United States Patent (19)
`Marks
`
`USOO6097390A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`6,097,390
`*Aug. 1, 2000
`
`54 PROGRESS-INDICATING MOUSE POINTER
`
`75 Inventor: Laurence Victor Marks, Raleigh, N.C.
`
`5.940,078 8/1999 Nagarajayya et al................... 345/346
`5,953,010 9/1999 Kampe et al. .......................... 345/348
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`*
`
`Notice:
`
`(73) Assignee: International Business Machines
`Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.
`This patent issued on a continued pros-
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`
`7
`
`21 Appl. No.: 08/832,884
`22 Filed:
`Apr. 4, 1997
`51) Int. Cl.' ........................................................ G06F 3/14
`52)
`345/348; 345/349; 34.5/977
`58 Field of Search ..................................... 345/348, 349,
`345/326,333,334, 338,339, 977, 145,
`473
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,301,348 4/1994 Jaaskelainen ............................. 714/46
`5,319,384 6/1994 Isenberg et al. ..
`... 345/145
`5,420,968 5/1995 Johri..............
`... 345/433
`5,423,039 6/1995 Matteson .......
`... 709/107
`5,448,693 9/1995 Blades et al. .
`... 345/348
`5,479,602 12/1995 Baecker et al.
`... 345/349
`5,519,390 5/1996 Casini ...............
`... 340/929
`5,524,195
`6/1996 Clanton, III et al. .
`... 345/327
`5,544,295
`8/1996 Capps............
`... 345/473
`5,586.237 12/1996 Baecker et al.
`... 345/433
`5,596,694
`1/1997 Capps................
`... 345/473
`5,630,081
`5/1997 Rybicki et al.
`... 345/349
`5,655,093 8/1997 Frid-Nielsen ........................... 345/326
`5,801,692 9/1998 Muzio et al. ........................... 345/339
`5,801,698 9/1998 Lection et al.....
`... 345/347
`5,805,166 9/1998 Hall, Jr. et al. ...
`... 345/349
`5,898,432 4/1999 Pinard ..................................... 345/334
`
`IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin V. 37 it 12 Dec. 1994.
`“Icon that Shows Length of Audio or Video', p. 179.
`Kenneth Mason Publications Ltd, England, Aug. 1990 #316,
`Design of Dynamically Updated Icon to Depict Labor
`Standard R ss
`anaara Kange
`IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin V.35 if 1A Jun. 1992
`Multi-State Icon", pp. 338-339.
`Primary Examiner-Crescelle N. dela Torre
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm Joscelyn G. Cockburn
`57
`ABSTRACT
`A method of indicating a State of progreSS of a task being
`processed in a computer System by providing a progreSS
`indicating Visual pointer O display device of the computer
`System. Prior art visual pointers (Such as an arrowhead) are
`responsive to a pointer device Such as a mouse, and are used
`to manipulate features of a graphical user interface (GUI).
`These prior art pointers do not indicate the State of progreSS
`of a task underway, but rather only indicate that the task is
`Still running. The progreSS-indicating pointer of the present
`invention can take the form of a wristwatch or clock icon
`having a face which is filled, e.g., in a clockwise fashion, or
`the form of an hourglass icon having a portion, e.g., the
`lower half of the hourglass, which is filled in an amount
`proportionate to the State of progress of the task being
`processed. The different States of the icon can easily be
`presented by providing a plurality of bitmaps (e.g., a 32-by
`32 array of pixel elements), and program instructions Select
`one of the bitmaps for the progreSS-indicating Visual pointer
`based on the State of progreSS of the task being processed.
`The progreSS-indicating pointer may be provided in response
`to instructions from the operating System or from the appli
`cation Software.
