Patents by Inventor Peter Commons

Peter Commons has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for generating and displaying visual cues on a graphic user interface
    Patent number: 5550967
    Abstract: A user interface includes an object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows and provides an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. To assist the user, visual cues in the form of coach marks are generated for identifying features on the display. The coach marks are rendered such that they appear animated as if drawn by hand and appear to approximate a geometric object, such as an arrow, a circle, an X, and the like. The coach marks encircle, point to, and/or underline objects, features, icons, folders and other display elements to assist the user in operating the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Brewer, Peter Commons