Method and system for displaying a mouse pointer

• US 6,392,676 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yamada, Satoru, Shibata, Eiki, Ihde, Steven C., Mori, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, KENT WU
• Application Number:
  US09/522,285
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/856-862
• US Class Current: 715/861
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

A method and system for displaying a mouse pointer for use with a three-button mouse, whereby a user is notified that a button has been erroneously depressed. Detectors detect an external force applied to a third button. A mouse function determiner uses the detection results to determine a pertinent function allocated to the third button. A mouse pointer shape determiner, in turn, uses the determination results to determine a shape of a mouse pointer corresponding to the pertinent function. In response to the external force, the shape of the mouse pointer currently being displayed is changed. Thus, through visual feedback a user can be apprized of the fact that an external force has been applied to the third button. This will, in turn, notify the user when the wrong button has been depressed.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a mouse pointer for use with a three-button mouse having a left button, a right button and a third button, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting an external force applied to said third button;

determining a pertinent function allocated to said third button, based on the results of said detection, by searching a mouse function database;

determining a shape of said mouse pointer corresponding to said pertinent function, based on the determination of said pertinent function, by searching a mouse pointer shape database storing a plurality of data sets, each data set representing a prescribed relationship between said pertinent function allocated to said third button and said shape of said mouse pointer; and

varying a shape of said mouse pointer being displayed based on said determination of said shape of said mouse pointer.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said mouse function database stores a plurality of data sets in compliance with the condition of said external force, each data set representing a prescribed relationship between said external force applied to said third button and said pertinent function allocated to said third button.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said mouse pointer is displayed in at least two windows and said third button is disabled from functioning in one window of said at least two windows, said step of varying a shape of said mouse pointer further includes the step of varying a shape of said mouse pointer in said window wherein said third button being disabled from functioning.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of detecting the rotation of a ball provided at the bottom of said mouse, and wherein said step of determining a pertinent function is further based on said rotation of said ball.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said mouse function database stores a plurality of data sets in compliance with the condition of said external force and said rotation of said ball, each data set representing a prescribed relationship between said external force applied to said third button and said rotation of said ball, and said function allocated to said third button.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said external force is a depressing force applied to said third button.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said external force is a displacing force applied to said third button.

8. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable recording medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for displaying a mouse pointer for use with a three-button mouse having a left button, a right button and a third button, said computer executable instructions when executed, perform the steps of;

detecting an external force applied to said

third button;

determining a pertinent function allocated to said third button, based on the results of said detection, by searching a mouse function database;

determining a shape of said mouse pointer corresponding to said pertinent function, based on the determination of said pertinent function, by searching a database storing a plurality of data sets, each data set representing a prescribed relationship between said function allocated to said third button and said shape of said mouse pointer; and

varying a shape of said mouse pointer being displayed, in response to said external force, based on said determination of said shape of said mouse pointer.

9. The computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said mouse function database stores a plurality of data sets in compliance with the condition of said external force, each data set representing a prescribed relationship between said external force applied to said third button and said pertinent function allocated to said third button.

10. The computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein said mouse pointer is displayed in at least two windows and said third button is disabled from functioning in one window of said at least two windows, said step of varying a shape of said mouse pointer further includes the step of varying a shape of said mouse pointer in said window wherein said third button being disabled from functioning.

11. The computer program product as recited in claim 8, further including the step of detecting the rotation of a ball provided at the bottom of said mouse, and wherein said step of determining a pertinent function is further based on said rotation of said ball.

12. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, wherein said mouse function database stores a plurality of data sets in compliance with the condition of said external force and said rotation of said ball, each data set representing a prescribed relationship between said external force applied to said third button and said rotation of said ball, and said function allocated to said third button.

13. The computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said external force is a depressing force applied to said third button.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said external force is a displacing force applied to said third button.

15. A computer system comprising:

a CPU;

a main memory;

an external storage device;

a peripheral device;

a bus that interconnects said CPU, main memory, external storage device and peripheral device; and

means for displaying a mouse pointer for use with a three-button mouse having a left button, a right button and a third button, including;

means for detecting an external force applied to said third button;

means for determining a pertinent function allocated to said third button, based on the results of said detection, by searching a mouse function database;

means for determining a shape of said mouse pointer corresponding to said pertinent function, based on the determination of said pertinent function, by searching a mouse pointer shape database storing a plurality of data sets, each data set representing a prescribed relationship between said pertinent function allocated to said third button and said shape of said mouse pointer; and

means for varying a shape of said mouse pointer being displayed based on said determination of said shape of said mouse pointer.

16. The computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein said mouse function database stores a plurality of data sets in compliance with the condition of said external force, each data set representing a prescribed relationship between said external force applied to said third button and said pertinent function allocated to said third button.

17. The computer system as recited in claim 16, wherein said mouse pointer is displayed in at least two windows and said third button is disabled from functioning in one window of said at least two windows, said means for varying a shape of said mouse pointer further includes means for varying a shape of said mouse pointer in said window wherein said third button being disabled from functioning.

18. The computer system as recited in claim 15, further including means for detecting the rotation of a ball provided at the bottom of said mouse, and wherein said means for determining a pertinent function is further based on said rotation of said ball.

19. The computer system as recited in claim 18, wherein said mouse function database stores a plurality of data sets in compliance with the condition of said external force and said rotation of said ball, each data set representing a prescribed relationship between said external force applied to said third button and said rotation of said ball, and said function allocated to said third button.

20. The computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein said external force is a depressing force applied to said third button.

21. The computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein said external force is a displacing force applied to said third button.

22. The computer system as recited in claim 15, further including a network linking device.