Patent ID: 7703045
Filing Date: 2010-04-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-executable method for interacting with objects in a user interface of a computer system, comprising: receiving, at the computer system, a selection of an object displayed within the user interface from a user, wherein the selected object contains a plurality of sub objects, wherein the selected object is represented by a sub tree of a scene graph for the user interface, and wherein the sub objects of the selected object are represented by branches or leaf nodes of the sub tree, and wherein a link between two objects in the scene graph has a strength property which indicates the strength of the link between the two objects; in response to the selection, determining whether the user is moving the selected object with a specified motion; and in response to the user moving the selected object which is represented by the sub tree of the scene graph, performing a transformation on the selected object, wherein the transformation is associated with the specified motion, wherein performing the transformation on the select object involves identifying a weakest branch of the sub tree for the selected object, and wherein the weakest branch is associated with a weakest link of the sub tree; wherein if the specified motion involves shaking the selected object or dragging the selected object, performing the transformation on the selected object involves disengaging sub objects in the weakest branch from the selected object.