Controlling cursor of a pointing device

• US 20020158846A1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Clapper, Edward O.
• Application Number:
  US09/846,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158846A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

A way of controlling a cursor of a pointing device is provided. A method comprises detecting a selection of at least one key of a keyboard. The method further includes adjusting the cursor of the pointing device in response to detecting the selection of the at least one key of the keyboard.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an interface; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the interface, the controller to detect a key activation and to adjust a cursor of a pointing device in response to detecting the key activation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller moves the cursor to a pre-selected area on a display device in response to detecting the key activation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller prevents movement of the cursor in response to detecting the key activation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller reduces at least one of a movement and sensitivity of the cursor in response to detecting the key activation.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the cursor in response to activation of a selected key.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the cursor until key activation is no longer detected.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller hides the cursor from view in response to detecting the key activation.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the cursor of one of a trackball device, touch pad device, and mouse device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller detects a selection of a key of a keyboard.

10. A method, comprising:

detecting a selection of at least one key of a keyboard; and

adjusting a cursor of a pointing device in response to detecting the selection of the at least one key.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the cursor comprises moving the cursor to a pre-selected area of a graphical user interface.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the cursor comprises re-sizing the cursor in response to detecting the selection of the at least one key.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the cursor comprises preventing the cursor from moving.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the cursor comprises adjusting the cursor based on a selection of a pre-selected key.

16. The article of claim 15, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to receive the option comprising at least one of moving the cursor to a preselected area on a display device, freezing the position of the cursor, and adjusting the size of the cursor.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to lock the cursor of the pointing device at a selected position in response to detecting the key activation.

19. The article of claim 17, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to move the cursor of the pointing device to a selected area on a display device in response to detecting the key activation.

20. The article of claim 17, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to resize the cursor of the pointing device to a selected size in response to detecting the key activation.

21. The article of claim 17, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to adjust the sensitivity of the pointing device in response to detecting the key activation.

22. The article of claim 17, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to control the cursor of the pointing device based on the key activation of one or more pre-selected keys.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller disables the movement of the cursor during the text-entry mode.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller adjust the cursor based on a location of a selected key during the text-entry mode relative to the location of the pointing device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the keyboard comprises the pointing device and wherein the pointing device is at least one of a trackball device, mouse device, and touch pad device.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the controller moves the cursor to a pre-selected area on a display device in response to detecting the activation of the one or more keys of the keyboard.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the controller prevents the cursor from moving in response to detecting the activation of the one or more keys of the keyboard.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the controller stops adjusting the cursor of the pointing device if no activation of the one or more keys is detected.

15. An article comprising one or more machine-readable storage media containing instructions that when executed enable a processor to:

receive an option to control a cursor of a pointing device in response to detecting a key activation; and

store the option in a storage unit.

17. An article comprising one or more machine-readable storage media containing instructions that when executed enable a processor to:

detect a key activation; and

control a cursor of a pointing device in response to detecting the key activation.

23. An apparatus comprising:

an interface; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the interface, the controller to adjust a cursor of a pointing device during text-entry mode.

26. A system comprising:

a pointing device;

a keyboard having one or more keys; and

a controller to adjust a cursor of the pointing device in response to detecting activation of the one or more keys of the keyboard.