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`9 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
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`PayPal Ex. 1041, p. 1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 1, 2000
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`Sheet 1 of 4
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`6,097,390
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`PayPal Ex. 1041, p. 2
`PayPal v. IOENGINE
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 1, 2000
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`Sheet 2 of 4
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`6,097,390
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`PayPal Ex. 1041, p. 3
`PayPal v. IOENGINE
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 1, 2000
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`Sheet 3 of 4
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`6,097,390
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`PayPal Ex. 1041, p. 4
`PayPal v. IOENGINE
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 1, 2000
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`Sheet 4 of 4
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`6,097,390
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`FIG. 6A
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`FIG. 6B
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`FIG. 6C
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`FIG. 7A
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`FIG. 8A
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`FIG. 8C
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`PayPal Ex. 1041, p. 5
`PayPal v. IOENGINE
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`1
`PROGRESS-INDICATING MOUSE POINTER
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`6,097,390
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention generally relates to computer SyS
`tems and, more particularly, to a progreSS-indicating pointer
`in a graphical user interface.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`The basic structure of a conventional computer system 10
`is shown in FIG. 1. The heart of computer system 10 is a
`central processing unit (CPU) or processor 12 which is
`connected to Several peripheral devices, including input/
`output (I/O) devices 14 (Such as a display monitor, pointing
`device, and keyboard) for the user interface, a permanent
`memory device 16 (Such as a hard disk or floppy diskette)
`for Storing the computer's operating System and user
`programs, and a temporary memory device 18 (Such as
`random-access memory or RAM) that is used by processor
`12 to carry out program instructions. Processor 12 commu
`nicates with the peripheral devices by various means,
`including a bus 20 or a direct channel 22. Computer System
`10 may have many additional components which are not
`shown, Such as Serial and parallel ports for connection to,
`e.g., modems or printers. Those skilled in the art will further
`appreciate that there are other components that might be
`used in conjunction with those shown in the block diagram
`of FIG. 1; for example, a display adapter connected to
`processor 12 might be used to control a video-display
`monitor, and a memory controller may be used as an
`interface between temporary memory device 18 and proces
`Sor 12. Computer system 10 also includes firmware 24
`whose primary purpose is to Seek out and load an operating
`System from one of the peripherals (usually permanent
`memory device 16) whenever the computer is first turned on.
`Several conventional operating Systems provide graphical
`user interfaces (GUIs) which allow a pointing device, Such
`as a mouse, to manipulate a visual pointer on the display
`device (video monitor). The visual pointer typically takes
`the form of an arrowhead, although other shapes are also
`used, Such as crosshairs, a vertical line (caret or I-beam), or
`a hand. The pointer is used to Select text, activate buttons,
`and perform other operations, Such as "drag-and-drop'
`operations.
`Many graphical user interfaces display a different shape
`or design of the pointer to indicate that a task is in progreSS
`and may take Some time to complete. Several examples of
`such pointer designs are shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. FIG. 2A
`depicts a wristwatch icon, while FIG. 2B depicts an hour
`glass icon, and FIG.2C depicts a clock icon. These icons are
`typically used only when a task will take a short time to
`complete. They are often Static; that is, they do not change
`shape or appearance while the task is in progreSS, although
`Some operating Systems or user applications allow them to
`change shape to indicate that the task is still underway. For
`example, the wristwatch and clock icons of FIGS. 2A and 2C
`may show one of the hands (e.g., the Second hand) moving,
`and the hourglass of FIG. 2B may be occasionally filled and
`rotated (inverted), during the task duration. Nevertheless,
`these icons do not indicate the progreSS of the task, i.e., how
`much of the task is completed but, rather, only indicate that
`the task is still active.
`Other than the foregoing change in the design of a pointer
`icon, most graphical user interfaces Standardize on only one
`other means to indicate to the user that a task is in progreSS
`and will take Some time to complete. For tasks estimated to
`be of long duration, a progreSS Window is often painted on
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`the Screen. This indicator typically takes the form of a
`horizontal bar which fills in (from left-to-right) proportion
`ate to the amount of the task completed, as illustrated in FIG.
`3.
