Patent Application
20060095867
The present invention generally relates to the field of computer displays, and more particularly to a method and system for prominently displaying a cursor upon occurrence of an event.
As the dependency upon computers continues to increase, more efficient and less cumbersome computer interaction is desirable. Conventional computing systems provide for user input via a keyboard and a cursor control device, such as a mouse. Typically, manipulation of a cursor control device, such as a mouse, controls movement of a pointer or cursor on a display of a computing system and control of particular functions.
Although implementation of operating systems with graphical displays has greatly simplified computer interaction, inefficiency is still present within the system under certain conditions. For instance, users of computing systems which employ on-screen cursors often have trouble finding the cursor on the display screen of the computing system after a period of inactivity, especially in systems with hibernation modes and screen savers. Further, some applications use small or narrow cursors while others purposely hide the cursor over certain screen areas. In such applications, it is difficult for a user to locate the cursor even if the user has an idea of where to look. As a result, the user is forced to manipulate the cursor control device causing movement of the cursor in an attempt to locate the cursor. This causes inefficiency and reduces the enjoyment of the computing experience for the user.
Therefore, it would be desirable to create a method and a system which would automatically present the cursor upon an occurrence of an event whereby the cursor is more easily visible to a user.
Accordingly, the present invention is a method and system that automatically presents the cursor whereby the cursor is more easily visible to a user upon an occurrence of an event.
In one embodiment of the invention, a method and system which automatically relocates a cursor to a specified position on a display upon occurrence of an event is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes a display screen for displaying the cursor. A cursor control device, otherwise known as an input device, controls movement of the cursor on the display screen whereby the input device allows movement in two dimensions. Upon detection of an occurrence of an event, the cursor may be automatically relocated to a specified position. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the size of a cursor may increase, the color of a cursor may change, the shape of the cursor may change or the cursor may flash upon detection of an occurrence of an event whereby the cursor is more easily visible to a user.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not necessarily restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention
The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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The next step may be detection of an event 120. An event may be user configurable, such as the lapsing of a period of time of inactivity. Advantageously, the period of time of inactivity may be adjustable, and may be user configurable. In one embodiment of the invention, inactivity may refer to a lack of detected movement of the cursor. It is contemplated that various mechanisms exist for determining a lack of activity of a computing system by those with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and intent of the present invention. Additionally, the event may be receipt of a user-controlled command. For instance, the cursor may be relocated upon a user clicking both the left and right buttons of a mouse simultaneously or, in the alternative, doubling clicking the third button on a mouse. Additionally, detection of an event may be the receipt of user input information on a first page of a multi-page document, whereby the cursor may be automatically placed at another user information box of the next page.
Upon detection of an event, the cursor may be more visibly presented 130. In embodiments of the invention, presentation of the cursor in accordance with the present invention may include automatic relocation to a specified position of a display, such as the top of the screen, center of a screen, lower left/right side of a screen, and the like. Additionally, presentation of the cursor in accordance with the present invention may include flashing of a cursor, enlargement of the cursor, presenting the cursor in a unique color, shape and the like. Flashing of a cursor may refer to the blinking of a cursor, on and off, whereby the flashing cursor is more easily visible to a user.
In an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the mechanism employed for presenting the cursor in a more visible fashion may be user configurable. For instance, the user may be capable of selecting a specified location for automatic relocation of the cursor. Additionally, the user may specify a certain size of the cursor. Furthermore, the user may be capable of selecting a shape from a list of shapes or may be able to provide a graphical image which may be utilized as the cursor upon an occurrence of an event.
In the relocation of the cursor to a specified position, such as the center of a display, it is possible that the center of the screen may be an area in which the mouse cursor is small or hidden. Therefore, the cursor may be displayed in a small transparent window. When the cursor leaves this window, it will return to the appropriate shape for the screen area, and the transparent window is destroyed.
After the cursor has been presented in a more prominent fashion to aid visibility of the cursor, it is contemplated that the cursor may be presented in typical fashion upon receipt of user control 140. User control may include detection of movement of an input device, receipt of an input device command, and the like. For example, a user may specify that the cursor is automatically enlarged and placed in the top right portion of a screen upon the detection of an occurrence of an event. When movement of the input device is detected, the cursor may move from the position in the top right portion of the screen and may return to the size, shape and color as originally provided, (i.e. the size, color and shape before modification to aid visibility for the user in accordance with the present invention).
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It is contemplated that multiple ways of presenting the cursor in a more visible fashion may be employed, such as placing an enlarged cursor in the center of a display without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Additionally, it is contemplated that other ways of displaying a cursor in a more visible fashion may be employed by those with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
A display controller 670 coupled to bus 630 may allow for a generation of a display on a display device 680. The display controller 670 may comprise a video display adapter having all of the devices for driving the display 680, including video random access memory (VRAM), buffer, and graphics engine as desired. A display 680 may comprise a liquid-crystal display (LCD), or may comprise alternative display technologies, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) display, gas or plasma display, or employ flat-screen technology.
An input/output (I/O) controller 660 may allow for user input via I/O devices. I/O controller 660 may comprise one or more controllers or adapters for providing interface functions between one or more input devices 660, such as a mouse, joystick, trackball, trackpad, trackstick and the like. It is contemplated that display 680 is capable of displaying an interface with a cursor whereby the cursor is controlled by the input device 660. Through execution of executable instructions stored in memory 620 or mass storage device 640, computing system 600 may automatically present a prominent cursor upon detection of the occurrence of an event. Additionally, computing system may be capable of performing methods 100, 200 of
In an exemplary embodiment, input device 660 is a mouse. However, it is understood that a number of different pointing devices including a trackball on a keyboard, a touch pad and the like may serve as input devices. Thus, all devices which embody the same concept as a mouse: two-dimensional controlled motion of the hand or fingers that translates into similar motion on the display 680, may be employed and are encompassed by the present invention.
It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in size, materials, shape, form, function, manner of operation, assembly and use of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. Further, it is contemplated that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearranged while remaining within the scope and spirit of the present invention. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
