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:
Jun. 11, 2013
Filed:
Jan. 19, 2005
Cornelis K Van Dok, Bellevue, WA (US);
Fabrice a Debry, Bellevue, WA (US);
Lyon King-fook Wong, Issaquah, WA (US);
Timothy P. Mckee, Seattle, WA (US);
Andrew S. Crane, Seattle, WA (US);
Cornelis K Van Dok, Bellevue, WA (US);
Fabrice A Debry, Bellevue, WA (US);
Lyon King-Fook Wong, Issaquah, WA (US);
Timothy P. McKee, Seattle, WA (US);
Andrew S. Crane, Seattle, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
Aspects of the present invention are directed to the stacking of visual items, and their subsequent expansion, or unstacking. Upon selection of a stack, that stack expands into the individual visual items making up that stack. Further aspects of the present invention are directed to expanding a stack in different ways depending upon the circumstances. Further aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a hot area associated with, and potentially disposed around, a stack. Selection by the user of the hot area results in selection of the associated stack. The stack may itself be considered a single item that is itself selectable. After the stack is expanded, then the individual visual items making up the original stack are each individually selectable. However, when stacked, the individual items may not be selectable except as a complete stack.