Cursor Patents (Class 715/856)
  • Patent number: 8352881
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program storage device for providing customizable, immediate and radiating menus for accessing applications and actions. Upon initiation of a predetermined user action, such as a right-click operation, a primary menu is displayed and a second radial menu is displayed proximate the primary menu with the cursor position at a predetermined location for minimizing cursor manipulation for selecting a menu item from the second radial menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Frederick Champion, Timothy Andreas Meserth, Mark E. Molander, Patrick Gabor Nyeste, David Thomas Windell, Jeffrey John Smith
  • Patent number: 8351101
    Abstract: A system and method to select a print area to be printed from a document, to search the selected print area for blank areas, and to print and/or store the selected print area, having a size of the searched blank areas turned into a predetermined size or other space marker. Thus, the number of printed pages is reduced by printing only parts of documents in which there exists data for printout. Similarly, readability is improved, and comparison of data with other documents is facilitated. Further, a user can easily select certain content titles in a document for printing and/or storage while skipping underlying data content, and so on, so as to increase the user's satisfaction with printout results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-rim Han, Jae-kyoo Kang
  • Patent number: 8345062
    Abstract: The present invention generates a color template design to format a presentation. According to one aspect, a plurality of template designs are provided on a visual display. A selection of one of the plurality of template designs is received from a user. A plurality of source images that are separate from the plurality of template designs are provided on the visual display. A selection of a color from one of the plurality of source images is received from the user. Colors of the selected template design are automatically adjusted to match the selected the color from the source image. The selected template design may include framing, mat, background, and foreground portions, at least one of which is adjusted. After automatically adjusting the colors, the selected template design may be displayed and/or stored for use as a template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Edwards, Clay Harvey Fisher
  • Patent number: 8345058
    Abstract: A graphics display device and method performing display indicating that graphics software for graphics drawing is an evaluation version including storing a display pattern indicating that the graphics software is an evaluation version, storing a parameter indicating a display method of the display pattern and displaying the display pattern based on the parameter by a cursor display hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Takeo Komichi
  • Patent number: 8341537
    Abstract: Indication of delayed content output is described. In an implementation, content is output for display as a user interface having one or more selectable elements. When a cursor is positioned proximally to one of the selectable elements, a graphical symbol is output in the user interface that indicates a delay of a user-specified amount of time before additional content is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ethan Ray, Hauke A. Gentzkow
  • Patent number: 8330715
    Abstract: A method involving: (i) detecting one of a plurality of possible directional input commands for controlling the position of a cursor in a display; (ii) determining whether the detected directional input should be interpreted as an input under a free-roaming mode or under an attraction mode (iii) if the detected directional input is interpreted as an input under the free-roaming mode then determining an end position at a predetermined magnitude from the current position on a bearing determined by the detected directional input (iv) if the detected directional input is interpreted as an input under the attraction mode then determining the end position as coincident with a selectable item; (v) moving the cursor from the current position to the determined end position in a series of steps; and (vi) setting the end position as the current position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Sriram Yadavalli, Yongjun Zhang, Antti Koivisto
  • Patent number: 8330717
    Abstract: In the medical image interpreting apparatus having a pointing device for moving a cursor, medical image, interpretation report, and cursor are displayed on a display screen, and initial movement information and information on the destination of movement of the cursor are linked and stored, via the pointing device when the cursor begins to move, said initial movement information relevant to the initial movement is retrieved to obtain the linked information on the destination of movement and the cursor is moved to the destination of movement indicated in the obtained information on the destination of movement. Due to this, just by slightly moving the cursor, the cursor jumps to the desired destination of movement, therefore, it becomes possible to omit an operation of the pointing device in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kawakami, Kenichi Niwa, Maki Minakuchi, Takashi Kondo, Takashi Masuzawa
  • Patent number: 8331685
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method that provides a display area for displaying an image that includes several of edges. The method provides a border drawing tool that in response to cursor movement across the image displays a search window about the cursor. The search window specifies a region to be searched to identify edges for use in defining a border for the image. In some embodiments, the size of the search window varies based on the speed of the cursor. The search window is a square box in some embodiments and a circle in other embodiments. The search window is centered at the cursor in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the display area is also for displaying the defined border over the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Pettigrew, Dan Candela
