on
a computer display screen.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] There are two methods for duplicating or moving a text or an
image that is displayed on the computer display screen to another
location or program when using a program for processing the text or
the image. One is called drag and drop, and another is a method
using a clipboard.
[0006] In the drag and drop method, an operator uses a pointing
device such as a mouse for selecting an original object, dragging
the object and dropping the object at a target position. For
example, the original object is held by a click operation of the
mouse, which is moved to the target position for dropping. In this
method, the original object as well as the target position should
exist in the movable area of the mouse. Otherwise, the operation
requires means for displaying the target position on the screen
while holing the original object by the mouse.
[0007] In the other method using a clipboard, the original object
is temporarily stored in the clipboard (that is a temporary
memory). After moving to the target position on the screen, the
object memorized in the clipboard is pasted at the target
position.
[0008] Therefore, the method using the clipboard does not have the
above-mentioned limitation in the drag and drop method and can
duplicate or can move an object easily even if both the original
object and the target position are displayed on the screen. In
addition, this method does not need means and operations for
displaying the target position on the screen while holing the
original object by the mouse.
[0009] However, the method using a clipboard has a disadvantage as
explained below. The substance of the clipboard is usually
invisible and is pasted at the target position while the operator
can remember the contents of the clipboard. Therefore, if the
operator forgets the contents of the clipboard, it is not sure what
will be pasted at the target position until the contents of the
clipboard is actually pasted. Otherwise, additional means are
required for displaying the contents of the clipboard on the
screen.
[0010] This disadvantage of the method using a clipboard for
duplicating or moving can be a problem particularly in a screen
display using a zoom interface, which is disclosed in "Information
browsing using a zoom interface," Kamiwada and Fujita, Information
Processing Society of Japan, collected papers (4) of the 58th
national convention, pp. 279-280, 1999, for example. It is also
explained in Fujitu Journal No. 243(vol. 25, No. 3/1999).
[0011] The zoom interface is a kind of display interface developed
for an application, e.g., of using a television set and its remote
controller in a living room for enjoying information services
provided via the Internet. The zoom interface utilizes a
three-dimensional display for displaying an object in a
three-dimensional manner on a screen and a zooming operation by
using e.g., a remote controller. For example, the operator can
access relevant information smoothly by zooming in on a portion
that the operator wants to see. The operator can return to the
original screen easily by zooming out. This zoom interface can be
also adopted as a display interface of a current personal computer,
in which a pointing device such as a mouse is used.
[0012] Using the above-mentioned zoom interface, an object can be
moved or duplicated between folders in a hierarchical directory
structure. In such operations, an operator may pay attention to the
operation of zooming in or out and may forget the contents of the
clipboard as explained above. It is indicated that until the
operator becomes familiar to the operation of the zoom interface,
the duplicating or the moving operation of an object between
folders is difficult compared with the normal multi-window
interface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a method
and an apparatus for duplicating or moving an object easily using a
clipboard in a zoom interface in which a display changes
continuously by a zooming operation.
[0014] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a
display interface method is provided for displaying plural objects
on a computer display screen and performing an operation such as
duplicating or moving the object. The method comprises the steps of
memorizing a pointer that points an object selected by an input
device in a memory, displaying a small image representing the
object pointed by the pointer as a display of the foreground layer
on the screen, and maintaining the display of the small image
representing the object without changing even if a display of other
layer is zoomed.
[0015] While the screen display is changed by the operation of
zooming in or out in the zoom interface as explained above, the
small image representing the selected object is stayed on the
foreground layer without changing. Therefore, the operator is not
required to remember the contents of the clipboard, so can
concentrate on the zooming operation. In this specification, the
small image means the image that is small compared with the entire
screen. For example, if the object is an image file, the small
image can be its thumbnail image. If the object is a text file, the
small image can be an icon representing the file.
