Method and apparatus for cursor positioning
First Claim
1. A cursor-positioning method, comprising the steps of:
- creating a cursor-position object for a cursor displayed on a monitor of a computer system by use of a cursor driver coupled to a memory of said computer system;
activating a position-selection mode; and
positioning a cursor proximate to said cursor-position object after activation of said position-selection mode.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cursor positioning system for use with computer systems employing relative-pointing devices (e.g., trackballs or mice) for cursor positioning functions. The cursor positioning system employs a cursor driver, stored in a memory of the computer system and responsive to cursor positioning signals from the relative-pointing device, to enable fast and accurate cursor positioning to specific, predefined locations. The cursor driver responds to user-actuated signals, such as "clicks" or keystrokes to record cursor position objects at particular cursor locations. Thereafter, during cursor position selection mode, initiated by a keystroke or relative-pointing device signal, the cursor'"'"'s position is moved from position object to position object. The preferred embodiment also provides for recording of bias objects, typically the same as the position objects, to attract the cursor'"'"'s location towards them. This attraction reduces undershoot and overshoot of the cursor. Additionally, autoconfiguration of the cursor position/bias objects results from monitoring for prespecified actions from the user, such as "click"-events, and recording that position when the number of clicks at that location exceed a particular threshold. Subsequent use or non-use of that position can increase that objects weighting for bias influence effects. The cursor positioning system provides consistent cursor positioning tools, for all applications, and permits addition of new cursor tools to applications and the operating without modification of the applications.
38 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A cursor-positioning method, comprising the steps of:
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creating a cursor-position object for a cursor displayed on a monitor of a computer system by use of a cursor driver coupled to a memory of said computer system; activating a position-selection mode; and positioning a cursor proximate to said cursor-position object after activation of said position-selection mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A cursor positioning system, comprising:
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a computer having a memory, a display and a processor; a relative-pointing device, coupled to said computer, for producing cursor positioning signals to position a cursor presented by said display; and programming means, coupled to said memory and responsive to said cursor positioning signals, for instructing said processor to; create a cursor-position object to said memory by use of a cursor driver coupled to said memory; monitor for an activation of a position-selection mode; and present said cursor proximate said cursor-position object after activation of said position-selection mode. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for controlling a position of a cursor presented on a monitor of a computer system by a cursor driver, the computer system further including a memory, and a relative-pointing device coupled to the computer system for producing cursor positioning signals, comprising the steps of:
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creating a cursor-position object to the memory by use of the cursor driver coupled to the memory; monitoring for an activation of a position-selection mode; identifying, using cursor positioning signals received during said position-selection mode, said cursor-position object; and positioning the cursor at said identified cursor-position object.
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10. A method for controlling a position of a cursor presented on a monitor of a computer system, the computer system further including a memory, and a relative-pointing device coupled to the computer system for producing cursor positioning signals, comprising the steps of:
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creating a plurality of cursor-position objects to the memory by use of a cursor driver coupled to the memory; monitoring for an activation of a position-selection mode; identifying, using the cursor positioning signals received during said position-selection mode, a particular one of said plurality of cursor-position objects; and positioning the cursor at said particular one cursor-position object. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A cursor positioning system for a computer system, comprising:
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a relative-pointing device, coupled to the computer system, for producing cursor positioning signals responsive to a user-initiated manipulation of the said relative-pointing device; means, coupled said computer system, for initiating a cursor-position object definition mode; means, coupled to said computer system, for initiating a cursor-position object selection mode; and a cursor driver, coupled to a memory of the computer system to position a cursor presented on a display of the computer system responsive to said cursor positioning signals and coupled to said relative-pointing device, said cursor driver responsive to cursor positioning signals received during said position object definition mode to create a cursor-position object, at a particular cursor position, to said memory upon detection of a user-initiated signal, and said cursor driver responsive to cursor positioning signals received during said position object selection mode to position said cursor to said particular cursor position by use of said recorded cursor-position object.
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13. A method for controlling a position of a cursor presented on a monitor of a computer system further including a memory and a relative-pointing device for producing cursor positioning signals, comprising the steps of:
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recording a cursor bias object to the memory by use of a cursor driver coupled to the memory; and biasing the position of the cursor relative said cursor bias object during positioning of the cursor by the relative-pointing device. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for controlling a position of a cursor presented on a monitor of a computer system further including a memory and a relative-pointing device for producing cursor positioning signals, comprising the steps of:
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recording a plurality of cursor bias objects to the memory by use of a cursor driver coupled to the memory; and biasing the position of the cursor toward a net bias effect of said plurality of cursor bias objects during positioning of the cursor by the relative-pointing device.