  • Patent number: 8321813
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for modifying and improving pointing device operation. The apparatus comprises a signal detector, a signal modifier, and a signal transmitter. The apparatus intercepts pointing device signals before application programs receive them. The signal detector continuously listens for signals generated by a pointing device, or a pointing device program. Responsive to the signal detector detecting a pointing device signal, the signal modifier determines what type of GUI element is located at the current pointer location. Based upon the identified GUI element, the signal modifier modifies the pointing device signal appropriately. The signal transmitter then relays the modified signal to any other programs that would have received the original signal if not for the action of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Fu Chen, Raymond Tang Wang
  • Publication number: 20120297341
    Abstract: A computerized system for hopping between an existing population of I/O devices, each I/O device being operative to communicate with operating systems in accordance with a respective I/O protocol, the system comprising a mobile operating system operative to execute at least one application by communicating with a selectable individual one of the existing population of I/O devices, including selectably interacting with the selectable individual I/O device in accordance with its respective I/O protocol, wherein the population of I/O devices from which the individual I/O device is selected includes a plurality of I/O devices including at least one I/O device which is not housed with the operating system; and hardware within which the mobile operating system resides and interacting with the mobile operating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: SCREENOVATE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Joshua Glazer, Matan Shapira, Gilad Yehiel Ben-Yossef
  • Patent number: 8316324
    Abstract: A touchless sensing unit (110) and method (200) for operating a device via touchless control is provided. The method can include detecting (210) a finger (310) within a touchless sensory space (101), and handling (220) a control of the device (100) in accordance with a movement of the finger. A first finger movement can be recognized for acquiring a control, and a second finger movement for selecting a control. The method can include estimating (230) a location of the finger in the touchless sensory space for acquiring the control, and identifying a finger movement (250) of the finger at the location for selecting the control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: NaviSense
    Inventor: Marc Boillot
  • Patent number: 8312371
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a device with a touch screen display is disclosed. In the method, a multifinger twisting gesture is detected on or near the touch screen display. The multifinger twisting gesture has a corresponding degree of rotation. A 90° screen rotation command is executed if the corresponding degree of rotation exceeds a predefined degree of rotation. A screen rotation command with an acute angle of rotation is executed and, upon ceasing to detect the multifinger twisting gesture, a screen rotation command with an angle of rotation opposite to the acute angle is executed if the corresponding degree of rotation is less than the predefined degree of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Bas Ording
  • Patent number: 8312390
    Abstract: When a user interface cursor hovers over a user interface item, a determination is made as to whether the user interface item has an associated screentip. If the user interface item has an associated screentip, text associated with the screentip is identified, a translated text string is located for the text string, and the translated text string is displayed in the screentip. If the user interface item does not have an associated screentip, a determination is made as to whether the user interface item contains a text string. If so, a determination is made as to whether a translated text string is available that corresponds to the text in the user interface item. If so, the translated text string is displayed in a screentip for the user interface item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Colin Fitzpatrick, John Patrick Whelan, Robert Patrick Doyle, John Gerard Lane, Barry McHugh, Terry Farrell, Paul Barnes, Andre Michael McQuaid, David Mowatt
  • Patent number: 8310445
    Abstract: A remote-control system including a remote-control apparatus and an apparatus to be controlled that are connected to each other via a network has an input unit configured to transmit a control event used for controlling the apparatus to be controlled by the remote-control apparatus, a generation unit configured to generate a first control amount of a coordinate space displayed by the apparatus to be controlled based on a second control amount of the control event transmitted from the input unit, and a control unit configured to control the apparatus to be controlled based on the first control amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriaki Sato
  • Patent number: 8306693
