Allucinante!!!

[ScimmioneNudo]

Alt!
Violazione di brevetto!

La barra di avanzamento è brevettata. Come utenti, siete obbligati a procurarvi, prima dell'esecuzione di software brevettato, una licenza presso i detentori del brevetto. L'ignoranza non è una scusa.

Attenzione programmatori: dovete garantire ai vostri clienti che, per ogni algoritmo brevettato (come ad esempio la barra di avanzamento) utilizzato dal vostro programma, vi siate procurati una licenza presso i detentori del brevetto.
Purtoppo questa non è satira!

Il brevetto in questione ha numero EP0394160. È stato accordato nel 1990 ad una multinazionale nordamericana del software per l'Europa, e sarà valida fino al 2010 (dettagli).

Questo è uno soltanto dei circa 30000 brevetti software europei che rischiano di essere presto legalizzati.
Maggiori informazioni
Entra in <http://geson.openlabs.it/>

[ScimmioneNudo]

Comunicato stampa
brevetti software in Europa? no, grazie

Il Parlamento Europeo, sollecitato dalla BSA, a settembre valuterà la proposta sulla brevettabilità delle innovazioni software. L'Associazione software libero esprime un parere negativo sulla proposta di direttiva che, con la scusa di armonizzare il sistema brevettuale europeo in materia di software, di fatto sovverte i dettami della Convenzione Europea sui Brevetti, introducendo la brevettabilità del software e dei metodi commerciali.

Come già dimostrato negli Stati Uniti, il sistema brevettuale, che è stato esteso al software da 20 anni, ha rallentato l'innovazione invece che incoraggiarla, spostando i fondi destinati originariamente a ricerca e sviluppo verso i dipartimenti legali delle grosse multinazionali che si occupano a tempo pieno di costose cause brevettuali (riferimenti). Un tale sistema imporrebbe degli oneri eccessivi per le piccole e medie imprese europee, vero motore dello sviluppo software continentale, e le renderebbe succubi di quelle poche grosse aziende, in maggioranza extraeuropee, che posseggono grandi portafogli di brevetti software.

Come sostenitori del software libero riteniamo pericolosa tale proposta, perchè introduce ostacoli insormontabili alla creazione di software, sia libero che proprietario, sia se ceduto gratuitamente che dietro pagamento. Inoltre, per le licenze libere, non esiste la possibilità tecnica di gestire il pagamento di eventuali royalty per copia, essendo le copie libere, e spesso neanche di eventuali costose licenze una tantum.

Ogni autore di software, libero o meno, è esposto al rischio di dover elaborare soluzioni tecniche che non siano coperte da alcun brevetto software, rendendo estremamente complesso ed oneroso il processo di ideazione del software se non del tutto impossibile; spesso infatti il processo di brevettazione del software va a coprire il problema nella sua interezza piuttosto che la soluzione, rendendo impossibile operare nel settore coperto dal brevetto senza violarlo.

La genericità con cui le idee vengono descritte e brevettate (vedi ad esempio il metodo di ordine con un click di Amazon) richiede pochi sforzi, se si hanno a disposizione abbastanza fondi, per brevettare i metodi più banali. In tal modo l'istituto della brevettazione, nato per stimolare l'innovazione in settori in cui essa costa molto, diventa nel settore del software una lotteria che va a beneficio di poche aziende. Inoltre la banalità dei brevetti concessi impone notevoli sforzi per elaborare qualcosa di alternativo e, soprattutto, richiede la completa conoscenza di quanto già brevettato, ovvero decine di migliaia di brevetti europei già esistenti e depositati, pur se attualmente non legali.

Maggiori informazioni sui brevetti software alla pagina <http://swpat.ffii.org/>, gestita dalla FFII (Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure).

[ScimmioneNudo]

Ah! Il capitalismo che porta benessere. Ah! I parlamentari omertosi! Ah, i media controllati...

Alla vaselina.

[ScimmioneNudo]

Ma qualcuno qui ha capito la gravità della cosa?
Se sì, lasciate un messaggio per favore, altrimenti mi deprimo del tutto.

