Clickaround tool-based graphical interface with two cursors
First Claim
1. A system having a graphical user interface in which objects are displayed thereon, wherein a user interacts with the objects using a primary device to control a primary cursor and a secondary device to control a secondary cursor, the system comprising:
- receiving means for receiving information from the primary device and secondary device, wherein said information includes event actuation data and cursor position data; and
clickaround tool means for displaying a tool palette having representative tool images in response to an actuation of the secondary device and activating an operation of a selected tool, wherein said clickaround tool means utilizes said cursor position data to display said tool palette with an offset position from the primary cursor and said event actuation data to display said tool palette only while the secondary device is actuated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical user interface with clickaround tools for enhanced user interaction with an application program utilizing "two-handed" techniques. The "tool-handed" technique provides two displayed cursors controlled by two distinct pointing input devices. Actuation of a secondary input device, corresponding a secondary cursor, provides a tool palette or menu near a displayed primary cursor. This technique allows a user to select and activate tools to perform substantive operations on displayed objects of the application program. The interface allows the user to invoke tools in a fluent and seamless fashion, thus maintaining the user'"'"'s focus on the substantive operations and not the procedural motions of tool access.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system having a graphical user interface in which objects are displayed thereon, wherein a user interacts with the objects using a primary device to control a primary cursor and a secondary device to control a secondary cursor, the system comprising:
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receiving means for receiving information from the primary device and secondary device, wherein said information includes event actuation data and cursor position data; and clickaround tool means for displaying a tool palette having representative tool images in response to an actuation of the secondary device and activating an operation of a selected tool, wherein said clickaround tool means utilizes said cursor position data to display said tool palette with an offset position from the primary cursor and said event actuation data to display said tool palette only while the secondary device is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program product to interact with a graphical user interface having objects displayed thereon, wherein a user interacts with the objects using a primary device to control a primary cursor and a secondary device to control a secondary cursor, the computer program product comprising:
a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for enabling the computer system to clickaround tools, said computer readable program code means comprising; computer readable first program code means for enabling the computer system to receive information from the primary device and secondary device, wherein said information includes event actuation data and cursor position data; and computer readable second program code means for enabling the computer system to display a tool palette having representative tool images in response to actuation of the secondary device and activate an operation of a selected tool, wherein said computer readable second program code means utilizes said cursor position data to display said tool palette with an offset position from the primary cursor and said event actuation data to display said tool palette only while the secondary device is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of providing user interaction with a graphical user interface with objects displayed thereon, wherein a user interacts with the objects using a primary device to control a primary cursor and a secondary device to control a secondary cursor, the method comprising steps of:
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displaying a tool palette having representative tool images in response to an actuation of the secondary device; and activating an operation of a selected tool, wherein said tool palette is displayed with an offset position from the primary cursor and said tool palette is only displayed while the secondary device is actuated.
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Specification