    Abstract: An input system for vehicle includes an actuator operable by an operator, a controller outputting a display signal in response to an operation on the actuator, and a display to display an image based on the display signals. The controller outputs a control signal to a target device that performs one or more functions. The image includes a graphic object indicating the actuator, one or more arrows located around the graphic object, and one or more function indicators located in one or more directions indicated by the one or more arrows, respectively. The one or more function indicators indicate the one or more functions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8302021
    Abstract: A graphical user interface allows performing operations simply by dragging a first object over a second object. One or more attributes of the second object are effectively “picked up” by virtue of dragging over the second object. In this manner, the user interface is more friendly, more intuitive, and reduces the number of pointer clicks to implement a particular function, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Dean Dettinger, Daniel Paul Kolz, Shannon Everett Wenzel
  • Patent number: 8302022
    Abstract: An in-vehicle display apparatus includes (i) an operation device having an operation knob, and (ii) a display control device having a display section. The operation device has a drive section which gives force to the operation knob. When the display section displays a display window to enable a scroll display in which several selection buttons are circulated, the display control device acquires a reactive force map. The map specifies that a vibration is applied to the operation knob when the cursor is located on the selection button at the tail end of the series of the selection buttons in the display window. The display control device then instructs the drive section to apply the vibration to the operation knob based on the acquired reactive force map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makiko Tauchi, Takeshi Yamamoto, Nozomi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 8296662
    Abstract: The image display includes a bandwidth calculating means that calculates bandwidth of image data transmitted from a plurality of computer devices, based on at least any one piece of information about the position and movement of a cursor displayed in a display image and a transmission amount control means that controls data transmission amounts of the plurality of computer devices, based on the bandwidth of the image data. Incidentally, the bandwidth calculating means calculates a priority level from the number of cursors existing in a display frame of each of the computer devices, and determines the bandwidth based on the priority level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Amano
  • Patent number: 8289193
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable, handheld housing, and a display and keyboard carried by the portable, handheld housing. The keyboard may include a plurality of multi-symbol keys each having indicia of a plurality of respective symbols thereon, and a predetermined multi-symbol key may have a comma/apostrophe symbol and at least one other symbol thereon. A controller may be used for generating, in response to an ambiguous input including an ambiguous punctuations input, a menu of possible desired words including at least one word with a comma and at least one word with an apostrophe and at least one other character additional to the ambiguous input. The device further includes a multiple-axis input device that is operable to provide movement inputs to move to, for example, a variant output and is further operable to provide a selection input as to, for example, the variant output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Sherryl Lee Lorraine Scott
  • Patent number: 8291347
    Abstract: The presence of new unread electronic messages received, that is, messages received since unread messages were last reviewed, is provided by indicia presented to the user. These indicia can take various forms, such as by bolding, flashing, changing the size or color of a count of unread messages, and/or the unread message icon. Alternatively, a separate indication, such as a second count representing the number of new unread electronic messages received, or some other symbol, such as an explanation point, can be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Andrew D. Bocking
  • Patent number: 8291346
    Abstract: The present invention can include three-dimensional remote control systems that can detect an absolute location to which a remote control is pointing in first and second orthogonal axes and an absolute position of the remote control in a third orthogonal axis. Remote control systems of the present invention can employ absolute position detection with relative position detection. Absolute position detection can indicate an initial absolute position of the remote control and relative position detection can indicate changes in the position of the remote control. By combining absolute and relative position detection, remote control systems of the present invention can track remote controls more precisely than systems that only employ absolute position detection. The present invention also can include methods and apparatus for zooming in and out of an image shown on a display based on the absolute position of the remote control in the third axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Duncan Robert Kerr, Chad Bronstein, Wing Kong Low, Nicholas Vincent King
  • Publication number: 20120260219
    Abstract: A processing system includes a touch screen display, and another input device such as a track pad and/or mouse. The processing system includes a graphical user interface (GUI) having a cursor control component to hide the cursor on the touch screen display when an input signal is sensed from the touch screen display, and to show the cursor on the touch screen display when the input signal is sensed from the other input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Jose P. Piccolotto
