US6462763B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method, system, and software for tracking moving hotspots with a static or moving cursor
Assignee: Spotware Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1999-08-24
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Granted: 2002-10-08
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Expires: 2019-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A method, system, propagated signal, and software for tracking and identifying moving hotspots allows a user to keep a cursor stationary in a display without causing the cursor to lose any functionality. A dialog box or other highlighting option will result in response to the static cursor co-occupying overlapping regions on the display with a moving hotspot of an animated menu, or a menu in motion. In an animated menu configured with extensive or rapidly moving hotspots, the present invention enables a user to wait for a hotspot to come to the cursor for detection and selection, rather than having to pursue the hotspot such that the cursor recognizes the target as a hotspot.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael P. Mostyn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04842; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04812; G06F3/04815; G06F3/0482
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method, comprising the steps of: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur regardless of cursor movement or activity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method, comprising the steps of: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur regardless of cursor movement or activity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method, as defined in claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining whether the position of the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method, as defined in claim 2 , further comprising the step of providing focus to the at least one selectable target in response to a determination that the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method, as defined in claim 3 , further comprising triggering an event associated with the at least one selectable target in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method, as defined in claim 3 , further comprising the step of providing notification to a user in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method, as defined in claim 4 , wherein the determining step further comprises accessing a data file comprising data indicative of the intended position of the at least one selectable target on the display screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein movement of the at least one selectable target is capable of being displayed in a manner to simulate three dimensional movement on the display screen.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
98 words
A method, comprising the steps of: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur continually at predetermined intervals of time.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
98 words
A method, comprising the steps of: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur continually at predetermined intervals of time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
109 words
An information handling system readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions comprising the steps of: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a static position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur regardless of cursor movement or activity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
An information handling system readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions comprising the steps of: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a static position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur regardless of cursor movement or activity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 9 , further comprising the step of determining whether the position of the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing focus to the at least one selectable target in response to a determination that the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 11 , further comprising triggering an event associated with the at least one selectable target in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing notification to a user in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 10 , wherein the determining step further comprises accessing a data file comprising data indicative of the intended position of the at least one selectable target on the display screen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The information handling system readable medium, as defined in claim 9 , wherein movement of the at least one selectable target is capable of being displayed in a manner to simulate three dimensional movement on the display screen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
109 words
An information handling system readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions comprising the steps of: displaying at Least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a static position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur continually at predetermined intervals of time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
109 words
An information handling system readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions comprising the steps of: displaying at Least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a static position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur continually at predetermined intervals of time.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
127 words
A system comprising: at least one processor; memory operably associated with said processor; a cursor control device configured to control a cursor on a display screen; and a program of instructions comprising the steps of: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tacking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur regardless of cursor movement or activity.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
127 words
A system comprising: at least one processor; memory operably associated with said processor; a cursor control device configured to control a cursor on a display screen; and a program of instructions comprising the steps of: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tacking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur regardless of cursor movement or activity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system, as defined in claim 17 , further comprising the step of determining whether the position of the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system, as defined in claim 18 , further comprising the step of providing focus to the at least one selectable target in response to a determination that the at least one selectable target is intended to co-occupy a location on the display screen in common with the position of the cursor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system, as defined in claim 19 , further comprising triggering an event associated with the at least one selectable target in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system, as defined in claim 19 , further comprising the step of providing notification to a user in response to determination of intended co-occupation between the at least one selectable target and the cursor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system, as defined in claim 18 , wherein the determining step further comprises accessing a data file comprising data indicative of the intended position of the at least one selectable target on the display screen.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system, as defined in claim 17 , wherein movement of the at least one selectable target is capable of being displayed in a manner to simulate three dimensional movement on the display screen.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
127 words
A system comprising: at least one processor; memory operably associated with said processor; a cursor control device configured to control a cursor on a display screen; and a program of instructions comprising the steps of: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur continually at predetermined intervals of time.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
127 words
A system comprising: at least one processor; memory operably associated with said processor; a cursor control device configured to control a cursor on a display screen; and a program of instructions comprising the steps of: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen; displaying a cursor on at least a portion of the display screen; enabling movement of the at least one selectable target about the display screen; tracking a position of the at least one selectable target as it moves about the display screen; and comparing the position of the at least one selectable target to a position of the cursor on the display screen, wherein the tracking step and comparing step occur continually at predetermined intervals of time.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
72 words
A method, comprising: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen, the at least one selectable target engaged in movement on the display screen; monitoring the at least one selectable target engaged in movement; and comparing position of the monitored selectable target to a static cursor position, wherein comparing position of the monitored selectable target to the static cursor position is initiated without cursor activity.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
72 words
A method, comprising: displaying at least one selectable target on at least a portion of a display screen, the at least one selectable target engaged in movement on the display screen; monitoring the at least one selectable target engaged in movement; and comparing position of the monitored selectable target to a static cursor position, wherein comparing position of the monitored selectable target to the static cursor position is initiated without cursor activity.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-07 | 2006-04-08 | 2006-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-07 | 2010-04-08 | 2010-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-07 | 2014-04-08 | 2014-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |