Rubber band graphical user interface control

• US 6,677,965 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Michael W., Ullmann, Cristi N., Wynn, Allen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Le
• Application Number:
  US09/615,771
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 345/684, 345/688, 345/784-787, 345/830, 345/973
• US Class Current: 715/786
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A rubber band variable-rate GUI control for use in conjunction with GUI controls, such as sliders, scroll bars, virtual joysticks, and oppositional buttons (up/down, left/right, plus/minus, next/previous, etc.). A user may place a pointer or cursor over a GUI control, select (e.g. click and hold a mouse button) and drag away from the control, and a virtual rubber band extending between the pointer and the GUI control is displayed. The further the user moves or “pulls” the pointer from the GUI control, the thinner and more elyptical the rubber band is displayed, and the faster the selections scrolls or the control operation is repeated. When the user moves the pointer closer to GUI control, the rubber band is displayed fatter and more circular in shape, and the scrolling or control operation repetition slows.

Claims

1. A method for interfacing with a user of a computer system having a graphical user display, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) controlling a pointer element on the graphical user display with a user pointer controller, the pointer controller having position and selection status responsive to operation by a user;

(b) displaying on said graphical user display a control icon having one or more action areas, said action areas comprising at least one forward action area or one backward action area;

(c) monitoring said position and selection status of said pointer controller to detect if one of said action areas has been selected by said user;

(d) altering the appearance of said control icon and said pointer to visually indicate the selection of said action area by displaying a virtual rubber band on said graphical user display, said virtual rubber band encircling said action area and said pointer element; and

(e) allowing repetitive operation of said action area while said selection is detected by autonomously repeatedly periodically generating a signal to said computer system indicative of a selection made by said user of said control icon action area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said forward action area is presented as a button.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said backward action area is presented as a button.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said action areas comprise a slider action area.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said backward action area is presented as a scroll bar control button.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said action areas comprise a virtual joystick action area.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said periodic generation of a signal to the computer system further comprises modifying the rate of periodic generation of a signal relative to a determined distance between the pointer element and the control icon.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said periodic generation of a signal to the computer system further comprises modifying the apparent thickness of the virtual rubber band relative to a determined distance between the pointer element and the control icon.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said periodic generation of a signal to the computer system further comprises modifying the apparent oval shape of the virtual rubber band relative to a determined distance between the pointer element and the control icon.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying on said graphical user display a control icon further comprises displaying a slider bar control icon having two oppositional action areas and a virtual slider button, said virtual slider button being fixed in place and operable by said virtual rubber band.

11. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein computer-readable program code for interfacing with a user of a computer system, the computer system having a graphical user display and a processor, wherein the program code when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform the steps of:

(a) controlling a pointer element on the graphical user display with a user pointer controller, the pointer controller having position and selection status responsive to operation by a user;

(b) displaying on said graphical user display a control icon having one or more action areas, said action areas comprising at least one forward action area or one backward action area;

(c) monitoring said position and selection status of said pointer controller to detect if one of said action areas has been selected by said user;

(d) altering the appearance of said control icon and said pointer to visually indicate the selection of said action area by displaying a virtual rubber band on said graphical user display, said virtual rubber band encircling said action area and said pointer element; and

(e) allowing repetitive operation of said action area while said selection is detected by autonomously repeatedly periodically generating a signal to said computer system indicative of a selection made by said user of said control icon action area.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said forward action area is presented as a button.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said backward action area is presented as a button.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said action areas comprise a slider action area.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said backward action area is presented as a scroll bar control button.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said action areas comprise a virtual joystick action area.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said periodic generation of a signal to the computer system further comprises modifying the rate of periodic generation of a signal relative to a determined distance between the pointer element and the control icon.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said periodic generation of a signal to the computer system further comprises modifying the apparent thickness of the virtual rubber band relative to a determined distance between the pointer element and the control icon.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said periodic generation of a signal to the computer system further comprises modifying the apparent oval shape of the virtual rubber band relative to a determined distance between the pointer element and the control icon.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said step of displaying on said graphical user display a control icon further comprises displaying a slider bar control icon having two oppositional action areas and a virtual slider button, said virtual slider button being fixed in place and operable by said virtual rubber band.

21. A computer system for interfacing with a user, comprising:

(a) a graphical user display with a control icon displayed on said graphical user display, said control icon having one or more action areas, said action areas comprising at least one forward action area or one backward action area;

(b) a pointer controller operable by said user for positioning a pointer element on the graphical user display, the pointer controller having position and selection status responsive to operation by a user;

(c) a pointer position and selection status monitor for detecting when one of said action areas has been selected by said user; and

(d) a virtual rubber band controller which alters the appearance of said control icon and said pointer element to visually indicate the selection of said action area by displaying a virtual rubber band on said graphical user display, said virtual rubber band encircling said action area and said pointer element; and

(e) a signal generator for signaling said computer system in response to a continued selection by said user, said signal generator allowing repetitive operation of said action area while said selection is detected by autonomously repeatedly periodically generating a signal to said computer system.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein said forward action area comprises a button.

23. The computer system of claim 21, wherein said backward action area comprises a button.

24. Me computer system of claim 21, wherein said action areas comprise a slider action area.

25. The computer system of claim 24, wherein said backward action area comprises a scroll bar control button.

26. The computer system of claim 24, wherein said control icon comprises a virtual joystick action icon.

27. The computer system of claim 21, wherein said signal generator further comprises a rate adjuster for modifying the rate of periodic generation of a signal relative to a determined distance between the pointer element and the control icon.

28. The computer system of claim 21, wherein said signal generator further comprises a rubber band appearance adjuster for modifying the apparent thickness of the virtual rubber band relative to a determined distance between the pointer element and the control icon.

29. The computer system of claim 21, wherein said signal generator further comprises a rubber band appearance adjuster for modifying the apparent oval shape of the virtual rubber band relative to a determined distance between the pointer element and the control icon.

30. The computer system of claim 21, wherein said control icon displayed on said graphical user display further comprises a slider bar control icon having two oppositional action areas and a virtual slider button, said virtual slider button being fixed in place and operable by said virtual rubber band.