Breakaway and re-grow touchscreen pointing device

• US 5,872,559 A
• Filed: 10/04/1996
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shieh, Johnny Meng-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US08/726,457
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/159, 345/160, 345/163, 345/173, 345/174, 345/179, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/19.04, 178/19.05, 178/19.01
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and memory direct a computer system, having at least a touchscreen, to breakaway and re-grow one or more portions of a virtual pointing device. The method includes displaying a virtual pointing device on the touchscreen. The method also includes, in response to detecting at least one finger or stylus placed on at least a first portion of the virtual pointing device, breaking away only the first portion of the virtual pointing device in accordance with movement of the finger or stylus along the touchscreen, wherein at least a first function is associated with the first portion. The method finally includes re-growing a new portion to the virtual pointing device in place of the first portion.

Claims

1. A method for directing a computer system, having at least a touchscreen, to breakaway and re-grow at least a portion of a virtual pointing device, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a virtual pointing device on the touchscreen;

(b) in response to detecting at least one finger or stylus placed on at least a first portion of the virtual pointing device, breaking away only the first portion of the virtual pointing device in accordance with movement of the finger or stylus along the touchscreen, wherein at least a first function is associated with the first portion; and

(c) re-growing a new portion to the virtual pointing device in place of the first portion.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the new portion has the first function associated therewith.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

creating a first cursor that moves in accordance with the virtual pointing device; and

creating a second cursor that moves in accordance with the first portion and finger or stylus.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises the step of:

detecting sound, heat, or pressure from the finger or stylus on the first portion.

5. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

in response to detecting at least one finger or stylus placed on a second portion of the virtual pointing device, breaking away only the second portion of the virtual pointing device in accordance with movement of the finger or stylus along the touchscreen, wherein at least a second function is associated with the second portion;

creating a third cursor that moves in accordance with the second portion and finger or stylus; and

re-growing a new portion to the virtual pointing device in place of the second portion.

6. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of:

in response to activating the first portion with the finger or stylus, invoking the first function on at least one object positioned under the second cursor.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of:

in response to invoking least the objection on at least the object positioned under the second cursor, deleting the first portion.

8. The method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of:

in response to activating the second portion with the finger or stylus, invoking the second function on at least one object positioned under the third cursor; and

deleting the second portion.

9. A computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, for breaking away at least a portion of a virtual pointing device, comprising:

means for displaying a virtual pointing device on the touchscreen, wherein a first cursor is associated with the virtual pointing device;

means for, in response to detecting at least one finger or stylus placed on at least a first portion of the virtual pointing device, breaking away only the first portion of the virtual pointing device in accordance with movement of the finger or stylus along the touchscreen, wherein at least a first function is associated with the first portion; and

means for re-growing a new portion to the virtual pointing device in place of the first portion, wherein the new portion has the first function associated therewith.

10. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, the computer readable program code means in the article of manufacture comprising;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer system, having at least a touchscreen, to breakaway at least a portion of a virtual pointing device;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer system to display a virtual pointing device on the touchscreen, wherein a first cursor is associated with the virtual pointing device;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer system to, in response to detecting at least one finger or stylus placed on at least a first portion of the virtual pointing device, break away only the first portion of the virtual pointing device in accordance with movement of the finger or stylus along the touchscreen, wherein at least a first function is associated with the first portion; and

computer readable program code means for causing the computer system to re-grow a new portion to the virtual pointing device in place of the first portion.