Interactive object selection pointer method and apparatus

• US 5,808,601 A
• Filed: 09/12/1995
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Leah, Robert Charles, McAllister, Scott James
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US08/527,282
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145, 345/146, 345/156, 345/157, 345/159, 345/160, 345/161, 345/162, 345/163, 345/167, 345/168, 345/427, 382/141
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/08 Cursor circuits

Abstract

An analog to a gravitation force field is generated mathematically to operate between the displayed image of the mouse selection pointer on the screen of a computer display as it interacts with defined selectable objects on the screen. Unlike true gravity, however, the force may be mathematically defined as positive or negative and, thus, permits both attractive and repulsive effects to be imposed upon the movement of the mouse selection pointer displayed on the screen. The paradigm of interaction between the mouse selection pointer displayed on the screen and objects which are selectable thereon is changed to include effects of "mass" as represented by an effective field of force operating between the mouse selection pointer display and various selectable items on the screen. Mathematical calculation for the effective radius, or boundary, at which the force calculated to exist between a mouse selection pointer with an assigned mathematical value for mass and an object having an assigned mathematical value for mass may be easily implemented. When the displayed mouse selection pointer position on the screen comes within the force boundary of an object at which the calculated force is at least equal to the mass assigned to the mouse selection pointer attraction instantaneous capture of the mouse selection pointer to the object whose force boundary has been crossed can be achieved. Similarly, though inverse, repulsion between the mouse selection pointer and objects which are deemed unselectable by a computer application running in a computer system may also be implemented.

Claims

1. An improved selection pointer display control method executable in a computer system having a processor, a display and a selection pointer;

positioning system, comprising steps executable in said processor for;

determining the distance D between the center of said mouse selection pointer having an ascribed mathematical value for mass M and the center of said at least one displayed object having an ascribed mathematical value for mass m;

calculating the value B=√

m/M; and

determining if the magnitude of the value of B is greater than or equal to D and, responsive thereto,

moving said displayed selection pointer relative to said at least one displayed object.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

said motion of said displayed mouse selection pointer is toward or away from said at least one displayed object in accordance with the mathematical sign ascribed to said calculated value B.

3. A method as described in claim 2, wherein:

said motion of said mouse selection pointer is away from said at least one displayed object whenever the mathematical sign ascribed to said calculated value of B is negative and said determined value D is less than B, and said motion of said mouse selection pointer is toward said at least one displayed object when the mathematical sign ascribed to said calculated value of B is positive and D is less than B.

4. A method as described in any one of claims 1-3, wherein:

said moving of said displayed mouse selection pointer is independent of the actual physical location of the mouse as established by an operator adjusting mouse positioning controls whenever the value of said B is greater than D.

5. An interactive selection pointer control program comprising steps executable in a computer system having a selection pointer positioning mechanism and a processor and a display, for:

determining the distance D between the center of said mouse selection pointer having an ascribed mathematical value for mass M and the center of said at least one displayed object having an ascribed mathematical value for mass m;

calculating the value B=√

m/M; and

determining if the magnitude of the value of B is greater than or equal to D and, responsive thereto,

moving said displayed selection pointer relative to said at least one displayed object.

6. A program as described in claim 5, wherein:

said motion of said displayed mouse selection pointer is toward or away from said at least one displayed object in accordance with the mathematical sign ascribed to said calculated value B.

7. A program as described in claim 6, wherein:

said motion of said mouse selection pointer is away from said at least one displayed object whenever the mathematical sign ascribed to said calculated value of B is negative and said determined value D is less than B, and said motion of said mouse selection pointer is toward said at least one displayed object when the mathematical sign ascribed to said calculated value of B is positive and D is less than B.

8. A program as described in any one of claims 5-7, wherein:

said moving of said displayed mouse selection pointer is independent of the actual physical location of the mouse as established by an operator adjusting mouse positioning controls whenever the magnitude of the value of said B is greater than D.