The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 25, 1997
Thomas R. Haynes, Apex, NC (US);
Jerry T. Paradise, Durham, NC (US);
Christopher Hunt, Raleigh, NC (US);
International Business Machine Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A graphical user interface for a computer system has a toolbar with associated items and a menu bar having at least one pulldown menu with associated items, and provides a visual correspondence between items on the pulldown menu and items on the toolbar. The visual correspondence can be provided when a graphical pointer is placed over an item on the pulldown menu, and when a graphical pointer is placed over an item on the toolbar. The visual correspondence may be provided by highlighting the item on the toolbar, by providing a ghost image of the item on the toolbar, or by providing a ghost image of the pulldown menu. The invention retains current user interaction with toolbars and menu bars, and the novel dynamic linking of menu bar and toolbar items extends the functionality of the GUI without increasing visual complexity.