  • Patent number: 8281260
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus is provided with a display section, and can be instructed to be operated by a pointer displayed on the display section, and includes a detection section for detecting, from an input image of a hand, a position of the hand in the image, an operation section for obtaining a probability that the hand exists in the image by using the latest detection result detected by the detection section, and a value of a probability distribution function having a peak at a position which has been evaluated last time as a position at which a probability that the hand exists is high, and a pointer display section for moving the pointer, on the basis of an evaluation value obtained from the probability, to a position at which the probability that the hand exists is the highest and displaying the pointer at the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Satoru Ishigaki, Toshifumi Ootake, Kei Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8276099
    Abstract: The invention's features improve the user interaction of Caret and Selection manipulation in text GUI components. The Precaret, like the Caret, indicates a position between text characters, but unlike the Caret, the Precaret continually tracks the Cursor, jumping from position to position to indicate exactly where the Caret will be placed when the mouse is clicked. The Gapper visually indicates a gap of one or more white space characters in the text or a gap of white space between paragraphs; the Gapper tracks either the Precaret or the Caret, whichever moved last. An enhanced Cursor switches to a less-obtrusive form while it is over text so as not to obscure the position of the Precaret while moving the mouse or the leading edge of the Selection while dragging the mouse. The Caret and Precaret change shape to indicate a special feature of a position within the text, such as the wrapping of one text row to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: David Arthur Yost
  • Patent number: 8276100
    Abstract: An input control device for enabling the user to perform predetermined operation for an icon simply by performing move operation of a pointer without button operation is provided. An operation selection area generation section 167 generates position information of an area indicating operation corresponding to selection and activation of predetermined operation for an object to be selected, and a display section 15 displays an operation selection area based on the operation selection area position information. When an operation selection determination section 168 determines that a pointer arrives at the operation selection area, it instructs a control section 19 to execute operation for the icon corresponding to the operation selection area information. Upon reception of the instruction, the control section 19 activates and executes the operation corresponding to the operation selection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nagai, Koichi Sakai, Hideo Kawai
  • Patent number: 8261211
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improving touch-screen interface usability and accuracy by determining the trajectory of a pointer as it approaches the touch-screen and modifying the touch-screen display accordingly. The system may predict an object on the display the user is likely to select next. The system may designate this object as a Designated Target Object, or DTO. The system may modify the appearance of the DTO by, for example, changing the size of the DTO, or by changing its shape, style, coloring, perspective, positioning, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Pahud, Oscar E. Murillo, Amy K. Karlson, Benjamin B. Bederson
  • Patent number: 8261207
    Abstract: A technique to navigate through one or more menus of a handheld computer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique uses a handheld device having a first button to cause a cursor to navigate through a plurality of menu items and to highlight a desired menu item. The device also has a second button to cause the cursor to navigate through a plurality of menus when the cursor is highlighting one of the menus or a first menu item, and to cause the cursor to highlight a previous menu item when the cursor is highlighting a menu item other than the first menu item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hawkins, Robert Y. Haitani, Debbie O. Chyi, William B. Rees, Vitaly Kruglikov
  • Patent number: 8255802
    Abstract: A method of facilitating navigation of a sequence of source images the method using tokens representing each source image which are scaled versions of each source image and which are arranged adjacently on a display device in a continuous band of token images so that a pointer device can point to a token and the identity of the corresponding image is available for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Forbidden Technologies PLC
    Inventor: Stephen Bernard Streater
  • Publication number: 20120216150
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium including instructions, and a computer-implemented method for manipulating one or more objects in a graphical user interface for a display device is presented. A start of a path selection mode is detected. A first path traversed by a cursor in the graphical user interface is detected, with the first path intersecting one or more objects in a plurality of objects displayed in the graphical user interface of the display device. A curve corresponding to the first path is displayed in the graphical user interface. An end of the path selection mode is detected. A selection state of the one or more objects is updated based on the curve, the selection state including a selected state and a deselected state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Business Objects Software Ltd.
