Method and apparatus for cursor positioning

• US 5,642,131 A
• Filed: 10/21/1994
• Issued: 06/24/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kensington Microware Limited
• Inventors: Bennett, Steven A., Pekelney, Richard, Medellin, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery
• Application Number:
  US08/327,137
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 340/723, 340/724, 345/145, 345/146, 345/156, 345/157, 345/160
• US Class Current: 715/862
• 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 cursor positioning system for use with computer systems employing relative-pointing devices (e.g., trackballs or mice) for cursor positioning functions. The cursor positioning system employs a cursor driver, stored in a memory of the computer system and responsive to cursor positioning signals from the relative-pointing device, to enable fast and accurate cursor positioning to specific, predefined locations. The cursor driver responds to user-actuated signals, such as "clicks" or keystrokes to record cursor position objects at particular cursor locations. Thereafter, during cursor position selection mode, initiated by a keystroke or relative-pointing device signal, the cursor'"'"'s position is moved from position object to position object. The preferred embodiment also provides for recording of bias objects, typically the same as the position objects, to attract the cursor'"'"'s location towards them. This attraction reduces undershoot and overshoot of the cursor. Additionally, autoconfiguration of the cursor position/bias objects results from monitoring for prespecified actions from the user, such as "click"-events, and recording that position when the number of clicks at that location exceed a particular threshold. Subsequent use or non-use of that position can increase that objects weighting for bias influence effects. The cursor positioning system provides consistent cursor positioning tools, for all applications, and permits addition of new cursor tools to applications and the operating without modification of the applications.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for repositioning a cursor presented on a display of a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor and a relative pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:

placing the computer system into a target cursor position definition mode;

thereafter

defining a plurality of target cursor positions at a plurality of specific locations on the display while the computer system is in said target cursor position definition mode, wherein said plurality of specific locations are identified by signals from the relative-pointing device;

thereafter

placing the computer system into an operating mode;

thereafter

selecting a jump mode for the computer system while the cursor is positioned at a first location on the display;

thereafter

defining, responsive to movement of the relative pointing device while the computer system is in said jump mode, a target zone extending outward from said first location in a direction defined by cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device, wherein said target zone defines an area;

identifying a set of target cursor positions within said area;

selecting a particular one of said plurality of target cursor positions within said set as a jump position; and

thereafter

moving the cursor, from said first location to said jump position.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

creating a temporary target cursor position at said first location prior to said moving step; and

thereafter

returning the cursor to said temporary target cursor position.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising the step of putting the computer system back into said operating mode after said moving step wherein said returning step returns the cursor to said temporary target cursor position automatically upon execution of said step of putting the computer system back into said operating mode.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said set includes two target cursor positions.

5. A computer-implemented method for repositioning a cursor presented on a display of a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor and a relative pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:

defining dynamically a plurality of target cursor positions at a plurality of specific locations on the display while the computer system is in an operating mode, wherein said plurality of specific locations are identified by signals from the relative-pointing device selecting objects presented on the display; and

thereafter

selecting a jump mode for the computer system while the cursor is positioned at a first location on the display; and

thereafter

defining, responsive to movement of the relative pointing device while the computer system is in said jump mode, a target zone extending outward from said first location in a direction defined by cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device, wherein said target zone defines an area;

identifying a set of target cursor positions within said area;

selecting a particular one of said plurality of target cursor positions within said set as a jump position; and

thereafter

moving the cursor, from said first location to said jump position.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

creating a temporary target cursor position at said first location prior to said moving step; and

thereafter

returning the cursor to said temporary target cursor position.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising the step of putting the computer system back into said operating mode after said moving step wherein said returning step returns the cursor to said temporary target cursor position automatically upon execution of said step of putting the computer back into said operating mode.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a monitor for displaying a cursor;

a memory;

a relative pointing device, responsive to user input, for generating a cursor positioning signal and a selection signal;

a microprocessor, coupled to said display and to said memory and responsive to a cursor locate signal, for controlling a display position of said cursor; and

a cursor driver, stored in said memory and coupled to said microprocessor and to said relative pointing device, for;

receiving said cursor positioning signal and said selection signal from said relative pointing device; and

converting said cursor positioning signal to said cursor locate signal,

wherein said cursor driver defines a cursor target location responsive to said cursor positioning signal when in a definition mode, and wherein said cursor driver uses said cursor positioning signal to define a target region having an area when said cursor driver is in a jump mode, and wherein said cursor driver provides said microprocessor with said cursor target location as said cursor locate signal, responsive to said cursor positioning signal, only if said cursor positioning signal is received while said cursor driver is in said jump mode and said cursor driver determines that said cursor target location is within said area of said target region, and otherwise said cursor driver provides said microprocessor with said cursor locate signal to hold said cursor at a present location of said cursor if said cursor target location is not within said area of said target region.

9. A computer-implemented method for biasing a position of a cursor presented on a display of a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor and a relative pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a biasing target at a first location of the display, said biasing target having an associated weighting factor;

issuing a plurality of cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device to direct the position of the cursor to move to a second location on the display wherein said second location is different from said first location; and

modifying the cursor position from said second location towards said first location by shifting the cursor position between said first location and said second location by an amount dependent upon said associated weighting factor.

10. The computer-implemented biasing method of claim 9 wherein said associated weighting factor is dynamically adjusted depending upon selection signals from the relative pointing device.

11. A computer-implemented method for biasing a position of a cursor presented on a display of a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor and a relative pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a first biasing target having a first associated weighting factor at a first location of the display, and a second biasing target having a second associated weighting factor at a second location different from said first location;

issuing a plurality of cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device to direct the position of the cursor to move to a third location on the display wherein said third location is different from said first location and said second location; and

modifying the cursor position from said third location towards said first location and said second location by shifting the cursor position between said first and said second locations and said third location by an amount dependent upon said first and said second associated weighting factors, respectively.

12. The computer-implemented biasing method of claim 11 wherein said first and said second associated weighting factors are dynamically adjusted depending upon selection signals from the relative pointing device.

13. A computer-implemented method for biasing a position of a cursor presented on a display of a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor and a relative pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a biasing target at a first location of the display;

issuing a plurality of cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device that would position the cursor to a second location on the display wherein said second location is different from said first location; and

modifying said cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device as they are issued, so the cursor position is shifted away from said second location in response to said biasing target and between said first location and said second location,

wherein said biasing target has an associated weighting factor and wherein in said modifying step, the cursor position is shifted towards said first location by an amount dependent upon said associated weighting factor.

14. The computer-implemented biasing method of claim 13 wherein said associated weighting factor is dynamically adjusted depending upon selection signals from the relative pointing device.

15. A computer-implemented method for biasing a position of a cursor presented on a display of a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor and a relative pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a first biasing target at a first location of the display, said first biasing target having an associated first weighting factor;

issuing a plurality of cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device that would position the cursor to a second location on the display wherein said second location is different from said first location; and

modifying said cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device as they are issued, so the cursor position is shifted away from said second location in response to said biasing target,

wherein said creating step creates a second biasing target at a third location different from said first and said second locations, said second biasing target having an associated second weighting factor different from said first weighting factor and wherein said modifying step shifts the cursor position between said second location and said first and third locations, and wherein the cursor position is shifted towards said first and said third particular locations by an amount dependent upon said first and said second associated weighting factors, respectively.

16. The computer-implemented biasing method of claim 15 wherein said first and said second associated weighting factors are dynamically adjusted depending upon selection signals from the relative pointing device.