Method and apparatus for enhancing computer-user selection of computer-displayed objects through dynamic selection area and constant visual feedback
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- determining which of a plurality of computer-displayed objects is closest to a computer user controlled cursor; and
enabling said closest computer-displayed object to be selected by said computer user without regard to whether said cursor is within a predetermined distance of said closest computer displayed object.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for enhancing computer-user selection of computer-displayed objects reduces required cursor travel distance to an object by increasing the effective object selection area without enlarging the displayed size of either the object symbology or cursor. This is done through the constant computation of a "selectable" cursor target, which is the object closest to the current cursor position on a computer-display. The distance to all display symbols is computed in real-time as a cursor is moved. The system identifies the "selectable" object by providing a visual indication to the computer-user of the closest object to the cursor before a computer-user selection action is made. A computer-user selection confirmation action, such as the depressing of a mouse switch, erases the "selectable" object identifier and displays a visual indication that the object is a "selected" object. Object selection speed and accuracy is improved by the application of the invention.
-
Citations
52 Claims
-
1. A method comprising the steps of:
-
determining which of a plurality of computer-displayed objects is closest to a computer user controlled cursor; and enabling said closest computer-displayed object to be selected by said computer user without regard to whether said cursor is within a predetermined distance of said closest computer displayed object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An apparatus for categorizing computer-displayed objects comprising:
-
means for determining which computer-displayed object is closest to a user-controlled displayed cursor; and means for enabling said closest computer-displayed object to be selected by said computer user without regard to whether said cursor is within a predetermined distance of said closest computer displayed object. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for facilitating computer-user selection of one of a plurality of computer-displayed objects comprising the steps of:
-
determining which of said plurality of computer-displayed objects is closest to a user-controlled cursor; marking said closest computer-displayed object to visually distinguish it from other computer-displayed objects; and enabling said closest computer-displayed object to be selected by said computer-user without regard to whether said cursor is within a predetermined distance from said closest computer-displayed object.
-
-
21. A method for facilitating computer-user selection of computer-displayed objects comprising the steps of:
-
determining which computer-displayed object is closest to a user-controlled cursor; marking said closest computer-displayed object to visually signify that said closest computer-displayed object is selectable by said computer-user; and enabling said closest computer-displayed object to be selected by said computer-user without regard to whether said cursor is within a predetermined distance from said closest computer-displayed object through the action of switching a selection switch. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
-
-
24. An apparatus for easing computer-user selection of computer-displayed objects comprising:
-
means for determining which computer-displayed object is closest to a user-controlled displayed cursor; means for visually distinguishing the closest computer-displayed object from other computer-displayed objects; and means for making said closest computer-displayed object eligible for selection by said computer-user without regard to whether said cursor is within a predetermined distance of said closest computer-displayed object. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
-
-
27. A method in which placement of a user-controlled cursor within an object selection area coupled with a selection action by said user will select a computer-displayed object within said object selection area, said method comprising the steps of:
-
determining which of a plurality of computer-displayed objects is closest to said computer user controlled cursor; and defining said object selection area based upon the distance of said closest computer-displayed object with respect to other computer-displayed objects of said plurality of computer-displayed objects. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. An apparatus in which placement of a user-controlled cursor within an object selection area coupled with a selection action by said user will select a computer-displayed object within said object selection area, said apparatus comprising:
-
means for determining which of a plurality of computer-displayed objects is closest to said computer user controlled cursor; and means for defining said object selection area based upon the distance of said closest computer-displayed object with respect to other computer-displayed objects of said plurality of computer-displayed objects. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40)
-
-
37. A method comprising the steps of:
-
determining which object of a plurality of objects appearing on a computer display is closest to a computer cursor; and enabling said object to be selected without regard to whether said object is within a predetermined distance from said cursor. - View Dependent Claims (39)
-
-
41. An apparatus comprising:
-
means for determining which object of a plurality of objects appearing on a computer display is closest to a computer cursor; and means for enabling said object to be selected without regard to whether said object is within a predetermined distance from said cursor. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
-
-
44. A method comprising the steps of:
-
determining the distance between graphic objects appearing on a display screen and a cursor appearing on said display screen without regard to whether said objects are within a predetermined distance from said cursor; and visually distinguishing a graphic object determined to have the least distance from said cursor. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
-
-
52. An apparatus comprising:
-
means for determining the distance between graphic objects appearing on a display screen and a cursor appearing on said display screen without regard to whether said objects are within a predetermined distance from said cursor; and means for visually distinguishing a graphic object determined to have the least distance from said cursor.
-
Specification