Patent · US Expired

Method for selecting graphical objects in quadrants with a cursor

US5459831A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
3References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 6, 1994
Grant dateOct 17, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 6, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S715/964
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A technique for organizing graphical objects in a graphics database that facilitates the rapid selection of one or more graphical objects on a computer display screen. Graphical objects are stored in the graphics database using a spatially organized data structure. The spacially organized data structure is formed by recursively subdividing the graphics space until each subspace contains no more than a predetermined number of graphical objects. The spacially organized database is ideally suited for spacial queries required to select, based on visual criteria, graphical objects appearing on a display screen. Graphical objects may be selected in response to a cursor moving about a display screen under programmer control, or in response to a system request to identify one or more objects spacially located in a given portion of the graphics space.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.