Apple Inc.

Susan M Bartalo

James L Mensch

Lisa Louise Davis

Robert E Snow

Mark C Pontarelli

A method and apparatus for linking GUI sliders displayed on a computer screen. A master slider and a slave slider are displayed, each including a knob and a guide. The master knob can be moved along the master guide in response to input from a user, such as with a pointing device. The movement of the slave knob of the slave slider is influenced along the slave guide based on the position and/or movement of the master knob. The slave slider can preferably be in a full slave mode or in a partial slave mode. In full slave mode, the slave knob tracks the movement of its master knob and cannot be selected directly by the user. In partial slave mode, a slave knob can be directly selected and moved by the user, but includes a limit to its movement based on the master knob's current position. Graphical indications of the limits and/or influence on the slave slider are displayed, such as half tone displays on the screen and lines indicating the limits to movement. A free mode can also be provided for a slave slider to provide the slave knob with completely independent movement from its master knob.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Susan M Bartalo