Apple Inc.

Paige K Parsons

Neil Lawrence Mayle

Steven Henry Strassmann

Andrew L Shalit

Jeremy A Jones

Oliver W Steele

Derek R White

William W St Clair, Jr

A graphical user interface comprises aspect and style elements for controlling the type of information associated with objects displayed on a display screen of a computer system when browsing through the objects. The aspect element controls the particular type of information displayed for an object on a portion of a window, called a pane, while the style element controls the types of information displayed for all objects within that pane.

Aspect and style elements of an improved graphical user interface

An improved graphical user interface comprises novel status indicators pertaining to state attributes associated with objects displayed on a display screen of a computer system. These status indicators are preferably portrayed on a window pane of a display screen as distinct visual cues and are located adjacent to their associated objects to provide a customizable browser framework to a user. A dynamically-adjustable side bar panel provides a designated area within each pane for displaying the status indicators.

Status indicators of an improved graphical user interface

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Paige K Parsons