FUNCTIONALITY SWITCHING IN POINTER INPUT DEVICES

• US 20100180237A1
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: JACKSON, Robert Charles, ROBAINA, Jason Matthew, BUCHANAN, Dohn Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,019,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

Various embodiments for switching functionality of a graphical user interface (GUI) pointer input device are provided. A first gesture pattern is configured. The first gesture pattern, when performed, enables a predetermined function of the input device. The predetermined function substitutes for a default function of the input device. The enabling of the predetermined function is indicated to a user on the GUI. A second gesture pattern is configured. The second gesture pattern, when performed, cancels the predetermined function of the input device and enables the default function.

Claims

1. A method for switching functionality of a graphical user interface (GUI) pointer input device, comprising:

configuring a first gesture pattern, wherein the first gesture pattern, when performed, enables a predetermined function of the pointer input device, the predetermined function substituting for a default function of the pointer input device;

indicating enabling of the predetermined function to a user on the GUI; and

configuring a second gesture pattern, wherein the second gesture pattern, when performed, cancels the predetermined function of the pointer input device and enables the default function of the pointer input device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating enabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI includes one of displaying a unique form, displaying a unique color, and displaying a unique identification of a cursor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating enabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI includes one of displaying a unique form, displaying a unique color, and displaying a unique identification associated with a cursor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the first gesture pattern includes registering depressing a button on the pointer input device for a predetermined time to enable the predetermined function of the pointer input device.

5. The method of claim 1, further including, subsequent to a performance of the second gesture pattern, indicating disabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating enabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI includes at least one of enabling a flashing cursor, enabling a flashing color, and displaying a symbol.

7. A system for switching functionality of a graphical user interface (GUI) pointer input device, comprising:

a function mode module in communication with a processor device, wherein the function mode module is adapted for;

configuring a first gesture pattern, wherein the first gesture pattern, when performed, enables a predetermined function of the pointer input device, the predetermined function substituting for a default function of the pointer input device,

indicating enabling of the predetermined function to a user on the GUI, and

configuring a second gesture pattern, wherein the second gesture pattern, when performed, cancels the predetermined function of the pointer input device and enables the default function of the pointer input device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the function mode module is further adapted for one of displaying a unique form, displaying a unique color, and displaying a unique identification of a cursor to indicate the enabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the function mode module is further adapted for one of displaying a unique form, displaying a unique color, and displaying a unique identification associated with a cursor to indicate the enabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the function mode module is further adapted for registering depressing a button on the pointer input device for a predetermined time to enable the predetermined function of the pointer input device.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the function mode module is further adapted for, subsequent to a performance of the second gesture pattern, indicating disabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the function mode module is further adapted for one of enabling a flashing cursor, enabling a flashing color, and displaying a symbol to indicate the enabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI.

13. A computer program product for switching functionality of a graphical user interface (GUI) pointer input device, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for configuring a first gesture pattern, wherein the first gesture pattern, when performed, enables a predetermined function of the pointer input device, the predetermined function substituting for a default function of the pointer input device;

a second executable portion for indicating enabling of the predetermined function to a user on the GUI; and

a third executable portion for configuring a second gesture pattern, wherein the second gesture pattern, when performed, cancels the predetermined function of the pointer input device and enables the default function of the pointer input device.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the second executable portion for indicating enabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI includes a fourth executable portion for performing one of displaying a unique form, displaying a unique color, and displaying a unique identification of a cursor.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the second executable portion for indicating enabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI includes a fourth executable portion for performing one of displaying a unique form, displaying a unique color, and displaying a unique identification associated with a cursor.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the first executable portion for configuring the first gesture pattern includes a fourth executable portion for registering depressing a button on the pointer input device for a predetermined time to enable the predetermined function of the pointer input device.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, further including a fourth executable portion for, subsequent to a performance of the second gesture pattern, indicating disabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the second executable portion for indicating enabling of the predetermined function to the user on the GUI includes a fourth executable portion for performing at least one of enabling a flashing cursor, enabling a flashing color, and displaying a symbol.

19. A method for configuring switching from a first default function of a graphical user interface (GUI) pointer input device to a second predetermined function in a computing environment, comprising:

recording at least one action of the GUI pointer input device as performed by a user;

storing the at least one action as the second predetermined function; and

upon a detection of a performance of a first gesture pattern by the user, activating the second predetermined function, wherein the second predetermined function substitutes for the first default function.

20. The method of claim 19, further including indicating the activating of the second predetermined function on the GUI.

21. The method of claim 19, further including, upon a detection of a performance of a second gesture pattern by the user, deactivating the second predetermined function and reactivating the first default function.

22. The method of claim 21, further including indicating the deactivating of the second predetermined function on the GUI.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein indicating the activating of the second predetermined function to the user on the GUI includes one of displaying a unique form, displaying a unique color, and displaying a unique identification of a cursor.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the first gesture pattern includes depressing a button on the pointer input device for a predetermined time.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein indicating the activating of the second predetermined function to the user on the GUI includes at least one of enabling a flashing cursor, enabling a flashing color, and displaying a symbol.