Method and system for denying graphical pointer access to a widget of a data processing system graphical user interface

A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

• outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;
• defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;
• defining a second relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer contacts the border of the predefined region;
• and
• in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying access to the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;
• wherein access to the predefined region is denied by controlling the graphical pointer in accordance with the second relationship;
• wherein the second relationship specifies an substantially large, forward displacement of the graphical pointer along a path being tracked to thereby drive the graphical pointer over the predefined region.

A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

• outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;
• defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;
• defining a second relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer contacts the border of the predefined region;
• and
• in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying access to the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;
• wherein access to the predefined region is denied by controlling the graphical pointer in accordance with the second relationship;
• wherein the second relationship specifies a substantially large, rearward displacement of the graphical pointer along a path being tracked to thereby drive the graphical pointer away from the predefined region.

A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

• outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;
• defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;
• defining a second relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer contacts the border of the predefined region;
• and
• in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying access to the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;
• wherein access to the predefined region is denied by controlling the graphical pointer in accordance with the second relationship;
• wherein the second relationship specifies a substantially large, random displacement of the graphical pointer along a path different from a path being tracked to thereby drive the graphical pointer to a position without the predefined region.

A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

• outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;
• defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;
• defining a second relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer contacts the border of the predefined region;
• and
• in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying access to the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;
• wherein access to the predefined region is denied by controlling the graphical pointer in accordance with the second relationship;
• wherein the second relationship specifies a substantially large, random displacement of the graphical pointer along a path different from a path being tracked to thereby drive the graphical pointer to a position without the predefined region;
• wherein the position is a home position on the display.

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 outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;
• instruction means for defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;
• and
• instruction means, responsive to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, for moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying the graphical pointer access to an interior of the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;
• wherein the instruction means for moving the graphical pointer includes means for driving the graphical pointer to a position on the display without the widget.

A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

• outputting a widget on the display;
• defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the widget;
• and
• in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device by a restricted user, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the widget while denying the restricted user access to the widget, wherein the restricted user is denied access to the widget by freezing the graphical pointer on the widget.

A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

• outputting a widget on the display;
• defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the widget;
• and
• in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device by a restricted user, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the widget while denying the restricted user access to the widget, wherein the restricted user is denied access to the widget by skipping the graphical pointer over the widget.

A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

• outputting a widget on the display;
• defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the widget;
• and
• in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device by a restricted user, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the widget while denying the restricted user access to the widget wherein the restricted user is denied access to the widget by reversing the graphical pointer away from the widget.

A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

• outputting a widget on the display;
• defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the widget;
• and
• in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device by a restricted user, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the widget while denying the restricted user access to the widget, wherein the restricted user is denied access to the widget by driving the graphical pointer around a border of the widget.

A method for controlling positioning of a graphical pointer displayed on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of:

• outputting a widget on the display;
• defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the widget;
• and
• in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device by a restricted user, moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the widget while denying the restricted user access to the widget, wherein the restricted user is denied access to the widget by driving the graphical pointer to a position on the display without the widget, wherein the widget is a selectable icon.

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 outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;
• instruction means for defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;
• and
• instruction means, responsive to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, for moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying the graphical pointer access to an interior of the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;
• wherein the instruction means for moving the graphical pointer include means for freezing the graphical pointer on the widget.

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 outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;
• instruction means for defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;
• and
• instruction means, responsive to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, for moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying the graphical pointer access to an interior of the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;
• wherein the instruction means for moving the graphical pointer includes means for skipping the graphical pointer over the widget.

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 outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;
• instruction means for defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;
• and
• instruction means, responsive to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, for moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying the graphical pointer access to an interior of the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;
• wherein the instruction means for moving the graphical pointer includes means for reversing the graphical pointer away from the widget.

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 outputting on the display a predefined region having a border;
• instruction means for defining a first relationship that correlates manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the graphical pointer when the graphical pointer is without the predefined region;
• and
• instruction means, responsive to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device, for moving the graphical pointer in accordance with the first relationship when the graphical pointer is displayed without the predefined region while denying the graphical pointer access to an interior of the predefined region when the graphical pointer contacts the border;
• wherein the instruction means for moving the graphical pointer includes means for driving the graphical pointer around a border of the widget.