Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A computer system having an object oriented operating system utilizes a user interface that includes a display and user command input apparatus. Objects data structures are stored in the computer system's memory, each object having an associated image that can be displayed, and an assigned object type. Furthermore, each object can access a corresponding communication interface for the purpose of exchanging messages with other objects. The computer system's user enables a user to select a first object to be used as a transformer object and to select a second object as a transformee object. Once the transformer and transformee objects have been selected, the communication interfaces of the transformer and transformee objects exchange messages so as to determine, based on the object types of the transformer and transformee objects, a transformation action to be performed on the transformee object, and then the transformation action is performed so as to produce a transformed object. Some objects are capable of more than one type of transformation on other objects, and when such objects are used to perform a transformation the transformation selection process may include requesting the user to select one of the available transformations. The computer system may include objects that extract preselected characteristics of other objects so as to create operator objects. Such operator objects can modify other objects so as to include the extracted preselected characteristics. Data filters are a type of operator object. Another type of object transformation that can be performed is the linking of two objects to each other on an ongoing basis.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim