Predictive cursor interaction

• US 10,126,911 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Sauve, Aaron J., Chor, Anthony T., Hoefnagels, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Andrea
• Application Number:
  US14/978,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20170147183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking

Abstract

Embodiments include providing multiple discernible indicia that provide an indication of behaviors associated with selection of a particular link. The multiple discernible indicia may include visually-discernible graphical icons configured to be displayed as a pictorial image that visually represents a behavior associated with selection of the particular link. The visually-discernible graphical icons may include a first icon that, when selected, causes a default behavior associated with the link selection to occur, and a second icon that, when selected, causes an alternative behavior associated with the link selection to occur. Also, responsive to receiving a user-provided modifier, the first or second icon may be replaced with a third icon that visually represents a different alternative behavior to occur that is different than both the default and alternative behaviors.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing at least one discernible indicia that provides an indication of one or more behaviors associated with selection of a particular link, the at least one discernible indicia comprising at least one visually discernible graphical icon that is user selectable and configured to be displayed as a pictorial image that visually represents one or more respective behaviors associated with a selection of the particular link, the at least one visually-discernible graphical icon being configured, when selected, to cause a default behavior associated with the selection of the particular link to occur, wherein the at least one visually-discernable graphical icon comprises a plurality of visually-discernable graphical icons that are each associated with different behaviors, and wherein at least one of the plurality of visually-discernable graphical icons corresponds to a different user-provided modifier that is operable to cause a display of one or more different visually discernable-graphical icons;

receiving a user-provided modifier to modify the at least one visually discernible graphical icon; and

responsive to receiving the user-provided modifier, replacing the at least one visually discernible icon with a new user-selectable icon that is configured, when selected, to cause a different alternative behavior to occur that is different from the default behavior.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

ascertaining, responsive to detecting a cursor hovered in a link-selecting position, that a user is likely to select a particular link and responsive to said ascertaining, performing said providing.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the act of providing is performed after a predefined delay after the act of ascertaining.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the replacing comprises replacing the pictorial image with a new pictorial image that visually represents the different alternative behavior corresponding to the new user-selectable icon.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more respective behaviors include opening a new window, opening a new tab, or launching an application.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-provided modifier comprises input from one or more keyboard keys.

7. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer readable media having stored computer-executable instructions which are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing system to implement a method that includes;

providing at least one discernible indicia that provides an indication of one or more behaviors associated with selection of a particular link, the at least one discernible indicia comprising at least one visually discernible graphical icon that is user selectable and configured to be displayed as a pictorial image that visually represents one or more respective behaviors associated with a selection of the particular link, the at least one visually-discernible graphical icon being configured, when selected, to cause a default behavior associated with the selection of the particular link to occur, wherein the at least one visually-discernable graphical icon comprises a plurality of visually-discernable graphical icons that are each associated with different behaviors, and wherein at least one of the plurality of visually-discernable graphical icons corresponds to a different user-provided modifier that is operable to cause a display of one or more different visually discernable-graphical icons;

receiving a user-provided modifier to modify the at least one visually discernible graphical icon; and

responsive to receiving the user-provided modifier, replacing the at least one visually discernible icon with a new user-selectable icon that is configured, when selected, to cause a different alternative behavior to occur that is different from the default behavior.

8. The computing system as recited in claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

ascertaining, responsive to detecting a cursor hovered in a link-selecting position, that a user is likely to select a particular link and responsive to said ascertaining, performing said providing.

9. The computing system as recited in claim 8, wherein the act of providing is performed after a predefined delay after the act of ascertaining.

10. The computing system as recited in claim 7, wherein the replacing comprises replacing the pictorial image with a new pictorial image that visually represents the different alternative behavior corresponding to the new user-selectable icon.

11. The computing system as recited in claim 7, wherein the one or more respective behaviors include opening a new window, opening a new tab, or launching an application.

12. The computing system as recited in claim 7, wherein the user-provided modifier comprises input from one or more keyboard keys.

17. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the at least one visually discernable graphical icon is a media player icon.

18. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the at least one discernible indicia includes text used solely or in conjunction with an icon.

19. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the at least one discernable indicia includes an audibly-discernable indicia.

20. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the at least one discernable indicia additionally includes a visually-discernable indicia.

13. A computer program product comprising one or more hardware storage devices having stored computer-executable instructions which are executable by one or more processors of a computing system to cause the computing system to implement a method that includes;

providing at least one discernible indicia that provides an indication of one or more behaviors associated with selection of a particular link, the at least one discernible indicia comprising at least one visually discernible graphical icon that is user selectable and configured to be displayed as a pictorial image that visually represents one or more respective behaviors associated with a selection of the particular link, the at least one visually-discernible graphical icon being configured, when selected, to cause a default behavior associated with the selection of the particular link to occur, wherein the at least one visually-discernable graphical icon comprises a plurality of visually-discernable graphical icons that are each associated with different behaviors, and wherein at least one of the plurality of visually-discernable graphical icons corresponds to a different user-provided modifier that is operable to cause a display of one or more different visually discernable-graphical icons;

receiving a user-provided modifier to modify the at least one visually discernible graphical icon; and

responsive to receiving the user-provided modifier, replacing the at least one visually discernible icon with a new user-selectable icon that is configured, when selected, to cause a different alternative behavior to occur that is different from the default behavior.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

ascertaining, responsive to detecting a cursor hovered in a link-selecting position, that a user is likely to select a particular link and responsive to said ascertaining, performing said providing and, wherein the act of providing is performed after a predefined delay after the act of ascertaining.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the replacing comprises replacing the pictorial image with a new pictorial image that visually represents the different alternative behavior corresponding to the new user-selectable icon.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more respective behaviors include opening a new window, opening a new tab, or launching an application.