Input system, program, and recording medium

• US 7,148,876 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Kawasome, Toshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHARIA, PRABODH M
• Application Number:
  US10/266,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-161, 345/788, 345798-800, 345/173, 345/163, 345/781, 345/856, 345/857, 345/164, 345168-172, 345/179, 345/89, 345/94, 345/101, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 235/151.1, 235/462, 382/188, 340/172.5, 112/102.5, 710/16, 715/768, 715/863
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability

Abstract

An input system comprising a computer operably associated with a display screen, a first input device, and a second input device. The first input device has an operating region corresponding to an operation region displayed on the display screen. The operation region may be enlarged, reduced, or moved in response to an operation of the second input device.

Claims

1. An input system comprising:

a first input device for performing operations in an operation region positioned on a display screen, the display screen operably associated with a computer for executing an application program and for displaying the operation region, said first input device having a digitizer operating area, said digitizer operating area corresponding to the operation region on the display screen, said first input device further comprising an auxiliary operating area for modifying the positioning state of said operation region in response to an operation in said auxiliary operating area, wherein said digitizer operating area and said auxiliary operating area are simultaneously operable;

a second input device for performing operations differing from operations performed using said digitizer; and

an input control device for modifying the positioning state of the operation region in response to an operation in said digitizer auxiliary operating area.

2. The input system of claim 1 wherein said first input device is a digitizer and associated stylus, and said second input device comprises at least one of first, second, and third input components in a common housing, said first input component comprising a wheel, said second input component comprising an input ball, and said third input component comprising a key input portion having keys associated with said key input portion.

3. The input system of claim 1, wherein said input control device moves the operation region horizontally relative to the display screen in response to an operation in said auxiliary operating area.

4. The input system of claim 1, wherein said input control device moves the operation region vertically relative to the display screen in response to an operation in said auxiliary operating area.

5. The input system of claim 1, wherein said input control device enlarges the operation region in response to an operation in said auxiliary operating area.

6. The input system of claim 1, wherein said input control device reduces the operation region in response to an operation in said auxiliary operating area.

7. The input system of claim 1, wherein said input control device changes the position of the operation region to one of a plurality of pre-set positions on the display screen in response to an operation in said auxiliary operating area.

8. The input system of claim 1, further comprising a third input device for performing operations differing from operations performed using said first and second input devices.

9. The input system of claim 8, wherein said third input device is a keyboard.