Patent ID: 6396487
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A user interface enhancemrnt to a windowing display system for a computer operating sysstem in which a cursor is controlled by a mouse, the enhancement being a method comprising the steps of:displaying one or more icons in a bar of a window on a computer display screen, said bar being just for such icons; enabling a coninuous change in said window by user selection of one of said icons, said selection being accomplished by pressing a control of said mouse while said cursor is on said icon; responding to a user holding said selection and moving the mouse controlled cursor to preform said continuous change to the display window, wherein parameter values controlling said continuous change are determined by movement of said mouse controlled cursor, measures of said mouse controlled cursor movement producing corresponding changes in said parameter values, said holding being accomplished by continuing to press said control on said mouse, said icon remaining in place on the bar, said mouse controlled cursor not being fixed during said movement to a location on said window; upon a release by the user of said holding control, redisplayed a cursor in the bar adjacent the icon to facilitate further selections from the bar by the user, further including the step of optionally scaling detected changes of the position of the mouse controlled cursor by a value other than one, wherein the step of responding to a user moving the mouse controlled cursor includes the step of calculating said continuous change based on detected changes in a position of the mouse controlled cursor, and wherein the selected icon is a â€œcornerâ€  icon used for resizing the window.