Ai grati.

[ScimmioneNudo]

In Origine Postato da Antonello
Scusa, ma dove sta il problema? La barra di avanzamanto è inserita in windows xp (preinstallato) oppure fa parte del browser caricato da internet. Mica sono cazzi miei. O sbaglio?

Significa che ti faranno pagare la barra di avanzamento (così come molti altri algoritmi) e il prezzo del sw si impennerà. Senza contare che anche chi usa linux dovrà rinunciare a tutta una serie di algoritmi oppure pagare i diritti per quelli.

In pratica questa gente sta brevettando l'alfabeto o la ruota in campo informatico e nessuno dice nulla!

Ai pirati.

[Tahoeman]

Mi sembra una colossale stronzata: come fai a brevettare un "barra di avanzamento"? sarebbe come brevettare, che ne so, il motore a scoppio: ci sono n modi per fare un motore a scoppio ed n modi per scrivere il codice di una barra di avanzamento.
Non ha il minimo senso, in quanto ci sono n-1 modi per aggirare il brevetto.

[ScimmioneNudo]

In Origine Postato da Tahoeman
Mi sembra una colossale stronzata: come fai a brevettare un "barra di avanzamento"? sarebbe come brevettare, che ne so, il motore a scoppio: ci sono n modi per fare un motore a scoppio ed n modi per scrivere il codice di una barra di avanzamento.
Non ha il minimo senso, in quanto ci sono n-1 modi per aggirare il brevetto.

Dipende, mica è stato brevettato l'algoritmo, ma il concetto:

EP 0394160:
Dynamic progress marking icon.

* Data Sheet
* Application (text)
* Granted Version (graphics, ocr result)

Data Sheet

EC Classification:
G06F3/023A3 ; G06F9/44W
IPC Classification:
G06F9/44 ; G06F9/46
Priority Number(s):
US19890325600 19890320
Application Number:
EP19900480028 19900220
Requested Patent:
[_] EP0394160, A3, B1
Applicant(s)::
IBM (US)
Inventor(s):
JAASKELAINEN WILLIAM (US)
Publication date:
1990-10-24
Patent Number:
EP0394160
Invention:
Dynamic progress marking icon.

