Method and system for positioning a graphical pointer within a widget of a data processing system graphical user interface

A system for positioning a graphical pointer displayed within a display device of a data processing system, said data processing system including a graphical pointing device, said system comprising:

• means for displaying a predefined region within said display device, wherein said predefined region is a portion of an output display of said display device;
• means for displaying a graphical pointer within said display device;
• means for defining a first relationship which correlates manipulation of said graphical pointing device and movement of said graphical pointer when said graphical pointer is within a first subregion within said predefined region;
• means for defining a second relationship which correlates manipulation of said graphical pointing device and movement of said graphical pointer when said graphical pointer is within a second subregion within said predefined region;
• and
• means, responsive to a manipulation of said graphical pointing device, for moving said graphical pointer in accordance with said first relationship when said graphical pointer is displayed at positions within said first subregion and in accordance with said second relationship when said graphical pointer is displayed at positions within said second subregion, wherein positioning of said graphical pointer within said predefined region is enhanced.

A computer program product within a computer readable media for causing a data processing system to position a graphical pointer displayed within a display device of a data processing system, said data processing system including a graphical pointing device, said computer program product comprising:

• instruction means for causing said data processing system to display a predefined region within said display device, wherein said predefined region is a portion of an output display of said display device;
• instruction means for causing said data processing system to display a graphical pointer within said display device;
• instruction means for causing said data processing system to define a first relationship which correlates manipulation of said graphical pointing device and movement of said graphical pointer when said graphical pointer is within a first subregion within said predefined region;
• instruction means for causing said data processing system to define a second relationship which correlates manipulation of said graphical pointing device and movement of said graphical pointer when said graphical pointer is within a second subregion within said predefined region;
• and
• instruction means, responsive to a manipulation of said graphical pointing device, for causing said data processing system to move said graphical pointer in accordance with said first relationship when said graphical pointer is displayed at positions within said first subregion and in accordance with said second relationship when said graphical pointer is displayed at positions within said second subregion, wherein positioning of said graphical pointer within said predefined region is enhanced.