Patent ID: 8429567
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of dividing a display of objects that have been grouped together across two multi-input display devices, the method comprising: defining a target element that enables objects displayed on either of a first multi-input display device and a second multi-input display device to be grouped together through interaction with the target element, the target element having a one-dimensional extent; defining a set of objects; invoking processes that establish associations between constituent objects of the set and corresponding positions along the one dimensional extent of the target element that cause the associations between the constituent objects of the set and the corresponding positions along the target element to be maintained when transformations are applied to the target element such that transformations applied to the target element also are applied to the constituent objects of the set, the positions along the one-dimensional extent of the target element with which constituent objects of the set are associated defining spatial relationships between the constituent objects of the set; defining an area of a display of the first multi-input display device for displaying the target element; defining an area of a display of the second multi-input display device for displaying the target element; displaying, within the defined area of the first multi-input display device, a first portion of the target element that includes less than all of the one-dimensional extent of the target element, a first subset of less than all of the constituent objects of the set being associated with positions along the one-dimensional extent of the target element that fall within the first portion of the target element; as a consequence of displaying the first portion of the target element within the defined area of the first multi-input display device, displaying, on the first multi-input display device, the first subset of the objects associated with positions along the one-dimensional extent of the target element that fall within the first portion of the target element in a manner that is consistent with the spatial relationships between the objects of the first subset defined by the positions along the one-dimensional extent of the target element with which the individual objects of the first subset are associated without displaying on the first multi-input display device the constituent objects of the set not included within the first subset of less than all of the constituent objects; displaying, within the defined area of the second multi-input display device, a second portion of the target element, the second portion of the target element being contiguous with the first portion of the target element but not overlapping with the first portion of the target element and including less than all of the one-dimensional extent of the target element, wherein a second subset of less than all of the constituent objects of the set is associated with positions along the one-dimensional extent of the target element that fall within the second portion of the target element; and as a consequence of displaying the second portion of the target element within the defined area of the second multi-input display device, displaying, on the second multi-input display device, the second subset of objects associated with positions along the one-dimensional extent of the target element that fall within the second portion of the target element in a manner that is consistent with the spatial relationships between the objects of the second subset defined by the positions along the one-dimensional extent of the target element with which the individual objects of the second subset are associated without displaying on the second multi-input display device the constituent objects of the set not included within the second subset of less than all of the constituent objects.