ADAPTIVE ACCELERATION OF MOUSE CURSOR

• US 20080168364A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: MILLER, HOWARD A., Doepke, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 8,373,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for providing a user interface (UI) having a selector controllable by a physical input device. The response of the selector is adaptively adjusted to facilitate executing desired operations within the UI. A response factor defines how far the selector moves for a given movement of the physical input device. The response factor is increased so the selector can be moved a large distance, but is dynamically decreased to provide fine-tuned control of the selector for selecting densely grouped screen elements. Screen elements can be endowed with gravity, making them easy to select, or with anti-gravity, making them more difficult to select. The disclosure methods also provide tactile feedback such as vibration or braking of the physical input device to assist a user in executing desired operations.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a selector in a user interface (UI) using a physical input device, comprising:

adaptively adjusting a response of the selector to movement of the physical input device responsive to one or more properties associated of objects within the

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the response of the selector to movement of the physical input device is described by the equation:

selector speed=input device speed×

acceleration factor

and wherein adaptively adjusting comprises adjusting the acceleration factor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the properties comprise gravity factors and wherein adaptively adjusting accentuates movement of the selector to an object having a gravity factor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the gravity factor extends to a region surrounding the object and wherein when the selector is within the region movement of the selector toward the object is accentuated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the adaptively adjusting renders the object more susceptible to having the selector placed over the object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein adaptively adjusting renders the object less susceptible to having the selector placed over the object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more properties are user-defined.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more properties are determined by a computing context.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more properties are updated according to use history.

10. A method of facilitating the use of a UI, comprising:

providing a UI having a selector controllable by a physical input device;

predicting a desired position of the selector within the UI responsive to movement of the physical input device; and

adaptively adjusting a response of the selector to facilitate placing the selector in the predicted location.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein predicting is based on properties associated with objects within the UI.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein adaptively adjusting comprises adjusting an acceleration factor of the selector.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical input device is a mouse.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical input device is a click wheel.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing tactile feed back via the physical input device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the tactile feed back is resistance to moving the physical input device.

12. The method of claim 12, wherein predicting a desire position is based on an acceleration vector of movement of the physical input device.

11. The method of claim 12, wherein predicting a desired position is based on a velocity vector of movement of the physical input device.

19. A device comprising:

a UI comprising a selector controllable by a physical input device; and

a processor adapted to;

predict a desired position of the selector within the UI responsive to movement of the physical input device; and

adaptively adjusting a response of the selector to facilitate placing the selector in the predicted location.

20. A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium for presenting a UI comprising a selector controllable by a physical input device wherein a desired position of the selector within the UI can be predicted responsive to movement of the physical input device and wherein a response of the selector to movement of the physical input device can be adaptively adjusted to facilitate placing the selector in the predicted location.

21. A method or manipulating a cursor in a presentation area, said cursor for navigating presented matter in said presentation area, the method comprising:

defining a first relationship between a user'"'"'s manipulation of a control device and the movement of a cursor in said presentation area; and

altering said first relationship based upon a second relationship between said cursor and a said presented matter.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said presentation area is a screen.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said presented matter is a software-generated display.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein said control device is a mouse.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein said control device is a scroll wheel.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein said control device is one or more touch-sensitive surfaces.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein said first relationship is altered if said second relationship is characterized by said cursor being with a defined distance of a designate user interface item.

32. The method of claim 21 wherein said first relationship is altered if said second relationship is characterized by said cursor navigating a list of a known length.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said known length exceeds a threshold.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said known length is less than a threshold.

35. The method of claim 21 wherein said first relationship is altered if said second relationship is characterized by an absence of any selectable user interface item within a defined special relationship with said cursor.

36. The method of claim 21 wherein said first relationship is altered if said second relationship is characterized by a quantity of selectable user interface items within a defined special relationship with said cursor.

37. The method of claim 21 wherein said first relationship is altered if said second relationship is characterized by a sparseness of selectable user interface items within a defined special relationship with said cursor.

38. The method of claim 21 wherein said first relationship is altered if said second relationship is characterized by an abundance of selectable user interface items within a defined special relationship with said cursor.

39. The method of claim 21 wherein feedback is provided to said control device if said first relationship is altered.

40. The method of claim 21 wherein feedback is provided to said user if said first relationship is altered.

41. The method of claim 21 wherein said first relationship is only altered if there is a user input indicating a plurality of items in contact with one or more touch-sensitive surfaces.

42. The method of claim 21 wherein said first relationship is only altered if there is a user input indicating a gesture performed on one or more touch sensitive surfaces.

28. The method of 27 wherein said designated user interface item is designated through an API.

29. The method of 27 wherein said designated user interface item is designated through a user selection.

30. The method of 27 wherein said designated user interface item represents an object and said user interface item is designated according to the popularity of said object among one or more third parties.

31. The method of 27 wherein said designated user interface item is designated according to how often said item has been selected in the past.