Three dimensional cursor
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for controlling a cursor to move in a three dimensional representation on a two dimensional display with a two-dimensional control device of a computer system in communication with the display, the control device being operative to generate a two-dimensional coordinate on the display for a control position of the control device in response to a manipulation of the control device by a user, comprising the steps of;
- generating a translation signal by said computer system to said display when said manipulation of said control device is determined to correspond to a movement of said cursor in a two-dimensional plane within said three dimensional representation and generating an elevation signal by said computer system to said display when said manipulation of said control device is determined to correspond to a movement of said cursor in a direction perpendicular to said two-dimensional plane within said three dimensional representation;
moving said cursor within said two-dimensional plane formed by a first axis and a second axis in said three dimensional representation in response to said translation signal; and
moving said cursor along a third axis perpendicular to said two-dimensional plane of said three dimensional representation in response to said elevation signal, wherein said step of generating includes the steps ofdetermining whether said movement of said cursor would follow a first two dimensional path on said display within a predetermined threshold angle with said third axis in response to said manipulation of said control device;
determining whether said first path would stay within a predefined two dimensional corridor defining a straight line path for said cursor; and
if said first path would be within said threshold angle and within said predefined two dimensional corridor, thenplotting where a first point would be located on said display within said three dimensional representation formed by said first, second and third axes based on said two dimensional coordinate and an assumption that said movement of said cursor is an elevation of said cursor along said third axis.plotting where a second point would be located on said display within said three dimensional representation based on said two dimensional coordinate and an assumption that said movement of said cursor is a translation of said cursor within said two-dimensional plane,generating said translation signal if a first distance from a present three dimensional position of said cursor to said first point is more than twice as large as a second distance from said present three dimensional position to said second point, andgenerating said elevation signal if said first distance is less than or equal to said second distance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling a three dimensional cursor'"'"'s position on a display with a two dimensional control device by generating a translation signal to the display when the control device was moved in such a way as to indicate that the user intended a translation of the cursor and generating an elevation signal to the display when the control device was moved in such a way as to indicate that the user intended an elevation of the cursor. Analysis of the single movement alone, however, being only the first step in truly interpreting the user'"'"'s intentions, the present invention also includes steps for preventing certain types of control device movements from being interpreted incorrectly.
55 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for controlling a cursor to move in a three dimensional representation on a two dimensional display with a two-dimensional control device of a computer system in communication with the display, the control device being operative to generate a two-dimensional coordinate on the display for a control position of the control device in response to a manipulation of the control device by a user, comprising the steps of;
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generating a translation signal by said computer system to said display when said manipulation of said control device is determined to correspond to a movement of said cursor in a two-dimensional plane within said three dimensional representation and generating an elevation signal by said computer system to said display when said manipulation of said control device is determined to correspond to a movement of said cursor in a direction perpendicular to said two-dimensional plane within said three dimensional representation; moving said cursor within said two-dimensional plane formed by a first axis and a second axis in said three dimensional representation in response to said translation signal; and moving said cursor along a third axis perpendicular to said two-dimensional plane of said three dimensional representation in response to said elevation signal, wherein said step of generating includes the steps of determining whether said movement of said cursor would follow a first two dimensional path on said display within a predetermined threshold angle with said third axis in response to said manipulation of said control device; determining whether said first path would stay within a predefined two dimensional corridor defining a straight line path for said cursor; and if said first path would be within said threshold angle and within said predefined two dimensional corridor, then plotting where a first point would be located on said display within said three dimensional representation formed by said first, second and third axes based on said two dimensional coordinate and an assumption that said movement of said cursor is an elevation of said cursor along said third axis. plotting where a second point would be located on said display within said three dimensional representation based on said two dimensional coordinate and an assumption that said movement of said cursor is a translation of said cursor within said two-dimensional plane, generating said translation signal if a first distance from a present three dimensional position of said cursor to said first point is more than twice as large as a second distance from said present three dimensional position to said second point, and generating said elevation signal if said first distance is less than or equal to said second distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification