Method for rapid repositioning of a display pointer in a preferred order

• US 5,737,555 A
• Filed: 11/13/1995
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gregg, Leon Edward, Jaaskelainen, William Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/557,406
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 395/326-358, 395/800, 345/117-120, 345/145-146
• US Class Current: 715/856
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects

Abstract

A method for rapid positioning of a display pointer on a display screen may be accomplished by establishing a preferred order of display pointer movement between widgets when the particular screen location of the widgets is known. Having established the preferred order, the display pointer is automatically repositioned based on the preferred order when an input stimulus is activated. The input stimulus may be activated by a function of the keyboard, mouse, or any other input devices that may be used in association with a computer.

Claims

1. A method for rapid positioning of a display pointer on a display screen, the method comprising the steps of:

a) based on known screen location of widgets, establishing a preferred order of display pointer movement between at least some of the widgets; and

b) automatically repositioning the display pointer based on the preferred order of the display pointer movement when an input stimulus is activated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the known screen locations of the widgets are determined by:

determining pixel location of the widgets in an x-direction and a y-direction on the display screen; and

storing the pixel location as the known location of the widgets.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input stimulus is activated by:

responding to a chording function on a computer mouse.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input stimulus is activated by:

responding to a single function button on a computer mouse.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined order is established by:

prompting a user to select the at least some of the widgets; and

storing each of the at least some of the widgets in an order selected by the user.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprises prompting the user to select the at least some of the widgets from a current window displayed on the display screen.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprises prompting the user to select the at least some of the widgets from several application icons displayed on the display screen.

8. A computer readable storage medium for storing program instructions that, when read by a computer, causes the computer to rapidly position a display pointer on a display screen, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

first storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to, based on known screen location of widgets, establish a preferred order of display pointer movement between at least some of the widgets; and

second storage means for storing program instructions that cause the computer to automatically reposition the display pointer based on the preferred order of the display pointer movement when an input stimulus is activated.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first storage means further comprises, to determine the known screen locations, the functions of:

storing program instructions that cause the computer to determine pixel location of the widgets in an x-direction and a y-direction on the display screen; and

storing program instructions that cause the computer to store the pixel location as the known location of the widgets.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the second storage means further comprises, to activate the input stimulus, the function of:

storing program instructions that cause the computer to respond to a chording function on a computer mouse.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the second storage means further comprises, to activate the input stimulus, the function of:

storing program instructions that cause the computer to respond to a single function button on a computer mouse.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first storage means further comprises, to establish the preferred order, the functions of:

storing program instructions that cause the computer to prompt user to select the at least some of the widgets; and

storing program instructions that cause the computer to store each of the at least some of the widgets in an order selected by the user.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the first storage means further comprises storing program instructions that cause the computer to prompt the user to select the at least some of the widgets from a current window displayed on the display screen.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the first storage means further comprises storing program instructions that cause the computer to prompt the user to select the at least some of the widgets from several application icons displayed on the display screen.

15. A computer system comprising:

a display screen;

an input device;

a central processing unit that includes;

an input device driver operably coupled to the input device;

an input device interpolation module operably coupled to the input device driver;

a screen monitor module operably coupled to the input device interpolation module;

a display screen driver operably coupled to the screen monitor module and the display screen;

memory that operably coupled to the central processing unit, wherein the memory includes;

first storage means for storing program instructions that cause the central processing unit to, based on known screen location of widgets, establish a preferred order of display pointer movement between at least some of the widgets; and

second storage means for storing program instructions that cause the central processing unit to automatically reposition the display pointer on the display screen based on the preferred order of the display pointer movement when an input stimulus is activated.