EP0567220A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Correlation of cursor position with displayed shapes in a computer system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1993-03-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A computer system 10 comprises a processor unit 14, a keyboard 16, a screen 12 and a mouse 18. A user uses the mouse to control the position of a cursor 20 on the screen, and also to indicate a selected cursor position. To correlate this position with shapes 40, 42 on the display, to determine which if any shapes have been selected, the computer first determines whether a pick rectangle around the selected cursor position overlaps a bounding rectangle 40, 42 around a shape. Those shapes for which an overlap is found are re-drawn into a bit map in memory, which is then examined to see if this drawing process has resulted in a change to the bit map. Any shapes which produce a change in the bit map must overlap the pick rectangle, and so are correlated with the cursor position.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Cummins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04842
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of correlating a cursor position with displayed shapes in a computer system including storage means, means for displaying the shapes and a cursor, and user input means for moving the cursor and selecting a cursor position; said method comprising the steps of: displaying one or more shapes on the display means; determining the bounding rectangle of each displayed shape, and storing information representative of the shape and bounding rectangle; responsive to the user selecting a cursor position, determining a select region for that position; examining the bounding rectangle of each displayed shape to determine whether it overlaps the select region; and characterised by: creating a bit map in the storage means corresponding to the select region; drawing each shape whose bounding rectangle overlaps the select region into the bit map; and examining the bit map to determine whether any shape has written into the select region of the bit map, and if so correlating that shape with the cursor position selected by the user.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of correlating a cursor position with displayed shapes in a computer system including storage means, means for displaying the shapes and a cursor, and user input means for moving the cursor and selecting a cursor position; said method comprising the steps of: displaying one or more shapes on the display means; determining the bounding rectangle of each displayed shape, and storing information representative of the shape and bounding rectangle; responsive to the user selecting a cursor position, determining a select region for that position; examining the bounding rectangle of each displayed shape to determine whether it overlaps the select region; and characterised by: creating a bit map in the storage means corresponding to the select region; drawing each shape whose bounding rectangle overlaps the select region into the bit map; and examining the bit map to determine whether any shape has written into the select region of the bit map, and if so correlating that shape with the cursor position selected by the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of correlating according to claim 1, wherein the step of examining the bit map comprises reading the bit map after each shape has been drawn, and determining whether any bits in the map have been changed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of correlating according to claim 2, wherein the bit map is created with one bit per pixel.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
32 words
A method of correlating according to any preceding claim, wherein said steps of examining the bounding rectangle, drawing each shape, and examining the bit map are performed in succession for each shape.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
17 words
A method of correlating according to any preceding claim, wherein the select region is rectangular in shape.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
29 words
A method of correlating according to any preceding claim, wherein the bounding rectangle of irregular curves are determined by treating them as consisting of a multitude of straight-line segments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
A computer system including storage means, means for displaying shapes and a cursor, user input means for moving the cursor on the display means and for selecting a cursor position, and means for correlating the selected cursor position with displayed shapes; said correlating means comprising: means for determining the bounding rectangle of each displayed shape; means for storing information representative of the shape and bounding rectangle; means responsive to the user selecting a cursor position for determining a select region for that position; means for examining the bounding rectangle to determine whether it overlaps the select region; and characterised by: means for creating a bit map in the storage means corresponding to the select region; means for drawing each shape whose bounding rectangle overlaps the select region into the bit map; and means for examining the bit map to determine whether any shape has written into the select region of the bit map, and if so correlating that shape with the cursor position selected by the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
167 words
A computer system including storage means, means for displaying shapes and a cursor, user input means for moving the cursor on the display means and for selecting a cursor position, and means for correlating the selected cursor position with displayed shapes; said correlating means comprising: means for determining the bounding rectangle of each displayed shape; means for storing information representative of the shape and bounding rectangle; means responsive to the user selecting a cursor position for determining a select region for that position; means for examining the bounding rectangle to determine whether it overlaps the select region; and characterised by: means for creating a bit map in the storage means corresponding to the select region; means for drawing each shape whose bounding rectangle overlaps the select region into the bit map; and means for examining the bit map to determine whether any shape has written into the select region of the bit map, and if so correlating that shape with the cursor position selected by the user.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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