Clickaround tool-based graphical interface with two cursors

• US 5,666,499 A
• Filed: 08/04/1995
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Silicon Graphics Incorporated (Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baudel, Thomas, Owen, Russell N., Harrison, Beverly L., Kurtenbach, Gordon P., Buxton, William A. S., Fitzmaurice, George W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/511,303
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145-146, 345/156-167, 345/173-183, 345/117-120, 395/155-161
• US Class Current: 715/808
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour

Abstract

A graphical user interface with clickaround tools for enhanced user interaction with an application program utilizing "two-handed" techniques. The "tool-handed" technique provides two displayed cursors controlled by two distinct pointing input devices. Actuation of a secondary input device, corresponding a secondary cursor, provides a tool palette or menu near a displayed primary cursor. This technique allows a user to select and activate tools to perform substantive operations on displayed objects of the application program. The interface allows the user to invoke tools in a fluent and seamless fashion, thus maintaining the user'"'"'s focus on the substantive operations and not the procedural motions of tool access.

Claims

1. A system having a graphical user interface in which objects are displayed thereon, wherein a user interacts with the objects using a primary device to control a primary cursor and a secondary device to control a secondary cursor, the system comprising:

receiving means for receiving information from the primary device and secondary device, wherein said information includes event actuation data and cursor position data; and

clickaround tool means for displaying a tool palette having representative tool images in response to an actuation of the secondary device and activating an operation of a selected tool, wherein said clickaround tool means utilizes said cursor position data to display said tool palette with an offset position from the primary cursor and said event actuation data to display said tool palette only while the secondary device is actuated.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said actuation of the secondary device is initiated by depressing a menu button.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said clickaround tool means utilizes said cursor position data and event actuation data from said primary device to select and activate said selected tool, whereby the user indicates said selected tool by positioning the primary cursor on an image of said selected tool and actuates the primary device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said clickaround tool means utilizes said cursor position data and event actuation data from said secondary device to select and activate said selected tool, whereby the user indicates said selected tool by positioning the secondary cursor on an image of said selected tool and deactuates the secondary device.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said tool images are positioned around the center of said tool palette for tool selection by the user by moving the secondary device angularly.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising two-handed means for displaying a second tool palette having second representative tool images in response to a second actuation of the secondary device and activating a second operation of a second selected tool in response to an actuation of the primary device, wherein upon a deactuation of the primary device said second tool palette disappears and a ghost shape image is displayed, whereby the user utilizes the primary and secondary cursors to size said ghost shape and wherein said second operation is performed upon a deactivation of the secondary device.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising leap-frog menu means moving said tool palette with a single leap toward the secondary cursor when the secondary cursor is moved a substantial distance from said tool palette.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising grab means for attaching the secondary cursor to one of the displayed objects and moving said one of the displayed objects in accordance with movements of the secondary device.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising marking menu means for interpreting at least some of said information from the primary device to control a marking menu.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising adjusting means for automatically adjusting dominant control, wherein a side of the primary cursor in which said tool palette is displayed is governed by a relative position of the secondary cursor, wherein if the secondary cursor is approximately left of the primary cursor, said tool palette is displayed left of the primary cursor and if the secondary cursor is right of the primary cursor, said tool palette is positioned right of the primary cursor.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising audio feedback means for issuing a first audible sound when the secondary cursor position is moved from one of said tool images to another of said tool images and a second audible sound when the secondary cursor is positioned off said tool palette.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said clickaround means is incorporated into an operating system graphical user interface, thereby providing the features of the invention across a plurality of application programs.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said tool palette is semi-transparent.

14. A computer program product to interact with a graphical user interface having objects displayed thereon, wherein a user interacts with the objects using a primary device to control a primary cursor and a secondary device to control a secondary cursor, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for enabling the computer system to clickaround tools, said computer readable program code means comprising;

computer readable first program code means for enabling the computer system to receive information from the primary device and secondary device, wherein said information includes event actuation data and cursor position data; and

computer readable second program code means for enabling the computer system to display a tool palette having representative tool images in response to actuation of the secondary device and activate an operation of a selected tool, wherein said computer readable second program code means utilizes said cursor position data to display said tool palette with an offset position from the primary cursor and said event actuation data to display said tool palette only while the secondary device is actuated.

15. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein said computer readable second program code means utilizes said cursor position data and event actuation data from said primary device to select and activate said selected tool, whereby the user indicates said selected tool by positioning the primary cursor on an image of said selected tool and actuates the primary device.

16. The computer program product according to claim 14, further comprising computer readable third program code means for enabling the computer system to display a second tool palette having second representative tool images in response to a second actuation of the secondary device and activating a second operation of a second selected tool in response to an actuation of the primary device, wherein upon a deactuation of the primary device said second tool palette disappears and a ghost shape image is displayed, whereby the user utilizes the primary and secondary cursors to size said ghost shape and wherein said second operation is performed upon a deactivation of the secondary device.

17. The computer program product according to claim 14, further comprising:

computer readable fourth program code means for enabling the computer system movies aid tool palette with a single leap toward the secondary cursor when the secondary cursor is moved a substantial distance from said tool palette.

18. The computer program product according to claim 14, further comprising computer readable fifth program code means for enabling the computer system to automatically adjust dominant control, wherein a side of the primary cursor in which said tool palette is displayed is governed by a relative position of the secondary cursor, wherein if the secondary cursor is approximately left of the primary cursor, said tool palette is displayed left of the primary cursor and if the secondary cursor is right of the primary cursor, said tool palette is positioned right of the primary cursor.

19. The computer program product according to claim 14, further comprising computer readable sixth program code means for enabling the computer system to issue a first audible sound when the secondary cursor position is moved from one of said tool images to another of said tool images and a second audible sound when the secondary cursor is positioned off said tool palette.

20. A method of providing user interaction with a graphical user interface with objects displayed thereon, wherein a user interacts with the objects using a primary device to control a primary cursor and a secondary device to control a secondary cursor, the method comprising steps of:

displaying a tool palette having representative tool images in response to an actuation of the secondary device; and

activating an operation of a selected tool, wherein said tool palette is displayed with an offset position from the primary cursor and said tool palette is only displayed while the secondary device is actuated.