Claims
- 1. A pictorial interface for accessing information in an electronic file system having a display screen and an input device, said interface comprising:a) at least one pictorial image displayable on the display screen; b) means for associating said at least one pictorial image with a first group of files; c) means for defining a plurality of sub-images as portions of said at least one pictorial image, wherein said means for defining enables selection of substantially any non-predefined portion of said at least one pictorial image and designation of it as a sub-image; and d) means for associating each of a plurality of the files in the first group of files with individual sub-images of said plurality of sub-images.
- 2. A pictorial interface according to claim 1, wherein:at least some of said plurality of sub-images are non-rectangular.
- 3. A pictorial interface according to claim 1, wherein:said means for associating at least some of the files in the first group of files with individual sub-images of said plurality of sub-images includes cursor means to define corners of a rectangle circumscribing the sub-image to be associated with a file.
- 4. A pictorial interface according to claim 3, wherein:said means for associating at least some of the files in the first group of files with individual sub-images of said plurality of sub-images includes masking means for masking portions of the rectangle circumscribing the sub-image to produce a non-rectangular icon.
- 5. A pictorial interface according to claim 1, further comprising:e) means for associating at least one of the sub-images of said plurality of sub-images with a second group of files.
- 6. A pictorial interface for accessing information in an electronic file system having a display screen and an input device, said interface comprising:a) at least one pictorial image displayable on the display screen; b) means for creating a group of new files; c) means for associating said at least one pictorial image with said group of new files; d) means for defining a plurality of sub-images relative to said at least one pictorial image, wherein said means for defining enables selection of substantially any non-predetermined portion of said at least one pictorial image and designation of it as a sub-image; e) means for associating each of a plurality of the files in said group of new files with individual sub-images of said plurality of sub-images.
- 7. A pictorial interface according to claim 6, further comprising:f) means for animating at least some of said plurality of sub-images.
- 8. A pictorial interface for accessing information in an electronic file system having a display screen and an input device, said interface comprising:a) at least one pictorial image displayable on the display screen, said pictorial image containing a plurality of sub-images; b) means for associating at least some of the files in the first group of files with individual sub-images of said plurality of sub-images; c) an animated character image displayable on the display screen, said animated character image being overlaid on said pictorial image and being capable of a plurality of animated actions; and d) means for moving said animated character image relative to said pictorial image in response to user input.
- 9. A pictorial interface according to claim 8, further comprising:e) means for scrolling said at least one pictorial image in response to movement of said animated character image.
- 10. A pictorial interface according to claim 8, further comprising:e) means for generating a transition animation of said animated character image, said transition animation starting with a last frame of one of said plurality of animated actions and ending with a first frame of another of said plurality of animated actions.
- 11. A pictorial interface for accessing information in an electronic file system having a display screen and an input device, said interface comprising:a) at least one pictorial image displayable on the display screen; b) means for defining a region of said pictorial image as a sub-image; and c) means for associating at least one of the files in the file system with said sub-image, wherein said means for defining a region includes means for automatically generating and compiling program code containing a subimage definition and association, said program code providing access to said at least one of the files when said program code is run.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/003,553, filed Jan. 6, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,401 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/316,518, filed Sep. 30, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,416.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
The Complete HyperCard 2.0 Handbook, 3rd Edition, Danny Goodman, Aug. 1990, pp. 165-168; 170-172; 313-319; and 400-402. |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/003553 |
Jan 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/459934 |
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US |
Parent |
08/316518 |
Sep 1994 |
US |
Child |
09/003553 |
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US |