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16. A cursor positioning system for a computer system, comprising:
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a relative-pointing device, coupled to the computer system, for producing cursor positioning signals responsive to a user-initiated manipulation of the said relative-pointing device; means, coupled said computer system, for initiating a cursor bias object definition mode; and a cursor driver, coupled to a memory of the computer system to position a cursor presented on a display of the computer system responsive to said cursor positioning signals and coupled to said relative-pointing device, said cursor driver responsive to cursor positioning signals received during said bias object definition mode to record a cursor bias object, at a particular cursor position, to said memory upon detection of a user-initiated signal, and said cursor driver responsive to subsequent cursor positioning signals to bias said cursor towards said particular cursor position.
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17. A cursor positioning system for a computer system, comprising:
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a relative-pointing device, coupled to the computer system, for producing cursor positioning signals responsive to a user-initiated manipulation of the said relative-pointing device; and a cursor driver, coupled to a memory of the computer system to position a cursor presented on a display of the computer system responsive to said cursor positioning signals and coupled to said relative-pointing device, said cursor driver including means, responsive to cursor positioning signals received during positioning of said cursor, to dynamically record cursor-position objects, at a plurality of particular cursor positions, to said memory upon detection of a prespecified user-initiated signals, and said cursor driver responsive to cursor positioning signals received during a position object selection mode implemented responsive to a user-initiated signal, to position said cursor to one of said particular cursor positions by use of a selected one of said recorded cursor-position objects.
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18. A cursor-positioning method, comprising the steps of:
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recording a cursor-position object for a cursor displayed on a monitor of a computer system by use of a cursor driver coupled to a processor of said computer system; positioning a cursor displayed on said monitor from a particular location to proximate said cursor-position object after activation of a position-selection mode; and defining automatically, by use of said cursor driver, a second cursor-position object at said particular location. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A cursor-positioning method, comprising the steps of:
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defining dynamically a cursor-position object for a cursor displayed on a monitor of a computer system through use of a cursor driver coupled to a processor of said computer system, responsive to signals from a relative-pointing device coupled to said computer system; and positioning a cursor proximate to said cursor position object after activation of a position selection mode.
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21. A cursor-positioning method, comprising the steps of:
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defining dynamically a cursor-bias object for a cursor displayed on a monitor of a computer system through use of a cursor driver coupled to a processor of said computer system, wherein said defining step is responsive to signals from a relative-pointing device coupled to said computer system; and biasing a cursor relative to said cursor bias object during movement of said cursor responsive to signals from said relative pointing device. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A computer-implemented method for biasing a position of a cursor presented on a display of a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor and a relative pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating a biasing target at a first location of the display; issuing a plurality of cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device that would position the cursor to a second location on the display wherein said second location is different from said first location; and modifying said cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device as they are issued, so the cursor position is shifted away from said second location in response to said biasing target. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer-implemented method for biasing a position of a cursor presented on a display of a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor and a relative pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating a biasing object at a first location of the display; issuing a plurality of cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device that would position the cursor to a second location on the display wherein said second particular location is different from said first location; and modifying said cursor positioning signals from the relative pointing device while the relative pointing device is operated, wherein the cursor position is shifted away from said second location in response to said biasing object. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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30. A method for positioning a cursor presented at a first location on a display of a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor and a relative-pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:
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translating, using a cursor driver stored in a memory coupled to the processor and to the relative-pointing device, a cursor positioning signal received from the relative-pointing device into a cursor locate signal; and
thereafterdisplaying the cursor at a second location on the display identified by said cursor locate signal, wherein said translating step further comprises the steps of; determining whether a user of the computer system has activated a jump mode of the cursor driver;
thereafterselecting, when said jump mode is activated, a cursor target location from a plurality of cursor target locations stored in said memory by said cursor driver, said cursor driver creating a target region from said cursor positioning signal received while said jump mode is activated said cursor driver identifying a set of cursor target locations within said target region, and said cursor driver choosing one of said set of cursor target locations within said target region as said cursor target location; and
thereaftergenerating said cursor locate signal from said cursor target location when said jump mode is activated.
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31. A method for biasing a cursor presented at a first location on a display of a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor and a relative-pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:
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translating, using a cursor driver stored in a memory coupled to the processor and to the relative-pointing device, a cursor positioning signal received from the relative-pointing device into a cursor locate signal; and
thereafterdisplaying the cursor on the display identified by said cursor locate signal, wherein said translating step further comprises the step of; altering, using said cursor driver, said cursor locate signal from locating the cursor at a second location identified by said cursor positioning signal to a third location, said cursor driver determining said third location responsive to a proximity of said second location to a biasing target and responsive to a weighting factor of said biasing target. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification