Information pointers

• US 20030142123A1
• Filed: 01/16/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gavriluk, Erik A., Barnes, David, Malamud, Mark A., Elsbree, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,948,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/715
• 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 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A system supports the use of information pointers. The information pointers provide audio and/or visual information about objects to which the cursors point. For instance, an information cursor may provide output specifying the name of an object to which the cursor points. In addition to information about the object pointed to by the cursor, information windows provide information about the user'"'"'s interaction with the object. For example, “Deleting Source File.” Information windows may contain information pertaining to a pair of objects, such as the source and target object in a drag and drop operation, or to a collection of objects.

Claims

1. In a data processing system having a video display, an output device and an input device, a method for providing an information pointer, comprising:

(a) displaying the cursor on the video display;

(b) displaying one or more objects on the video display;

(c) in response to a user using the input device, positioning at least a part of the cursor over at least a portion of a selected one of the objects that are displayed; and

(d) in response to at least a part of the cursor being positioned over at least a portion of the selected object, outputting dynamic information about the user'"'"'s interaction with the selected object over the output device.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the information about the user'"'"'s interaction with the object is dynamic information about the object itself.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the output device is the video display, and the information output on the video display is displayed in an information box.

4. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the information box is displayed in a location on the video display relative to the location of the cursor.

5. The method recited in claim 4, further comprising suppressing movement of the information box when an edge of the video display is encountered such that the information box is always fully contained within the borders of the video display.

6. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the information in the information box comprises textual data.

7. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the information in the information box comprises graphical data.

8. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the graphical data comprises full motion video.

9. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the information in the information box comprises dialog box controls with which the user can interact.

10. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the graphical data comprises preview data of the selected object.

11. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the information in the information box comprises:

(a) textual data; and

(b) graphical data.

12. The method recited in claim 3, wherein there are multiple information boxes associated with the cursor.

13. The method recited in claim 3, wherein multiple types of information are concatenated into the information box.

14. The method recited in claim 3, wherein outputting information in the information box further comprises providing a visual tool in the information box which the user may use to obtain help information about the object.

15. The method recited in claim 3, wherein outputting information in the information box further comprises providing a visual tool in the information box which the user may use to close the information box.

16. The method recited in claim 1, wherein multiple objects are selected.

17. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the output device comprises an audio output device.

18. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the output device comprises:

(a) the video display; and

(b) an audio output device.

19. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising waiting for a specified linger period of time prior to outputting the information.

20. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to select the format of the information output.

21. The method recited in claim 20, wherein the user may select to turn off the outputting of the information.

22. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising overriding the user'"'"'s ability to turn off the displaying of critical information.

23. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) an application program requesting access to the information pointer; and

(b) providing the requested access to the information pointer.

24. The method recited in claim 23, wherein the requested access is receipt of current information pointer information.

25. The method recited in claim 23, wherein the requested access is modification of current information pointer information.

31. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 1.

26. In a data processing system having a video display, an output device and an input device, a method for providing an information pointer, comprising:

(a) displaying a source object icon associated with a source object and a target object icon associated with a target object;

(b) in response to a user using the input device, positioning a cursor over at least a portion of the source object icon;

(c) in response to the user using the input device, dragging the source object icon across the video display until the cursor is over at least a portion of the target object icon;

(d) outputting information about an action that will be accomplished if the source object icon is dropped on the target object icon.

27. In a data processing system having a video display and an input device, a method, comprising:

(a) displaying an object on the video display;

(b) in response to a user using the input device, displaying a context menu for the object on the video display, wherein said context menu includes an option for generating an information pointer; and

(c) in response to the user selecting the option of generating the information pointer, displaying the information pointer holding information about the object on the video display.

28. The method recited in claim 27, wherein displaying the information pointer further comprises displaying a pointer to the object from the information pointer.

29. The method recited in claim 27, wherein displaying the information pointer further comprises providing a visual tool in the information pointer which the user may use to obtain help information about the object.

30. The method recited in claim 27, wherein displaying the information pointer further comprises providing a visual tool in the information pointer which the user may use to close the information pointer.

32. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) means for displaying a cursor on a video display;

(b) means for displaying objects on the video display;

(c) in response to a user using an input device, means for selecting one or more of the objects by positioning the cursor over at least a portion of the desired objects that are displayed; and

(d) in response to the cursor being positioned over at least a portion of the selected objects, means for outputting dynamic information about the user'"'"'s interaction with the selected objects on an output device.