Apparatus and method for controlling cursor movement

A system for controlling the navigation through a computer application program running on a host computer, the host computer coupled to a computer-controlled display displaying a plurality of hot spots, the system comprising:

• a first direction control button having first and second positions and a resting position, and selectively controlling the movement of a cursor from one of the plurality of hot spots to a second of the plurality of hot spots in a first dimension if the application program is operating in a first of said plurality of operational modes, and controlling the movement of said cursor from a present display position to an adjacent display position in said first dimension if the application program is operating in a second of said plurality of operational modes, said first and second positions indicating the desired direction of movement of said cursor in first and second directions in said first dimension, said resting position indicating the selection of no movement of said cursor in said first dimension;
• a second direction control button having first and second positions and a resting position, and selectively controlling the movement of said cursor from said one hot spot to a second of the plurality of hot spots in a second dimension if the application program is operating in said first operational mode, and controlling the movement of said cursor from said present display position to an adjacent display position in said second dimension if the application program is operating in said second operational mode, said first and second positions indicating the desired direction of movement of said cursor in first and second directions in said second dimension, said resting position indicating the selection of no movement of said cursor in said second dimension;
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• a function select button having first and second positions and controlling first and second computer functions, said first computer function enabling an action associated with a particular hot spot when said cursor is focused on said particular hot spot on the computer-controlled display and said function select button is in said second position, said second computer function operating in conjunction with said first and second direction control buttons to control the movement of said cursor when said function select button is in said second position and either said first or said second direction control is not in said resting position.

In a host computer system coupled to a computer-controlled display, a method for controlling the navigation through a computer application program running on the host computer, the computer-controlled display displaying a plurality of hot spots, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining the position of a first direction control button on a remote hand-held controller, said first direction control button having first and second positions and a resting position, and selectively controlling the movement of a cursor from one of the plurality of hot spots to a second of the plurality of hot spots in a first dimension if the application program is operating in a first of said plurality of operational modes, and controlling the movement of said cursor from a present display position to an adjacent display position in said first dimension if the application program is operating in a second of said plurality of operational modes, said first and second positions indicating the desired direction of movement of said cursor in first and second directions in said first dimension, said resting position indicating the selection of no movement of said cursor in said first dimension;
• (b) determining the position of a second direction control button on said hand-held controller, said second direction control button having first and second positions and a resting position, and selectively controlling the movement of said cursor from said one hot spot to a second of the plurality of hot spots in a second dimension if the application program is operating in said first operational mode, and controlling the movement of said cursor from said present display position to an adjacent display position in said second dimension if the application program is operating in said second operational mode, said first and second positions indicating the desired direction of movement of said cursor in first and second directions in said second dimension, said resting position indicating the selection of no movement of said cursor in said second dimension;
• (c) determining the position of a function select button on said hand-held controller, said function select button having first and second positions and controlling first and second computer functions, said first computer function enabling an action associated with a particular hot spot when said cursor is focused on said particular hot spot on the computer-controlled display and said function select button is in said second position, said second computer function operating in conjunction with said first and second direction control buttons to control the movement of said cursor when said function select button is in said second position and either said first or said second direction control is not in said resting position;
• (d) transmitting data concerning the position of said first and second direction control buttons and said function select button from said hand-held controller to the host computer;
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• (e) receiving said transmitted data and moving said cursor or enabling said associated action depending on the position of said function select button.

In a host computer system coupled to a computer-controlled display, a method for controlling the navigation through a computer application program running on the host computer, the computer-controlled display displaying a plurality of hot spots, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining the position of a first direction control button on a remote hand-held controller, said first direction control button having first and second positions and a resting position, and selectively controlling the movement of a cursor from one of the plurality of hot spots to a second of the plurality of hot spots in a first dimension if the application program is operating in a first of said plurality of operational modes, and controlling the movement of said cursor from a present display position to an adjacent display position in said first dimension if the application program is operating in a second of said plurality of operational modes, said first and second positions indicating the desired direction of movement of said cursor in first and second directions in said first dimension, said resting position indicating the selection of no movement of said cursor in said first dimension;
• (b) determining the position of a second direction control button on said hand-held controller, said second direction control button having first and second positions and a resting position, and selectively controlling the movement of said cursor from said one hot spot to a second of the plurality of hot spots in a second dimension if the application program is operating in said first operational mode, and controlling the movement of said cursor from said present display position to an adjacent display position in said second dimension if the application program is operating in said second operational mode, said first and second positions indicating the desired direction of movement of said cursor in first and second directions in said second dimension, said resting position indicating the selection of no movement of said cursor in said second dimension;
• (c) determining the position of a function select button on said hand-held controller, said function select button having first and second positions and controlling first and second computer functions, said first computer function enabling an action associated with a particular hot spot when said cursor is focused on said particular hot spot on the computer-controlled display and said function select button is in said second position, said second computer function operating in conjunction with said first and second direction control buttons to control the movement of said cursor when said function select button is in said second position and either said first or said second direction control is not in said resting position;
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• (d) moving said cursor or enabling said associated action depending on the position of said function select button.

A hand-held remote controller for controlling the navigation through a computer application program running on a host computer, the host computer coupled to a computer controlled display displaying a cursor, the system comprising:

• a four direction control button on the hand-held controller to selectively control the movement of the cursor on the display, said four direction control button having a resting position indicating the selection of no movement of the cursor and being operable to select vertical and horizontal movement of the cursor, said four direction control button causing the cursor to move in incremental steps from a current display position on the display to a new display position adjacent to said current display position if the application program is in a first operational mode, and causing the cursor to jump from said current display position at one of a plurality of hot spots on the display to said new display position at a second of said plurality of hot spots if the application program is in a second operational mode;
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• a function control button on the hand-held controller having an enabled position and controlling first and second control functions, said first control function operating in conjunction with said four direction control button to control movement of the cursor when said function control button is in said enabled position and said four direction control button is not is said resting position, said second control function enabling an action associated with said current display position by placing said function control button in said enabled position.