Rotatable Technologies LLC v. Apple Inc. et al

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 0540-3589680.), filed by Rotatable Technologies LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Ni, Hao)

Exhibit A 

111111

1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
US006326978Bl

United States Patent

(10)

Robbins

(12)

(45)

(54)

Inventor:

Steven John Robbins, 1828 Linwood
St. #4, San Diego, CA (US) 92110-1941

( *)

Notice:

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.c. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21)

Appl. No.: 09/295,164

(22)

Filed:

(51)
(52)
(58)

Int. CI? ............................... G06T 3/60; G06F 13/00
U.S. CI. ............................................. 345/654; 345/788
Field of Search ..................................... 345/342, 437,
345/126, 799, 659, 658, 654, 657, 788,
781

5,329,289
5,396,590
5,428,721
5,557,714
5,848,201
5,874,962
5,949,408
5,956,043
6,014,137
6,016,145
6,023,275
6,115,025
6,130,666

DISPLAY METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY
ROTATING WINDOWS ON A COMPUTER
DISPLAY

(76)

References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,611,232
4,754,269
4,985,849
5,050,225
5,189,404

*
*
*
*
*

9/1986
6/1988
1/1991
9/1991
2/1993

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

7/1994
3/1995
6/1995
9/1996
12/1998
2/1999
9/1999
9/1999
1/2000
1/2000
2/2000
9/2000
10/2000

Sakamoto et al. ...................
Kreegar ................................
Sato et al. ............................
Lines et al. ..........................
Kajiwara ..............................
de Judicibus et al. ..............
Kang et al. ..........................
Jensen ..................................
Burns ...................................
Horvitz et al. .......................
Horvitz et al. .......................
Buxton et al. .......................
Persidsky .............................

345/659
345/347
345/433
345/437
382/296
345/342
345/169
345/430
345/334
345/342
345/342
345/659
345/179

* cited by examiner

Apr. 20, 1999

(56)

Patent No.:
US 6,326,978 BI
Date of Patent:
Dec. 4, 2001

Searby .................................
Kishi et al. ..........................
Hideaki ................................
Hoh ......................................
Masimo et al. ......................

348/583
345/427
345/657
382/277
345/659

Primary Examiner-Jeffery Brier
Assistant Examiner~yan Yang
ABSTRACT

(57)

A display method for selectively rotating windows on a
computer display including a window for a computer display
having a frame and a display portion. The method allows the
user to rotate the window about a preselected rotation point
such as the upper left corner of the frame. The rotation may
be freely chosen or limited to selected angles of rotation
such as 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees.
18 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets

r------------------------------32

34
30

- ---

310

0

,

:-------------------------- ~

~

40

46

u.s.

Patent

Dec. 4, 2001

US 6,326,978 BI

Sheet 1 of 2

10

j
26

20

22

- - - - AT DOT COM - - - -

12
16a

14

16b

16c

16

16a
16b

28

24
18a

18b

18c

18

FIG. 1

18a

18b

u.s.

