Method, system, and software for tracking moving hotspots with a static or moving cursor

• US 6,462,763 B1
• Filed: 08/24/1999
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spotware Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spotware Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mostyn, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu D.
• Application Number:
  US09/382,285
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 345/764, 345/808, 345/856, 345/861, 345/848, 345/849, 345/852
• US Class Current: 715/856
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A method, system, propagated signal, and software for tracking and identifying moving hotspots allows a user to keep a cursor stationary in a display without causing the cursor to lose any functionality. A dialog box or other highlighting option will result in response to the static cursor co-occupying overlapping regions on the display with a moving hotspot of an animated menu, or a menu in motion. In an animated menu configured with extensive or rapidly moving hotspots, the present invention enables a user to wait for a hotspot to come to the cursor for detection and selection, rather than having to pursue the hotspot such that the cursor recognizes the target as a hotspot.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen;

displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen;

enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen;

tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and

comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur regardless of cursor movement or activity.

2. The method, as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether the position of the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.

3. The method, as defined in claim 2, further comprising the step of providing focus to the at least one selectable target in response to a determination that the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.

4. The method, as defined in claim 3, further comprising triggering an event associated with the at least one selectable target in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.

5. The method, as defined in claim 3, further comprising the step of providing notification to a user in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.

6. The method, as defined in claim 4, wherein the determining step further comprises accessing a data file comprising data indicative of the intended position of the at least one selectable target on the display screen.

7. The method, as defined in claim 1, wherein movement of the at least one selectable target is capable of being displayed in a manner to simulate three dimensional movement on the display screen.

8. A method, comprising the steps of:

displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen;

displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen;

enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen;

tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and

comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur continually at predetermined intervals of time.

9. An information handling system readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions comprising the steps of:

displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen;

displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen;

enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen;

tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and

comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a static position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur regardless of cursor movement or activity.

10. The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of determining whether the position of the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.

11. The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 10, further comprising the step of providing focus to the at least one selectable target in response to a determination that the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.

12. The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 11, further comprising triggering an event associated with the at least one selectable target in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.

13. The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 11, further comprising the step of providing notification to a user in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.

14. The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 10, wherein the determining step further comprises accessing a data file comprising data indicative of the intended position of the at least one selectable target on the display screen.

15. The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 9, wherein movement of the at least one selectable target is capable of being displayed in a manner to simulate three dimensional movement on the display screen.

16. An information handling system readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions comprising the steps of:

displaying at Least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen;

displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen;

enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen;

tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and

comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a static position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur continually at predetermined intervals of time.

17. A system comprising:

at least one processor;

memory operably associated with said processor;

a cursor control device configured to control a cursor on a display screen; and

a program of instructions comprising the steps of;

displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen;

displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen;

enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen;

tacking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and

comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur regardless of cursor movement or activity.

18. The system, as defined in claim 17, further comprising the step of determining whether the position of the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.

19. The system, as defined in claim 18, further comprising the step of providing focus to the at least one selectable target in response to a determination that the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.

20. The system, as defined in claim 19, further comprising triggering an event associated with the at least one selectable target in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.

21. The system, as defined in claim 19, further comprising the step of providing notification to a user in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.

22. The system, as defined in claim 18, wherein the determining step further comprises accessing a data file comprising data indicative of the intended position of the at least one selectable target on the display screen.

23. The system, as defined in claim 17, wherein movement of the at least one selectable target is capable of being displayed in a manner to simulate three dimensional movement on the display screen.

24. A system comprising:

at least one processor;

memory operably associated with said processor;

a cursor control device configured to control a cursor on a display screen; and

a program of instructions comprising the steps of;

displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen;

displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen;

enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen;

tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and

comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur continually at predetermined intervals of time.

25. A method, comprising:

displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen, the at least one selectable target engaged in movement on the display screen;

monitoring the at least one selectable target engaged in movement; and

comparing position of the monitored selectable target to a static cursor position, wherein comparing position of the monitored selectable target to the static cursor position is initiated without cursor activity.