`The first form of a task indicator (FIGS. 2A-2C) is
`uninformative; the only information the user can perceive
`about task duration is that it will be less than the amount that
`the programmer deemed appropriate for use of the Second
`indicator type (FIG.3). That is, all the user knows is that the
`wait time will be “short.” However, it is not always appro
`priate to use the Second type of indicator for short tasks. It
`is inappropriate to use the Second form of progreSS indicator
`(FIG. 3) as the visual impact of window creation and
`deletion is distracting. Also, the CPU resource consumed by
`window creation, updating, and deletion may actually be
`significant relative to the duration of the task itself. It would,
`therefore, be desirable to provide a resource-sparing indi
`cator that Visually informs the user of how much of a task is
`complete. It would be further advantageous if this indicator
`were able to provide information on the task progreSS in an
`intuitive but non-intrusive (non-distracting) manner.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is therefore one object of the present invention to
`provide an improved method of indicating the progreSS of a
`task in a computer System.
`It is another object of the present invention to provide
`Such a method that provides the progreSS indicator in a
`graphical user interface.
`It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
`Such a method that uses a small amount of CPU resources.
`The foregoing objects are achieved in a method of indi
`cating a State of progreSS of a task being processed in a
`computer System, generally comprising the Steps of provid
`ing a progress-indicating visual pointer on a display device
`of the computer System, and dynamically changing an
`appearance of the progreSS-indicating visual pointer based
`on a State of progress of a task being processed by the
`computer System. A default visual pointer (Such as an
`arrowhead) can be provided during an idle State of the
`computer System, and the progreSS-indicating Visual pointer
`is provided only during task execution. The progreSS
`indicating pointer can take the form of a wristwatch or clock
`icon having a face which is filled, e.g., in a clockwise
`fashion, or the form of an hourglass icon having a portion,
`e.g., the lower half of the hourglass, which is filled in an
`amount proportionate to the State of progreSS of the task
`being processed, while the upper half is emptied. The
`progreSS-indicating visual pointer preferably dynamically
`changes between at least three States, although many more
`States (e.g., twenty States indicating progression in 5%
`increments) may be employed. The different states of the
`icon can easily be presented by providing a plurality of
`bitmaps (e.g., a 32-by-32 array of pixel elements), and
`causing the operating System to Select Successive bitmaps
`for the progreSS-indicating visual pointer based on the State
`of progreSS of the task being processed. The bitmaps may be
`Selected in response to instructions from the operating
`System itself, or from the application Software. The present
`invention provides an intuitive but non-intrusive indicator
`which takes a relatively small amount of CPU resources to
`indicate the State of progreSS of the task underway.
`The above as well as additional objectives, features, and
`advantages of the present invention will become apparent in
`the following detailed written description.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The novel features believed characteristic of the invention
`are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself,
`
`PayPal Ex. 1041, p. 6
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`6,097,390
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`3
`however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further
`objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood
`by reference to the following detailed description of an
`illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the
`accompanying drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional computer
`System;
`FIGS. 2A-2C are depictions of pointer icons as used in
`prior-art graphical user interfaces,
`FIG. 3 is an illustration of an informational window that
`is used in prior-art computer Systems to indicate the progreSS
`of a task,
`FIGS. 4A-4C are depictions of several embodiments of
`pointer icons used in accordance with the present invention,
`to indicate that a task is approximately 25% complete;
`FIGS. 5A-5C are depictions of several embodiments of
`pointer icons used in accordance with the present invention,
`to indicate that a task is approximately 33% complete;
`FIGS. 6A-6C are depictions of several embodiments of
`pointer icons used in accordance with the present invention,
`to indicate that a task is approximately 50% complete;
`FIGS. 7A-7C are depictions of several embodiments of
`pointer icons used in accordance with the present invention,
`to indicate that a task is approximately 66% complete; and
`FIGS. 8A-8C are depictions of several embodiments of
`pointer icons used in accordance with the present invention,
`to indicate that a task is approximately 75% complete.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`The present invention is directed to a method of providing
`an indication of the progreSS of a task running in a computer
`System. The computer Systems hardware may include the
`various components shown in FIG. 1, but the computer
`System is not necessarily conventional, i.e., it could include
`new hardware components as well, or have a novel inter
`connection architecture for existing components. Therefore,
`while the present invention may be understood with refer
`ence to FIG. 1, this reference should not be construed in a
`limiting Sense.
