Patent · US Expired

Method and system for activating focus

US5786818A · kind A · utility

118Cited by
10References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 19, 1996
Grant dateJul 28, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 19, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/04842
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for minimizing clicks in the operation of a graphical user interface such as the WINDOWS operating environment is disclosed. Provided for minimizing the need for clicking to operate a graphical user interface is a "Focus" feature, which essentially eliminates the need to click. In particular, the Focus feature eliminates the need to single click on predetermined windows and applications in order to establish a "focus". That is, as a user moves a pointer around the screen in Windows, the Focus feature essentially follows the pointer and the equivalent of a single click is sent to objects such as icons or system menus for the desktop environment, such as file manager and program manager in the explorer window of version 3.1, or such as to system menus when the pointer passes over them.

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