[0016] Preferably, the display interface method further comprises
the steps of generating a copy of the object pointed by the pointer
in accordance with an operation by the input device before a
zooming operation, and pasting the copy at the position designated
by the input device after the zooming operation. Thus, the selected
object can be moved or duplicated to another position. If a moving
operation of the object is instructed by the input device, the
original object is erased when a copy of the object is generated
(or is transferred to the clipboard). If a duplicating operation of
the object is instructed, the original object remains without being
erased.
[0017] It is also preferable that the display interface method
further comprises the steps of generating link information for
linking to the object pointed by the pointer in accordance with an
operation by the input device before a zooming operation, and
pasting the link information at the position designated by the
input device after the zooming operation. In this case, what is
pasted as the object (e.g., a shortcut icon) is not the copy of the
original object but link information to the original object.
[0018] In any case mentioned above, it is not always a single
object that is selected, but plural objects can be selected. In
addition, if the clipboard stores plural objects, a part of the
objects can be selected for being pasted at the target position. In
this case, the display of the small image representing the pasted
object can be turned off or can be stayed on for a continuous
duplication to another position. Namely, there are two cases, in
one of which the contents of the clipboard change, and in the other
case the contents of the clipboard do not change.
[0019] It is also preferable that the display interface method
further comprises the step of switching the display of the small
image representing the object pointed by the pointer between on and
off in accordance with an operation by the input device.
[0020] According to the second aspect of the present invention, a
display interface method is provided for displaying plural objects
on a computer display screen and performing an operation such as
duplicating or moving the object. The method comprises the steps of
generating a copy of an object selected by an input device, so as
to memorize the copy in a memory, displaying a small image
representing the copy memorized in the memory as a display of the
foreground layer on the screen, and maintaining the display of the
small image representing the copy without changing even if a
display of other layer is zoomed.
[0021] In contrast to the above-mentioned first aspect in which the
pointer that points the selected object is memorized, the copy of
the object itself is generated and is memorized in this second
aspect. In this case too, in the same way as the first aspect, the
small image representing the selected image is stayed on the
foreground layer without changing while the screen display is
changed by the operation of zooming in or out in the zoom
interface. Therefore, the operator is not required to remember the
contents of the clipboard, so can concentrate on the zooming
operation.
[0022] Preferably, the display interface method further comprises
the step of pasting the copy memorized in the memory at the
position designated by the input device after the zooming
operation. Thus, the selected object can be moved or duplicated to
another position.
[0023] In this second aspect too, it is preferable that the display
interface method further comprises the step of switching the
display of the small image representing the copy memorized in the
memory between on and off in accordance with an operation by the
input device.
[0024] According to the third aspect of the present invention, a
display interface method is provided for displaying plural objects
on a computer display screen and performing an operation such as
duplicating or moving the object. The method comprises the steps of
generating a copy of an object selected by an input device, so as
to memorize the copy in a memory, memorizing a pointer that points
the selected object in a memory, displaying a small image
representing the copy memorized in the memory as a display of the
foreground layer on the screen, and maintaining the display of the
small image representing the copy without changing even if a
display of other layer is zoomed.
[0025] The present invention also provides a display interface
apparatus for performing the above-mentioned display interface
method.
[0026] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a computer
readable recording medium that stores a program for performing the
above-mentioned display interface method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a file system utilizing the
display interface method according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows an example of a directory structure for
explaining the embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows a display example of a folder in the upper
location of the directory structure shown in FIG. 2 in accordance
with a zoom interface.
[0030] FIGS. 4A-4C show an example of moving operation of a folder
by a zoom-in operation FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the process of
storing a pointer of the selected object in a clipboard memory
area.
[0031] FIGS. 6A and 6B show an example of displaying a small image
representing the object pointer stored in the clipboard memory area
on the screen.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the process of displaying the
small image in FIG. 6.
[0033] FIGS. 8A and 8B show the process of pasting the object
pointed by the pointer stored in the clipboard memory area to the
target folder.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the process of pasting the
object in FIG. 8.
