DISPLAY-POINTER VISIBILITY

• US 20090303256A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hayward, David, Paquette, Michael J., Miller, Howard A.
• Application Number:
  US12/543,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20090303256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/661
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04801 Cursor retrieval aid, i.e. visual aspect modification, blinking, colour changes, enlargement or other visual cues, for helping user do find the cursor in graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for accentuating a pointer. An idle time period associated with a pointer relating to a display is monitored. A determination is made whether a termination of the idle time period associated with the pointer has occurred based upon the monitoring. A representation of the pointer is modified in response to the termination of the idle time period associated with the pointer.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A method, comprising:

setting at least one idle time period criteria associated with a first feature of a display and associated with a second feature of the display;

monitoring an idle time period based upon the at least one idle time period criteria;

determining whether a termination of said idle time period has occurred based upon said monitoring; and

modifying a representation of said first feature of the display in response to said termination of said idle time period.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein monitoring said idle time period further comprises monitoring whether the display has not been activated for a predetermined period of time.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein determining whether a termination of said idle time period has occurred further comprises determining whether a stimulation event has occurred.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein determining whether said stimulation event has occurred further comprises determining whether at least one touch has occurred.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein determining whether said stimulation event has occurred further comprises determining whether at least one predetermined key was depressed in a predetermined manner.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein determining whether said stimulation event has occurred further comprises determining whether an audio input signal has been detected.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein determining whether said stimulation event has occurred further comprises determining whether a predetermined touch input relating to a pointer has been detected, wherein said pointer is the first feature of the display.

48. The method of claim 43, further comprising decoding data relating to said stimulation event to determine whether said termination of said idle time period has occurred.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein modifying a representation of said first feature of the display further comprises at least one of modifying the size of said pointer, animating said pointer, modifying a color associated with said pointer, dimming at least a portion of one or more regions associated with said display to highlight said pointer, dimming a plurality of display devices to highlight a regions associated with said pointer, highlighting a plurality of pointers associated with said display, or providing an audible cue for locating said pointer.

50. A method, comprising:

setting at least one idle time period criteria associated with a first feature of a display and associated with a second feature of the display;

determining that the first feature of the display is in an idle state in response to a determination that a predetermined time period, based upon the at least one idle time period criteria, has elapsed;

detecting a stimulation signal capable of terminating said idle state; and

modifying at least one of the first or second features of the display to increase the visibility of at least one the first or second features of the display.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein detecting said stimulation signal further comprises receiving a signal relating to at least one of at least one touch, a movement of pointer relating to the display, a movement of a cursor relating to the display, a movement of a pen peripheral device, an audio command, or a predetermined data entry of a key relating to a keyboard.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the first feature of the display is at least one of the pointer or the cursor, further wherein modifying a representation of said pointer or cursor further comprises at least one of modifying the size of said pointer or cursor, animating said pointer or cursor, modifying a color associated with said pointer or cursor, dimming at least a portion of one or more regions associated with said display to highlight said pointer or cursor, or providing an audible cue for locating said pointer or cursor.

53. A system, comprising:

a display device for displaying data; and

a controller operatively coupled to said display device, said controller adapted to set at least one idle time period criteria associated with a first feature of a display and associated with a second feature of the display and monitor an idle time period, based upon the at least one idle time period criteria and determine whether a termination of said idle time period has occurred, said controller to modify a representation of at least one of the first feature of the display or the second feature of the display in response to said termination of said idle time period.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein said controller is capable of determining whether a user is attempting to locate at least one of the first feature of the display or the second feature of the display based upon an input signal received by said controller.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein said input signal is at least one of at least one touch, a movement of a pointer relating to the display, a movement of a cursor relating to the display, a movement of a pen peripheral device, an audio command or a predetermined data entry of a key relating to a keyboard.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein said controller is integrated into a computer system.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein said controller is located in an operating system associated with said computer system.

58. A computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs a method, comprising:

setting at least one idle time period criteria associated with a first feature of a display and associated with a second feature of the display;

determining that at least one of the first feature of the display or the second feature of the display is in an idle state in response to a determination that a predetermined time period, based upon the at least one idle time period criteria, has elapsed;

detecting a signal indicative of a stimulation for terminating said idle state; and

modifying a representation of at least one of the first feature of the display or the second feature of the display to increase the visibility of the at least one of the first feature of the display or the second feature of the display.

59. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 58, wherein detecting said stimulation signal further comprises determining whether a user has attempted to locate at least one of the first feature of the display or the second feature of the display.

60. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 58, wherein detecting said stimulation signal further comprises receiving a signal relating to at least one of at least one touch, a movement of a pointer relating to the display, a movement of a cursor relating to the display, a movement of a pen peripheral device, an audio command, or a predetermined data entry of a key relating to a keyboard.

61. A computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs a method, comprising:

setting at least one idle time period criteria associated with a first feature of a display and associated with a second feature of the display;

monitoring an idle time period based upon the at least one idle time period criteria;

detecting at least one of at least one touch input or a audio input for determining whether a termination of said idle time period; and

modifying a representation of said first feature of the display in response to said termination of said idle time period.

62. The computer readable program storage device of claim 61, wherein the at least one touch includes touching a display screen.

63. The computer readable program storage device of claim 61, wherein the at least one touch comprises touching a display screen in at least two separate locations.