Method, apparatus, and computer program product for an enhanced mouse pointer

• US 7,647,565 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumolu-Johnson, Oludare Adebankole, Uthe, Robert Thomas, Kim, Steven P., Hayes, Kent Fillmore Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREENE, SABRINA LETICIA
• Application Number:
  US11/059,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/167, 715/861, 715/858, 715/856
• US Class Current: 715/861
• 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, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for selecting links in a page using an enhanced mouse pointer. The page is displayed in a data processing system that includes a mouse that includes a scroll wheel. Multiple links are included in the page. A standard mouse pointer is displayed in the page. An enhanced mouse pointer state is then invoked causing the standard mouse pointer to become an enhanced mouse pointer. In response to invoking the enhanced mouse pointer state, a closest one of the links in the page to the enhanced standard mouse pointer is determined. An enhanced mouse pointer indicator is displayed that extends from the enhanced mouse pointer to the determined closest one of the links. The links may be scrolled through by rotating the scroll wheel.

Claims

1. A method for selecting links in a page in a data processing system using an enhanced mouse pointer, said data processing system including a mouse that includes a scroll wheel, said method comprising:

identifying a plurality of links in said page;

displaying a standard mouse pointer, associated with said mouse, in said page to form a displayed standard mouse pointer;

invoking an enhanced mouse pointer state causing said displayed standard mouse pointer to form a displayed enhanced mouse pointer, wherein said displayed enhanced mouse pointer has a tail and a distal tip;

in response to said invoking said enhanced mouse pointer state, determining a physically closest one of said plurality of links in said page to said displayed enhanced mouse pointer;

displaying an enhanced mouse pointer indicator that extends from said tip of said displayed enhanced mouse pointer to said determined physically closest one of said plurality of links; and

scrolling through said plurality of links sequentially, without moving said mouse, wherein said enhanced mouse pointer indicator moves to each link in said plurality of links in response to a rotation of said scroll wheel.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a predetermined amount of a rotation of said scroll wheel at a time;

moving said enhanced mouse pointer indicator as said scroll wheel is rotated; and

said enhanced mouse pointer indicator extending from said tip of said enhanced mouse pointer to a next physically closest one of said plurality of links as said scroll wheel is rotated each predetermined amount.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

highlighting said determined physically closest one of said plurality of links;

selecting said highlighted physically closest one of said plurality of links; and

traversing to a destination location associated with said selected one of said plurality of links when said physically closest one of said plurality of links is selected.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

invoking an enhanced mouse pointer state causing said displayed standard mouse pointer to become said displayed enhanced mouse pointer in response to a constant depression of a first mouse button included in said mouse for a predetermined amount of time.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

selecting said highlighted physically closest one of said plurality of links while said mouse remains stationary in response to a depression of a second mouse button included in said mouse; and

exiting said enhanced mouse pointer state in response to said depression of said second mouse button.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a search box next to said displayed enhanced mouse pointer;

receiving search text in said search box;

searching each one of said plurality of links for said search text; and

in response to locating at least one of said plurality of links that include said search text, forming a located at least one of said plurality of links and displaying an enhanced mouse pointer indicator that extends from said tip of said enhanced mouse pointer to said located at least one of said plurality of links.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

in response to locating a first plurality of said plurality of links that include said search text, simultaneously displaying a plurality of enhanced mouse pointer indicators, a separate enhanced mouse pointer indicator being displayed that extends from said tip of said enhanced mouse pointer to each one of said plurality of links.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

said displayed enhanced mouse pointer remaining stationary on said page once said enhanced mouse pointer state is invoked; and

movement of said mouse on a surface on which said mouse rests not affecting said enhanced mouse pointer.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

said mouse not being required to be moved on a surface on which said mouse rests in order to scroll through said plurality of links.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

highlighting said determined physically closest one of said plurality of links, selecting said highlighted physically closest one of said plurality of links, and traversing to a destination location associated with said selected one of said plurality of links when said physically closest one of said plurality of links is selected without moving said mouse on a surface on which said mouse rests.

11. An apparatus for selecting links in a page in a data processing system using an enhanced mouse pointer, said data processing system including a CPU and a mouse that includes a scroll wheel, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of links in said page;

a standard mouse pointer, associated with said mouse, displayed in said page, to form a displayed standard mouse pointer;

an enhanced mouse pointer state being invoked causing said displayed standard mouse pointer to form a displayed enhanced mouse pointer, wherein said displayed enhanced mouse pointer has a tail and a distal tip;

in response to said invoking said enhanced mouse pointer state, said CPU executing code for determining a physically closest one of said plurality of links in said page to said displayed enhanced mouse pointer;

said CPU executing code for displaying an enhanced mouse pointer indicator that extends from said tip of said displayed enhanced mouse pointer to said determined physically closest one of said plurality of links; and

said scroll wheel for scrolling through said plurality of links sequentially, without moving said mouse, wherein said enhanced mouse pointer indicator moves to each link in said plurality of links in response to a rotation of said scroll wheel.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

said CPU executing code for receiving a predetermined amount of rotation of said scroll wheel at a time;

said enhanced mouse pointer indicator being moved as said scroll wheel is rotated; and

said enhanced mouse pointer indicator extending from said tip of said enhanced mouse pointer to a next physically closest one of said plurality of links as said scroll wheel is rotated each predetermined amount.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