[0035] FIGS. 10A and 10B show the process of pasting the icon
representing the link information to the object pointed by the
pointer stored in the clipboard memory area.
[0036] FIGS. 11A and 11B show the process of storing the selected
object in the clipboard memory area and erasing the original object
in accordance with the input of the "move" command.
[0037] FIG. 12 shows a display example of the state where the
plural objects are stored in the clipboard.
[0038] FIG. 13 shows a display example of the state where one of
the plural small images representing the objects of the display
shown in FIG. 12 is set to off display.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in
detail with reference to embodiments and accompanied drawings.
[0040] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a file system utilizing the
display interface method according to an embodiment of the present
invention. This system comprises an input device 11 including a
keyboard, a mouse or a remote controller, a computer 12, a graphic
display device 13 such as a CRT or an LCD, and a clipboard
operation portion 14 that realizes the display interface of the
present invention.
[0041] This file system uses a program utilizing a zoom interface
for browsing or operating object data 15 such as files and folders
that are stored in an auxiliary storage in the computer 12 and are
displayed on a screen of the graphic display device 13. A main
program 16 including the zoom interface is loaded into the
auxiliary storage and a main memory in the computer 12 by using a
removable recording medium such as a CDROM or via a network, so as
to be executed.
[0042] Various commands and data inputted by the input device 11
are given to the main program 16 through the input portion 17. In
addition, display data that are the result of browsing and
operating the object data 15 by the main program 16 in accordance
with the input are given to the display device 13 via the display
portion 18 and are graphically displayed on the screen.
[0043] The clipboard operation portion 14 includes a clipboard
memory area 19 reserved on the main memory and a clipboard control
portion 20 that controls the clipboard memory area 19. The
clipboard control portion 20 is made of a program, which can be
loaded by using a removable recording medium or via a network along
with the main program 16.
[0044] According to the zoom interface that is used in this file
system, a folder 31 having a directory structure as shown in FIG. 2
is displayed on the screen in a three-dimensional graphic manner as
shown in FIG. 3. In the
[0045] illustrated example, almost the entire of the screen 30 is
occupied by the folder 31, which contains subdirectory folders and
files. In addition, a folder 32 of the subdirectory includes icons
of files that are contained in the folder 32. In the case of image
file 33, the image itself is displayed instead of the icon.
[0046] Any folder or file in the directory structure can be
accessed from the screen display of FIG. 3 by the operation of
zooming in or out using the input device 11. For example in FIG. 3,
zooming in on the folder 32 from the state where the entire folder
31 is displayed causes the continuous change of display from FIG.
4A to FIG. 4B. Namely, the display is enlarged with respect to the
position of the folder 32, until the folder 32 is displayed in
almost the entire of the screen as shown in FIG. 4C, and files 34,
35 in the folder 32 become visible.
[0047] In the file system using the above-mentioned zoom interface,
an operation of duplicating the image file 33 in the folder 31 to
the folder 32 will be explained below as an example. First, the
user of the system (the operator) moves the image file 33 in the
folder 31 by the zooming operation using the input device 11 so
that the image file 33 can be seen. Then, the operator selects the
image file 33 by the input device 11 and input the "copy" command.
The main program 16 and the clipboard control portion 20
(hereinafter, simply referred to as the program) stores the pointer
of the selected image file 33 in the clipboard memory area 19 in
accordance with a flowchart as shown in FIG. 5.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 5, when the input of the "copy" command is
detected in Step #101, the process goes to the decision in Step
#102, where it is checked whether the original object (the image
file 33 in this example) is selected. If there is no selected
object (No in Step #102), the process is finished. If there is a
selected object (Yes in Step #102), the process goes to Step #103,
where the pointer to the selected object is stored in clipboard
memory area 19.
[0049] In the next Step #104, it is checked whether the
above-mentioned process is completed for all selected objects,
since plural objects can be selected. After the process from Step
#103 through Step #104 are repeated for all selected objects, this
routine is finished.
