Multiple display pointers for computer graphical user interfaces

• US 5,699,534 A
• Filed: 04/12/1996
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Selker, Edwin Joseph, Ford, Daniel Alexander, Barber, Ronald Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KATBAB, ABDOLLAH
• Application Number:
  US08/631,110
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-161, 395/333, 395/334, 395/339, 395/340, 395/348, 395/352
• US Class Current: 715/856
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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 pointer system provides multiple display pointers that can be created and identified by a computer user such that each pointer is associated with a particular application and location within an application. A user can recall respective pointers and pointer locations by selecting a pointer identifier. One or more of the pointers can be defined as anchored pointers, which are associated with one or more user actions. The user actions can comprise a variety of functions, including mouse button clicks. In this way, a user can define anchored pointers and carry out a string of user actions by selecting the identifying character of an anchored pointer.

Claims

1. A method of providing multiple display pointers for a computer system having a host processor, a display device, and at least one pointer control device that can be actuated when a display pointer is located on a designated display feature in an application, the method comprising the steps of:

permitting a computer system user to define and identify multiple display pointers that all can be controlled by the user through the display device;

permitting the computer system user to designate a currently active display pointer from among the multiple display pointers such that moving the pointer control device causes movement of only the active display pointer;

permitting the computer system user to designate a different one of the multiple display pointers as the active display pointer; and

associating each display pointer with a pointer context that comprises the current application title and pointer location within that application for the associated display pointer;

further including the steps of;

permitting a computer system user to define at least one of the multiple display pointers to be an anchored pointer that remains fixed in its respective location as the user opens and closes applications;

associating each anchored pointer with one or more user actions, in addition to a pointer context; and

permitting the user to select an anchored pointer such that the user actions associated with the selected anchored pointer are automatically executed.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of permitting a user to define an anchored pointer comprises:

identifying the anchored pointer with a single alphanumeric character; and

displaying the alphanumeric character in close proximity to the associated anchored pointer on the display screen.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the display of the identifying alphanumeric character is recalled when the user returns to an application for which there are one or more previously identified anchored pointers.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the step of associating a display pointer with a pointer context comprises the steps of:

determining the application or document title and pointer location at which the display pointer is located;

storing the title and pointer location of the display pointer, along with one or more user actions if the display pointer is an anchored pointer, in a pointer context table addressed by the identifying alphanumeric character of the display pointer.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, further including the steps of:

permitting the user to switch from a current pointer context to a different pointer context by specifying a pointer identifying alphanumeric character;

determining if the specified identifying alphanumeric character relates to an anchored pointer; and

executing any user actions if the identifying alphanumeric character is associated with an anchored pointer.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the step of determining if the character relates to an anchored pointer comprises checking the pointer context table associated with the character to determine if it contains an entry indicating a user action.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user actions include display pointer button actuations.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of associating includes fixing the anchored pointer on a graphical user interface symbol indicative of the user action.

9. A method of providing multiple anchored display pointers for a graphical user interface that provides a window operating environment in a computer system having a host processor, a display device, and at least one pointer control actuator having a pointer button that can be actuated when a display pointer is located on a designated display feature in an active window to execute the designated feature, the method comprising the steps of:

permitting a computer system user to define and identify at least one anchored pointer that remains fixed in its respective window location as the user opens and closes application windows;

associating one or more user actions with each anchored pointer; and

permitting the computer system user to select an anchored pointer such that the host processor automatically executes the user actions associated with the selected anchored pointer.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the step of permitting a user to define and identify an anchored pointer comprises:

identifying the anchored pointer with a single alphanumeric character; and

displaying the alphanumeric character in close proximity to the associated anchored pointer on the display screen.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the display of the identifying alphanumeric character is recalled when the user returns to an active window or to an application for which there are one or more previously identified anchored pointers.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the step of associating an anchored pointer with a pointer context comprises the steps of:

determining the window title and pointer location of the window in which the anchored pointer is located;

storing the window title and pointer location of the anchored pointer, along with one or more user actions, in a pointer context table addressed by the identifying alphanumeric character of the anchored pointer.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, further including the steps of:

permitting the user to switch from a present pointer context to a different pointer context by specifying a pointer identifying alphanumeric character;

executing any user actions associated with the anchored pointer.

14. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the step of permitting a user to define and identify multiple display pointers comprises identifying the multiple pointers with different indicia.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the step of permitting a user to define and identify multiple display pointers further comprises the steps of:

identifying a pointer with a single alphanumeric character; and

displaying the alphanumeric character in close proximity to the associated display pointer on the display screen.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the display of the identifying alphanumeric character is recalled when the user returns to an application for which there are one or more previously identified display pointers.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

associating each display pointer with a pointer context that comprises the current application title and pointer location within that application for the associated display pointer.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the step of associating a display pointer with a pointer context comprises the steps of:

determining the application title and pointer location at which the display pointer is located;

storing the application title and pointer location in a pointer context table addressed by the identifying alphanumeric character of the display pointer.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, further including the step of:

switching from a pointer location of a present pointer context to a pointer location of a different pointer context specified by the identifying alphanumeric character.

20. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the step of switching to a different pointer context includes the steps of:

determining if the specified identifying alphanumeric character contains a corresponding entry in the pointer context table;

changing the current active pointer to the display pointer specified by the table entry if there is a corresponding table entry for the identifying alphanumeric character; and

creating a table entry for the identifying alphanumeric character if there is no table entry, the table entry corresponding to the current pointer location.

21. A method as defined in claim 9, further including the step of associating a pointer context with each anchored pointer, the pointer context comprising the window title and pointer location within the window.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, further comprising the step of:

associating each display pointer with a pointer context that comprises the current application title and pointer location within that application for the associated display pointer.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, further including the step of:

permitting the user to recall the pointer context of a multiple display pointer when the user returns to the application for which there are one or more previously defined display pointers.

24. A method as defined in claim 21, further including the steps of:

permitting a computer system user to define and identify multiple display pointers that all can be controlled by the user through the pointer control device;

permitting the user to designate a currently active display pointer from among the multiple display pointers such that moving the pointer control device causes movement of only the active display pointer; and

permitting the user to designate a different one of the multiple display pointers as the active display pointer.

25. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein the step of associating a defined display pointer with a pointer context comprises the steps of:

determining the application title and pointer location at which the defined display pointer is located;

storing the title and pointer location in a pointer context table according to one of a plurality of pointer identifying characters.

26. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein the display of the identifying alphanumeric character is recalled when the user returns to a closed window having one or more previously identified anchored pointers.

27. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the step of associating includes fixing the anchored pointer on a graphical user interface symbol indicative of the user actions.

28. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the user actions include display pointer button actuations.

29. A computer system having:

a host processor;

a display device;

an operating system that permits applications to be opened and represented on the display device, permits a system user to define and identify multiple display pointers on the display device that can be moved about in the displayed applications, and permits one of the display pointers to be designated an active pointer;

at least one pointer control device that controls movement of the display pointers and that includes a control button that can be actuated on a display feature after a display pointer is moved to the designated display feature;

a display driver that permits a computer system user to define and identify multiple display pointers on the display device that can be moved about in the displayed applications by a pointer control device and for permitting one of the display pointers to be designated an active pointer; and

graphical interface control means for associating each display pointer with a pointer context comprising a particular application title and location of the display pointer within that application and recalling the pointer context when the user returns to the active application for which there are one or more previously defined display pointers;

wherein the operating system associates each display pointer with a pointer context comprising a particular application title and location of the display pointer within that application; and

wherein the operating system permits a computer system user to define at least one of the multiple pointers to be an anchored pointer that remains fixed in its respective location as the user opens and closes applications, associates each anchored pointer with one or more user actions in addition to a pointer context, and permits the user to select an anchored pointer such that the user actions associated with the selected anchored pointer are automatically executed.

30. A computer system as defined in claim 29, wherein the system responds to a user selection of an anchored pointer by executing the user action associated with the anchored pointer.

31. A computer system as defined in claim 29, wherein the system accepts a user-selected alphanumeric character to define an anchored pointer and displays the alphanumeric character in close proximity to the associated anchored pointer on the display screen.

32. A computer system as defined in claim 31, wherein the display of the identifying alphanumeric character is recalled when the user returns to an active application for which there are one or more previously identified anchored pointers.

33. A computer system as defined in claim 32, wherein the system associates a display pointer with a pointer context by determining the application title and pointer location in which the display pointer is located and storing the title and location of the display pointer, along with one or more user actions if the display pointer is an anchored pointer, in a pointer context table addressed by the identifying alphanumeric character of the display pointer.

34. A computer system as defined in claim 33, wherein the system responds to the user specifying a pointer identifying alphanumeric character by determining if the specified identifying alphanumeric character relates to an anchored pointer and switching from a current pointer context to the pointer context specified by the pointer identifying alphanumeric character, and executing any user actions if the identifying alphanumeric character is associated with an anchored pointer.

35. A computer system as defined in claim 33, wherein the system determines if the character relates to an anchored pointer by checking the pointer context table associated with the character to determine if it contains an entry indicating a user action.

36. A computer system as defined in claim 29, wherein the operating system associates an anchored pointer by fixing the anchored pointer on a graphical user interface symbol indicative of the user actions.

