Emphasizing drop destinations for a selected entity based upon prior drop destinations
View Patent ↗A method that emphasizes at least one drop destination for a selected entity based upon monitored drop destinations. Drop destinations may be emphasized by generating a plurality of path vectors between the selected entity and at least a portion of the plurality of drop destinations. Generally, by emphasizing drop destinations, the potential drop destinations for the selected entity may be anticipated and emphasized to the user, which may increase the likelihood that the user will drop onto the desired drop destination. Moreover, a user may choose one of the drop destinations by dropping the selected entity along the path vector associated with the desired drop destination. As such, drag and drop operations may be successfully completed with fewer mouse movements and/or less precision, often resulting in fewer accidental drops.
1. A computer implemented method of interacting with a computer, the computer implemented method comprising:
(a) monitoring drop destinations of a plurality of drag and drop operations performed on a plurality of entities;
(b) in response to a user initiation of a drag and drop operation on a selected entity, emphasizing a plurality of drop destinations for the selected entity based upon the monitored drop destinations, wherein emphasizing includes generating a plurality of path vectors between the selected entity and the plurality of drop destinations based upon the monitored drop destinations; and
(c) displaying display representations of the plurality of path vectors between the selected entity and the plurality of drop destinations on a display.
2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a drop destination of the plurality of drop destinations is at least one of an object, a graphical element, a folder, an icon, a shortcut, a location, or an area.
3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising calculating a strength for at least a portion of the plurality of path vectors between the selected entity and the plurality of drop destinations, wherein the strength for each path vector represents the likelihood that the selected entity will be dropped onto the drop destination associated with the path vector.
4. The computer implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising displaying the display representations for two path vectors differently from one another based upon the respective strengths of such path vectors.
5. The computer implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising displaying the display representation of a path vector of a drop destination of the plurality of drop destinations in a non-contacting relationship with at least one of a display representation of another path vector or a display representation of another drop destination.
6. The computer implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising displaying the display representation of a path vector of a drop destination as gradually increasing in width in response to a user dragging the selected entity along at least a portion of the path vector.
7. The computer implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising selecting in an automated manner a drop destination of the plurality of drop destinations utilizing at least a portion of the display representation for the path vector associated with the drop destination, wherein the selected entity is dropped onto the selected drop destination.
8. The computer implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the drop destination is selected in response to the user dragging the selected entity along the portion of the display representation for the path vector associated with the drop destination.
9. The computer implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising reorganizing a drop destination of the plurality of drop destinations to a different position on the display where it is in a non-contacting relationship with at least one of a display representation of another path vector or a display representation of another drop destination.
10. The computer implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the reorganization is based upon the strength of the path vector associated with the drop destination.
11. The computer implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising reorganizing a drop destination of the plurality of drop destinations on the display based upon a radius.
12. The computer implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising reorganizing a drop destination with a weaker path vector rather than a drop destination with a stronger path vector to a different position on the display.
13. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of drop destinations of a plurality of drag and drop operations performed on a plurality of entities includes monitoring historical drop destinations.