[0050] Then, the program displays a thumbnail image of the original
image file 33 whose pointer is stored in the clipboard memory area
19 as a small image on the screen. Namely, when the pointer of the
image file 33 is stored in the clipboard memory area 19 as shown in
FIG. 6A, the thumbnail image 41 of the image file 33 is displayed
at e.g., the lower left corner of the screen 30 as show in FIG. 6B
by the above-mentioned process.
[0051] This thumbnail image 41 is displayed on the foreground
layer. Even if the other display on the background layer changes
along with the zooming operation, the thumbnail image 41 stays on
without changing. In addition, though images that change along with
the zooming operation are displayed in the three-dimensional
manner, the thumbnail image 41 is displayed normally in the
two-dimensional manner. If the original object is not an image file
but a text file for example, an icon that represents the object is
displayed as the small image instead of the thumbnail image. The
small image such as a thumbnail image or an icon can be switched
between on and off on display by the input signal from the input
device 11. If the small image is switched to off display, the
portion of the zoom interface display on the background
appears.
[0052] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the process of displaying the
above-mentioned thumbnail image 41. In Step #201, it is checked
whether there is an object in the clipboard. If there is no object,
the process is finished. If there are objects, one of them is
extracted from the clipboard memory area 19 in Step #202.
[0053] In the next Step #203, it is checked whether the object is
set to off display. If the object is not set to off display (No in
Step #203), the object (the small image including the thumbnail
image 41) is displayed in Step #204, and the process goes to Step
#205. If the object is set to off display (Yes in Step #203), the
process skips Step #204 and goes to Step #205.
[0054] In Step #205, it is checked whether the above-mentioned
process is completed for all objects, since plural objects can be
in the clipboard. After the process from Step #202 through Step
#205 is repeated for all objects in the clipboard, this routine is
finished.
[0055] As explained above, the user uses the input device 11 for
the zooming operation of the screen display and for moving to the
folder 32 while the thumbnail image 41 is displayed on the lower
left corner of the screen 30. Then the "paste" command is inputted,
and the image file 33 pointed by the pointer memorized in the
clipboard memory area 19 is pasted in the folder 32. Namely, when
the folder 32 and the files (the objects) 34, 35 in the folder 32
are displayed in almost the entire of the screen 30, and the
thumbnail image 41 that represents the original object is displayed
on the lower left corner of the screen 30 as shown in FIG. 8A, the
input of the "paste" command makes the display change as shown in
FIG. 8B.
[0056] As understood with reference to FIG. 8B, a copy 51 of the
original image file 33 represented by the thumbnail image 41 is
newly generated in the folder 32. Then, the display of the
thumbnail image 41 goes off, and the pointer to the original image
file 33 memorized in the clipboard memory area 19 is erased.
However, if a "continuous paste" command is inputted for pasting
the same object to another position continuously, the display of
the thumbnail image 41 and the memory of the pointer to the image
file 33 are remained.
[0057] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the
program when the above-mentioned "paste" command is inputted. When
the input of the "paste" command is detected in Step #301, it is
checked whether an object is selected in the clipboard in Step
#302. As explained above, plural links to plural objects can be
memorized in the clipboard memory area 19, and in this case, one or
more objects to be pasted are selected before inputting the "paste"
command.
[0058] If no object is selected in the clipboard (No in Step #302),
the process is finished. If an object is selected (Yes in Step
#302), the process goes to Step #303, and the pointer to the
selected object is extracted from the clipboard memory area 19.
[0059] In the next Step #304, it is checked whether the
above-mentioned process is completed for all selected objects,
since plural objects can be selected. After the process from Step
#303 through Step #304 is repeated for all selected objects, this
routine is finished.
