Timing and velocity control for displaying graphical information

• US 6,542,164 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Graham, Christopher E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/879,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/159, 345/156, 345/160, 345/856, 345/859, 345/711, 345/715
• US Class Current: 715/711
• 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

Time and velocity metrics are used to control when information about a graphical object to which a cursor points is displayed on a video display. The time metric is used to ensure that a non-negligible amount of time passes between the time at which the cursor initially points to the graphical object and the time at which the information about the graphical object is displayed on the video display. The time delay helps to eliminate such information being displayed inadvertently when the user quickly passes the cursor over graphical objects in the video display. In addition, the timing control facilitates the shortening of the delay when it appears that the user wishes to browse amongst several related graphical objects that are shown in the video display. For example, when it appears that the user wishes to browse tools on the tool bar, the delay is shortened. The velocity metric is used to determine the likelihood that the user intended to point to the graphical object and serves to minimize instances where undesired information about the graphical object is displayed.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information about a graphical object displayed on a video display, the method comprising:

determining that a cursor is positioned to point at the graphical object on the video display;

setting a first trigger point representing a predetermined period of time, the predetermined period of time being greater than an interval between two consecutive mouse location events;

determining expiration of the predetermined period of time represented by the first trigger point responsive to the operation of determining that the cursor is positioned to point at the graphical object; and

displaying the information adjacent to the graphical object on the video display, responsive to the operation of determining expiration of the predetermined period of time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the operation of determining that a cursor is positioned to point at the graphical object comprises:

receiving a message notification indicating that the cursor is positioned to point at the graphical object on the video display.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the operation of setting the first trigger point comprises:

initiating a timer to count for the predetermined period of time represented by the first trigger point.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the operation of determining expiration of the predetermined period of time comprises:

determining that the timer has counted for the predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

clearing the timer if the cursor is no longer positioned to point at the graphical object before the timer expires.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

clearing the timer if the cursor is moved before the timer expires.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying operation comprises;

determining a position of the cursor after the predetermined period of time expires;

determining whether the position of the cursor is over the graphical object on the video display, responsive to the operation of determining the position of the cursor, and

displaying on the video display the information about the graphical object at a predefined location relative to the graphical object.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

terminating display of the information if the cursor no longer points at the graphical object on the video display, after the displaying operation.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining movement of the cursor to point at a different graphical object displayed on the video display;

setting a second trigger point representing a shorter period of time than the predetermined period of time, responsive to the operation of displaying the information adjacent to the different graphical object on the video display;

detecting expiration of the shorter period of time representing the second trigger point, responsive to the operation of determining movement of the cursor to point at the different graphical object; and

displaying the information adjacent to the different graphical object on the video display, responsive to the operation of detecting expiration of the shorter period of time.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the information to be displayed about the graphical object, responsive to the operation of determining expiration of the predetermined period of time.

11. A method of displaying information about a control displayed on a video display, the method comprising:

determining that a cursor is positioned to point at the control on the video display;

waiting a predetermined period of time, the predetermined period of time being greater than an interval between two consecutive mouse location events;

receiving notification that the predetermined period of time has expired; and

displaying the information adjacent to the control on the video display, if the cursor is still positioned to point at the control after expiration of the predetermined period of time.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the operation of displaying the information comprises:

displaying text about the control adjacent to the control on the video display.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the control includes a button control.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the control includes a list box control.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the operation of displaying the information comprises:

determining a velocity of the cursor over the control; and

displaying the information adjacent to the control on the video display, if the cursor is still positioned to point at the control after expiration of the predetermined period of time and the velocity remains below a predetermined threshold.

16. A computer program storage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program for executing a computer process for displaying information about a graphical object displayed on a video display, the computer process comprising:

determining that a cursor is positioned to point at the graphical object on the video display;

setting a first trigger point representing a predetermined period of time, the predetermined period of time being greater than an interval between two consecutive mouse location events;

determining expiration of the predetermined period of time represented by the first trigger point, responsive to the operation of determining that the cursor is positioned to point at the graphical object; and

displaying the information adjacent to the graphical object on the video display, responsive to the operation of determining expiration of the predetermined period of time.

17. The computer program storage medium of claim 16 wherein the operation of determining that a cursor is positioned to point at the graphical object comprises:

receiving a message notification indicating that the cursor is positioned to point at the graphical object on the video display.

18. The computer program storage medium of claim 16 wherein the operation of setting the first trigger point comprises:

initiating a timer to count for the predetermined period of time represented by the first trigger point.

19. The computer program storage medium of claim 18 wherein the operation of determining expiration of the predetermined period of time comprises:

determining that the timer has counted for the predetermined period of time.

20. The computer program storage medium of claim 19 wherein the computer process further comprises:

clearing the timer if the cursor is no longer positioned to point at the graphical object before the timer expires.

21. The computer program storage medium of claim 19 wherein the computer process further comprises:

clearing the timer if the cursor is moved before the timer expires.

22. The computer program storage medium of claim 16 wherein the displaying operation comprises;

determining a position of the cursor after the predetermined period of time expires;

determining whether the position of the cursor is over the graphical object on the video display, responsive to the operation of determining the position of the cursor; and

displaying on the video display the information about the graphical object at a predefined location relative to the graphical object.

23. The computer program storage medium of claim 16 wherein the computer process further comprises:

terminating display of the information if the cursor no longer points at the graphical object on the video display, after the displaying operation.

24. The computer program storage medium of claim 16 wherein the computer process further comprises:

determining movement of the cursor to point at a different graphical object displayed on the video display;

setting a second trigger point representing a shorter period of time than the predetermined period of time, responsive to the operation of displaying the information adjacent to the different graphical object on the video display;

determining expiration of the shorter period of time representing the second trigger point, responsive to the operation of determining movement of the cursor to point at the different graphical object; and

displaying the information adjacent to the different graphical object on the video display, responsive to the operation of determining expiration of the shorter period of time.

25. The computer program storage medium of claim 16 wherein the computer process further comprises:

determining the information to be displayed about the graphical object, responsive to the operation of detecting expiration of the predetermined period of time.

26. A computer program storage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program for executing a computer process for displaying information about a graphical object displayed on a video display, the computer process comprising:

detecting a cursor positioned to point at the control on the video display;

waiting a predetermined period of time, the predetermined period of time being greater than an interval between two consecutive mouse location events;

receiving notification that the predetermined period of time has expired; and

displaying the information adjacent to the control on the video display, if the cursor is still positioned to point at the control after expiration of the predetermined period of time.

27. The computer program storage medium of claim 26 wherein the operation of displaying the information comprises:

displaying text about the control adjacent to the control on the video display.

28. The computer program storage medium of claim 26 wherein the control includes a button control.

29. The computer program storage medium of claim 26 wherein the control includes a list box control.

30. The computer program storage medium of claim 26 wherein the operation of displaying the information comprises:

detecting a velocity of the cursor over the control; and

displaying the information adjacent to the control on the video display, if the cursor is still positioned to point at the control after expiration of the predetermined period of time and the velocity remains below a predetermined threshold.