Selection of objects in a graphical user interface

• US 6,567,070 B1
• Filed: 08/10/1999
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Light, John J., Miller, John D., Grenby, Matt
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US09/371,801
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145, 345/146, 345/156, 345/157, 345/348, 345/352, 345/355, 345/856-862, 340/825.19
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for operating a graphical user interface determines whether a user-controlled pointer targets an object displayed on a screen. The method also designates an expanded target region in a vicinity of the object in response to determining that the pointer has targeted a location of the object.

Claims

1. A method for operating a graphical user interface, comprising:

determining whether a user-controlled pointer targets an object displayed on a screen by determining whether the pointer has a position within a predetermined distance from the object;

designating an expanded target region in a vicinity of the object in response to determining that the pointer has targeted a location on the object, said expanded target region including the position within the predetermined distance from the object;

displaying a new visual object to represent the expanded target region without user intervention; and

then, enabling a user to select the object in response to the pointer targeting locations both in the expanded target region and off the target,

wherein the object is a projection of a three-dimensional object located in a three-dimensional scene;

wherein the pointer targets the object if the three-dimensional object touches a cone-like region defined by a line between a reference point in the three-dimensional scene and a hotspot of the pointer.

2. A method for operating a graphical user interface, comprising:

determining whether a user-controlled pointer targets an object displayed on a screen by determining whether the pointer has a position within a predetermined distance from the object;

designating an expanded target region in a vicinity of the object in response to determining that the pointer has targeted a location on the object, said expanded target region including the position within the predetermined distance from the object;

displaying a new visual object to represent the expanded target region without user intervention;

then, enabling a user to select the object in response to the pointer targeting locations both in the expanded target region and off the target; and

disabling the object from being selected in response to determining that the pointer targets a location outside the expanded target region.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

enabling the user to manipulate the object in response to the user selecting the object.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the object is located in a two-dimensional scene on the screen.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the expanded target region is circular.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the pointer targets the location on the object if a hotspot of the pointer is located within a predetermined number of pixels of the location.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

visibly altering the object in response to the pointer targeting the object.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said determining whether the pointer targets the object comprises determining whether the pointer is in a target region including pixels within a predetermined distance from the object;

and

wherein said expanded target region has a larger area than the target region.

9. A method for operating a graphical user interface, comprising;

determining whether a user-controlled pointer targets an object displayed on a screen by determining whether the pointer has a position within a predetermined distance from the object;

designating an expanded target region in a vicinity of the object in response to determining that the pointer has targeted a location on the object, said expanded target region including the position within the predetermined distance from the object;

displaying a new visual object to represent the expanded target region without user intervention; and

stopping display of the new visual object in response to the pointer targeting a location outside the expanded target region.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the displaying shows at least a portion of a boundary of the expanded target region.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the new visual object is distinguished from portions of the screen adjacent the new visual object by color, brightness, or texture.

12. A system, comprising:

a computer having a screen and a memory,

the memory encoding an executable program of instructions for operating a graphical user interface, the instructions for causing the computer to;

process signals received from a manually operable mechanical interface for moving a pointer on the screen;

determine whether the pointer targets an object displayed on the screen by determining whether the pointer has a position within a predetermined distance from the object;

designate an expanded target region in a vicinity of the object in response to determining that the pointer has targeted the location of the object, said expanded target region including the position within the predetermined distance from the object;

display a new visual object to represent the expanded target region without user intervention;

enable a user to select the object if the pointer targets a location both in the expanded target region and off the object; and

disable user selections of the object in response to determining that the pointer does targets a location outside the expanded target region and off the object.

13. A storage medium encoding an executable program of instructions for a method of operating a graphical user interface, the method comprising:

determining whether a user-controlled pointer targets an object displayed on a screen by determining whether the pointer has a position within a predetermined distance from the object;

designating an expanded target region in a vicinity of the object in response to determining that the pointer has targeted a location on the object, said expanded target region including the position within the predetermined distance from the object;

displaying a new visual object to represent the expanded target region without user intervention;

then, enabling a user to select the object in response to the pointer targeting locations both in the expanded target region and off the target; and

disabling the object from selections by the user in response to determining that the pointer targets a location outside the expanded target region.

14. The medium of claim 13, the method further comprising:

enabling the user to manipulate the object in response to the user selecting the object.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein the pointer targets the location if a hotspot of the pointer is located within a predetermined number of pixels of the location.

16. A storage medium encoding an executable program of instructions for a method of operating a graphical user interface, the method comprising:

determining whether a user-controlled pointer targets an object displayed on a screen by determining whether the pointer has a position within a predetermined distance from the object;

designating an expanded target region in a vicinity of the object in response to determining that the pointer has targeted a location on the object, said expanded target region including the position within the predetermined distance from the object;

displaying a new visual object to represent the expanded target region without user intervention; and

stopping display of the new visual object in response to the pointer targeting a location outside the expanded target region.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the displaying shows at least a portion of a boundary of the expanded target region.