Patent · US Expired

Rubber band graphical user interface control

US6677965B1 · kind B1 · utility

187Cited by
15References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 13, 2000
Grant dateJan 13, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 3, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/04855
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A rubber band variable-rate GUI control for use in conjunction with GUI controls, such as sliders, scroll bars, virtual joysticks, and oppositional buttons (up/down, left/right, plus/minus, next/previous, etc.). A user may place a pointer or cursor over a GUI control, select (e.g. click and hold a mouse button) and drag away from the control, and a virtual rubber band extending between the pointer and the GUI control is displayed. The further the user moves or “pulls” the pointer from the GUI control, the thinner and more elyptical the rubber band is displayed, and the faster the selections scrolls or the control operation is repeated. When the user moves the pointer closer to GUI control, the rubber band is displayed fatter and more circular in shape, and the scrolling or control operation repetition slows.

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