    Inventor: Gregg Wernecke
  • Patent number: 8248365
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to assisting users to position a pointer on a target. Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and computer-readable medium that guide a pointer toward a target. After the pointer is located on a target, pointer movement continues to be adjusted so that the user may easily keep the pointer located on the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick M. Baudisch, Adam Eversole, Paul S. Hellyar
  • Patent number: 8250486
    Abstract: A computer controlled graphical user interface implementation comprising displaying a set of graphic tools in a primary container location on the display in combination with an implement for using a selected tool to create a graphic object at a selected display location that is changeable as the object is being created in which there are provided functions responsive to the creation of the graphic object for displaying a secondary container containing a duplicate of the selected tool proximate the location of the graphic object, the secondary container being dynamically moveable responsive to the graphics object creation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: James Lee Lentz
  • Patent number: 8245150
    Abstract: A parts catalog system is provided. The system may include a processor and a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor and including a memory in which is stored a database configured to catalog collections of data associated with and identifying hardware items. The system may also include a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to display at least some of the data associated with and identifying a hardware item including. The displayed data may include a graphical representation of the hardware item. The displayed data may also include a data field integrated with the graphical representation illustrating the physical significance of the data within the data field with regard to the hardware item illustrated by the graphical representation. The data field may also be configured to accept input to designate a desired value for the data within the data field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Katter, Jr., Dennis L. Faux, David H. Bigelow, William C. Hurt, II
  • Patent number: 8245156
    Abstract: A method comprising of displaying a GUI object is disclosed. The method displays a first graphical user interface (GUI) object with multiple selectable GUI items. The method detects a movement of a cursor in a direction of a particular selectable GUI item. The method determines an expected location for the stopping of the cursor. The method displays, at the expected location, a second GUI object corresponding to the particular GUI item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre M. Mouilleseaux, Charles J. Migos
  • Patent number: 8241912
    Abstract: A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes a primary display that displays a randomly selected outcome. The gaming system includes a multi-touch input system having a multi-touch sensing device, a memory, and a local controller. The multi-touch sensing device includes an array of input sensors that detect a multi-point gesture. Each sensor detects a touch input made by a player of the wagering game. The memory includes gesture classification codes each representing a distinct combination of characteristics relating to the gesture. The local controller receives data indicative of at least two of the characteristics related to the multi-point gesture and determines whether the data corresponds to any of the gesture classification codes. A main controller is coupled to the local controller to receive the gesture classification code responsive to the local controller determining that the data corresponds to a gesture classification code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy C. Loose
  • Patent number: 8237664
    Abstract: A user interface is presented for mobile devices that provides for efficient and logical movement between applications on the mobile device. Multiple applications may be used simultaneously and interactively. Such uses and data are stored on the device and re-presented to the user at subsequent uses to provide efficiencies in commonly used functions, applications, and contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Scott Allen Swanbufg, Mark Wuthnow, Roger Mahler, Megan Klenzak
  • Patent number: 8234794
    Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for indicating additional character combination choices from a disambiguation function on a handheld electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Sherryl Lee Lorraine Scott, Zaheen Somani
  • Patent number: 8230366
