Method and apparatus for improved interaction with an application program according to data types and actions performed by the application program

• Main Authors: Stern, Mark Ludwig, Johnston, Jr., Robert George, Moller, Elizabeth Ann Robinson
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.10.2004

Existing graphical user interfaces (GUI's) in computer systems provide a variety of tools to manipulate information. One of the key design characteristics of graphical user interface is the concept of direct manipulation. Traditional disk operating systems used a command line interface (such as the MS DOS operating system available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.), and English language commands are issued by a user in order to cause certain events to occur. In modern GUI's, files and other information are directly manipulated by selecting icons representing files and moving the icons while selected on the computer system display. In this manner, files may be moved, copied, deleted, and otherwise manipulated in the file system of the computer. A method and apparatus for performing actions while selecting objects on a user interface display. A user may select a first item in an area of a display controlled by a first process and drag that item to a second area on a display controlled by a second process. The second process may negotiate with the first process to provide certain data types, and based upon those data types, the second process will determine a list of actions in hierarchical fashion which may be performed upon the data. Such actions may include, but are not limited to, printing, sending electronic mail, and performing other actions in the computer system. Alternative and primary actions may also be specified by a user, such as by selecting various keys on a keyboard or other input device. Further, a user may specify that the second process display a list of actions which may be performed upon the selected item and allow the user to select an action from a list.