Techniques for choosing a position on a display having a cursor

• US 7,523,418 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Trewin, Sharon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sax; Steven P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson; Grant D
• Application Number:
  US11/375,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 715/856, 715/857, 715/858, 715/865, 345/157
• US Class Current: 715/858
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

Techniques are provided for choosing a position on a display having a cursor. In one aspect, an exemplary method, which can be computer-implemented, includes the steps of automatically moving the cursor in a predetermined during-selection mode in response to a first user-initiated action, and, responsive to a second user-initiated action when the cursor is at a first location, ceasing the moving of the cursor in the predetermined during-selection mode, and causing a choosing action to be performed at the first location, such that the first location is chosen as the position.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of choosing at least one position on a display having a cursor, comprising the steps of:

responsive to a first user-initiated action, automatically moving the cursor along a predetermined during-selection trajectory;

facilitating display of said predetermined during-selection trajectory;

responsive to a second user-initiated action when the cursor is at a first location along said predetermined during-selection trajectory;

ceasing said moving of the cursor along said predetermined during-selection trajectory; and

causing a choosing action to be performed at said first location, said choosing action comprising a click event, whereby said first location is chosen as said at least one position;

responsive to a pre-selection automatic movement-initiating action, automatically moving the cursor in a predetermined pre-selection trajectory;

responsive to said first user-initiated action;

ceasing said moving of the cursor in said predetermined pre-selection trajectory; and

commencing said automatic moving of the cursor in said predetermined during-selection trajectory, said predetermined during-selection trajectory being different than said predetermined pre-selection trajectory;

obtaining first user inputs for said predetermined during-selection trajectory, said first user inputs comprising shape of movement for said predetermined during-selection trajectory, acceleration profile for said predetermined during-selection trajectory, number of repetitions for said predetermined during-selection trajectory, and user-movement threshold for said predetermined during-selection trajectory; and

obtaining second user inputs for said predetermined pre-selection trajectory, said second user inputs comprising shape of movement for said predetermined pre-selection trajectory, acceleration profile for said predetermined pre-selection trajectory, number of repetitions for said predetermined pre-selection trajectory, and user-movement threshold for said predetermined pre-selection trajectory;

wherein;

said pre-selection automatic movement-initiating action comprises a pause in user-initiated cursor motion;

said user-initiated cursor motion is effected via a human-operated pointing device;

said automatic moving of the cursor in said predetermined during-selection trajectory is carried out in accordance with said first user inputs;

said automatic moving of the cursor along said predetermined pre-selection trajectory is carried out in accordance with said second user inputs;

said shape of movement for said predetermined pre-selection trajectory comprises a zig-zag; and

said shape of movement for said predetermined during-selection trajectory comprises a spiral;

further comprising;

during said automatic moving of the cursor in said predetermined during-selection trajectory, suppressing during-selection user cursor movement unless said during-selection user cursor movement exceeds said user-movement threshold for said predetermined during-selection trajectory; and

during said automatic moving of the cursor along said predetermined pre-selection trajectory, suppressing pre-selection user cursor movement unless said pre-selection user cursor movement exceeds said user-movement threshold for said predetermined pre-selection trajectory.