Method and apparatus for controlling movement of cursor

Claim 1

In a system for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen in accordance with movement command information from manually operated cursor movement actuation means, a method for controlling movement of the cursor comprising the steps of: sequentially receiving movement command information from said cursor movement actuation means; calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the received movement command information; detecting coordinates on a curved line drawn on the display screen which detected coordinates are in the vicinity of the calculated coordinates; altering the coordinates of the destination of the cursor to the detected coordinates and displaying the cursor at the altered coordinates to sequentially move the cursor along the curved line in accordance with the received information.

Claim 8

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on a display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; calculation means for calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the produced command information; search means for locating coordinates on the curved line which are in the vicinity of the coordinates calculated by said calculation means; and coordinate altering means for altering the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to the located coordinates to move the cursor along a curved line drawn on said display screen.

Claim 9

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on a display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; calculation means for calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the produced command information; search means for locating coordinates on the curved line which are in the vicinity of the coordinates calculated by said calculation means; and coordinate altering means for altering the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to the located coordinates to move the cursor along a curved line drawn on said display screen.

Claim 16

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on a display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; specified actuation detection means for detecting actuation by an operator of a specified actuator on said cursor movement actuation means and for producing detection information indicative thereof; calculation means responsive to the command information and the detection information for sequentially calculating a position on the display screen at which the cursor is to be displayed; and cursor position altering means for sequentially altering the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to cause the cursor to move onto a curved line displayed in the vicinity of the display position as calculated by said calculation means.

Claim 17

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on a display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; specified actuation detection means for detecting actuation by an operator of a specified actuator on said cursor movement actuation means and for producing detection information indicative thereof; calculation means responsive to the command information and the detection information for sequentially calculating a position on the display screen at which the cursor is to be displayed; and cursor position altering means for sequentially altering the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to cause the cursor to move onto a curved line displayed in the vicinity of the display position as calculated by said calculation means.

Claim 18

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on a display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; specified actuation detection means for detecting actuation by an operator of a specified actuator on said cursor movement actuation means and for producing detection information indicative thereof; cursor movement control means responsive to the command information for sequentially updating the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to move the cursor in accordance with the command information; and cursor position altering means responsive to the detection information for sequentially altering the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to sequentially move the cursor onto a curved line displayed in the vicinity of the position to which the cursor is moved by said cursor movement control means.

Claim 19

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on a display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; specified actuation detection means for detecting actuation by an operator of a specified actuator on said cursor movement actuation means and for producing detection information indicative thereof; cursor movement control means responsive to the command information for sequentially updating the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to move the cursor in accordance with the command information; and cursor position altering means responsive to the detection information for sequentially altering the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to sequentially move the cursor onto a curved line displayed in the vicinity of the position to which the cursor is moved by said cursor movement control means.

Claim 20

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on a display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; discrimination means for detecting a specified actuation by an operator; cursor position altering means responsive to the detecting of the specified actuation by said discrimination means for altering the contents of the cursor coordinate memory to cause the cursor to sequentially move along a curved line drawn on the display screen; and cursor movement control means responsive to the absence of detecting of the specified actuation by said discrimination means for sequentially updating the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to control the movement of the cursor in accordance with the command information.

Claim 21

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on a display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; discrimination means for detecting a specified actuation by an operator; cursor position altering means responsive to the detecting of the specified actuation by said discrimination means for altering the contents of the cursor coordinate memory to cause the cursor to sequentially move along a curved line drawn on the display screen; and cursor movement control means responsive to the absence of detecting of the specified actuation by said discrimination means for sequentially updating the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to control the movement of the cursor in accordance with the command information.

Claim 32

A method for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen in accordance with movement command information from manually operated cursor movement actuation means, said method comprising the steps of: sequentially receiving movement command information from said cursor movement actuation means; calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the received movement command information; detecting coordinates on a curved line drawn on the display screen which detected coordinates are in the vicinity of the calculated coordinates; altering the coordinates of the destination of the cursor to the detected coordinates; and displaying the cursor at the altered coordinates, whereby the cursor sequentially moves along the curved line.

Claim 33

A method for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen in accordance with movement command information from manually operated cursor movement actuation means, said method comprising the steps of: sequentially receiving movement command information from said cursor movement actuation means; calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the received movement command information; detecting coordinates on a curved line drawn on the display screen which detected coordinates are in the vicinity of the calculated coordinates; altering the coordinates of the destination of the cursor to the detected coordinates; and displaying the cursor at the altered coordinates, whereby the cursor sequentially moves along the curved line.

Claim 39

A method for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen to move the cursor along a curved line on the display screen, said method comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially receiving movement command information from cursor movement actuation means; (b) calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the received movement command information; (c) detecting coordinates on the curved line on the display screen which detected coordinates are in the vicinity of the calculated coordinates; (d) determining whether the detected coordinates are within a circle centered at the calculated coordinates and having a predetermined radius; (e) when step (d) determines that the detected coordinates are not within the circle, increasing the predetermined radius by one coordinate unit and repeating step (d); (f) when step (d) determines that the detected coordinates are within the circle, altering the coordinates of the destination of the cursor to the detected coordinates; and (g) displaying the cursor at the altered coordinates; whereby the cursor moves along the curved line.

Claim 40

A method for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen to move the cursor along a curved line on the display screen, said method comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially receiving movement command information from cursor movement actuation means; (b) calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the received movement command information; (c) detecting coordinates on the curved line on the display screen which detected coordinates are in the vicinity of the calculated coordinates; (d) determining whether the detected coordinates are within a circle centered at the calculated coordinates and having a predetermined radius; (e) when step (d) determines that the detected coordinates are not within the circle, increasing the predetermined radius by one coordinate unit and repeating step (d); (f) when step (d) determines that the detected coordinates are within the circle, altering the coordinates of the destination of the cursor to the detected coordinates; and (g) displaying the cursor at the altered coordinates; whereby the cursor moves along the curved line.

Claim 41

A method for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen to move the cursor along a curved line on the display screen, said method comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially receiving movement command information from cursor movement actuation means; (b) calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the received movement command information; (c) detecting coordinates on the curved line on the display screen which detected coordinates are in the vicinity of the calculated coordinates; (d) determining whether the detected coordinates are on the circumference of a circle which is centered at the calculated coordinates and which has a predetermined radius; (e) when step (d) determines that the detected coordinates are not on the circumference of the circle, increasing the predetermined radius by one coordinate unit and repeating step (d); (f) when step (d) determines that the detected coordinates are on the circumference of the circle, altering the coordinates of the destination of the cursor to the detected coordinates; and (g) displaying the cursor at the altered coordinates; whereby the cursor moves along the curved line.

Claim 42

A method for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen to move the cursor along a curved line on the display screen, said method comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially receiving movement command information from cursor movement actuation means; (b) calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the received movement command information; (c) detecting coordinates on the curved line on the display screen which detected coordinates are in the vicinity of the calculated coordinates; (d) determining whether the detected coordinates are on the circumference of a circle which is centered at the calculated coordinates and which has a predetermined radius; (e) when step (d) determines that the detected coordinates are not on the circumference of the circle, increasing the predetermined radius by one coordinate unit and repeating step (d); (f) when step (d) determines that the detected coordinates are on the circumference of the circle, altering the coordinates of the destination of the cursor to the detected coordinates; and (g) displaying the cursor at the altered coordinates; whereby the cursor moves along the curved line.

Claim 43

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen to move the cursor along a curved line on the display screen, said apparatus comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on the display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; calculation means for calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the produced command information; search means for searching for coordinates on the curved line and within a circle which is centered at the calculated coordinates and which has a predetermined radius; incrementing means responsive to said search means failing to locate coordinates on the curved line and within the circle for increasing the predetermined radius by one coordinate unit; and coordinate altering means responsive to said search means locating coordinates on the curved line and within the circle for altering the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to the located coordinates to move the cursor along the curved line.

Claim 44

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen to move the cursor along a curved line on the display screen, said apparatus comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on the display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; calculation means for calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the produced command information; search means for searching for coordinates on the curved line and within a circle which is centered at the calculated coordinates and which has a predetermined radius; incrementing means responsive to said search means failing to locate coordinates on the curved line and within the circle for increasing the predetermined radius by one coordinate unit; and coordinate altering means responsive to said search means locating coordinates on the curved line and within the circle for altering the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to the located coordinates to move the cursor along the curved line.

Claim 45

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen to move the cursor along a curved line on the display screen, said apparatus comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on the display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; calculation means for calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the produced command information; search means for searching for coordinates on the curved line and on the circumference of a circle which is centered at the calculated coordinates and which has a predetermined radius; incrementing means responsive to said search means failing to locate coordinates on the curved line and on the circumference of the circle for increasing the predetermined radius by one coordinate unit; and coordinate altering means responsive to said search means locating coordinates on the curved line and on the circumference of the circle for altering the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to the located coordinates to move the cursor along the curved line.

Claim 46

An apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen to move the cursor along a curved line on the display screen, said apparatus comprising: a cursor coordinate memory for storing coordinate information of the cursor position on the display screen; display means for displaying the cursor at a cursor position on the display screen in accordance with the coordinate information stored in said cursor coordinate memory; cursor movement actuation means for producing command information for movement of the cursor on the display screen; calculation means for calculating coordinates of a destination of the cursor on the display screen based on the produced command information; search means for searching for coordinates on the curved line and on the circumference of a circle which is centered at the calculated coordinates and which has a predetermined radius; incrementing means responsive to said search means failing to locate coordinates on the curved line and on the circumference of the circle for increasing the predetermined radius by one coordinate unit; and coordinate altering means responsive to said search means locating coordinates on the curved line and on the circumference of the circle for altering the contents of said cursor coordinate memory to the located coordinates to move the cursor along the curved line.