# US 10,120,525 B2 · Positioning pads for moving a position of interest on a display > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,525 B2 - Document ID: US10120525B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/044,182 - Filed: 2016-02-16 - Published: 2016-06-09 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Wolfram Research, Inc. - Applicants: Wolfram Research, Inc. - Inventors: Stephen Wolfram; John Fultz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120525B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/04812: Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/04845: for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Positioning pads are displayed via a display device to facilitate movement of a position of interest (e.g., as indicated by a cursor) with respect to a structured object also displayed via the display device. The structured object is analyzed to determine predicted locations to which a user may subsequently wish to navigate the position of interest, and positioning pads are displayed at, or associated with, the predicted locations. When activation of a positioning pad is detected, (i) the position of interest is moved to the location of, or associated with, the positioning pad, and (ii) the positioning pad is no longer displayed via the display device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: determining, at one or more processors, in which level, among a plurality of levels of a structure object displayed on a display device, a position of interest is currently located, wherein the plurality of levels are in a hierarchy or corresponding to a multi-dimensional coordinate space, and wherein the plurality of levels includes a first level and a second level; when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level: determining, at the one or more processors and based on the hierarchy or the multi-dimensional coordinate space, a next location in the second level of the structured object, the next location being a prediction, based on the hierarchy or the multi-dimensional coordinate space, of where a user will choose to move the position of interest subsequently from the current location, generating, at the one or more processors, first display data that, when displayed by the display device, shows a positioning pad corresponding to the next location, wherein the positioning pad is to enable the user to move the position of interest to the next location, and when the one or more processors detect activation, via a user interface device, of the positioning pad, generating, at the one or more processors, second display data that, when displayed by the display device, (i) shows the position of interest at the next location in the second level, and (ii) no longer shows the positioning pad. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of levels in the hierarchy or corresponding to the multi-dimensional coordinate space includes a third level; the next location is a first next location; the positioning pad is a first positioning pad; the method further comprises, when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level: determining, with the one or more processor, a second next location in the third level of the structured object based on i) the determination that the current location of the position of interest is in the first level, and ii) the hierarchy or to the multi-dimensional coordinate space, the second next location being a further prediction, based on the hierarchy or the multi-dimensional coordinate space, of where the user will choose to move the position of interest subsequently from the current location; generating the first display data includes, when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level, generating the third display data so that, when the third display data is displayed by the display device, the display device shows a second positioning pad corresponding to the second next location, wherein the second positioning pad is to enable moving the position of interest to the second next location; the method further comprises, when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level, and when the one or more processors detect activation, via the user interface device, of the second positioning pad: generating, at the one or more processors, third display data that, when displayed by the display device, (i) shows the position of interest at the second next location in the third level, and (ii) no longer shows the second positioning pad. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein: the third level is above the second level in the hierarchy; and generating the third display data comprises generating the third display data such that, when the third display data is displayed by the display device, the first positioning pad is no longer shown. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises, when the one or more processors detect activation of the first positioning pad: determining, with one or more processors, a set of one or more currently displayed positioning pads, if any, corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, below the second level in the hierarchy; wherein generating the second display data includes, when the one or more processors detect activation of the first positioning pad, generating the second display data so that, when the second display data is displayed by the display device: the set of one or more positioning pads corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, below the second level in the hierarchy are no longer shown, and one or more currently displayed positioning pads corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, above the second level in the hierarchy remain shown. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein, when the one or more processors detect activation of the first positioning pad, generating the second display data includes: generating the second display data so that, when the second display data is displayed by the display device, one or more currently displayed positioning pads corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, equivalent with the second level remain shown. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises, when the one or more processors detect activation of the first positioning pad: determining, with one or more processors, a set of one or more currently displayed positioning pads, if any, corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, above the second level in the hierarchy; wherein generating the second display data includes, when the one or more processors detect activation of the first positioning pad, generating the second display data so that, when the second display data is displayed by the display device: the set of one or more positioning pads corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, above the second level in the hierarchy are no longer shown, and one or more currently displayed positioning pads, if any, corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, below the second level in the hierarchy remain shown. ### Claim 7 An apparatus, comprising: one or more processors; and one or more memory devices coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memories storing machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: determine in which level, among a plurality of levels of a structure object displayed on a display device, a position of interest is currently located, wherein the plurality of levels are in a hierarchy or corresponding to a multi-dimensional coordinate space, and wherein the plurality of levels includes a first level and a second level, and when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level: determine, based on the hierarchy or the multi-dimensional coordinate space, a next location in the second level of the structured object, the next location being a prediction, based on the hierarchy or the multi-dimensional coordinate space, of where a user will choose to move the position of interest subsequently from the current location, generate first display data that, when displayed by the display device, shows a positioning pad corresponding to the next location, wherein the positioning pad is to enable the user to move the position of interest to the next location, and when the one or more processors detect activation, via a user interface device, of the positioning pad, generate second display data that, when displayed by the display device, (i) shows the position of interest at the next location in the second level, and (ii) no longer shows the positioning pad. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more memory devices further store machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: control the display device to display the first display data; and in response to activation, via the user interface device, of the positioning pad, control the display device to display the second display data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: the display device, the display device being coupled to the one or more processors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: the user interface device, the user interface device being coupled to the one or more processors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the plurality of levels in the hierarchy or corresponding to the multi-dimensional coordinate space includes a third level; the next location is a first next location; the positioning pad is a first positioning pad; the one or more memory devices further store machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to, when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level: determine a second next location in the third level of the structured object based on i) the determination that the current location of the position of interest is in the first level, and ii) the hierarchy or to the multi-dimensional coordinate space, the second next location being a further prediction, based on the hierarchy or the multi-dimensional coordinate space, of where the user will choose to move the position of interest subsequently from the current location; generating the first display data includes, when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level, generating the first display data so that, when the first display data is displayed by the display device, the display device shows a second positioning pad corresponding to the second next location, wherein the second positioning pad is to enable moving the position of interest to the second next location; the one or more memory devices further store machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to, when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level, and when the one or more processors detect activation, via the user interface device, of the second positioning pad: generate third display data that, when displayed by the display device, (i) shows the position of interest at the second next location in the third level, and (ii) no longer shows the second positioning pad. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the third level is above the second level in the hierarchy; and generating the third display data comprises generating the third display data such that, when the third display data is displayed by the display device, the first positioning pad is no longer shown. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more memory devices further store machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to, when the one or more processors detect activation of the first positioning pad: determine a set of one or more currently displayed positioning pads, if any, corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, below the second level in the hierarchy; wherein generating the second display data includes, when the one or more processors detect activation of the first positioning pad, generating the second display data so that, when the second display data is displayed by the display device: the set of one or more positioning pads corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, below the second level in the hierarchy are no longer shown, and one or more currently displayed positioning pads corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, above the second level in the hierarchy remain shown. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more memory devices further store machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to, when the one or more processors detect activation of the first positioning pad: generate the second display data so that, when the second display data is displayed by the display device, one or more currently displayed positioning pads corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, equivalent with the second level remain shown. ### Claim 15 A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium, or media, storing machine readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: determine in which level, among a plurality of levels of a structure object displayed on a display device, a position of interest is currently located, wherein the plurality of levels are in a hierarchy or corresponding to a multi-dimensional coordinate space, and wherein the plurality of levels includes a first level and a second level, and when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level: determine, based on the hierarchy or the multi-dimensional coordinate space, a next location in the second level of the structured object, the next location being a prediction, based on the hierarchy or the multi-dimensional coordinate space, of where a user will choose to move the position of interest subsequently from the current location, generate first display data that, when displayed by the display device, shows a positioning pad corresponding to the next location, wherein the positioning pad is to enable the user to move the position of interest to the next location, and when the one or more processors detect activation, via a user interface device, of the positioning pad, generate second display data that, when displayed by the display device, (i) shows the position of interest at the next location in the second level, and (ii) no longer shows the positioning pad. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium, or media, of claim 15, further storing machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: control the display device to display the first display data; and in response to activation, via the user interface device, of the positioning pad, control the display device to display the second display data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium, or media, of claim 15, wherein: the plurality of levels in the hierarchy or corresponding to the multi-dimensional coordinate space includes a third level; the next location is a first next location; the positioning pad is a first positioning pad; the tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium, or media, further store machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to, when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level: determine a second next location in the third level of the structured object based on i) the determination that the current location of the position of interest is in the first level, and ii) the hierarchy or to the multi-dimensional coordinate space, the second next location being a further prediction, based on the hierarchy or the multi-dimensional coordinate space, of where the user will choose to move the position of interest subsequently from the current location; generating the first display data includes, when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level, generating the first display data so that, when the first display data is displayed by the display device, the display device shows a second positioning pad corresponding to the second next location, wherein the second positioning pad is to enable moving the position of interest to the second next location; the tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium, or media, further store machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to, when the one or more processors determine that the position of interest is currently located in the first level, and when the one or more processors detect activation, via the user interface device, of the second positioning pad: generate third display data that, when displayed by the display device, (i) shows the position of interest at the second next location in the third level, and (ii) no longer shows the second positioning pad. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium, or media, of claim 17, wherein: the third level is above the second level in the hierarchy; and generating the third display data comprises generating the third display data such that, when the third display data is displayed by the display device, the first positioning pad is no longer shown. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium, or media, of claim 15, further storing machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to, when the one or more processors detect activation of the first positioning pad: determine a set of one or more currently displayed positioning pads, if any, corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, below the second level in the hierarchy; wherein generating the second display data includes, when the one or more processors detect activation of the first positioning pad, generating the second display data so that, when the second display data is displayed by the display device: the set of one or more positioning pads corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, below the second level in the hierarchy are no longer shown, and one or more currently displayed positioning pads corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, above the second level in the hierarchy remain shown. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium, or media, of claim 19, further storing machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to, when the one or more processors detect activation of the first positioning pad: generate the second display data so that, when the second display data is displayed by the display device, one or more currently displayed positioning pads corresponding to one or more levels in the plurality of levels, if any, equivalent with the second level remain shown.