Application

* Description
* Claims

Description

Description

DYNAMIC PROGRESS MARKING ICON
This invention relates to the data processing field. More
particularly, this invention is an icon which dynamically marks the
progress of a monitored computer task. The icon of the invention is
displayed to the computer user, thereby keeping him informed as to the
progress of a task without resorting to language sensitive messages.
Computers have dutifully performed billions of tasks commanded of them
from computer users worldwide. Many of these tasks were quite simple
for the computer to perform, and were completed with results displayed
to the user almost instantaneously. However, some tasks requested by
users of computers are much more complex, and require a considerable
amount of processing power and time to complete.
Some of these complex tasks can take several seconds, minutes, or even
several hours or days to complete. Even though a computer may be
working frantically under the covers to satisfy a complex task
requested by a user, the user quite often is given no indication as to
what progress, if any, is being made in completing the task. Often
after a large amount of time has elapsed, a user will erroneously
conclude that the computer has encountered an error and has "hanged"
or "gone casters up", and needs to be restarted. This scenario is
frustrating to a computer user, who feels uninformed as to the
progress of his requested task. More importantly, valuable computer
resources are wasted if a computer is erroneously restarted in the
middle of a complex task just because of poor or non-existent progress
feedback to the user.
Attempts to address this problem have so far been quite primitive.
Some programs display only a number, such as 100 or 10, and count down
to zero as a task is being processed. Other programs display a
message, such as "Working on your request" over and over again,
alternately displaying the message highlighted and non-highlighted.
Neither of these techniques truly inform the user as to the progress
of a task - they merely give the user something that changes on the
screen to look at. Although these techniques may help in discouraging
a user from restarting a system for awhile, the feedback provided does
not give a user a warm feeling that progress is really being made on
his task.
A better attempt at solving this problem is to repeatedly display a
truly useful message to the user, such as "Now processing object
number 12 out of 100", or "This task will complete in 5.05 minutes".
Unfortunately, these messages need to be translated into several
different languages when the computer is sold around the world, and
this requirement can be quite burdensome and yield unpredictable
results. In addition, these messages can be quite wasteful of space,
and some languages require more space than other languages to
communicate the same meaning.
Summary of the Invention
It is a principle object of the invention to provide feedback to a
computer user as to the progress of a task.
It is another object of the invention to provide feedback to a
computer user as to the progress of a task in an efficient manner.
It is another object of the invention to provide feedback to a
computer user as to the progress of a task in a manner that does not
require burdensome and unpredictable language translations.
These and other objects are accomplished by the dynamic progress
marker icon disclosed herein.
A dynamic progress marker icon is disclosed that dynamically changes
to mark the progress of a task. In this manner, the user is kept
informed of the status of a task being performed without resorting to
language sensitive messages such as "Now processing object number 12
of 100". The icon does not require a graphics display to be used and
therefore can be used on both graphics and non-graphics displays. The
icon of the prepared embodiment has five rows consisting of four
percent (%) symbols surrounded by a border. At the beginning of a
task, a task monitor quantifies the task into substantially equivalent
task work units. All twenty "%" symbols are present and displayed to
the user. When the task monitor determines that one task work unit has
completed, one "%" symbol is replaced in the icon by a replacement
character, such as a blank or null character. The replacement of one
"%" symbol each time a task work unit completes continues until all of
the "%" symbols are replaced, indicating 100% completion of the task.
The order in which symbols inside the icon are replaced is determined
by a pattern array which can be modified if desired. The symbols used
inside the icon and for the border are selected to be available in
virtually all languages, and can also be modified to meet the needs of
a particular user.
Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the computer system of the invention.
