# US 5,703,620 A · Cursor/pointer speed control based on directional relation to target objects

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- Number: US 5,703,620 A
- Document ID: US5703620A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/548,934
- Filed: 1995-10-26
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1995-04-28
- Assignees: U.S. Philips Corporation
- Inventors: David V. Keyson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703620A

## CPC

- G06F 3/038: Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
- G06F 3/04812: Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

The movement of a manual input device in an information processing system determines the movement of a cursor across the system's display. The display visualizes a virtual space, e.g., in a multi-media environment. Certain stationary or moving areas on the display represent target areas serving as possible destinations for the cursor. In order to create a catching effect on the cursor, the system requires more user movement to leave than to enter the target region, thus enhancing target acquisition performance of the user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An information processing system comprising:
a display for visualizing a virtual space;
a manual input device coupled to the display and having a moveable part for enabling a user to guide a cursor through the virtual space in response to the user actuating the moveable part; wherein
the system is operative to decrease an amount of movement of the moveable part, required to move the cursor a unit distance, below a pre-specified level when the cursor is within a target area in the virtual space and is moving towards a centre of the target area and to increase the amount above the level when the cursor is within the target area and is moving away from the centre.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, operative to render a total amount of movement of the moveable part, in order to have the cursor travel a particular distance for entering and thereupon leaving the area, substantially equal to a total amount of movement of the moveable part for having the cursor travelling the particular distance at a between-target gain level.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, operative to effect at least the decrease or the increase gradually in dependence on a position of the cursor relative to a particular location in the area so as to avoid noticeably abrupt cursor movement.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, operative to run a software application that comprises a transfer function to convert a movement of the moveable part into a movement of the cursor, and operative to modify the transfer function in dependence on a position of the cursor and a direction of movement of the cursor.

### Claim 5

A method of enabling a user to catch a target area with a cursor in a virtual space, visualized on a display, under control of a moveable part of a manual input device coupled to the display, the method comprising
decreasing an amount of movement of the moveable part, required to move the cursor a unit distance, below a pre-specified level when the cursor is within a target area in the virtual space and is moving towards a centre of the target area; and
increasing the amount above the level when the cursor is within the target area and is moving away from the centre.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein a total amount of movement of the moveable part, in order to have the cursor travel a particular distance for entering and thereupon leaving the area, is rendered substantially equal to a total amount of movement of the moveable part for having the cursor travelling the particular distance at a between-target gain level.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein at least the decreasing or the increasing is made gradual so as to avoid noticeably abrupt cursor movement.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, operative to effect at least the decrease or the increase gradually in dependence on a position of the cursor relative to a particular location in the area so as to avoid noticeably abrupt cursor movement.