Method and system for activating double click applications with a single click

• US 5,611,040 A
• Filed: 04/05/1995
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Robertson, Kenneth R., Van Flandern, Michael W., Brewer, Timothy T., Claflin, Anthony R., McCambridge, Lora K., Hoeger, Daniel S., Kelsey, Teresa L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KATBAB, ABDOLLAH
• Application Number:
  US08/417,078
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/156, 395/157, 395/158, 395/159, 395/160, 395/161
• US Class Current: 715/860
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for minimizing clicks in the operation of a graphical user interface such as the WINDOWS operating environment is disclosed. The invention emulates a double click (referred to as the "ClickSaver" feature) which virtually eliminates the need to double click thereby making Windows easier for both the novice and experienced Windows user. A ClickSaver process determines the type of window on which a single click has occurred and, if ClickSaver is enabled and the window has been deemed eligible for a double click such as an icon or control menu, the ClickSaver process sends a double click signal in order to activate the application.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for interpreting data received from a mouse to minimize the need for clicking the mouse when using a graphical user interface which includes a plurality of window types, the plurality of window types includes a subset of windows designed to be activated only by a double click, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a single click;

determining if the single click occurred on the subset window type;

sending a double click signal, if the window is the subset window type, to activate the window.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

determining if the received click occurred within a time period less than a predetermined time period defined for double clicking;

and

not sending a double click signal, if the received click did not occur within the predetermined time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of

determining if a control key or a shift key are depressed concurrently with the click;

and

not sending a double click signal, if a control key or a shift key was depressed concurrently with the click.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is provided by a WINDOWS operating environment.

5. A system for interpreting data received from a mouse to minimize the need for clicking the mouse when using a graphical user interface which includes a plurality of window types, the plurality of window types includes a subset of windows designed to be activated only by a double click, the system comprising:

means for receiving a single click;

means for determining if the single click occurred on the subset window type;

means for sending a double click signal, if the window is the subset window type, to activate the window.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising

means for determining if the received click occurred within a time period less than a predetermined time period defined for double clicking and for not sending a double click signal, if the received click did not occur within the predetermined time.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising

means for determining if a control key or a shift key are depressed concurrently with the click and for not sending a double click signal, if a control key or a shift key was depressed concurrently with the click.

8. The system of any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the graphical user interface is provided by a WINDOWS operating environment.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the subset window type includes control menus and icons.

10. A computer-implemented method to minimize the need for clicking when using a graphical user interface, related to an operating system, which includes a plurality of window types, the plurality of window types includes a subset of windows designed to be activated only by a double click, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a click saver feature;

receiving a single click;

identifying, by way of a request to the operating system, if the type of window on which the single click occurred is the subset window type;

if the single click occurred on the subset window type, sending a double click signal in order to activate the window.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of

determining if the received click occurred within a time period less than a predetermined time period defined for double clicking;

and

not sending a double click signal, if the received click did not occur within the predetermined time.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of

determining if a control key or a shift key are depressed concurrently with the click;

and

not sending a double click signal, if a control key or a shift key was depressed concurrently with the click.

13. A computer-implemented system to minimize the need for clicking when using a graphical user interface, related to an operating system, which includes a plurality of window types, the plurality of window types includes a subset of windows designed to be activated only by a double click, the system comprising:

means for enabling a click saver feature;

means for receiving a single click;

means for identifying, by way of a request to the operating system, if the type of window on which the single click occurred is the subset window type;

means for sending, if the single click occurred on the subset window type, a double click signal in order to activate the window.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising

means for determining if the received click occurred within a time period less than a predetermined time period defined for double clicking and for not sending a double click signal, if the received click did not occur within the predetermined time.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising

means for determining if a control key or a shift key are depressed concurrently with the click and for not sending a double click signal, if a control key or a shift key was depressed concurrently with the click.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the subset window type includes control menus and icons.