Apparatus and method for controlling cursor movement
US5510811A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 25, 1992 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 25, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/04892
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for navigating through an application program on a computer coupled to a computer-controlled display screen. The user can control the cursor position on the computer-controlled display using simple controls. The invention may use a hand-held controller with a four direction control button and a function select button. The computer accepts the direction input information and moves the cursor or focus according to one of three different navigation functions. The first two navigation functions are selected by the application program, and may change from one navigation to another in different portions of the program or under user control. With the first navigation function, the direction buttons on the controller shift the focus from one hot spot to another hot spot in the selected direction using predefined criteria. With the second navigation function, the focus is shifted from a present position on the computer-controlled display to the adjacent position in the selected direction. If the function select button is depressed while the focus is on a hot spot, the function associated with that particular hot spot are enabled. A third navigation function is enable…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.