Method of entering criteria for selecting records of spatially related data stored in an interactive text processing system

Patent 4434475 Issued on February 28, 1984. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 18, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3582946

3688275

Cursor find system for the display of a word processing system
Patent #: 3974493
Issued on: 08/10/1976
Inventor: de Cavaignac , et al.

Cursor movement control device for screen-segmented display apparatuses
Patent #: 4101879
Issued on: 07/18/1978
Inventor: Kawaji , et al.

CRT video text layout system having horizontal scrolling
Patent #: 4160981
Issued on: 07/10/1979
Inventor: Raney, Jr.

Display system for horizontally segmenting text Patent #: 4225943
Issued on: 09/30/1980
Inventor: Busch

Inventors

Application

No. 06/264303 filed on 05/18/1981

US Classes:

715/860, Selection emphasis345/160Cursor key

Examiners

Primary: Wise, Edward J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Cummins; R. E.

International Class

G06F 17/24 (20060101)

Abstract

An improved method is disclosed for assisting the operator of an interactive text processing system. The method assists the operator in entering interactively selection criteria to be used in selecting records from the existing file. The improved method involves displaying to the operator the header portion of the existing file, along with a predetermined number of "qualifying rows" in response to the operator having identified to the system the task to be accomplished and the name and the location of the existing file in the system.The method further involves movement of the cursor vertically and horizontally to row and column positions for entering of the selection criteria. After entering criteria into the displayed rows, the next operation of the cursor down key while in the last row is interpreted as an instruction to the system to add an additional row so that another "logical OR" selection criteria can be added to the previous criteria.