Figs. 2A-2U show the icon of the preferred embodiment of the invention
as displayed to a user as a monitored task progresses.
Figs. 3A-3D show the icons of various alternate embodiments of the
invention.
Figs. 4A-4B show the icon matrix and programmable pattern array of the
invention that determines the order in which the symbols inside the
icon are replaced.
Figs. 5-8 show a flow chart of the generation of the dynamic progress
marking icon of the invention.
Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the computer system of the invention.
Computer system 10 contains processor 11 and display 12. Processor 11
contains task 13, task monitor 14, and icon generator 15. Icon 20 is
displayed on display 12.
Computer system 10 can be any computer system, such as a personal
computer, a minicomputer, or a mainframe computer. In the preferred
embodiment, computer system 10 is an IBM System/36 with an attached
display. Note that processor 11 can be directly connected to display
12, or connected remotely over communications lines such as telephone
lines, local area networks, etc. Note also that although only
processor 11 is shown, more than one processor and/or special purpose
hardware may be used to perform the function of task 13, task monitor
14, or icon generator 15.
Task 13 represents the item of work requested of computer system 10 by
the computer user. An example of a task would be a request to back up
a hard disk to magnetic tape. Task monitor 14 quantifies the amount of
work required to complete task 13, and divides this quantified
workload into a plurality of substantially equivalent task work units.
Task monitor 14 then monitors task 13 and sends a message to icon
generator 15 each time a task work unit has been completed. Responsive
to receiving the message, icon generator 15 updates icon 20 displayed
to the user on display 12 by replacing one of the symbols contained in
icon 20. The operation of computer system 10 will be described in more
detail in conjunction with the discussion of Figs. 5-8.
Figs. 2A - 2U shows how icon 20 is displayed to a user as task 13
progresses. Icon 20 contains a plurality of symbols 21 arranged in
rows and columns. In the preferred embodiment, symbols 21 are all
represented by the "percent sign" character (ASCII code 037, EBCDIC
code 6C) although this can be changed by the user if desired. In
addition, symbols 21 could be represented by a plurality of different
characters. Also, the character or characters used to represent
symbols 21 could be graphics or non-graphics characters. The
non-graphics character "%" was chosen in the preferred embodiment to
represent symbols 21 because it could be used on either graphics or
non-graphics displays. In addition, the "%" character was available in
substantially all character sets worldwide. Since the "%" character is
used to represent a percentage of a whole, it was a good choice to
represent symbols 21.
Symbols 21 in icon 20 are surrounded by a border made up of horizontal
border segments 22 and vertical border segments 23. Although icon 20
can be used without a border at all, a border is used in the preferred
embodiment to enhance usability. In the preferred embodiment,
horizontal border segments 22 are represented by the "-" character
(ASCII code 045, EBCDIC code 60) although this can be changed by the
user if desired. Another possible character that could be used is the
"-" character (ASCII code 095, EBCDIC code 6D). In addition,
horizontal border segments 22 could be represented by a plurality of
different characters. For example, the corners may be represented by a
different character than the middle section. Also, the character or
characters used to represent horizontal border segments 22 could be
graphics or non-graphics characters. The non-graphics character "-"
was chosen in the preferred embodiment to represent horizontal border
segments 22 because it could be used on either graphics or
non-graphics displays. In addition, the "-" character was available in
substantially all character sets worldwide.
Vertical border segments 23 are represented by the ":" character ASCII
code 058, EBCDIC code 7A) in the preferred embodiment, although this
can be changed by the user if desired. Other possible character that
could be used are the "(" character (ASCII code 040, EBCDIC code 4D),
or the ")" character (ASCII code 041, EBCDIC code 5D). In addition,
vertical border segments 23 could be represented by a plurality of
different characters. Also, the character or characters used to
represent vertical border segments 23 could be graphics or
non-graphics characters. The non-graphics character ":" was chosen in
the preferred embodiment to represent vertical border segments 23
because it could be used on either graphics or non-graphics displays.
In addition, the ":" character was available in substantially all
character sets worldwide.
Fig. 2A shows how icon 20 is displayed to the user when a task has
