Temporarily moving adjacent or overlapping icons away from specific icons being approached by an on-screen pointer on user interactive display interfaces
US6816176B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 5, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 29, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/04812
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In an interactive display interface, an implementation for setting up around each of the selectable items, e.g. icons, a perimeter zone or halo at a predetermined distance from the perimeter of the item or icon. Thus, when an icon with such a halo is approached by an on-screen pointer, e.g. cursor, there are means for moving an adjacent icon which is within this halo to a screen position beyond this predetermined distance, i.e halo. The moved adjacent icons are subsequently returned to their original positions after a set period of time or after the pointer or cursor has moved beyond the approached icon.One aspect of this invention is directed to an icon state wherein said adjacent icons and selectable icons overlap each other and, thus, it is difficult for the user to distinguish which icon he wishes to select. For such a situation, the invention further includes means for user selection of icons which includes means for sequentially moving all other icons away from each of the overlapping icons for said predetermined period of time to thereby expose each of the overlapping icons in combination with means for sequentially enabling the user selection of each exposed icon.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.