    Abstract: A dynamic cursor for a computer graphical user interface changes according to the processing state of applications over which the cursor is located, or with respect to an operating system element. A normal cursor is displayed when either the operating system element, or an application over which the cursor is located, can be accessed in a normal manner. A standard wait cursor is displayed over busy applications that require a user to wait until interacting with the application, when the application is active in the foreground of the computer system. When the application is busy and operating in the background, a hybrid wait cursor is displayed that indicates to the user the busy state of the application and the user's ability to interact with operating system elements or other applications regardless of this busy state. Other forms of hybrid cursors are disclosed that indicate the results of a drag operation, and quantitative data pertaining to objects being dragged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Imran A. Chaudhri
  • Patent number: 8230357
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for visually processing instance data. A visual placeholder for a data instance is provided as part of the design experience. A runtime configurable metadata store is provided to maintain the mappings between types and designers. Thus, configurations can be altered at the runtime of the control, rather than a fixed set of potential templates being provided at design time. Item presenters render contained data instances of a type using a designer specified in the metadata store. Item presenters can be used when a data instance is exposed as a property on the containing type. As such, property values can be visually moved to and from other properties, potentially within multiple owning objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew R. Winkler, Ramrajprabu Balasubramanian, Balasubramanian Shyamsundar
  • Patent number: 8225226
    Abstract: A system that enables a user to interact with a virtual control panel using a user controlled pointing object. The system includes a portable identification element, a tracking unit adapted to capture data representing the position of the pointing object and the position of the identification element, a storage unit, storing at least one pre-defined graphical interface representing a control panel of a device, a graphics unit, generating a graphical representation of the control panel, a registering unit, registering the graphical representation of the control panel in a fixed relation to the portable identification element to produce a virtual control panel and a display unit, showing the user a view including the real world and the virtual control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Charlotte Skourup, John Pretlove, Thomas Pettersen
  • Publication number: 20120174010
    Abstract: Media content flocking is disclosed. According to implementations, a method can include displaying a first sequence of objects on a display of a computing device, receiving a selection of at least two non-adjacent objects from the first sequence, and animating the at least two non-adjacent objects to move along respective paths from the display of the first sequence to a current location of a cursor on the display. The objects in the first sequence can be video clips or other types of media, such as presentation slides, audio clips or any other media that can be manipulated in a timeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Gary Flint, Stefan Hafeneger
  • Publication number: 20120159400
    Abstract: A system for learned mouse affinities, including: a context listener to determine a context in which a user is operating, wherein the context listener also listens for an occurrence of a trigger event within the context; a mouse listener to recognize a mouse action by the user; and a mapping stored on a memory device, wherein the mapping includes mouse actions mapped to context actions, wherein the context actions correspond to the trigger event, wherein the context action is implemented in response to the mouse action according to the profile and after the occurrence of the trigger event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Al Chakra, Liam Harpur, Mark Kelly, John Rice
  • Patent number: 8205165
    Abstract: The method and the apparatus object of present invention refers to a system and A method that create, save and format text documents using a device with gaze control and a system of quick positioning of the cursor. The present invention provides a faster interaction and requires a minimum effort with respect to the state of the art interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: SR Labs S.R.L.
