Techniques for choosing a position on a display having a cursor

• US 20070220448A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Trewin, Sharon
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/856
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

Techniques are provided for choosing a position on a display having a cursor. In one aspect, an exemplary method, which can be computer-implemented, includes the steps of automatically moving the cursor in a predetermined during-selection mode in response to a first user-initiated action, and, responsive to a second user-initiated action when the cursor is at a first location, ceasing the moving of the cursor in the predetermined during-selection mode, and causing a choosing action to be performed at the first location, such that the first location is chosen as the position.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of choosing at least one position on a display having a cursor, comprising the steps of:

responsive to a first user-initiated action, automatically moving the cursor in a predetermined during-selection mode; and

responsive to a second user-initiated action when the cursor is at a first location;

ceasing said moving of the cursor in said predetermined during-selection mode; and

causing a choosing action to be performed at said first location, whereby said first location is chosen as said at least one position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional steps of:

responsive to a pre-selection automatic movement-initiating action, automatically moving the cursor in a predetermined pre-selection mode; and

responsive to said first user-initiated action;

ceasing said moving of the cursor in said predetermined pre-selection mode; and

commencing said automatic moving of the cursor in said predetermined during-selection mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said pre-selection automatic movement-initiating action comprises a pause in user-initiated cursor motion.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said user-initiated cursor motion is effected via a human-operated pointing device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said pre-selection automatic movement-initiating action comprises an explicit user action.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising the additional step of obtaining an input causing one of said predetermined during-selection and pre-selection modes of motion to become inactive.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein at least said predetermined during-selection mode is determined by parameters indicative of at least one of trajectory, initial velocity, acceleration profile, number of repetitions, reversal of direction, end location, and on-screen appearance.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said first user-initiated action is effected via depressing a button on one of a keypad and a pointing device.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said second user-initiated action comprises releasing a button on one of a keypad and a pointing device.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising the additional step of facilitating display of a projected cursor trajectory in accordance with at least one of said predetermined during-selection and pre-selection modes of moving said cursor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the additional step of suppressing user-inputted cursor movement during at least one of said predetermined during-selection and pre-selection modes of moving said cursor.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the additional step of canceling at least one of said predetermined during-selection and pre-selection modes of moving said cursor, responsive to obtaining a user-inputted cursor movement during said at least one of said predetermined during-selection and pre-selection modes of moving said cursor.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the additional steps of:

suppressing user-inputted cursor movement during at least one of said predetermined during-selection and pre-selection modes of moving said cursor, until said user-inputted cursor movement reaches a threshold; and

responsive to said user-inputted cursor movement reaching said threshold, canceling said at least one of said predetermined during-selection and pre-selection modes of moving said cursor.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the display is associated with a computer having a pointing device and an operating system, further comprising the additional step of filtering a stream of events passing from the pointing device to the operating system.

15. A computer-implemented method of choosing at least one position on a display having a cursor, comprising the steps of:

responsive to a pre-selection automatic movement-initiating action, automatically moving the cursor in a predetermined manner; and

responsive to a user-initiated action when the cursor is at a first location;

ceasing said moving of the cursor in said predetermined manner; and

causing a choosing action to be performed at the first location, whereby said first location is chosen as said at least one position.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said pre-selection automatic movement-initiating action comprises a pause in user-initiated cursor motion.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said pre-selection automatic movement-initiating action comprises an explicit user action.

18. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer useable program code for choosing at least one position on a display having a cursor, said computer program product including:

computer useable program code for, responsive to a first user-initiated action, automatically moving the cursor in a predetermined during-selection mode; and

computer useable program code for, responsive to a second user-initiated action when the cursor is at a first location;

ceasing said moving of the cursor in said predetermined during-selection mode; and

causing a choosing action to be performed at said first location, whereby said first location is chosen as said at least one position.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said product further comprises:

computer useable program code for, responsive to a pre-selection automatic movement-initiating action, automatically moving the cursor in a predetermined pre-selection mode; and

computer useable program code for, responsive to said first user-initiated action;

ceasing said moving of the cursor in said predetermined pre-selection mode; and

commencing said automatic moving of the cursor in said predetermined during-selection mode.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer useable program code for choosing at least one position on a display having a cursor, said computer program product including:

computer useable program code for, responsive to a pre-selection automatic movement-initiating action, automatically moving the cursor in a predetermined manner; and

computer useable program code for, responsive to a user-initiated action when the cursor is at a first location;

ceasing said moving of the cursor in said predetermined manner; and

causing a choosing action to be performed at the first location, whereby said first location is chosen as said at least one position.