Predictive cursor interaction

• US 9,223,466 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Sauve, Aaron J., Chor, Anthony T., Hoefnagels, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Andrea
• Application Number:
  US13/356,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20120124459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking

Abstract

Embodiments include providing multiple discernible indicia that provide an indication of behaviors associated with selection of a particular link. The multiple discernible indicia may include visually-discernible graphical icons configured to be displayed as a pictorial image that visually represents a behavior associated with selection of the particular link. The visually-discernible graphical icons may include a first icon that, when selected, causes a default behavior associated with the link selection to occur, and a second icon that, when selected, causes an alternative behavior associated with the link selection to occur. Also, responsive to receiving a user-provided modifier, the first or second icon may be replaced with a third icon that visually represents a different alternative behavior to occur that is different than both the default and alternative behaviors.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing multiple discernible indicia that provide an indication of behaviors associated with selection of a particular link, the multiple discernible indicia comprising visually-discernible graphical icons configured to be displayed as a pictorial image that visually represents respective behaviors associated with selection of the particular link, the visually-discernible graphical icons comprising first and second user-selectable icons, the first user-selectable icon configured to, if selected, cause a default behavior associated with the selection of the particular link to occur, the second user-selectable icon configured to, if selected, cause an alternative behavior to occur that is alternative to the default behavior and that is associated with the selection of the particular link;

receiving a user-provided modifier to modify one or more of the visually-discernible graphical icons; and

responsive to receiving the user-provided modifier, replacing at least one of the first or second user-selectable icons with a third user-selectable icon that is configured to, if selected, cause a different alternative behavior to occur that is different from both the default behavior and the alternative behavior.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising ascertaining, responsive to detecting a cursor hovered in a link-selecting position, that a user is likely to select a particular link and responsive to said ascertaining, performing said providing.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the act of providing is performed after a predefined delay after the act of ascertaining.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the replacing at least one of the first or second user-selectable icons with a third user-selectable icon comprises replacing the pictorial image with a new pictorial image that visually represents the different alternative behavior corresponding to the third user-selectable icon.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the behaviors associated with selection of a particular link include opening a new window, opening a new tab, or launching an application.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of providing is performed by an end user application.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-provided modifier comprises input from one or more keyboard keys.

8. A system, comprising:

one or more hardware components;

one or more computer readable media;

a Web browser embodied on the one or more computer readable media and executable by the one or more hardware components, the Web browser configured to;

provide multiple discernible indicia configured to provide an indication of behaviors associated with selection of a particular link, the multiple discernible indicia comprising visually-discernible graphical icons configured to be displayed as a pictorial image that visually represents respective behaviors associated with selection of the particular link, the visually-discernible graphical icons comprising first and second user-selectable icons, the first user-selectable icon configured to, if selected, cause a default behavior associated with the selection of the particular link to occur, the second user-selectable icon configured to, if selected, cause an alternative behavior to occur that is alternative to the default behavior and that is associated with the selection of the particular link;

receive a user-provided modifier to modify one or more of the visually-discernible graphical icons; and

responsive to receiving the user-provided modifier, cause display of a third user-selectable icon that is configured to, if selected, cause a different alternative behavior to occur that is different from both the default behavior and the alternative behavior.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the Web browser is further configured to present the visually-discernible graphical icons responsive to detecting a cursor hovered in a link-selecting position over the particular link.

10. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the one or more hardware components is configured to display the visually-discernible graphical icons provided by the Web browser.

11. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the user-provided modifier comprises input from one or more keys on a keyboard.

12. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first user-selectable icon or the second user-selectable icon is associated with opening a new tab, opening a new window, or launching an application.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein at least some of the visually discernible graphical icons correspond to a different user-provided modifier that enables a respective one of the visually discernible icons to be displayed.

14. A system, comprising:

one or more hardware components;

one or more computer readable media;

an application embodied on the one or more computer readable media and executable by the one or more hardware components, the application configured to;

provide multiple discernible indicia configured to provide an indication of behaviors associated with selection of a particular link, the multiple discernible indicia comprising visually-discernible graphical icons configured to be displayed as a pictorial image that visually represents respective behaviors associated with selection of the particular link, the visually-discernible graphical icons comprising first and second user-selectable icons, the first user-selectable icon configured to, if selected, cause a default behavior associated with the selection of the particular link to occur, the second user-selectable icon configured to, if selected, cause an alternative behavior to occur that is alternative to the default behavior and that is associated with the selection of the particular link;

receive a user-provided modifier to modify one or more of the visually-discernible graphical icons; and

responsive to receiving the user-provided modifier, cause display of a third user-selectable icon that is configured to, if selected, cause a different alternative behavior to occur that is different from both the default behavior and the alternative behavior.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the application is further configured to present the visually-discernible graphical icons responsive to detecting a cursor hovered in a link-selecting position over the particular link.

16. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of the one or more hardware components is configured to display the visually-discernible graphical icons provided by the application.

17. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the user-provided modifier comprises input from one or more keys on a keyboard.

18. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of the first user-selectable icon or the second user-selectable icon is associated with opening a new tab, opening a new window, or launching an additional application.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein at least some of the visually discernible graphical icons correspond to a different user-provided modifier that enables a respective one of the visually discernible icons to be displayed.