System and method for computer cursor control

US5598183A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Kenneth R. Robertson · Redmond, US
• Paul E. Henderson · Bellevue, US
• Samuel H. Smith · Albuquerque, US
• Carl T. Hellings · Bellevue, US
• James A. Andrews · Issaquah, US
• Eric W. Hanson · Kent, US
• Timothy Brewer · Seattle, US
• Teresa L. Kelsey · Seattle, US
• Anthony R. Claflin · Bellevue, US
• Daniel S. Hoeger · Woodinville, US
• Lora K. McCambridge · Bellevue, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 12, 1995
• Grant date: Jan 28, 1997
• Expiry date: Dec 12, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F3/04812
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A system determining an intended cursor location on the computer display screen and automatically repositions the cursor at the intended location. If the user selects a command that alters the contents of the display, such as opening a new window, the system analyzes the new screen display to determine whether there are user selectable options associated with the new screen display. The system determines if one of the user selectable options is a default option and automatically positions the cursor at the default option. If the new screen display is an application program, the system attempts to locate a user selectable option and repositions the cursor at the user selectable option. When the new window is closed, the system returns the cursor to the position it was at before the new window was opened. The system also predicts an intended location for a screen display that has not been altered, and automatically positions the cursor at the intended location. This feature can be selectively enabled to prevent the inadvertent repositioning of the cursor in the display.