Proximity selection of selectable item in a graphical user interface
US6717600B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 6, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/04842
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The focus on a selectable item, such as a menu item, desktop icon, hyperlink, etc., changes based on proximity of the cursor. Whenever a portion of the area surrounding the cursor moves over a portion of the selectable item, the item can be selected upon a mouse click or other selection means. In addition, the displayed region or window or page is divided up into non-overlapping regions among the selectable items. When the cursor moves into one of the non-overlapping regions, the item associated with that region would be selected if a selection means were to be utilized. Furthermore, focus is changed to an item if a cursor moves toward it. As such, the direction of movement of the cursor predicts the item the user is moving towards. The item then becomes selectable.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.