said CPU executing code for highlighting said determined physically closest one of said plurality of links;

said CPU executing code for selecting said highlighted physically closest one of said plurality of links; and

said CPU executing code for traversing to a destination location associated with said selected one of said plurality of links when said physically closest one of said plurality of links is selected.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

an enhanced mouse pointer state being invoked causing said displayed standard mouse pointer to become said displayed enhanced mouse pointer in response to a constant depression of a first mouse button included in said mouse for a predetermined amount of time.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

said CPU executing code for selecting said highlighted physically closest one of said plurality of links while said mouse remains stationary in response to a depression of a second mouse button included in said mouse; and

said CPU executing code for exiting said enhanced mouse pointer state in response to said depression of said second mouse button.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a search box displayed next to said displayed enhanced mouse pointer;

search text received in said search box;

said CPU executing code for searching each one of said plurality of links for said search text; and

in response to locating at least one of said plurality of links that include said search text, forming a located at least one of said plurality of links, said CPU executing code for displaying an enhanced mouse pointer indicator that extends from said tip of said enhanced mouse pointer to said located at least one of said plurality of links.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

in response to locating a first plurality of said plurality of links that include said search text, said CPU executing code for simultaneously displaying a plurality of enhanced mouse pointer indicators, a separate enhanced mouse pointer indicator being displayed that extends from said tip of said enhanced mouse pointer to each one of said plurality of links.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

said displayed enhanced mouse pointer remaining stationary on said page once said enhanced mouse pointer state is invoked; and

movement of said mouse on a surface on which said mouse rests not affecting said displayed enhanced mouse pointer.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

said mouse not being required to be moved on a surface on which said mouse rests in order to scroll through said plurality of links.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

said CPU executing code for highlighting said determined physically closest one of said plurality of links, selecting said highlighted physically closest one of said plurality of links, and traversing to a destination location associated with said selected one of said plurality of links when said physically closest one of said plurality of links is selected without moving said mouse on a surface on which said mouse rests.

21. A program product stored on a computer readable medium for selecting links in a page in a data processing system using an enhanced mouse pointer, said data processing system including a mouse that includes a scroll wheel managing device identifiers, which when executed by a computer performs the following steps:

identifying a plurality of links in said page;

displaying a standard mouse pointer, associated with said mouse, in said page to form a displayed standard mouse pointer;

invoking an enhanced mouse pointer state causing said displayed standard mouse pointer to form a displayed enhanced mouse pointer, wherein said displayed enhanced mouse pointer has a tail and a distal tip;

in response to said invoking said enhanced mouse pointer state, determining a physically closest one of said plurality of links in said page to said displayed enhanced mouse pointer;

displaying an enhanced mouse pointer indicator that extends from said tip of said displayed enhanced mouse pointer to said determined physically closest one of said plurality of links; and

scrolling through said plurality of links sequentially, without moving said mouse, wherein said enhanced mouse pointer indicator moves to each link in said plurality of links in response to a rotation of said scroll wheel.

22. The program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a predetermined amount of a rotation of said scroll wheel at a time;

moving said enhanced mouse pointer indicator as said scroll wheel is rotated; and

said enhanced mouse pointer indicator extending from said tip of said enhanced mouse pointer to a next physically closest one of said plurality of links as said scroll wheel is rotated each predetermined amount.

23. The program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

highlighting said determined physically closest one of said plurality of links;

selecting said highlighted physically closest one of said plurality of links; and

traversing to a destination location associated with said selected one of said plurality of links when said physically closest one of said plurality of links is selected.

24. The program product according to claim 23, further comprising:

invoking an enhanced mouse pointer state causing said displayed standard mouse pointer to become said displayed enhanced mouse pointer in response to a constant depression of a first mouse button included in said mouse for a predetermined amount of time.

25. The program product according to claim 24, further comprising:

selecting said highlighted physically closest one of said plurality of links while said mouse remains stationary in response to a depression of a second mouse button included in said mouse; and

exiting said enhanced mouse pointer state in response to said depression of said second mouse button.

26. The program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

displaying a search box next to said displayed enhanced mouse pointer;

receiving search text in said search box;

searching each one of said plurality of links for said search text; and

in response to locating at least one of said plurality of links that include said search text, forming a located at least one of said plurality of links and displaying an enhanced mouse pointer indicator that extends from said tip of said enhanced mouse pointer to said located at least one of said plurality of links.

27. The program product according to claim 26, further comprising:

in response to locating a first plurality of said plurality of links that include said search text, simultaneously displaying a plurality of enhanced mouse pointer indicators, a separate enhanced mouse pointer indicator being displayed that extends from said tip of said enhanced mouse pointer to each one of said plurality of links.

28. The program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

said displayed enhanced mouse pointer remaining stationary on said page once said enhanced mouse pointer state is invoked; and

movement of said mouse on a surface on which said mouse rests not affecting said enhanced mouse pointer.

29. The program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

said mouse not being required to be moved on a surface on which said mouse rests in order to scroll through said plurality of links.

30. The program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

highlighting said determined physically closest one of said plurality of links, selecting said highlighted physically closest one of said plurality of links, and traversing to a destination location associated with said selected one of said plurality of links when said physically closest one of said plurality of links is selected without moving said mouse on a surface on which said mouse rests.