Patent

Dec. 4, 2001

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

US 6,326,978 BI

Sheet 2 of 2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-I
I

32

30

40

46

FIG. 2

US 6,326,978 Bl
1

2

tasks simultaneously. This is known as "multi-tasking".
Associated with each task being performed there is usually
at least one window and sometimes multiple windows.
These windows are often displayed one on top of the other.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
5 Unfortunately, the management of the various windows can
1. Field of Invention
become cumbersome. This can be especially so if the user
The present invention relates generally to the field of
needs or desires to see a portion or all of multiple windows
graphical user interfaces and pertains more particularly to a
at the same time.
display method for selectively rotating windows on a comWith the development of computer networking technolputer display.
10 ogy and the advent of the Internet, the average computer
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
equipped with a modem, for example, has ceased being a
Since at least as early as the introduction of the Apple®
stand alone device and has become a great resource for
Macintosh® in 1984 and Microsoft® Windows® in 1985,
receiving and collecting information. Unfortunately, the user
computer users have appreciated and become accustomed to
may receive information that is not oriented as the user
interfacing with their computers using visual means. Graphi15 needs or desires. Depending on the program, the user may
cal user interfaces (GUIs) provide a series of intuitive,
not be able to reorient the information for proper or desired
colorful, and graphical mechanisms which enable the comviewing.
puter user to view, update, and manipulate information.
A definite need exists for a display method for selectively
Utilization by computer manufacturers and software developers of the GUI and the mouse are a substantial reason for 20 rotating windows on a computer display having an ability to
facilitate human interfacing with a computer. In particular, a
the explosion of personal computers worldwide.
need exists for a method which is capable of providing the
A typical computer system contains a computer, a
user with greater interface flexibility. Ideally, such a system
keyboard, an input device such as a mouse, and a display
would operate by providing a mechanism for the user to
monitor. The computer contains a central processing unit
(CPU), static memory such as a hard disc drive, dynamic 25 selectively rotate the windows as needed or desired. With a
method of this type, selectively rotating windows would
memory such as random access memory (RAM), and
provide a more manageable computer interface. A primary
removable memory such as a floppy disc drive or a CD
purpose of the present invention is to solve these needs and
ROM drive. The operating system of the computer and
provide further, related advantages.
application programs running on the computer generate
GUIs that are displayed on the display monitor or screen. 30
SUMMARY OF IRE INVENTION
These GUIs are commonly referred to as "windows." The
screen may contain only one window or multiple windows
A display method for selectively rotating windows on a
depending on the circumstances and user preferences.
computer display is disclosed including a window for a
Typically, a window consists of at least a frame and a display
computer display having a frame and a display portion. The
portion surrounded by the frame. The frame is usually a 35 method allows the user to rotate the window about a
rectangle or a square having a header at the top and three
preselected rotation point such as the upper left corner of the
sides. The window is normally displayed with the sides
frame. The rotation may be freely chosen or limited to
parallel to the edges of the screen. For windows with a
selected angles of rotation such as 0, 90, 180, and 270
header, the user can usually translate the window about the
degrees.
screen by clicking and holding onto the header and dragging 40
the window with the input device. During translation, the
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
sides of the window remain parallel to the edges of the
The above and other objects and advantages of the present
screen.
invention will be more readily appreciated from the followA window may be sized to display all or only a portion of
ing detailed description when read in conjunction with the
the total information made available for viewing by the
45 accompanying drawings, wherein:
program. If the window displays only a portion of the total
FIG. 1 is a schematic of a window for a computer display
information, then the user is provided with one or more
that provides selective rotation in a manner which facilitates
scroll bars that allow the user to move the display portion to
human interfacing; and
view other portions of the total information. Typically, the
FIG. 2 is a schematic of a window for a computer display
user also has the ability to adjust the size of the window. This 50
that has been rotated approximately 310 degrees and that
may be accomplished through a special location on the
shows potential preselected rotation points according to one
frame or by a change of cursor when placed over the frame.
embodiment of the present invention.
In either case, the user clicks and holds with the input device
while adjusting the window size. During resizing, the sides
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
of the window remain parallel to the edges of the screen. 55
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
From the viewpoint of the user, translation and resizing
DISPLAY METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY
ROTATING WINDOWS ON A COMPUTER
DISPLAY

may be accomplished in one of two ways. First, a phantom
frame may be used to show the new location or size. The
phantom frame is then replaced with the new window when
the user releases the input device. Second, the window may
be simultaneously translated or resized with the user inputs.
The former requires fewer processing resources than the
latter. The latter gives the user a better sense of the end result
than the former and reduces the need for remanipulating the
window to fine tune the end result.
With the advancement of computer processing speeds, the
average computer now has the ability to perform multiple

60

65

Turning first to FIG. 1, a schematic of a window 10 for a
computer display that provides selective rotation in a manner which facilitates human interfacing is shown. The window 10 is generated by a program running on the computer
such as the operating system or an application program. One
of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the window 10
may take anyone of a number of configurations containing
anyone of a number of elements. Not every window
generated by the program, such as a warning or an advisory
window, will necessarily have the selective rotation option.
The window 10 illustrated is a commonly used configuration

