Method for providing maximum screen real estate in computer controlled display systems during software application navigation

• US 5,790,122 A
• Filed: 11/15/1994
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Libera Inc
• Inventors: Cecchini, Albert B. P., Woodard, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matthew M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/339,837
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-161, 395/357, 395/350, 395/347, 395/333, 395/334, 395/341, 395/342, 395/973, 345/145-146, 345/121, 345/123, 345/357, 345/350, 345/347, 345/333, 345/334, 345/341, 345/342, 345/973
• US Class Current: 715/854
• 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 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor

Abstract

A method for maximizing the amount of screen display real estate without sacrificing the user'"'"'s ability to navigate through graphic and other data. The CPU is capable of accessing and executing a computer program which includes a first event handler including events, each of which is selectively paired with a different set of screen coordinates, the set of screen coordinates comprising a first hot spot file. A user moves a pointer around on the screen display by using a pointer control device. The position of the pointer is monitored by the first event handler, which then determines whether the position of the pointer corresponds to a set of screen coordinates in the first hot spot file which, in turn, corresponds to an event, most preferably, the display of a navigation tool. The CPU executes the first event handler thereby causing a navigation tool to appear on the screen display, but only when the position of the pointer corresponds to a set of screen coordinates in the main event table paired with a pre-selected event, most preferably a navigation tool displaying event which launches the navigation tool. Then and only then is the screen display encumbered by the presence of the navigation tool. In accordance with the invention, it is not necessary to press a mouse button to initiate a navigation event.

Claims

1. In a computer controlled display system comprising a display device responsive to a central processing unit (CPU) for displaying data, a method of maximizing display real estate on a display screen of said display device comprising the steps of:

said CPU retrieving and displaying said data on said display screen;

a user moving a pointer over at least a portion of said data on said display screen using a pointer control device coupled to said CPU;

said CPU monitoring a coordinate position of said pointer as said user moves said pointer over said data on said display screen;

said CPU determining whether the coordinate position of said pointer on said display corresponds to a predetermined area on said display screen and, if so, automatically activating a previously hidden navigation display event on said display screen without any event selection by said user, whereby said user may navigate said data using raid pointer to interact with said navigation display event, once activated, so long as said CPU determines that said pointer remains located over said predetermined area on said display screen; and

automatically deactivating said navigation display event when said pointer is removed from said predetermined area on said display screen without any event selection by said user.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said predetermined area is a display "hot spot" on said display screen.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said predetermined area is a display icon on said display screen.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said navigation display event displays a navigation event which permits the user to navigate said data on said display screen in response to user selection using said pointer control device.

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

said user positioning said pointer over a functional portion of said navigation event indicating a type of navigation of said data desired by said user; and

said user selecting said type of navigation of said data by said navigation event by depressing a select button on said pointer control device when said pointer is positioned over said functional portion of said navigation event.

6. A method as in claim 4, comprising the further step of modifying properties of at least one of said navigation display event and said navigation event.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the properties of said navigation display event include at least one of:

the presence of a time delay before the activation of said navigation event, a duration of said time delay, activation or deactivation of a display icon to indicate the launch of said navigation event, a type of icon used as an indicator of the launch of said navigation event, and a manner in which said navigation event is activated by the user.

8. A method as in claim 6, wherein the properties of said navigation event include at least one of:

type of navigation too, screen position of said navigation tool, size, shape, and color of said navigation tool, and whether said navigation tool is visible or invisible.

9. A computer controlled display system comprising:

a display device having a display screen;

a pointer control device which permits a user to move a pointer over at least a portion of said data on said display screen; and

a central processing unit (CPU) which processes display software which retrieves and displays data on said display screen, monitoring software which monitors a coordinate position of said pointer on said display screen as said user moves said pointer over said data on said display screen, and event handler software including a main event table including a navigation display event which is paired with a predetermined area on said display screen, said event handler software determining whether the coordinate position of said pointer on said display determined by said monitoring software corresponds to said predetermined area on said display screen and, if so, automatically activating said navigation display event paired with said predetermined area without any event selection by said user, whereby said user may navigate said data using said pointer to interact with said navigation display event, once activated, so long as said event handler software determines that said pointer remains located over said predetermined area on said display screen, said event handler software further automatically deactivating said navigation display event when said pointer is removed from said predetermined area on said display screen without any event selection by said user.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein said predetermined area is a display "hot spot" on said display screen.

11. A system as in claim 9, wherein said predetermined area is a display icon on said display screen.

12. A system as in claim 9, wherein said navigation display event displays a navigation event which permits the user to navigate said data on said display screen in response to user selection using said pointer control device.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said navigation event includes a navigation activation event handler including a navigation activation event table which, in turn, includes a further navigation display event which is paired with a navigation tool indicating a type of navigation of said data desired by said user, said navigation tool navigating through said data in response to user depression of a select button on said pointer control device when said pointer is positioned over a functional portion of said navigation tool.

14. A system as in claim 13, wherein said navigation tool comprises a next page turn.

15. A system as in claim 13, wherein said navigation tool comprises a previous page turn.

16. A system as in claim 13, wherein said navigation tool comprises a jump page turn.

17. A system as in claim 13, wherein said navigation tool comprises a dial.

18. A system as in claim 13, wherein said navigation tool comprises a gauge.

19. A system as in claim 13, wherein said navigation tool comprises an icon.

20. A system as in claim 13, wherein said navigation activation event handler further includes a modifying event handler which modifies properties of at least one of said navigation display event and said navigation event.

21. A system as in claim 20, wherein the properties of said navigation display event include at least one of:

the presence of a time delay before the activation of said navigation event, a duration of said time delay, activation or deactivation of a display icon to indicate the launch of said navigation event, a type of icon used as an indicator of the launch of said navigation event, and a manner in which said navigation event is activated by the user.

22. A system as in claim 20, wherein the properties of said navigation event include at least one of:

type of navigation tool, screen position of said navigation tool, size, shape, and color of said navigation tool, and whether said navigation tool is visible or invisible.