System and method for computer cursor control

• US 5,596,347 A
• Filed: 03/31/1995
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Samuel H., Hellings, Carl T., Andrews, James A., Hanson, Eric W., Robertson, Kenneth R., Brewer, Timothy T., Henderson, Paul E. Jr., Claflin, Anthony R., McCambridge, Lora K., Hoeger, Daniel S., Kelsey, Teresa L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US08/414,210
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145, 345/146, 345/156, 345/157, 345/159, 345/160, 345/162, 345/161, 345/163, 345/168, 395/155, 395/156, 395/159
• US Class Current: 715/856
• 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 system determining an intended cursor location on the computer display screen and automatically repositions the cursor at the intended location. If the user selects a command that alters the contents of the display, such as opening a new window, the system analyzes the new screen display to determine whether there are user selectable options associated with the new screen display. The system determines if one of the user selectable options is a default option and automatically positions the cursor at the default option. If the new screen display is an application program, the system attempts to locate a user selectable option and repositions the cursor at the user selectable option. When the new window is closed, the system returns the cursor to the position it was at before the new window was opened. The system also predicts an intended location for a screen display that has not been altered, and automatically positions the cursor at the intended location. This feature can be selectively enabled to prevent the inadvertent repositioning of the cursor in the display.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the position of a cursor on a computer display, comprising:

a cursor control device under control of a user to generate electrical signals corresponding to the desired movement of the cursor on the computer display;

cursor position means responsive to said electrical signals for generating first and second orthogonal control signals to control the movement of the cursor in first and second corresponding orthogonal directions on the computer display;

a control storage area storing position data corresponding to a control position on the computer display; and

alteration means for altering said control signals in response to said current position of the cursor being in proximity with said control position, said alteration means adding first and second orthogonal correction vectors to said first and second control signals, respectively, to cause the cursor to move incrementally closer to said control position than would result from the unaltered control signals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second correction vectors have a constant magnitude and a direction substantially toward said control position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second correction vectors have a magnitude dependent on a distance between said current location of the cursor and said control position, and a direction substantially toward said control position.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said control storage area stores position data corresponding to first and second control positions on the computer display, said first control position having a first designated value and said second control position having a second designated value, and said alteration means adds first and second correction signals to said control signals, said first and second correction signals each having a correction value corresponding to said first and second designated values, respectively.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said cursor position means generates first and second control signals corresponding to first and second orthogonal directions of movement of the cursor on the computer display, respectively, said first and second correction vectors being added to said first and second control signals, respectively, to cause the cursor to move toward one of said first and second control positions having a greater designated value.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said first and second correction vectors have a magnitude dependent on said first and second designated values, respectively.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said first and second correction vectors each have a magnitude dependent on a distance between said current location of the cursor and said first and second control positions, and a direction toward said one of said first and second control positions with a greater designated value.

8. The system of claim 4, further including value alteration means for altering said first and second designated values.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said value alteration means alters said first designated value based on a previous selection of said first control position.

10. A system for controlling the position of a cursor on a computer display, comprising:

a cursor control device under control of a user to generate electrical signals corresponding to the desired movement of the cursor on the computer display;

a cursor storage area storing position data corresponding to a current position of the cursor on the computer display;

cursor position means responsive to said electrical signals for generating first and second orthogonal control signals to control the movement of the cursor in first and second corresponding orthogonal directions on the computer display;

a control storage area storing position data corresponding to a control position on the computer display, said control position being substantially surrounded by a threshold spaced apart from said control position at a predetermined distance; and

alteration means for altering said control signals when said current cursor position is between said threshold and said control position, said alteration means adding first and second orthogonal correction signals to said first and second control signals, respectively, to cause the cursor to move toward said control position.

11. A method for controlling cursor movement on a computer display coupled to a computer using a cursor control device, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting command signals generated by the cursor control device in response to user input on the cursor control device to move the cursor on the computer display;

in response to said command signals, generating cursor first and second orthogonal positioning signals to move the cursor in first and second corresponding orthogonal directions on the computer display;

detecting a current position of the cursor in proximity with a control position on the computer display; and

in response to said current cursor position being detected in proximity with said control position, altering said cursor positioning signals by adding first and second orthogonal correction signals to said first and second cursor positioning signals, respectively, to cause the cursor to move incrementally closer to said control position than would result from the unaltered cursor positioning signals.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of altering is repeated until said current cursor position substantially coincides with said control position.

13. A method for controlling cursor movement on a computer display coupled to a computer using a cursor control device, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting command signals generated by the cursor control device in response to user input on the cursor control device to move the cursor on the computer display;

in response to said command signals, generating first and second orthogonal cursor positioning signals to move the cursor in first and second corresponding orthogonal directions on the computer display;

detecting a current position of the cursor in proximity with a control position on the computer display; and

in response to said current cursor position being detected in proximity with said control position, continuously altering said first and second cursor positioning signals following said step of generating said first and second cursor positioning signals by adding first and second orthogonal correction signals to said first and second cursor positioning signals, respectively, to cause the cursor to move progressively closer to said control position until said cursor position substantially coincides with said control position.

14. A method for controlling cursor movement on a computer display coupled to a computer using a cursor control device, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting command signals generated by the cursor control device in response to user input on the cursor control device to move the cursor on the computer display;

in response to said command signals, generating first and second orthogonal cursor positioning signals to move the cursor in first and second corresponding orthogonal directions on the computer display;

detecting a current position of the cursor within a threshold area spaced apart from a control position on the computer display, said control position being substantially surrounded by said threshold area at a predetermined distance; and

in response to said current cursor position being detected within said threshold area, altering said first and second cursor positioning signals by adding first and second orthogonal correction signals to said first and second cursor positioning signals, respectively, to cause the cursor to move closer to said control position.