Patent ID: 6018333
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of operating a data processing system to select an element, using a pointing device, from among a plurality of overlapping elements displayed in an image display plane of the data processing system, wherein the image display plane includes a first window in which the plurality of overlapping elements are displayed and where the pointing device establishes a selection point in the image display plane and provides location information for the selection point, including the steps of:determining coordinates of the selection point;identifying, based upon the coordinates, all elements having at least one point in common with the selection point;automatically recognizing when plural elements have a point in common with the selection point;upon automatically recognizing plural elements in common with the selection point, opening a second window in the image display plane and displaying in a second window, at a separate location of the image display plane, representations of the identified plural elements recognized, in a spaced-apart fashion suitable for the selection of one of the representations; andselecting one of the representations of the plural elements displayed at the separate location, wherein the selection of the representation also selects the associated one of the plural elements.