Computer system, program product and method utilizing in-focus switch delay for user interface components

• US 6,184,883 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Day, Paul Reuben, Bates, Cary Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/040,637
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 345/113, 345/114, 345/115, 345/340, 345/341, 345/342, 345/343, 345/344, 345/345, 345/145, 345/157, 345/160, 345/161, 345/162, 345/163
• US Class Current: 715/794
• 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

Abstract

A computer system, program product and method implement a time delay in an in-focus switch operation to minimize inadvertent switching between user interface components such as windows and the like. More specifically, in response to user input to move a pointer from the display region of a first user interface component to the display region of a second user interface component, the second user interface component is promoted to a higher layer than the first user interface component so long as no user input to move the pointer back to the display region of the first user interface component is received within a predetermined period of time. As a result, when a user inadvertently moves the pointer from the display region of the first user interface component to that of the second user interface component, the in-focus switch operation is delayed to permit the user to cancel the in-focus switch operation if so desired by moving the pointer back within the display region of the first user interface component prior to expiration of the predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a plurality of user interface components on a computer system, the method comprising:

(a) displaying on a computer display a plurality of user interface components disposed in a plurality of layers, each user interface component including a display region defined by a display boundary thereof;

(b) orienting a first user interface component from the plurality of user interface components in a top layer of the plurality of overlapping layers when a user-actuated pointer is disposed within the display region of the first user interface component, including displaying the first user interface component as appearing to overlap a second user interface component from the plurality of user interface components; and

(c) in response to user input to move the pointer from the display region of the first user interface component to the display region of the second user interface component, promoting the second user interface component to a higher layer than the first user interface component so long as no user input to move the pointer back to the display region of the first user interface component is received within a predetermined period of time, said predetermined period of time being a calculated switch delay value, said switch delay value being calculated by

(i) determining a distance from a current location of the pointer to the display boundary of the first user interface component; and

(ii) calculating the switch delay value as a function of the distance from the current location of the pointer to the display boundary of the first user interface component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the switch delay value as a function of the distance from the current location of the pointer to the display boundary of the first user interface component uses the equation:

3. A computer system, comprising:

(a) a computer display; and

(b) a processor, coupled to the computer display, the processor configured to (1) display on the computer display a plurality of user interface components disposed in a plurality of layers, each user interface component including a display region defined by a display boundary thereof;

(2) to orient a first user interface component from the plurality of user interface components in a top layer of the plurality of overlapping layers when a user-actuated pointer is disposed within the display region of the first user interface component;

(3) to display the first user interface component as appearing to overlap a second user interface component from the plurality of user interface components; and

, (4) in response to user input to move the pointer from the display region of the first user interface component to the display region of the second user interface component, to promote the second user interface component to a higher layer than the first user interface component so long as no user input to move the pointer back to the display region of the first user interface component is received within a predetermined period of time, said predetermined period of time being a calculated switch delay value, said switch delay value being calculated by determining a distance from a current location of the pointer to the display boundary of the first user interface component and by calculating the switch delay value as a function of the distance from the current location of the pointer to the display boundary of the first user interface component.