37. A computer system as defined in claim 36, wherein the user actions executed by the system include display pointer button actuations.

38. A pointer control system for use in a computer system having a host processor, a display device, and an operating system that permits applications to be opened and represented on the display device, the pointer control system comprising:

display driver means for permitting a computer system user to define and identify multiple display pointers on the display device that can be moved about in the displayed applications by a pointer control device and for permitting one of the display pointers to be designated an active pointer; and

graphical interface control means for associating each display pointer with a pointer context comprising a particular application title and location of the display pointer within that application and recalling the pointer context when the user returns to the active application for which there are one or more previously defined display pointers;

wherein the operating system associates each display pointer with a pointer context comprising a particular application title and location of the display pointer within that application; and

wherein the graphical interface control means permits a pointer control system user to define at least one of the multiple display pointers to be an anchored pointer that remains fixed in its respective location as the user opens and closes applications, associates each defined anchored pointer with one or more user actions in addition to a pointer context, and permits the user to select a defined anchored pointer such that the associated user action is automatically executed.

39. A pointer control system as defined in claim 38, wherein the system responds to a user selection of a deemed anchored pointer by executing the user action associated with the anchored pointer.

40. A pointer control system as defined in claim 38, wherein the system accepts a user-designated alphanumeric character to define and identify an anchored pointer and displays the alphanumeric character in close proximity to the associated anchored pointer on the display screen.

41. A pointer control system as defined in claim 40, wherein the graphical interface control means recalls the display of the identifying alphanumeric character when the user returns to an active application for which there are one or more previously identified anchored pointers.

42. A pointer control system as defined in claim 41, wherein the graphical interface control means associates a display pointer with a pointer context by determining the application title and pointer location in which the display pointer is located and storing the title and location of the display pointer, along with one or more user actions if the display pointer is an anchored pointer, in a pointer context table addressed by the identifying alphanumeric character of the display pointer.

43. A pointer control system as defined in claim 42, wherein the graphical interface control means responds to the user specifying an identifying alphanumeric character by determining if the specified identifying alphanumeric character relates to an anchored pointer and switching from a current pointer context to the pointer context specified by the identifying alphanumeric character, and executing any user actions if the identifying alphanumeric character is associated with an anchored pointer.

44. A pointer control system as defined in claim 43, wherein the graphical interface control means determines if the character relates to an anchored pointer by checking the pointer context table associated with the character to determine if it contains an entry indicating a user action.

45. A pointer control system as defined in claim 38, wherein the operating system associates an anchored pointer by fixing the anchored pointer on a graphical user interface symbol indicative of the user actions.

46. A pointer control system as defined in claim 45, wherein the user actions executed by the system include display pointer button actuations.

47. A method of providing multiple display pointers for a computer system having a host processor, a display device, and at least one pointer control device that can be actuated when a display pointer is located on a designated display feature in an application to execute the designated feature, the method comprising the steps of:

permitting a computer system user to define and identify multiple anchored display pointers that remain fixed in their respective locations as the user opens and closes applications;

associating each anchored pointer with one or more user actions; and

permitting the computer system user to select an anchored pointer such that the user actions associated with the selected anchored pointer are automatically executed.

48. A method as defined in claim 47, wherein the step of permitting a user to define an anchored pointer comprises:

identifying the anchored pointer with a single alphanumeric character; and

displaying the alphanumeric character in close proximity to the associated anchored pointer on the display screen.

49. A method as defined in claim 48, wherein the display of the identifying alphanumeric character is recalled when the user returns to an application for which there are one or more previously identified anchored pointers.

50. A method as defined in claim 49, wherein the step of associating an anchored pointer with a pointer context comprises the steps of:

determining the application or document title and pointer location at which the defined anchored pointer is located; and

storing the title and pointer location of the anchored pointer, along with one or more user actions, in a pointer context table addressed by the identifying alphanumeric character of the anchored pointer.

51. A method as defined in claim 50, further including the steps of:

permitting the user to switch from a current pointer context to a different pointer context by specifying a pointer identifying alphanumeric character;

determining if the specified identifying alphanumeric character relates to an anchored pointer; and

executing any user actions if the identifying alphanumeric character is associated with an anchored pointer.

52. A method as defined in claim 51, wherein the step of determining if a character relates to an anchored pointer comprises checking the pointer context table associated with the character to determine if it contains an entry indicating a user action.

53. A method as defined in claim 47, wherein the step of associating includes fixing the anchored pointer on a graphical user interface symbol indicative of the user action.

54. A method as defined in claim 53, wherein the user actions include display pointer button actuations.