Computer graphical user interface method and system for supporting multiple two-dimensional movement inputs
First Claim
1. A method for providing a user interface with a graphical user interface (GUI) computer system, the GUI computer system including first and second user input mechanisms, which produce respective first and second directional movement signals, the GUI computer system further including means for simultaneously displaying first and second movable displayed symbols, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving the first and second directional movement signals for allowing a user to direct two-dimensional movements of respective ones of the first and second displayed symbols;
multiplexing the first and second directional movement signals to produce a user input command signal;
receiving the user input command signal;
resolving the first and second signals from the user input command signal;
operating the first displayed symbol based on the first signal; and
operating the second displayed symbol based on the second signal,wherein, upon actuation of any of said first and second user input mechanisms, a GUI display window is opened, said window, at any given time, applying to one of said first and second user input mechanisms, such that said window identifies to which of said first and second user input mechanisms the window currently applies.said window allowing switching from said one of said first and second user input mechanisms to the other of said first and second user input mechanisms.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system are disclosed, for providing a user interface with a graphical user interface (GUI) computer system. The method comprising the steps of receiving a user input command signal, the signal including first and second signals, representative of movements of respective first and second user input mechanisms for two-dimensional movements, resolving the first and second signals from the user input command signal, operating a first displayed symbol based on the first signal, and operating a second displayed symbol based on the second signal. The invention is advantageously practiced in an environment in which the user has a plurality of two-dimensional movement input devices, such as a mouse having a joystick-type pointing device as well as the surface contact ball on its underside. A system in accordance with the invention provides the user with many advantageous features, such as the ability to scroll, in the up/down and left/right directions, the content of an image partially displayed by an application window, to move forward/backward through a sequence of frames displayed by an application window, to move a cursor over the GUI display in the up/down and left/right directions, and to move a special function sub-window, such as a magnifier, over the GUI display in the up/down and left/right directions.
222 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for providing a user interface with a graphical user interface (GUI) computer system, the GUI computer system including first and second user input mechanisms, which produce respective first and second directional movement signals, the GUI computer system further including means for simultaneously displaying first and second movable displayed symbols, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving the first and second directional movement signals for allowing a user to direct two-dimensional movements of respective ones of the first and second displayed symbols; multiplexing the first and second directional movement signals to produce a user input command signal; receiving the user input command signal; resolving the first and second signals from the user input command signal; operating the first displayed symbol based on the first signal; and operating the second displayed symbol based on the second signal, wherein, upon actuation of any of said first and second user input mechanisms, a GUI display window is opened, said window, at any given time, applying to one of said first and second user input mechanisms, such that said window identifies to which of said first and second user input mechanisms the window currently applies. said window allowing switching from said one of said first and second user input mechanisms to the other of said first and second user input mechanisms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for providing a user interface with a graphical user interface (GUI) computer system, the GUI computer system including first and second user input mechanisms, which produce respective first and second directional movement signals, the GUI computer system further including means for simultaneously displaying first and second movable displayed symbols, the system comprising:
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means for receiving the first and second directional movement signals for allowing a user to direct two-dimensional movements of respective ones of the first and second displayed symbols; means for multiplexing the first and second directional movement signals to produce a user input command signal; means for receiving the user input command signal;
means for resolving the first and second signals from the user input command signal;means for operating the first displayed symbol based on the first signal; and means for operating the second displayed symbol based on the second signal, wherein, upon actuation of any of said first and second user input mechanisms, a GUI display window is opened, said window, at any given time, applying to one of said first and second user input mechanisms, such that said window identifies to which of said first and second user input mechanisms the window currently applies, said window allowing switching from said one of said first and second user input mechanisms to the other of said first and second user input mechanisms. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer program product, for use with a graphical user interface (GUI) computer system, for providing a user interface with the computer system, the computer system including first and second user input mechanisms, which produce respective first and second directional movement signals, the computer system further including means for simultaneously displaying first and second movable displayed symbols, the computer program product comprising:
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a computer readable medium; means, provided on the medium, for directing the computer system to receive the first and second directional movement signals for allowing a user to direct two-dimensional movements of respective ones of the first and second displayed symbols; means, provided on the medium, for directing the computer system to multiplex the first and second directional movement signals to produce a user input command signal; means, provided on the medium, for directing the computer system to receive the user input command signal; means, provided on the medium, for directing the computer system to resolve the first and second signals from the user input command signal; means, provided on the medium, for directing the computer system to operate the first displayed symbol based on the first signal; and means, provided on the medium, for directing the computer system to operate the second displayed symbol based on the second signal, wherein, upon actuation of any of said first and second user input mechanisms, a GUI display window is opened, said window, at any given time, applying to one of said first and second user input mechanisms, such that said window identifies to which of said first and second user input mechanisms the window currently applies, said window allowing switching from said one of said first and second user input mechanisms to the other of said first and second user input mechanisms. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification