Combined keyboard and mouse entry

• US 5,198,802 A
• Filed: 12/20/1991
• Issued: 03/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Pedro C., Wright, John P., Bertram, Randal L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US07/814,196
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 340/709, 340/712, 340/710, 340/711, 340/706
• US Class Current: 715/860
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

Effectiveness of using both a mouse (13) and a keyboard (21) for entry of function selection by cursor (17) is achieved by the system recognizing a mouse entry as such and not moving cursor (17) with transition of displays, while keyboard operation moves the cursor in increments and repositions the cursor as appropriate on transition of displays. Further, after a screen transition the cursor is moved to the normal initial cursor location of the new screen when a keyboard operation calls for cursor movement while the cursor is not near a selection symbol.

Claims

1. Computing apparatus comprising a microprocessor, means including said microprocessor to execute operating code, means to display symbols and a cursor for selection of certain said operating code, a keyboard to position said cursor, a cursor traversing device to position said cursor, means including either said keyboard or said traversing device for an operator of said computing apparatus to select said certain operating code by positioning said cursor near selected ones of said displayed symbols and activating a selection signal, and said microprocessor comprising a first control means to move said cursor when said display is changed by said selection from said keyboard and to not move said cursor when said display is changed by said selection from said traversing device.

2. The computing apparatus as in claim 1 also comprising second control means operative at least after said change of display to position said cursor to a predetermined said displayed symbol upon keyboard entry when no said displayed symbol is near said cursor.

3. The computing apparatus as in claim 2 also comprising third control means responsive to a change in said display by said selection from said traversing device to store information representing the normal initial cursor location for said display changed to, and wherein said second control means employs said stored information to locate said cursor at said normal initial cursor location.

4. Computing apparatus as in claim 3 in which said first control means moves said cursor from an initial menu defining broad categories of applications or functions to the top of a list of said applications or functions when said display is changed by said keyboard.

5. Computing apparatus as in claim 1 in which said first control means moves said cursor from an initial menu defining broad categories of applications or functions to the top of a list of said applications or functions when said display is changed by said keyboard.

6. Computing apparatus as in claim 2 in which said first control means moves said cursor from an initial menu defining broad categories of applications or functions to the top of a list of said applications or functions when said display is changed by said keyboard.

7. Computing apparatus as in claim 6 in which said first control means moves said cursor from a list of applications or functions to a selection symbol effective when selected to start said computing apparatus to load software when said display is changed by said keyboard.

8. Computing apparatus as in claim 1 in which said first control means moves said cursor from a list of applications or functions to a selection symbol effective when selected to start said computing apparatus to load software when said display is changed by said keyboard.

9. Computing apparatus as in claim 2 in which said first control means moves said cursor from a list of applications or functions to a selection symbol effective when selected to start said computing apparatus to load software when said display is changed by said keyboard.

10. Computing apparatus as in claim 3 in which said first control means moves said cursor from a list of applications or functions to a selection symbol effective when selected to start said computing apparatus to load software when said display is changed by said keyboard.

11. Computing apparatus as in claim 4 in which said first control means moves said cursor from a list of applications or functions to a selection symbol effective when selected to start said computing apparatus to load software when said display is changed by said keyboard.

12. Computing apparatus as in claim 5 in which said first control means moves said cursor from a list of applications or functions to a selection symbol effective when selected to start said computing apparatus to load software when said display is changed by said keyboard.

13. Computing apparatus as in claim 12 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

14. Computing apparatus as in claim 1 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

15. Computing apparatus as in claim 2 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

16. Computing apparatus as in claim 3 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

17. Computing apparatus as in claim 4 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

18. Computing apparatus as in claim 5 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

19. Computing apparatus as in claim 6 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

20. Computing apparatus as in claim 7 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

21. Computing apparatus as in claim 8 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

22. Computing apparatus as in claim 9 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

23. Computing apparatus as in claim 10 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

24. Computing apparatus as in claim 11 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

25. Computing apparatus comprising a microprocessor, means including said microprocessor to execute operating code, means to display symbols and a cursor in the form of an pointed line for selection of certain said operating code defined by the location of the point of said cursor being near selected ones of said displayed symbols, a keyboard to position said cursor, a cursor traversing device to position said cursor, means including either said keyboard or said traversing device for an operator of said computing apparatus to select said certain operating code by positioning said cursor and activating a selection signal, said microprocessor comprising a first control means to move said cursor when said display is changed by said selection from said keyboard and to not move said cursor when said display is changed by said selection from said traversing device, and second control means to position said cursor to one said displayed symbol upon keyboard entry to position said cursor when no said displayed symbol is near said cursor.

28. Computing apparatus as in claim 25 in which said first control means moves said cursor from an initial menu defining broad categories of applications or functions to the top of a list of said applications or functions when said display is changed by said keyboard.

29. Computing apparatus as in claim 28 in which said first control means moves said cursor from a list of applications or functions to a selection symbol effective when selected to start said computing apparatus to load software.

30. Computing apparatus as in claim 25 in which said first control means moves said cursor from a list of applications or functions to a selection symbol effective when selected to start said computing apparatus to load software.

34. Computing apparatus as in claim 25 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

37. Computing apparatus as in claim 28 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

38. Computing apparatus as in claim 29 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

39. Computing apparatus as in claim 30 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

26. Computing apparatus as in 25 also comprising third control means responsive to a change in said display by said selection from said traversing device to store information representing the normal initial cursor location for said display changed to, and wherein said second control means employs said stored information to locate said cursor at said normal initial cursor location.

27. Computing apparatus as in claim 26 in which said first control means moves said cursor from an initial menu defining broad categories of applications or functions to the top of a list of said applications or functions when said display is changed by said keyboard.

31. Computing apparatus as in claim 26 in which said first control means moves said cursor from a list of applications or functions to a selection symbol effective when selected to start said computing apparatus to load software.

32. Computing apparatus as in claim 27 in which said first control means moves said cursor from a list of applications or functions to a selection symbol effective when selected to start said computing apparatus to load software.

33. Computing apparatus as in claim 32 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

35. Computing apparatus as in claim 26 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

36. Computing apparatus as in claim 27 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.

40. Computing apparatus as in claim 31 in which said first control means moves said cursor to the initial location of the immediately previous display when current selection is reversed by said keyboard.