`With reference now to FIGS. 4-8, there are depicted
`Several embodiments of pointer icons used in accordance
`with the present invention. Each of these icons is used as a
`pointer for a display device, i.e., a video monitor (Such as a
`CRT or LCD panel). In the preferred implementation,
`another (default) pointer design, Such as an arrowhead (not
`shown), is used by the graphical user interface (GUI) when
`the processor is idle (in the Sense that no lengthy task is
`currently underway), or when only very short duration tasks
`are being processed. When longer tasks are undertaken, one
`of the icon series shown in FIGS. 4-8 may be used.
`Each of the FIGS. 4-8 depicts three different embodi
`ments of the icons designed in accordance with the present
`invention, showing different versions of those icons depend
`ing upon the Stage of progreSS of the task at hand. In each
`of these embodiments, the icons change as the task
`progresses, controlled by appropriate program instructions
`residing in the computer's processor. The exemplary icons
`depicted are variations of the prior-art (non-progress
`indicating) icons of FIGS. 2A-2C. FIGS. 4A-4C depict
`three icons which are used when a the task is approximately
`25% complete. FIG. 4A shows how a wristwatch icon may
`fill in a portion of the watch face in a clockwise fashion; that
`is, for the 25% stage, in a sector defined by the center of the
`watch face, the 12 o'clock position (i.e., extending vertically
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`from the center), and the 3 o'clock position (i.e., extending
`horizontally from the center, to the right). FIG. 4C similarly
`depicts how a clock face can gradually be filled in, in
`approximate proportion to the amount of the task that has
`been completed. FIG. 4B shows application of the present
`invention to an hourglass icon, wherein progreSS is indicated
`by Sand “granules' falling through the narrow portion of the
`hourglass, i.e., progreSS is indicated by the relative amount
`of granules shown in the upper half of the hourglass verSuS
`the amount of granules shown in the lower half of the
`hourglass.
`FIGS. 5A-5C depict three icons after the task is about
`33% complete. FIGS. 6A-6C depict the same three icons
`after the task is approximately 50% (halfway) complete.
`FIGS. 7A-7C depict the three icons after the task is about
`66% complete. FIGS. 8A-8C depict three icons after the
`task is about 75% complete. It can be seen that, in each of
`these designs, the change in the presentation of the icon
`indicates that the task has progressed further, i.e., by having
`the wristwatch or clock face fill in further, or by depicting
`more Sand granules in the lower half of the hourglass (as
`they are emptied from the upper half). Other progress
`indicating icons will become apparent to those skilled in the
`art upon reference to this disclosure. For example, an icon of
`a hand beginning as a fist could show fingers unfolding as
`the task progresses. Also, any icon could be filled in with a
`color, e.g., even the common arrowhead icon could be filled
`in from end-to-end (white to black) as the task progresses.
`The invention could also be extended to non-GUI displays.
`For example, a text-only Screen (Such as a DOS Screen)
`could indicate progression of a task by providing a cursor
`block which is gradually filled in (e.g. from bottom to top,
`filling in the 14 scan lines available for a DOS character), or
`which is altered by changing its brightness (using the same
`character with different levels of gray shading).
`It is preferable to update a dynamic progreSS-marking
`pointer icon without consuming an undue amount of System
`resources. For these pointers, that is, indeed, the case. In
`most display Systems, each pointer is described by a 32-by
`32 array of elements or pixels (a bitmap), each pixel of a
`designated color. The complete array can thus be defined by
`about one or two thousand bytes. To change the pointer
`shape, it is merely necessary to indicate to the operating
`System the location of a different bitmap, a relatively inex
`pensive task in terms of CPU resources. In fact, it is common
`practice to change the bitmap today, either when the active
`task is changed or based on the context of the current task.
`The dynamic pointer would similarly change shape based on
`an output of the current task which indicates its stage of
`progreSS. The progreSS-indicating pointer may be provided
`in response to program instructions from the operating
`System itself or from the application Software.
`To analyze the complete resource impact of changing
`pointers, consider the exemplary cost of using the hourglass.
