Claims
- 1. A system for tracking and replicating the operation of a cursor manipulation device in a computer system, the computer system comprising a monitor and a cursor manipulation device having an icon representing the location of a cursor on the monitor, the system for tracking and replicating comprising:
- recording means for capturing a plurality of data points transmitted by said cursor manipulation device and a first multiplicity of events on said monitor, said datapoints and said events on said monitor occurring while said icon travels between a first location and a second location on said monitor, said recording means also being operative to identify said first and second locations; and
- means for replicating the movement of the icon including:
- means for replaying said data points;
- means for identifying a third location of the icon on the screen as a result of the replay of said data points; and
- means for causing said icon to move from said third location to said second location, if said third location is not generally identical to said second location.
- 2. A system for tracking and replicating the operation of a cursor manipulation device in a computer system, the computer system comprising a monitor and a cursor manipulation device having an icon representing the location of a cursor on the monitor, the system for tracking and replicating comprising:
- capture means for capturing a plurality of data points transmitted by said cursor manipulation device and a first multiplicity of events on said monitor, said datapoints and said events on said monitor occurring while said icon travels between a first location and a second location on said monitor;
- identification means, utilizing said first multiplicity of events, for identifying at least said first and second locations;
- replaying means for replaying said captured data points to cause said icon to travel between said first and a third location and for capturing a second multiplicity of events on said monitor; and
- feedback means for causing said icon to travel between said third location and said second location.
- 3. A system for tracking the operation of a cursor manipulation device in a computer system, the computer system comprising a monitor and a cursor manipulation device having an icon representing the location of a cursor on said monitor, the system for tracking comprising:
- capture means for capturing a plurality of data points transmitted by said cursor manipulation device and a first multiplicity of events on said monitor, said datapoints and said events on said monitor occurring while said icon travels between a first location and a second location on said monitor; and
- identification means, utilizing said first multiplicity of events, for identifying at least said first and second locations.
- 4. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said cursor manipulation device is a relative movement device.
- 5. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said cursor manipulation device is an absolute pointing device.
- 6. A system according to claim 2 and wherein said cursor manipulation device is an absolute pointing device.
- 7. A system according to claim 3 and wherein said cursor manipulation device is an absolute pointing device.
- 8. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said means for identifying utilizes an estimated location of said icon and an output to said screen.
- 9. A system according to claim 8 and wherein said means for identifying include means for preparing to identify operative while said icon travels between said first location to said second location and means for performing the identification operative once said icon arrives at said second location.
- 10. A system according to claim i and wherein said first and second locations are track terminators.
- 11. A system according to claim 8 and wherein said means for identifying includes means for actively searching said output to said screen.
- 12. A system according to claim 2 and wherein said feedback means include means for providing artificial cursor manipulation data points corresponding to the distance between said second and third locations.
- 13. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising means for learning shape characteristics of an icon.
- 14. A system according to claim 2 and also comprising means for learning shape characteristics of an icon.
- 15. A system according to claim 3 and also comprising means for learning shape characteristics of an icon.
- 16. A system according to claim 13 and also comprising means for identifying the location of a hotpoint of said icon.
- 17. A system according to claim 14 and also comprising means for identifying the location of a hotpoint of said icon.
- 18. A system according to claim 15 and also comprising means for identifying the location of a hotpoint of said icon.
- 19. A method for tracking and replicating the operation of a cursor manipulation device in a computer system, the computer system comprising a monitor and a cursor manipulation device having an icon representing the location of a cursor on the monitor, the method comprising the steps of:
- capturing a plurality of data points transmitted by said cursor manipulation device and a first multiplicity of events on said monitor, said datapoints and said events on said monitor occurring while said icon travels between a first location and a second location on said monitor,
- identifying said first and second locations; and
- replicating the movement of the icon including the steps of:
- replaying said data points;
- identifying a third location of the icon on the screen as a result of the replay of said data points; and
- causing said icon to move from said third location to said second location, if said third location is not generally identical to said second location.
- 20. A method for tracking and replicating the operation of a cursor manipulation device in a computer system, the computer system comprising a monitor and a cursor manipulation device having an icon representing the location of a cursor on the monitor, the method for tracking and replicating comprising the steps of:
- capturing a plurality of data points transmitted by said cursor manipulation device and a first multiplicity of events on said monitor, said datapoints and said events on said monitor occurring while said icon travels between a first location and a second location on said monitor;
- identifying at least said first and second locations by utilizing said first multiplicity of events;
- replaying said captured data points to cause said icon to travel between said first and a third location;
- capturing a second multiplicity of events on said monitor;
- artificially causing said icon to travel between said third location and said second location.
- 21. A method for tracking the operation of a cursor manipulation device in a computer system, the computer system comprising a monitor and a cursor manipulation device having an icon representing the location of a cursor on said monitor, the method for tracking comprising the steps of:
- capturing a plurality of data points transmitted by said cursor manipulation device and a first multiplicity of events on said monitor, said datapoints and said events on said monitor occurring while said icon travels between a first location and a second location on said monitor; and
- identifying at least said first and second locations by utilizing said first multiplicity of events.
- 22. A method according to claim 19 and wherein said step of identifying utilizes an estimated location of said icon and an output to said screen.
- 23. A method according to claim 19 and wherein said step of identifying includes the step of preparing to identify operative while said icon travels between said first location to said second location and the step of performing the identification operative once said icon arrives at said second location.
- 24. A method according to claim 19 and wherein said first and second locations are track terminators.
- 25. A method according to claim 22 and wherein said step of identifying includes the step of actively searching said output to said screen.
- 26. A method according to claim 20 and wherein said step of artificially causing includes the step of providing artificial cursor manipulation data points corresponding to the distance between said second and third locations.
- 27. A method according to claim 19 and also comprising the step of learning shape characteristics of an icon.
- 28. A method according to claim 20 and also comprising the step of learning shape characteristics of an icon.
- 29. A method according to claim 21 and also comprising the step of learning shape characteristics of an icon.
- 30. A method according to claim 27 and also comprising the step of identifying the location of a hotpoint of said icon.
- 31. A method according to claim 28 and also comprising the step of identifying the location of a hotpoint of said icon.
- 32. A method according to claim 29 and also comprising the step of identifying the location of a hotpoint of said icon.
Parent Case Info
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/298,357 filed on Aug. 30, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,185 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/690,878 filed on Apr. 23, 1991 (now abandoned) which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/618,742 filed on Nov. 27, 1990 (now abandoned).
US Referenced Citations (11)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
298357 |
Aug 1994 |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
690878 |
Apr 1991 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
618742 |
Nov 1990 |
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