Removing a cursor from over new content

• US 6,219,028 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1998
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Simonson, Howard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/136,873
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145, 345/146, 345/157, 345/156, 345/162, 345/163, 345/161, 345/167, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 715/862
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects

Abstract

Methods and apparatus implementing a technique for displaying content on a display device of a computer system and removing a cursor so it does not obscure the content as it is being displayed. In general, in one aspect, the technique includes identifying a cursor region occupied by the cursor on a display device screen, detecting collisions between new content and the cursor region, and removing the cursor from its position on the screen in response to collisions. As a result, the cursor does not obscure the new content on the screen.

Claims

1. In an apparatus of the kind having a user interface in which a cursor is displayed on a display screen and moved in response to actions of a user, a method of displaying content on the display screen, comprising:

identifying a cursor region corresponding to a region of the screen occupied by the cursor;

detecting a collision between the cursor region and a content region of the screen where new content is to be displayed, the content region covering less than the entire visible screen; and

removing the cursor from its position on the screen when a collision is detected, whereby the cursor does not obscure the new content on the screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the cursor region is larger than the cursor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

removing the cursor comprises moving the cursor to a different location, wherein the cursor remains visible on the screen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

removing the cursor comprises making the cursor invisible.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

removing the cursor comprises making the cursor invisible for a user-selected period of time or until the user acts to move the cursor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

returning the cursor to its original position after a period of time or in response to user activity or computer activity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

returning the cursor comprises returning the cursor to its original appearance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

removing the cursor comprises making the cursor appear as an outline.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

removing the cursor comprises clipping the cursor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the content is text.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input; and

removing the cursor in accordance with the user input.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a direction of the displaying of the content; and

wherein removing the cursor includes moving the cursor in a direction determined in reference to the direction of the displaying.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing the cursor to a region of the display screen having no content, wherein the cursor remains visible on the screen.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the cursor is not removed if the cursor has not been stationary for a user-selected period of time.

15. A computer system for displaying content on a display screen, where the computer system is of the kind having a user interface in which a cursor is displayed on the display screen and moved in response to actions of a user, the computer system comprising:

means for identifying a cursor region corresponding to a region of the screen occupied by the cursor;

means for detecting a collision between the cursor region and a content region of the screen where new content is to be displayed, the content region covering less than the entire visible screen; and

means for removing the cursor from its position on the screen when a collision is detected, whereby the cursor does not obscure the new content on the screen.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein:

removing the cursor comprises moving the cursor to a different location, wherein the cursor remains visible on the screen.

17. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for receiving a user input; and

means for removing the cursor in accordance with the user input.

18. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for removing the cursor to a region of the display screen having no content, wherein the cursor remains visible on the screen.

19. In an apparatus of the kind having a user interface in which a cursor is displayed on a display screen and moved in response to actions of a user, a computer program for displaying content on the display screen, the computer program including instructions to cause the computer system to:

identify a cursor region corresponding to a region of the screen occupied by the cursor;

detect a collision between the cursor region and a region of the screen where new content is to be displayed, the content region covering less than the entire visible screen; and

remove the cursor from its position on the screen when a collision is detected, whereby the cursor does not obscure the new content on the screen.

20. The computer program of claim 19, wherein:

removing the cursor comprises moving the cursor to a different location, wherein the cursor remains visible on the screen.

21. The computer program of claim 19, further including instructions to cause the computer system to:

receive a user input; and

remove the cursor in accordance with the user input.

22. The computer program of claim 19, further including instructions to cause the computer system to:

remove the cursor to a region of the display screen having no content, wherein the cursor remains visible on the screen.