just begun. In the preferred embodiment, icon 20 is displayed in the
lower right hand corner of display 12 (Fig. 1), and remains in the
same location for the duration of the task. Of course, icon 20 could
be displayed in a different location of display 12 or move from
location to location as the task progresses.
Note that all symbols 21 are represented by the "%" characters in the
preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 2A. When task monitor 14 indicates
to icon generator 15 that one task work unit has been completed, icon
generator 15 replaces one "%" character from icon 20 with a
replacement character, such as a blank or null character. Fig. 2B
shows what icon 20 looks like after one task work unit has been
completed.
Figs. 2C through 2T, respectively, show how icon 20 is displayed to
the user after each additional task work unit has been completed. The
order in which symbols 21 are replaced is determined by a programmable
pattern array, which is shown in Fig. 4B and will be discussed in more
detail later.
Fig. 2U shows how icon 20 is displayed to the user after the last task
work unit has been completed. Note that all symbols 21 have been
replaced, and only the border remains. Icon 20 shown in Fig. 2U is
displayed to the user momentarily to indicate completion of the task,
and then the border is removed, thereby causing icon 20 to disappear
from display 12.
Fig. 3A shows icon 31 of an alternate embodiment of the invention.
Icon 31 still contains symbols 21, horizontal border segments 22 and
vertical border segments 23. Note that instead of having symbols 21
arranged in rows and columns, they are arranged horizontally. The
preceding discussion relating to icon 20 of Figs. 2A-2U is equally
applicable to icon 31 shown in Fig. 3A.
Fig. 3B shows icon 32 of an alternate embodiment of the invention.
Icon 32 still contains symbols 21, horizontal border segments 22 and
vertical border segments 23. Note that instead of having symbols 21
arranged in rows and columns, they are arranged vertically. The
preceding discussion relating to icon 20 of Figs. 2A-2U is equally
applicable to icon 32 shown in Fig. 3B.
Fig. 3C shows icon 33 of an alternate embodiment of the invention.
Icon 33 still contains symbols 21, horizontal border segment 22 and
vertical border segment 23. Note that horizontal border segments 22
are represented by a plurality of characters: the " +& " character
(ASCII code 218), the "-" character (ASCII code 196), the " +&
"character (ASCII code 191), the " +& " character (ASCII code 192),
and the " +& " character (ASCII code 217). Vertical border segments 23
are represented on the "" character (ASCII code 179). Icon 33 uses
non-graphics extended ASCII codes available for use by the IBM PC,
PC/XT, PC/AT, PS/2, and associated compatibles. Icon 33 may be
preferred over icon 20 in computing environments where the characters
used to make up the border are available for use.
Fig. 3D shows icon 34 of an alternate embodiment of the invention.
Icon 34 still contains symbols 21, horizontal border segments 22 and
vertical border segments 23. Note that both horizontal border segments
22 and vertical border segments 23 are made up a single character, a
"*" (ASCII code 042, EBCDIC code 5C).
Figs. 4A-4B show the icon matrix and programmable pattern array of the
invention that determines the order in which symbols 21 inside icon 20
are replaced. Fig. 4A shows icon matrix 40. Icon matrix 40 is arranged
in rows and columns corresponding to the rows and columns of icon 20.
Icon matrix 40 contains a plurality of cells 41. Each cell corresponds
to a symbol 21 of icon 20. The cell numbers shown in cells 41 indicate
the relative position of the cell in icon matrix 40.
Fig. 4B shows programmable pattern array 45. Pattern array 45 contains
a plurality of array locations 46A-T. Each array location contains the
cell number of a cell 41 in icon matrix 40. Array location 46A in
pattern array 45 indicates the cell number for which the first
corresponding symbol 21 of icon 20 is replaced when the first work
unit has been completed. For example, the cell number in array
location 46A is a "four". This indicates that the first symbol to be
replaced in icon 20 is located in cell number four of icon matrix 40.
Cell number four is located in the upper right hand corner of icon
matrix 40. Fig. 2B shows what icon 20 looks like when the symbol
located in cell number four has been replaced.
Pattern array 45 contains pointer 47. Pointer 47 indicates the array
location to be processed next. Pointer 47 is incremented to the next
array location each time a symbol 21 is replaced from icon 20. Pattern
array 45 shows that the symbol corresponding to cell number four is
replaced when pointer 47 is pointing to array location 46A. Then
pointer 47 is incremented to the next array location 46B. The symbol
corresponding to cell number three is replaced next, followed by cell
numbers eight, two, seven, twelve, and so on. The symbol corresponding
to cell number seventeen is the last symbol to be replaced. Note that
when icon 20 looks like that shown in Fig. 2A, pointer 47 is pointing
to array location 46A. Likewise, when icon 20 looks like that shown in
Fig. 2B, pointer 47 is pointing to array location 46B, and so on,
until when icon 20 looks like that shown in Fig. 2T, pointer 47 is
pointing to array location 46T.
Note that pattern array 45 can be modified as desired to create a
different order of replacing characters from icon 20 other than that
indicated in Fig. 4B. Note also that pattern array 45 would be
modified if icon 31 or icon 32 of Figs. 3A or 3B were used instead of
icon 20. Although pattern array 45 contains twenty array locations in
the preferred embodiment, it can be shorter or longer depending on the
number of symbols 21 contained in the icon.
Figs. 5-8 show a flow chart of the generation of the dynamic progress
marking icon of the invention. Processing begins in block 60 of Fig.
5, where the quantify task work unit subroutine is called to quantify
a task work unit of task 13. Task monitor 14 (Fig. 1) is responsible
for performing this quantification.
The quantify task work unit subroutine of Fig. 6 will now be
discussed. Task monitor 14 first determines in block 61 if this
particular task can be quantified by an estimate of time required to
complete the task. If an estimate of the time required to complete
this task is ascertainable, either because it is known or can be
determined, the estimated task completion time is saved in time units,
such as seconds, in block 62. Block 63 divides the total task
completion time into a plurality of substantially equal task work
units. Each task work unit corresponds to one of the symbols 21 of
icon 20. For example, if task monitor 13 is able to ascertain that
task 12 will take approximately sixty seconds to complete, block 63
divides sixty seconds by twenty, the number of symbols of the icon.
This results in a task work unit of three seconds. Therefore, a symbol
21 of icon 20 will be erased every three seconds to indicate the
completion of another task work unit. After block 63 determines the
duration of a task work unit, control is returned in block 64 to Fig.
5.
If block 61 indicates that the estimated time required to complete the
task is not ascertainable, block 65 looks to see if the number of work
items in the task is ascertainable. For example, in the IBM System/3x
and AS/400 environment, a work item is referred to as an object. Other
definitions of work items could be easily made to fit a particular
application. If the number of work items is ascertainable, this number
is saved in block 66. Block 67 divides the number of work items into a
plurality of substantially equal task work units, similar to the
function of block 63. Each task work unit corresponds to one of the
symbols 21 of icon 20. For example, if task monitor 13 is able to
ascertain that task 12 contains two hundred work items, block 67
divides two hundred by twenty, the number of symbols of icon 20. This
results in a task work unit of ten work items. Therefore, a symbol 21
of icon 20 will be replaced every ten work items to indicate the
completion of another task work unit.
If the quantified task work unit is not an integer multiple of work
items or time units it is rounded up or down to the nearest number of
work items or time units. The last task work unit covers the remaining
work items, time units, or fractions thereof.
Note that in some examples, more than one symbol will be replaced for
a single work item or time unit. For example, if task 12 contains ten
work items, block 67 divides ten by twenty which results in a task
work unit of one-half of a work item. Therefore, two symbols of icon
20 will be replaced for each work item.
After block 67 determines the duration of a task work unit, control is
returned in block 64 to Fig. 5. If block 65 is answered negatively, an
icon cannot be generated and the program ends in block 68.
Referring again to Fig. 5, block 51 checks to see if the user wants to
change the character representing symbols 21, horizontal border 22, or
vertical border 23 of icon 20, or change pattern array 45. Block 51
would normally be defaulted to answer no and control would move on to
block 52. If block 51 is answered affirmatively, the change icon
subroutine of Fig. 7 is called in block 70. Icon generator 15 (Fig. 1)
is responsible for the changing the icon defaults if desired by the
user.
The change icon subroutine of Fig. 7 will now be discussed. Icon
generator 15 first asks the user if the "%" character is acceptable
for symbol 21 in block 69. If not, the user is prompted for a new
character in block 70. Note that the new character can be either a
graphics or a non-graphics character.
