Multiuser/multi pointing device graphical user interface system
First Claim
1. In a computer system including a processor, and employing a graphic user interface having a virtual display space, executing an event-driven control program, with a unified user pointing input event stream processing system, the improvement comprising:
- the control program receiving at least first and second user inputs representing different locations within said virtual display space, each of said user inputs being associated with the production of events of said control program and being processed without distinction between said first user input and said second user input; and
said control program having an operational mode for processing a series of events related to a first user input without apparent functional interference with a concurrent series of events related to a second user input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical user interface system is provided having an event-driven control program with a unified user input pointing event stream without distinction of source and a graphical user interface having a virtual display space containing objects. The control program processing events related to a plurality of user inputs representing different locations within the virtual display space, and operates optionally in two modes. A first mode permits the plurality of user inputs to interact, allowing an object in the virtual display space at a first location specified by an initial user input to be associated with a second location specified by a concurrent and subsequently terminating user input. In this case, the control program has a counter which increments on activity of any user input and decrements on cessation of activity of any user input, for determining an initial user input condition, temporal concurrence of a plurality of user inputs, and a terminal user input condition. A second mode processes a series of events related to a first user input without apparent functional interference with a concurrent series of events related to a second user input.
296 Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a computer system including a processor, and employing a graphic user interface having a virtual display space, executing an event-driven control program, with a unified user pointing input event stream processing system, the improvement comprising:
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the control program receiving at least first and second user inputs representing different locations within said virtual display space, each of said user inputs being associated with the production of events of said control program and being processed without distinction between said first user input and said second user input; and said control program having an operational mode for processing a series of events related to a first user input without apparent functional interference with a concurrent series of events related to a second user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An event-driven graphical user interface system having a virtual display space including a plurality of objects, comprising:
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a user input interface, being responsive to a plurality of user inputs from identified user input devices, said user inputs each being associated with at least one object, and being associated with the production of events substantially undistinguished by a user input device identification; said interface system having a mode for processing a time series of events related to a first user input relating to a first object and a concurrent time series of events related to a second user input relating to a second object, without mutual interference. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An event-driven graphical user interface system having a unified virtual display space including a plurality of objects, comprising:
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a user input interface producing events relating to a plurality of user inputs from at least one identified user input device; said interface system concurrently processing a series of events substantially without reference to an user input device identification, related to a first of said plurality of user inputs and a series of events related to a second of said plurality of user inputs, without mutual interference. - View Dependent Claims (20, 32)
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21. An input processor for a graphical user interface system having a unified virtual display space, comprising:
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an input for receiving inputs from a plurality of user pointing device inputs, defining a position and an input status; and a processor, having; a counter; a memory for storing a state of said counter; means for incrementing said counter upon an activate input status from any of said inputs and decrementing said counter upon an inactivate input status from any of said inputs; point mode means for generating cursor move to said position, button down and button up messages in sequence if said counter is incremented; and means for updating said stored state of said counter. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. An input processor for a graphical user interface system having a unified virtual display space, comprising:
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an input for receiving inputs from a plurality of user pointing device inputs, defining a position and an input status; and a processor, having; a counter; a memory for storing a state of said counter; means for incrementing said counter upon an activate input status from any of said inputs and decrementing said counter upon an inactivate input status from any of said inputs; drag mode means for generating a cursor move to said position and button down message in sequence if said counter transitions to one, generating a button up message if said counter transitions to a value of zero, and otherwise maintaining a drag state with move with button down messages; and means for updating said stored state of said counter. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. In a graphical user interface system having an event-driven control program with a unified user input pointing event stream without distinction of source and a graphical user interface having a virtual display space containing objects, the improvement comprising:
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the control program processing events related to a plurality of user inputs representing different locations within the virtual display space; the control program having one or more modes selected from the group consisting of; (a) an operational mode for permitting said plurality of user inputs interact to allow an object in the virtual display space at a first location specified by an initial user input to be associated with a second location specified by a concurrent and subsequently terminating user input, the control program having a counter which increments on activity of any user input and decrements on cessation of activity of any user input, for determining an initial user input condition, temporal concurrence of a plurality of user inputs, and a terminal user input condition; and (b) a second operating mode for processing a series of events related to a first user input without apparent functional interference with a concurrent series of events related to a second user input. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification