Method and system for denying graphical pointer access to a widget of a data processing system graphical user interface

• US 5,963,191 A
• Filed: 03/25/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jaaskelainen, William Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/824,561
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326-358, 345/145, 345/146, 345/977
• US Class Current: 715/856
• 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: Y10S 715/977 Dynamic icon, e.g. animated or live action

Abstract

A widget, a predefined region of a graphical display, and a graphical pointer or cursor are displayed on the display device. A user may define a gravitational widget where traversal rates are not constant on the display. In addition, relationships may be defined which correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device, the movement of the graphical pointer and a widget. Certain users may be denied access to one or more widgets. When the graphical pointer contacts the border of the widget, the graphical pointer may be denied access to the widget by controlling the graphical pointer. Control of the graphical pointer is accomplished through a defined relationship or action rule. Various action rules forbidding access to a widget include moving or displacing the graphical pointer to a home position, skipped over the widget with the graphical pointer, freezing or sticking the graphical pointer to the widget, displacing the graphical pointer to a random location on the screen, rebounding the graphical pointer, racing the graphical pointer around the widget'"'"'s border, and repeatedly backing-up and moving forward the graphical pointer. Two or more action rules may be combined so that multiple movements may be achieved.

Claims

1. A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;

defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;

defining a second relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer contacts the border of the predefined region; and

in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying access to the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;

wherein access to the predefined region is denied by controlling the graphical pointer in accordance with the second relationship;

wherein the second relationship specifies a substantially zero displacement of the graphical pointer to thereby trap the graphical pointer in the predefined region.

2. A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;

defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;

defining a second relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer contacts the border of the predefined region; and

in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying access to the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;

wherein access to the predefined region is denied by controlling the graphical pointer in accordance with the second relationship;

wherein the second relationship specifies an substantially large, forward displacement of the graphical pointer along a path being tracked to thereby drive the graphical pointer over the predefined region.

3. A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;

defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;

defining a second relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer contacts the border of the predefined region; and

in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying access to the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;

wherein access to the predefined region is denied by controlling the graphical pointer in accordance with the second relationship;

wherein the second relationship specifies a substantially large, rearward displacement of the graphical pointer along a path being tracked to thereby drive the graphical pointer away from the predefined region.

4. A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;

defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;

defining a second relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer contacts the border of the predefined region; and

in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying access to the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;

wherein access to the predefined region is denied by controlling the graphical pointer in accordance with the second relationship;

wherein the second relationship specifies a substantially large, random displacement of the graphical pointer along a path different from a path being tracked to thereby drive the graphical pointer to a position without the predefined region.

5. A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;

defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;

defining a second relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer contacts the border of the predefined region; and

in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying access to the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;

wherein access to the predefined region is denied by controlling the graphical pointer in accordance with the second relationship;

wherein the second relationship specifies a substantially large, random displacement of the graphical pointer along a path different from a path being tracked to thereby drive the graphical pointer to a position without the predefined region;

wherein the position is a home position on the display.

6. A computer program product within a computer readable media for causing a data processing system to position a graphical pointer displayed within a display device of a data processing system, said data processing system including a graphical pointing device, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means for outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;

instruction means for defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region; and

instruction means, responsive to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, for moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying the graphical pointer access to an interior of the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;

wherein the instruction means for moving the graphical pointer includes means for driving the graphical pointer to a position on the display without the widget.

7. A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

outputting a widget on the display;

defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the widget; and

in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device by a restricted user, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the widget while denying the restricted user access to the widget, wherein the restricted user is denied access to the widget by freezing the graphical pointer on the widget.

8. A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

outputting a widget on the display;

defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the widget; and

in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device by a restricted user, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the widget while denying the restricted user access to the widget, wherein the restricted user is denied access to the widget by skipping the graphical pointer over the widget.

9. A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

outputting a widget on the display;

defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the widget; and

in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device by a restricted user, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the widget while denying the restricted user access to the widget wherein the restricted user is denied access to the widget by reversing the graphical pointer away from the widget.

10. A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

outputting a widget on the display;

defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the widget; and

in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device by a restricted user, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the widget while denying the restricted user access to the widget, wherein the restricted user is denied access to the widget by driving the graphical pointer around a border of the widget.

16. The method as described in claim 7, 8, 8, 10 or 11 wherein the widget is a selectable icon.

11. A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

outputting a widget on the display;

defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the widget; and

in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device by a restricted user, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the widget while denying the restricted user access to the widget, wherein the restricted user is denied access to the widget by driving the graphical pointer to a position on the display without the widget, wherein the widget is a selectable icon.

12. A computer program product within a computer readable media for causing a data processing system to position a graphical pointer displayed within a display device of a data processing system, said data processing system including a graphical pointing device, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means for outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;

instruction means for defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region; and

instruction means, responsive to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, for moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying the graphical pointer access to an interior of the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;

wherein the instruction means for moving the graphical pointer include means for freezing the graphical pointer on the widget.

13. A computer program product within a computer readable media for causing a data processing system to position a graphical pointer displayed within a display device of a data processing system, said data processing system including a graphical pointing device, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means for outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;

instruction means for defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region; and

instruction means, responsive to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, for moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying the graphical pointer access to an interior of the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;

wherein the instruction means for moving the graphical pointer includes means for skipping the graphical pointer over the widget.

14. A computer program product within a computer readable media for causing a data processing system to position a graphical pointer displayed within a display device of a data processing system, said data processing system including a graphical pointing device, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means for outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;

instruction means for defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region; and

instruction means, responsive to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, for moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying the graphical pointer access to an interior of the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;

wherein the instruction means for moving the graphical pointer includes means for reversing the graphical pointer away from the widget.

15. A computer program product within a computer readable media for causing a data processing system to position a graphical pointer displayed within a display device of a data processing system, said data processing system including a graphical pointing device, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means for outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;

instruction means for defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region; and

instruction means, responsive to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, for moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying the graphical pointer access to an interior of the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;

wherein the instruction means for moving the graphical pointer includes means for driving the graphical pointer around a border of the widget.