Method for selecting graphical objects in quadrants with a cursor

• US 5,459,831 A
• Filed: 10/06/1994
• Issued: 10/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intergraph Hardware Technologies Company (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brewer, Eric A., Pinson, Mark B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/319,336
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 395/135-161, 395/133-134, 395/120, 395/123, 395/118, 345/117-120, 345/147-150
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/56 having vectorial format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools

Abstract

A technique for organizing graphical objects in a graphics database that facilitates the rapid selection of one or more graphical objects on a computer display screen. Graphical objects are stored in the graphics database using a spatially organized data structure. The spacially organized data structure is formed by recursively subdividing the graphics space until each subspace contains no more than a predetermined number of graphical objects. The spacially organized database is ideally suited for spacial queries required to select, based on visual criteria, graphical objects appearing on a display screen. Graphical objects may be selected in response to a cursor moving about a display screen under programmer control, or in response to a system request to identify one or more objects spacially located in a given portion of the graphics space.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for selecting from a group of spatially organized graphical objects within a graphics space contained in a memory in a computer, one of said graphical objects having a target characteristic, wherein said graphics space is divided into quadrants and wherein each quadrant may be subdivided into quadrants, and wherein a portion of said memory corresponds to each of said quadrants, and wherein each of said graphical objects is stored in one of said corresponding portions of said memory which corresponds to a location within said graphics space of each one of said graphical objects, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) locating a cursor in said graphics space;

(b) selecting a quadrant in which said cursor is located;

(c) determining whether said selected quadrant has been subdivided;

(d) in response to said selected quadrant being subdivided, selecting a quadrant which is a subdivided portion of said selected quadrant in which said cursor is located and thereafter repeating steps (c) through (d); and

(e) in response to said selected quadrant being undivided, selecting a graphical object in said selected quadrant that is closest in physical proximity to said cursor located within said graphics space.

2. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer has a display, and wherein said method further comprises the step of:

(f) providing a visual indicia within said display associated with said selected object.

3. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 2 wherein said visual indicia includes any of highlighting said selected object, offsetting said selected object, blinking said selected object, changing a thickness of said selected object, changing a style of said selected object, outlining said selected object, inverting video of said selected object, attaching handles to said selected object, displaying a name of said selected object, displaying attributes of said selected object, displaying arrows near said selected object, displaying a pointing finger near said selected object, replicating said selected object into a box, displacing said selected object to an offset location, displaying a halo around said selected object, changing a color of said selected object, and displaying a marquee around said selected object.