    Inventor: Gianluca Dal Lago
  • Patent number: 8196051
    Abstract: A novel technique automatically stores synchronized group history related to an online group interaction and enables individual group members to later view and access the group history. In an embodiment of the invention, the group history is accessible by group members independently of group interactions at any later time. According to various embodiments of the invention, the group history may be presented in an overview form or a detailed form. With respect to the detailed form, the group history may be presented graphically, such as in an icon timeline or collage, textually, such as in list form, or in any combination of presentation formats. In a further embodiment of the invention, the synchronized group history is writable by group members in addition to being automatically maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Melora Zaner, Eun-Kyung Chung, Geoffrey Elliott, Heather Ferguson, Tammy Savage, Jonathan Sposato, John Vert, Joe Walkush
  • Patent number: 8188971
    Abstract: In the medical image interpreting apparatus having a pointing device for moving a cursor, medical image, interpretation report, and cursor are displayed on a display screen, and initial movement information and information on the destination of movement of the cursor are linked and stored, via the pointing device when the cursor begins to move, said initial movement information relevant to the initial movement is retrieved to obtain the linked information on the destination of movement and the cursor is moved to the destination of movement indicated in the obtained information on the destination of movement. Due to this, just by slightly moving the cursor, the cursor jumps to the desired destination of movement, therefore, it becomes possible to omit an operation of the pointing device in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiva, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kawakami, Kenichi Niwa, Maki Minakuchi, Takashi Kondo, Takashi Masuzawa
  • Publication number: 20120131512
    Abstract: Sequentially displaying posts apart from each other on a computer screen, including prompting a user to input a dimension element including one or more of a character, graphic, or symbol on the computer screen; identifying posts containing one or more dimension elements; sequentially displaying the identified posts apart from each other along a first axis; displaying a moveable cursor along the first axis across one or more displayed posts and that indicates only one or more particular posts; moving the cursor according to the user's operation; identifying one or more posts at a position currently indicated by the cursor; identifying one or more additional posts containing one or more dimension elements related to the elements contained in the posts currently indicated by the cursor; and sequentially displaying posts of the one or more additionally identified posts along a second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki Takeuchi, Yasuyuki Tominaga, Naomi Zenge
  • Publication number: 20120130779
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for managing the display of graphical content within a user interface window of a display. A first set of messaging content data is processed to render a first set of graphics data in a target area of the display. The presence of a second set of rendered graphics data is detected and defined as a target area of the display. The second set of rendered graphics data in the target area of the display is replaced by the first set of rendered graphics data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Ronald Perez, Piranavan Selvanandan
  • Patent number: 8184096
    Abstract: Responsive to a trigger event, a first cursor state having a first visual appearance is transitioned into a second cursor state having a second visual appearance. A transition type and transition time can be specified so that the transition can be visually perceived by a user. The cursor states can be associated with different cursor types and/or cursor schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John O. Louch
  • Patent number: 8184124
    Abstract: The present invention generates a color template design to format a presentation. According to one aspect, a plurality of template designs are provided on a visual display. A selection of one of the plurality of template designs is received from a user. A plurality of source images that are separate from the plurality of template designs are provided on the visual display. A selection of a color from one of the plurality of source images is received from the user. Colors of the selected template design are automatically adjusted to contrast with the selected the color from the source image. The selected template design may include framing, mat, background, and foreground portions, at least one of which is adjusted. After automatically adjusting the colors, the selected template design may be displayed and/or stored for use as a template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony ELectronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Edwards, Clay Harvey Fisher
  • Publication number: 20120124389
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided to facilitate protecting media such as images, documents, video streams, and the like, from unauthorized copying or distribution. The method is based on requiring certain conditions to be filled prior to, and during, display of the media on a user display. The conditions for display may require pointing device cursor placement, operating certain keys, and the like. Permissions are granted to users by the media owners and the permissions are checked prior to display. Thus the user is prevented from copying the media and using it illicitly, and the media owner may share media while at the same time maintaining control over the use thereof. The system may also be utilized to provide time-limited access to certain materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: PROTECTEDPIX
    Inventors: Joanne Villani, Joshua Fialkoff, Eric Heinz, Alexei Selivanov, Kozlov Sergey Aleksandrovich, Shalom Wertsberger
  • Patent number: RE43633
    Abstract: A system for indexing displayed elements that is useful for accessing and understanding new or difficult materials, in which a user highlights unknown words or characters or other displayed elements encountered while viewing displayed materials. In a language learning application, the system displays the meaning of a word in context; and the user may include the word in a personal vocabulary to build a database of words and phrases. In a Japanese language application, one or more Japanese language books are read on an electronic display. Readings (‘yomi’) for all words are readily viewable for any selected word or phrase, as well as an English reference to the selected word or phrase. Extensive notes are provided for difficult phrases and words not normally found in a dictionary. A unique indexing scheme allows word-by-word access to any of several external multi-media references.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sentius International LLC
    Inventors: Marc Bookman, Brian Yamanaka