Cursor for electronic devices

• US 20060176294A1
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Vaananen, Johannes
• Application Number:
  US10/530,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20060176294A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

The present invention describes a method, electronic device and computer program for displaying a cursor on the display of an electronic device. The size of the display is typically so small that only part of a virtual view is displayed at one time on the display. The user of the electronic device changes the displayed part of the virtual view on the display. In the present invention, a correlation between the cursor location on the display and the location of the displayed part of the virtual view within the whole virtual view is determined so that the cursor location on the display reflects the location of the displayed part of the virtual view in proportion to the whole virtual view. In other words, the user can quickly perceive the exact location e.g. on the virtual desktop or in large digital material displayed on the display of an electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a cursor on a display of an electronic device, wherein only part of a virtual view is displayed at a time on the display of the device, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

changing the displayed part of the virtual view on the display in response to user actions;

displaying a cursor on the display,

characterized in that the method further comprises the step of;

determining a relation between the cursor location on the display and the location of the displayed part of the virtual view within the whole virtual view so that the cursor location on the display reflects the location of the displayed part of the virtual view in proportion to the whole virtual view.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cursor is moved to the same direction as the virtual view is scrolled.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the relation is linear or non-linear.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of:

moving the cursor to a desired location; and

displaying the corresponding part of the virtual view on the display.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that changing the orientation of the electronic device changes the view on the display.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cursor, the displayed part of the virtual view and/or the virtual view have the same origin.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the deviation of the cursor from the centre of the displayed part of the virtual view is proportional to the deviation of the displayed part from the origin of the virtual view.

8. An electronic device for displaying a cursor on a display of the electronic device, the electronic device comprising at least:

a processor (10);

a memory (20) coupled to the processor (10), the memory (20) comprising a virtual view suitable for conveying information to the user of the electronic device;

a display (40) coupled to the processor (10);

view control means (50) with which the view on the display (10) is changed;

a cursor (60) on the display (10),

characterized in that the electronic device further comprises;

a relation between the cursor (60) location on the display (40) and the location of the displayed part of the virtual view within the whole virtual view so that the cursor (60) location on the display reflects the location of the displayed part of the virtual view in proportion to the whole virtual view.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, characterized in that view control means (50) refer to motion control means, scroll bar(s) or a mouse.

10. The electronic device according to claim 8, characterized in that the electronic device comprises:

means for moving (70) the cursor (60) to a desired location and in response to the movement, displaying the corresponding part of the virtual view on the display (40).

11. The electronic device according to claim 8, characterized in that the electronic device is a mobile phone.

12. The electronic device according to claim 8, characterized in that the electronic device is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), remote control, gaming console, web tablet, wireless device, mobile camera or internet appliance.

13. The electronic device according to claim 8, characterized in that the cursor, the displayed part of the virtual view and/or the virtual view are arranged to have the same origin.

14. The electronic device according to claim 8, characterized in that the deviation of the cursor from the centre of the displayed part of the virtual view is arranged to be proportional to the deviation of the displayed part from the origin of the virtual view.

15. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, wherein the computer program executes the program steps recorded in a computer-readable medium to perform a method for displaying a cursor on a display of an electronic device, wherein only part of a virtual view is displayed at a time on the display of the electronic device, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

changing the displayed part of the virtual view on the display in response to user actions;

displaying a cursor on the display;

characterized in that the method further comprises the step of;

determining a relation between the cursor location on the display and the location of the displayed part of the virtual view within the whole virtual view so that the cursor location on the display reflects the location of the displayed part of the virtual view in proportion to the whole virtual view.

16. The computer program according to claim 15, characterized in that the cursor is moved to the same direction as the virtual view is scrolled.

17. The computer program according to claim 15, characterized in that the relation is linear or non-linear.

18. The computer program according to claim 15, characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of:

moving the cursor to a desired location; and

displaying the corresponding part of the virtual view on the display.

19. The computer program according to claim 15, characterized in that changing the orientation of the electronic device changes the view on the display.

20. The computer program according to claim 15, characterized in that the cursor, the displayed part of the virtual view and/or the virtual view are arranged to have the same origin.

21. The computer program according to claim 15, characterized in that the deviation of the cursor from the centre of the displayed part of the virtual view is arranged to be proportional to the deviation of the displayed part from the origin of the virtual view.