Block 71 asks the user if the replacement character of " " (null or
blank) is acceptable. If not, block 72 prompts the user for a new
replacement character. Note that if a replacement character of blank
or null or other non-displayable character is used, the user perceives
that the symbol has been erased. If the replacement character is
displayable, an entirely different perception is given to the user.
For example, if a "*" was the replacement character, a "*" would
replace a "%" each time a task work unit completed. Fig. 2R, for
instance, would have three "%" symbols and seventeen "*" characters.
Block 73 asks the user if the "-" character is acceptable for
horizontal border 22. If not, the user is prompted for a new character
in block 74. Note that the new character can be either a graphics or a
non-graphics character. Block 75 asks the user if the ":" character is
acceptable for vertical border 23. If not, the user is prompted for a
new character in block 76. Note again that the new character can be
either a graphics or a non-graphics character.
Block 77 asks the user if the default pattern array 45 (indicating the
order in which symbols 21 are replaced from icon 20) is acceptable. If
not, the user is prompted for a new pattern array in block 78.
Flow of control returns to Fig. 5 in block 79. The change icon
subroutine would get slightly more complex if it was desirable to use
more than one character for symbol 21 or horizontal border 22 or
vertical border 23 for the icon, such as icon 33 (Fig. 3C), but this
modification is well within the scope of those skilled in the art.
Referring again to Fig. 5, icon generator 15 (Fig. 1) displays icon 20
to the user on display 12 in block 53. At the beginning of the task,
icon 20 shown in Fig. 2A is displayed. Block 80 then calls the update
icon subroutine. Icon generator 15 (Fig. 1) is responsible for
updating the icon.
The update icon subroutine of Fig. 8 will now be discussed. Block 81
sets a counter to be equal to the number of symbols 21 in icon 20, and
moves pointer 47 to array location 46A in pattern array 45. In the
preferred embodiment, the counter would be set to twenty. Block 82
continually checks to see if task monitor 14 has told task generator
15 that a task work unit has been completed. If so, block 83 checks to
see if the counter is equal to zero. If the counter is not equal to
zero, block 84 finds array pointer 47 in pattern array 45 (Fig. 4B)
and reads the cell number stored in the indicated array location 46.
Here, pointer 47 is pointing to array location 46A, and cell number
four is read. Block 85 replaces the symbol contained in cell number
four with the replacement character. If the replacement character is a
blank or null or other non-displayable character, the symbol will
appear to the user to have been erased. Block 86 refreshes display 12,
thereby displaying to the user the updated icon. Block 87 increments
array pointer 47 to the next array location 46B. Block 88 decrements
the counter by one, and the flow of control returns to block 82, where
the subroutine waits until the next task work unit is done. As each
task work unit is completed, blocks 83-88 are performed, and icon 20
as shown in Figs. 2B-2U is generated one by one and displayed to the
user. When block 83 determines that the counter is zero, indicating
that the task has been completed and the last symbol 21 has been
replaced in icon 20, the subroutine returns in block 89 to block 54 of
Fig. 5, where the border of icon 20 is removed.
In the situation where more then one symbol is replaced for a single
work item or time unit, block 82 is repeatedly answered affirmatively
and blocks 83-88 are performed until the correct number of symbols are
replaced. For example, if task 12 contains ten work items, a task work
unit is equal to one half of a work item. Therefore, each time a work
item is done, task monitor 14 informs icon generator 15 that two task
work units have been completed. Blocks 82-88 are performed twice,
thereby replacing two symbols. Block 82 then waits for an indication
that two more task work units have been completed.
While this invention has been described with respect to the preferred
and alternate embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in
the art that various changes in detail may be made therein without
departing from the spirit, scope and teaching of the invention. For
example, an attribute, such as blinking, underscore or highlight,
could be used to indicate the next symbol to be replaced from the
icon. In addition, the icon drawn in Fig. 2U can indicate the
beginning of a task and symbols can be added to the icon instead of
erased as the task progresses. This could be done easily by reversing
the order of the pattern array, defining the symbol as " " (null or
blank), and defining the replacement character as "%".
__________________________________________________ _______________