[0060] In the above-mentioned operation, if a "link generation"
(generation of a shortcut) command is inputted instead of the
"paste" command, an icon representing the link information (the
shortcut) to the image file 33 is generated as a new object in the
folder 32 instead of a copy of the image file 33. Namely, when the
folder 32 and the files (the objects) 34, 35 in the folder 32 are
displayed in almost the entire of the screen 30, and the thumbnail
image 41 that represents the original object is displayed on the
lower left corner of the screen 30 as shown in FIG. 10A, the input
of the "link generation" command makes the display change as shown
in FIG. 10B.
[0061] As understood with reference to FIG. 10B, an icon 52
representing the link to the original image file 33 indicated by
the thumbnail image 41 is newly generated in the folder 32. In the
same way as the above-mentioned "paste" command, the display of the
thumbnail image 41 goes off, and the pointer to the original image
file 33 memorized in the clipboard memory area 19 is erased.
However, if a "continuous link generation" command is inputted for
pasting the same link information to another position continuously,
the display of the thumbnail image 41 and the memory of the pointer
to the image file 33 are remained.
[0062] In the input operation of the "copy" command explained with
reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, if a "move" command is
inputted instead of the "copy" command, a movement of the object
can be performed instead of the copy (or the link generation) of
the object. In this case, the original object is copied to the
clipboard and is erased. The example of the display is shown in
FIGS. 1A and 11B.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 11A, the folder 61 including the image file
62 that is the original object is displayed in almost the entire of
the screen 30. In this state, the image file 62 is selected and the
"move" command is inputted. Then, as shown in FIG. 11B, the image
file 62 is copied (or moved) to the clipboard, and the image file
62 in the folder 61 is erased. In this case, the clipboard memory
area 19 stores not the pointer but the image file 62 itself.
[0064] On the lower left corner of the screen 30 (in an example),
in the same way as the above-mentioned "copy" command, the
thumbnail image 63 of the image file stored in the clipboard memory
area 19 is displayed as the small image. Then, as explained with
reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the target folder is displayed on the
screen and the "paste" command is inputted, so that the image file
in the clipboard memory area 19 is pasted to the target folder. In
the case of the "move" command, the original object is erased as
explained above. Therefore, the "link generation" command cannot be
inputted in the target folder instead of the "paste" command.
[0065] As mentioned above, the clipboard can store plural objects.
A display example of the small image representing the contents of
the clipboard is shown in FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, the folder 71
including the original object is displayed in almost the entire of
the screen 30. In this state, an image file 72, a folder 73 and a
text file 74 are copied sequentially to the clipboard as the
original objects.
[0066] From the left end of the lower side of the screen 30, a
thumbnail image 82 representing the image file 72, an icon 83
representing the folder 73, and an icon 84 representing the text
file 74 are displayed in the order as the small images. As
explained above, one or more of these small images 82, 83 and 84
are selected before inputting the "paste" command or the "link
generation" command.
[0067] In addition, if the clipboard stores plural objects, the
above-mentioned switch of the display of the small image between on
and off is preferably set for each object. FIG. 13 shows the state
where only the thumbnail image 82 representing the image file 72 is
set to off display in the display of FIG. 12.
[0068] The display position of the small image representing the
object whose pointer or substance is stored in the clipboard is not
limited to the lower left corner or the left side of the screen,
but can be any position one the screen. In addition, it is possible
that a pointing device is used for changing the display
position.
[0069] The examples of duplicating or moving a file in the
above-explained embodiment of the present invention are performed
between folders that are not so distant from each other in the
hierarchical directory. However, the display interface method of
the present invention is useful particularly for duplicating or
moving a file or a holder between folders that are more distant
from each other in the hierarchical directory.
[0070] As explained above, according to the display interface
method and apparatus of the present invention, moving or
duplicating an object can be performed easily using a clipboard,
especially in a display interface such as a zoom interface in which
the screen changes continuously. The contents of the clipboard can
be displayed separately from the display that is zoomed. Therefore,
the user is not required to memorize the contents of the clipboard
and can concentrate on the zooming operation.
[0071] While the presently preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that
the present invention is not limited thereto, and that various
changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in
the appended claims.
* * * * *