US 6,326,978 Bl

3

4

on an Apple® Macintosh®. This illustration contains a
button 28. Under Microsoft® Windows® the rotation button
number of elements for easy manipulation of both the
28 could be replaced with a rotation cursor (not shown) that
window and the image contained in the window. Generally,
appears when the user moves the cursor over a designated
the same functions are available under Microsoft® Winportion of the frame.
d~ws® but t~e a different form. For reference purposes, the 5
As above with translation and resizing, from the viewwmdow 10 wIll be described with respect to the orientation
point of the user, rotation may be accomplished in one of
shown. This orientation will be known as the home or 0
two ways. First, a phantom frame may be used to show the
degree orientation. Degrees of rotation will be based on a
new location. The phantom frame is then replaced with the
360 degree circle measured in a counter-clockwise manner
new window when the user releases the input device.
about a rotation point (not shown) with 0 degrees to the
right, 90 degrees above, 180 degrees to the left, and 270 10 Second, the window may be simultaneously rotated with the
user inputs. The former requires fewer processing resources
degrees below the rotation point.
than the latter. The latter gives the user a better sense of the
The window 10 includes a header portion 12 and a display
end result than the former and reduces the need for remaportion 14. The window further includes a vertical scroll bar
nipulating the window to fine tune the end result.
16 and a horizontal scroll bar 18. The vertical scroll bar 15
Turning now to FIG. 2, a schematic of a window 10 for
makes up the right side of the frame of the window 10 and
a computer display that has been rotated approximately 310
includes a pair of up buttons 16a, a pair of down buttons 16b,
degrees and that shows potential preselected rotation points
and a thumb button 16c. The horizontal scroll bar makes up
according to one embodiment of the present invention is
the bottom side of the frame of the window 10 and includes
shown. The window 10 shown has the same elements as
20 described with respect to FIG. 1 above but the reference
numerals have been omitted for clarity. The home orienta10 is represented by a line.
tion is shown in phantom for reference purposes. In this
The header portion 12 makes up the top side of the frame
case, the rotation point has been selected as point 30 which
of the window 10 and will depend on the context but
is located at the midpoint of the left frame. Eight other
typically contains information to identify the window to the 25
potential rotation points are shown as points 32 34 36 38
user. Recall from above that the header 12 is used by the user
40, 42, 44, and 46. Together, these nine points r~pr~sen~ th~
to translate the window 10 about the screen. In this case, the
corners, the midpoints of the sides, and the center of the
header 12 contains a close button 20 which the user clicks
window 10. Preferably, these points would not be shown to
to close the window and a window shade button 22 which
the user clicks to collapse the window down to only the 30 the user except as part of a preselection routine. Any of the
nine points could be initially selected as the default rotation
header 12.
point. One of ordinary skill in the art will realize that any
In the lower right hand corner of the frame of the window
number of points within or on the window 10 are potential
10 is the resize button 24. Recall from above that the user
rotation points. Such skilled persons will further realize that
clicks and holds the resize button 24 with the input device
any number of points outside of the window, such as the
while adjusting the window size. The remaining button in 35
upper left corner of the display, may be selected as rotation
the header 12 is the resize toggle button 26. The user clicks
points. Selection of a rotation point outside of the window
on the resize toggle button 26 to toggle between two
10 will result in both rotation and translation of the window
preselected window sizes.
from the starting orientation to the final orientation. This
In the lower left hand corner of the frame of the window
may be confusing to the user and therefore undesirable as an
10 is the rotation button 28. This represents the preferred 40 option.
location for the rotation button 28, but other locations are
As shown in FIG. 2, preferably the elements of the
possible. The user clicks and holds the rotation button 28
window 10 remain as though they were in the home orienwith the input device while dragging the window to the
tation. That is, the elements do not compensate for the
selected orientation. The window 10 rotates about a rotation
45 rotation of the window 10 to remain parallel with the edges
point (not shown) which will be discussed in greater detail
of the screen. If the window 10 contains pop-up or pullwith respect to FIG. 2 below. Through clicking and holding
down menus, these too would operate as though they were
the rotation button 28, the user may be able to choose any
in the home orientation. Alternatively, the elements of the
orientation within the 360 degree circle or the choices may
window 10 could compensate as desired for the rotation of
be limited to certain preselected orientations such as 0 90
180, and 270 degrees. By single clicking on the rot~tio~ 50 the window 10 to remain parallel with the edges of the
screen. Compensation may be necessary for textual elements
button 28, the user can rotate the window 10 by a preselected
during rotation of 180 degrees. If the window 10 contains
amount or to a preselected orientation. For example, single
pop-up or pull-down menus, these could be made to autoclicking could rotate the window 10 by small angles such as
matically compensate for the orientation change and con1 or 5 degrees for minor reorientations or by large angles
55 tinue to operate in a vertical orientation that is parallel to the
such as 90 or 180 degrees for major reorientations.
edges of the screen for easy reading by the user.
Alteratively, single clicking could toggle between two preA display method for selectively rotating windows on a
selected orientations. By double clicking on the rotation
computer display that has the ability to facilitate human
button 28, the user can return the window 10 to the home
interfacing with a computer has been disclosed. As shown in
orientation. Rotation could of course be in either the
counter-clockwise direction or the clockwise direction as 60 FIG. 2 by the area of the phantom home orientation uncovered by rotation of the window, the user is given the ability
desired. One of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the
to see a portion or all of multiple windows at the same time.
above described functions of the rotation button 28 could
Further, as shown in FIG. 2 by the graphic "@" in the
also be the result of other input device combinations of
display portion of the window, the user is given the ability
clicking, holding, or both. Such skilled persons will further
realize that the above described functions could be accom- 65 to reorient the information for proper or desired viewing.
plished through menu driven commands or special key
While the invention has been illustrated and described by
strokes in addition to or in place of the use of the rotation
means of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that