Data supplied from the esp@cenet database - l2


Claims

Claims

1) In a computer system, a method of dynamically modifying an icon
having a plurality of symbols, said method comprising the steps of:
quantifying the amount of work required to complete a task;
dividing said quantified work into a plurality of substantially
equivalent task work units, wherein each of said task work units
corresponds to one of said plurality of symbols in said icon;
monitoring the progress of said task;
replacing one of said plurality of symbols with a replacement
character when one task work unit has been completed; and
repeating said replacing step as said task progresses until all of
said plurality of symbols have been replaced, thereby indicating the
completion of said task.
2) The method of claim 1, wherein said quantifying step identifies the
number of work items that need to be processed in order to perform
said task.
3) The method of claim 1, wherein said quantifying step identifies the
estimated amount of time required to perform said task.
4) The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein said replacing step
further comprises the step of:
checking a pointer in a pattern array, said pointer identifying the
array location which contains the cell number of the next symbol of
said icon to be replaced.
5) The method of claim 4, wherein said replacing step further
comprises the step of: :
moving said pointer in said pattern array to the next array location.
6) The method of any one of claims 1-5, further comprising the step
of:
selecting a single character code to be used for all of said plurality
of symbols.
7) The method, of any one of claims 1-5, further comprising the step
of:
selecting a plurality of character codes to be used for said plurality
of symbols.
8) The method of any one of claims 1-5, further comprising the step
of:
selecting a single non-graphics character code to be used for all of
said plurality of symbols.
9) The method of any one of claims 1-5, further comprising the step
of:
selecting a non-displayable character for said replacement character.
10) The method of any one of claims 1-5 further comprising the step
of: :
selecting a displayable character for said replacement character.
11) The method of any one of claims 1-5, further comprising the step
of:
initializing a pattern array to indicate the order in which said
symbols of said icon are replaced responsive to said replacing step,
said pattern array having an array location corresponding to each of
said symbols in said icon and having a pointer to indicate the next
symbol in said icon to be replaced.
12) A computer system for efficiently keeping a user informed as to
the progress of a task, comprising:
monitor means for monitoring said task;
an icon displayed to said user; and
generating means, connected to said monitor means and said icon, for
generating and dynamically modifying said icon,
said icon further comprising:
a plurality of symbols, wherein said plurality of symbols are replaced
one by one by a replacement character as said task progresses by said
generating means,
wherein all of said symbols are replaced when said task is completed.
13) The computer system of claim 12, wherein said monitor means
further comprises:
quantifying means for quantifying the amount of work required to
complete a task; and
dividing means for dividing said quantified work into a plurality of
substantially equivalent task work units, wherein each of said task
work units corresponds to one of said plurality of symbols
in said icon.
14) The computer system of claim 13, wherein said generating means
further comprises: :
replacing means for replacing one of said plurality of symbols with
said replacement character when one task work unit has been completed
as determined by said monitor means,
said replacing means repeatedly replacing one of said plurality of
symbols as said task progresses until all of said plurality of symbols
have been replacing, thereby indicating the completion of said task.
15) The computer system of claim 14, wherein said quantifying means
identifies the number of work items that need to be processed in order
to perform said task.
16) The computer system of claim 14, wherein said quantifying means
identifies the estimated amount of time required to perform said task.
17) The computer system of any one of claims 12-16, wherein said
generating means further comprises: :
a pattern array corresponding to said icon, said pattern array having
a array location corresponding to each of said symbols in said icon
and also having a pointer to indicate the next symbol in said icon to
be replaced by said replacing means.
18) The computer system of any one of claims 12-17 further comprising:
initializing means for initializing said pattern array to indicate the
order in which said symbols of said icon are replaced by said
replacing means.
__________________________________________________ _______________

Data supplied from the esp@cenet database - l2


Granted Patent

Claims as Graphics

* Claims Pg 1
* Claims Pg 2

Preso da:
http://swpat.ffii.org/patents/txt/ep/0394/160/

Ai dettagli.

[ScimmioneNudo]

In Origine Postato da Antonello
Se la barra di avanzamento fa parte di windows o del browser è di fatto già brevettata, essendo parte del copyright dell'intero programma. Almeno così mi verrebbe da credere.

Non è mica detto. Tu compri un pacchetto sw, ma non è mica detto che il produttore abbia pagato i diritti di tutto quello che ti vende. Per esempio quando compri una macchina non è detto che chi te la produce abbia pagato il brevetto sui tergicristalli.

Ai chiarificatori.

[Barbanera]

In Origine Postato da ScimmioneNudo
Significa che ti faranno pagare la barra di avanzamento (così come molti altri algoritmi) e il prezzo del sw si impennerà. Senza contare che anche chi usa linux dovrà rinunciare a tutta una serie di algoritmi oppure pagare i diritti per quelli.

In pratica questa gente sta brevettando l'alfabeto o la ruota in campo informatico e nessuno dice nulla!

Ai pirati.

E se... mandassimo tutto a fan cul... a che servirebbe il brevetto?

B.

[Argantonio]

In Origine Postato da Tahoeman
Mi sembra una colossale stronzata: come fai a brevettare un "barra di avanzamento"? sarebbe come brevettare, che ne so, il motore a scoppio: ci sono n modi per fare un motore a scoppio ed n modi per scrivere il codice di una barra di avanzamento.
Non ha il minimo senso, in quanto ci sono n-1 modi per aggirare il brevetto.

Non dimentichiamo che si ha a che fare con gente che prettendeva dai Pellerossa l'Atto Notarile comprovante il possesso delle Verdi Praterie e l'albo genealogico delle mandrie di buffali.