`The hourglass icon is thirty-two elements high, including the
`icon frame and the portion of the icon depicting its bases.
`The portion of the hourglass height available for progreSS
`depiction is twenty elements high; that is, the hourglass can
`indicate progreSS in 5% increments. Therefore, in this
`embodiment, there will be twenty bitmaps, or about twenty
`to forty-thousand bytes required for Storage, a modest
`amount in today's operating Systems. Furthermore, the
`update operation is inexpensive, involving a Small update
`twenty times during task duration. For short tasks, the
`programmer may elect to use fewer updates, indicating
`progress in 10%, 20%, or 50% increments. Using a 32
`element wide or high icon will generally result in no more
`than 32 bitmaps.
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`6,097,390
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`S
`The present invention achieves the goals of providing an
`intuitive but non-intrusive indicator which takes the form of
`a pointer whose appearance changes as the task progresses.
`The invention provides a non-distracting, resource-sparing
`indicator that visually informs the user how much of the task
`is complete.
`Although the invention has been described with reference
`to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be
`construed in a limiting Sense. Various modifications of the
`disclosed embodiment, as well as alternative embodiments
`of the invention, will become apparent to perSons skilled in
`the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It
`is therefore contemplated that Such modifications can be
`made without departing from the Spirit or Scope of the
`present invention as defined in the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method of indicating a State of progreSS of a task
`being processed in a computer System, comprising the Steps
`of:
`using a visual pointer provided in a graphical user inter
`face of the computer System to provide a progreSS
`indicating visual pointer, to indicate how much of the
`task is completed, on a display device of the computer
`System; and
`dynamically changing an appearance of the progreSS
`indicating visual pointer based on a State of progress of
`the task being processed by the computer System
`wherein the progreSS-indicating pointer is a wristwatch
`icon, and Said Step of dynamically changing the appear
`ance of the progreSS-indicating visual pointer includes
`the Step of filling in a face of the wristwatch icon in an
`amount proportionate to the State of progreSS of the task
`being processed.
`2. A method of indicating a State of progreSS of a task
`being processed in a computer System, comprising the Steps
`of:
`using a visual pointer provided in a graphical user inter
`face of the computer System to provide a progreSS
`indicating visual pointer, to indicate how much of the
`task is completed, on a display device of the computer
`System; and
`dynamically changing an appearance of the progreSS
`indicating visual pointer based on a State of progress of
`the task being processed by the computer System
`wherein the progreSS-indicating pointer is a clock icon,
`and Said Step of dynamically changing the appearance
`of the progreSS-indicating visual pointer includes the
`Step of filling in a face of the clock icon in an amount
`proportionate to the State of progreSS of the task being
`processed.
`3. A method of indicating a State of progreSS of a task
`being processed in a computer System, comprising the Steps
`of:
`using a visual pointer provided in a graphical user inter
`face of the computer System to provide a progreSS
`indicating visual pointer, to indicate how much of the
`task is completed, on a display device of the computer
`System; and
`dynamically changing an appearance of the progreSS
`indicating visual pointer based on a State of progress of
`the task being processed by the computer System
`wherein the progreSS-indicating pointer is an hourglass
`icon, and Said Step of dynamically changing the appear
`ance of the progreSS-indicating visual pointer includes
`the Step of filling in a portion of the hourglass icon in
`an amount proportionate to the State of progreSS of the
`task being processed.
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`4. A method of indicating a State of progreSS of a task
`being processed in a computer System, comprising the Steps
`of:
`using a visual pointer provided in a graphical user inter
`face of the computer System to provide a progreSS
`indicating visual pointer, to indicate how much of the
`task is completed, on a display device of the computer
`System; and
`dynamically changing an appearance of the progreSS
`indicating visual pointer based on a State of progress of
`the task being processed by the computer System
`wherein the progreSS-indicating pointer is a wristwatch
`icon, and Said Step of dynamically changing the appear
`ance of the progreSS-indicating visual pointer includes
`the Step of filling in a face of the wristwatch icon, in a
`clockwise fashion, in an amount proportionate to the
`State of progreSS of the task being processed.