~h~:~ ~ult~;~b~~~~~h~81~ftsy~!r 0~ft~:~!a:~t~~~~e8~i~~~:

US 6,326,978 Bl
5
numerous changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
What is claimed is:
1. A computer display window comprising:
a display portion;
a frame surrounding the display portion; and
means for selectively rotating the window about a rotation
point at the discretion of the user;
wherein the plane of the window, the plane of rotation,
and the rotation point are coplanar.
2. The window according to claim 1, wherein the means
for selectively rotating comprises a rotation button.
3. The window according to claim 1, wherein the means
for selectively rotating comprises a menu command.
4. The window according to claim 1, wherein the means
for selectively rotating comprises a key stroke.
5. The window according to claim 1, wherein the means
for selectively rotating comprises a rotation cursor.
6. The window according to claim 1, further comprising
means for selecting the rotation point.
7. The window according to claim 1, wherein the rotation
point is within or on the window.
8. The window according to claim 1, wherein the rotation
point is outside the window.
9. A method of selectively rotating a computer display
window having a display portion and a frame surrounding
the display portion, the method comprising the steps of:
determining a rotation point; and
rotating the window about the rotation point at the discretion of the user;
wherein the plane of the window, the plane of rotation,
and the rotation point are coplanar.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of
rotating comprises the step of clicking and holding the
window while dragging the window to the selected orientation.

6
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of
rotating comprises the step of rotating the window by
predetermined increments.
12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of
5
rotating comprises the step of toggling the window between
two preselected orientations.
13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of
rotating comprises the step of returning the window to a zero
10 degree orientation.
14. A system for selectively rotating a computer display
window having a display portion and a frame surrounding
the display portion, the system comprising:
15

means for determining a rotation point; and
means for rotating the window about the rotation point at
the discretion of the user;

wherein the plane of the window, the plane of rotation,
and the rotation point are coplanar.
20
15. The system according to claim 14, wherein means for
rotating comprises means for clicking and holding the
window while dragging the window to the selected orientation.
25
16. The system according to claim 14, wherein means for
rotating comprises means for rotating the window by predetermined increments.
17. The system according to claim 14, wherein means for
30 rotating comprises means for toggling the window between
two preselected orientations.
18. The system according to claim 14, wherein means for
rotating comprises means for returning the window to a zero
degree orientation.
35

* * * * *