Commands functions invoked from movement of a control input device
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the operation of a computer system using a pointing device, the computer system including a keyboard having a plurality of keys, a display for displaying visual information, a processor to generate and manage the visual information, and a storage medium, the pointing device being coupled to the computer system and including means for generating movement information to effect the movement of a cursor to any of a plurality of cursor positions at different coordinates on the display, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) storing in the storage medium a representation of the pointing device movement information indicative of a cursor trajectory caused by movement of the pointing device;
(b) calculating a cursor-heading, time variation-profile from the stored representation of the pointing device movement information; and
(c) comparing the cursor-heading, time variation-profile with a pre-defined characteristic cursor-heading, time variation-profile and controlling said computer system to execute a predetermined command when the cursor-heading, time variation-profile substantially matches the pre-defined characteristic cursor-heading, time variation-profile.
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Abstract
A method for expanding the command capabilities of pointing devices based on periodically sampling a cursor'"'"'s position on a display device and analyzing the time-variation of a cursor-heading signal obtained from said samples. Upon detecting characteristic cursor-heading time-variation profiles in the cursor trajectory, commands signals are generated so that moving the cursor along particular trajectories is equivalent to activating virtual-buttons of said pointing device. A plurality of applications of the invention and a variety of embodiments are discussed.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for controlling the operation of a computer system using a pointing device, the computer system including a keyboard having a plurality of keys, a display for displaying visual information, a processor to generate and manage the visual information, and a storage medium, the pointing device being coupled to the computer system and including means for generating movement information to effect the movement of a cursor to any of a plurality of cursor positions at different coordinates on the display, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing in the storage medium a representation of the pointing device movement information indicative of a cursor trajectory caused by movement of the pointing device; (b) calculating a cursor-heading, time variation-profile from the stored representation of the pointing device movement information; and (c) comparing the cursor-heading, time variation-profile with a pre-defined characteristic cursor-heading, time variation-profile and controlling said computer system to execute a predetermined command when the cursor-heading, time variation-profile substantially matches the pre-defined characteristic cursor-heading, time variation-profile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling operation of a computer system by an operator using a pointing device, said computer system including a keyboard, a display means for displaying visual information to said operator, processing means for generating and managing said visual information, memory means for storing temporary data and at least one program running in said computer, and real-time clock means for providing synchronizing signals to said programs, said pointing device including means for generating movement information for moving a cursor to any of a plurality of cursor positions on said display means for pointing to information entities displayed thereon, binary control means for generating binary control information, and communication means for transmitting said movement information and said binary control information to said computer system, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) moving said cursor on said display means using said pointing device, said cursor defining cursor trajectories having at least one curved portion so that a cursor-heading, time signal obtained from any of said cursor trajectories varies along said cursor trajectories; (b) sampling periodically said cursor positions and obtaining corresponding cursor-heading, time variation-profiles thereof; and (c) causing the computer system to execute specific commands when at least one of said cursor-heading, time variation-profiles obtained in step (b) is sufficiently similar to one of a plurality of pre-defined characteristic cursor-heading, time variation-profiles. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A mouse driver arrangement for controlling a pointing device connected to a computer system, said mouse driver arrangement including means for acquiring position information generated by said pointing device for moving a cursor to a plurality of positions on a display system connected to said computer system, means for acquiring binary control information generated by binary control means disposed on said pointing device for triggering program commands, and means for transmitting said position information and said binary control information to an operating system running in said computer system, said mouse driver arrangement further comprising:
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means for periodically sampling said cursor positions and generating a cursor-heading, time signal thereof; means for matching said cursor-heading, time signal to a plurality of characteristic cursor-heading, time variation-profiles; and means for generating strobe-signals when said cursor-heading, time signal is substantially similar to at least one of said characteristic cursor-heading, time variation-profiles so that said strobe-signals behave as virtual-button signals for triggering specific program commands. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification