Patent Document ID: 6160551
Application ID: 08406578
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. In an object-oriented graphic user interface, said object-oriented graphic user interface illustrating objects as graphical icons, a method of providing information to a program object, said method comprising the steps of: rendering a graphic image of a data object at an initial position on a graphics display screen; receiving input from a user comprising a command to move said data object; receiving input from a user comprising a destination position on the graphics display screen to locate said data object, said program object located at said destination position; rendering a ghost image comprising an exact copy of said graphic image of said data object drawn in muted colors of said data object at said initial position on said graphics display screen, wherein in response to the command to move said data object, said ghost image and said data object are moved together; modifying the appearance of said program object to indicate that said program object will accept said data object; receiving input from a user comprising a command to provide said data object to said program object when the appearance of said program object has been modified; merging said ghost image and said graphic image of said data object; providing a plurality of spaces, each of said spaces comprising a graphic background image depicting a real-world scene familiar to users; rendering on said graphics display screen a portal in at least one of said spaces, said portal having an associated target space such that said portal connects the space where the portal is disposed to the associated target space, said portal comprising a graphic icon; and wherein said input comprising the destination position to locate said object comprises holding said object over said portal for a predetermined minimum amount of time.