`5. A method of indicating a State of progreSS of a task
`being processed in a computer System, comprising the Steps
`of:
`using a visual pointer provided in a graphical user inter
`face of the computer System to provide a progreSS
`indicating visual pointer, to indicate how much of the
`task is completed, on a display device of the computer
`System; and
`dynamically changing an appearance of the progreSS
`indicating visual pointer based on a State of progress of
`the task being processed by the computer System
`wherein the progreSS-indicating pointer is a clock icon,
`and Said Step of dynamically changing the appearance
`of the progreSS-indicating visual pointer includes the
`Step of filling in a face of the clock icon, in a clockwise
`fashion, in an amount proportionate to the State of
`progreSS of the task being processed.
`6. A method of indicating a State of progreSS of a task
`being processed in a computer System, comprising the Steps
`of:
`using a visual pointer provided in a graphical user inter
`face of the computer System to provide a progreSS
`indicating visual pointer, to indicate how much of the
`task is completed, on a display device of the computer
`System; and
`dynamically changing an appearance of the progreSS
`indicating visual pointer based on a State of progress of
`the task being processed by the computer System
`wherein the progreSS-indicating pointer is an hourglass
`icon, including an upper portion and a lower portion
`and Said Step of dynamically changing the appearance
`of the progreSS-indicating visual pointer includes the
`Step of filling in a portion of the hourglass icon in an
`amount proportionate to the State of progreSS of the task
`being processed wherein Said filling Step fills in the
`lower portion with a plurality of granules while emp
`tying granules from the upper portion.
`7. A computer System comprising:
`a proceSSOr,
`a display device connected to Said processor,
`a graphical user interface residing in the processor, Said
`graphical user interface operatively providing at least
`one visual pointer that displays a different shape indi
`cating that a task is in progreSS on the display device;
`a pointer device, connected to Said processor, for manipu
`lating the visual pointer on Said display device; and
`instruction Set residing in Said processor for using Said
`Visual pointer to provide a progreSS-indicating visual
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`6,097,390
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`pointer indicating how much of a task is completed, and
`dynamically changing an appearance of Said progreSS
`indicating visual pointer based on a State of progress of
`a task being processed by Said processor wherein Said
`instruction Set provides Said progreSS-indicating pointer
`in the form of a wristwatch icon having a face which is
`filled in an amount proportionate to Said State of
`progreSS of Said task being processed.
`8. A computer System comprising:
`a proceSSOr,
`a display device connected to Said processor,
`a graphical user interface residing in the processor, Said
`graphical user interface operatively providing at least
`one visual pointer that displays a different shape indi
`cating that a task is in progreSS on the display device;
`a pointer device, connected to Said processor, for manipu
`lating the visual pointer on Said display device; and
`instruction Set residing in Said processor for using Said
`Visual pointer to provide a progreSS-indicating visual
`pointer indicating how much of a task is completed, and
`dynamically changing an appearance of Said progreSS
`indicating visual pointer based on a State of progress of
`a task being processed by Said processor wherein Said
`instruction Set provides Said progreSS-indicating pointer
`
`15
`
`8
`in the form of a clock icon having a face which is filled
`in an amount proportionate to Said State of progress of
`Said task being processed.
`9. A computer System comprising:
`a proceSSOr,
`a display device connected to Said processor,
`a graphical user interface residing in the processor, Said
`graphical user interface operatively providing at least
`one visual pointer that displays a different shape indi
`cating that a task is in progreSS on the display device;
`a pointer device, connected to Said processor, for manipu
`lating the visual pointer on Said display device; and
`instruction Set residing in Said processor for using Said
`Visual pointer to provide a progreSS-indicating visual
`pointer indicating how much of a task is completed, and
`dynamically changing an appearance of Said progreSS
`indicating visual pointer based on a State of progress of
`a task being processed by Said processor wherein Said
`instruction Set provides Said progreSS-indicating pointer
`in the form of an hourglass icon having a portion which
`is filled in an amount proportionate to Said State of
`progreSS of Said task being processed.
`
`PayPal Ex. 1041, p. 9
`PayPal v. IOENGINE
`
`