Patent Document ID: 6146027
Application ID: 08898768
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. In a computer system with a processor and a display, an apparatus for providing an object-oriented application interface between a cursor placement device having a user-operable button for controlling a pointer graphic and an object-oriented application program including a plurality of objects with logic and data for performing particular functions, the apparatus comprising: (a) an interactable object of said plurality of objects with logic and data in said application program, said interactable object including logic for displaying both an icon and a Thumbnail on said display, and logic for manipulating said icon on said display; (b) means responsive to a depression of said user-operable button of said cursor placement device for generating a device event signal; (c) means responsive to a physical position of said pointer graphic on said display for generating device position signals; and (d) an interactor object comprising: timing means responsive to said device event signal for detecting when said user-operable button is depressed for a predetermined time interval; storage means for storing a peek threshold value; means responsive to said predetermined time interval and to said threshold value for generating a peek message if said user-operable button has been depressed longer than said peek threshold value; and means responsive to said peek message for invoking logic in said interactor object to change said display from displaying said icon to said Thumbnail display.