Methods, systems and computer program products for controlling events associated with user interface elements by capturing user intent based on pointer movements

A method of controlling events associated with an element of a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining at least one characteristic of pointer movement of a pointing device;
• evaluating the characteristic of pointer movement based on a predefined evaluation criteria;
• adjusting at least one condition for triggering at least one event associated with the element if the predefined evaluation criteria is met;
• controlling the triggering of the at least one event utilizing the adjusted condition;
• tracking pointer movement so as to establish a history of pointer movement;
• and
• revising the predefined evaluation criteria based on the history of pointer movement so as to dynamically update the predefined evaluation criteria to reflect the history of pointer movement.

A method of controlling events associated with an element of a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining at least one characteristic of pointer movement of a pointing device;
• evaluating the characteristic of pointer movement based on a predefined evaluation criteria;
• adjusting at least one condition for triggering at least one event associated with the element if the predefined evaluation criteria is met;
• controlling the triggering of the at least one event utilizing the adjusted condition;
• and
• adjusting the predefined evaluation criteria based on characteristics of the user interface element.

A system for controlling events associated with an element of a user interface, comprising:

• means for determining if a direction of movement of a pointer is away from the element;
• means for determining a speed of the pointer;
• means for determining an acceleration of the pointer;
• and
• means for increasing a delay associated with triggering at least one event if the direction of movement is away from the element, the speed is below a predefined threshold and the acceleration of the pointer indicates that the pointer is decelerating.

A system for controlling events associated with an element of a user interface, comprising:

• means for determining at least one characteristic of pointer movement of a pointing device;
• means for evaluating the characteristic of pointer movement based on a predefined evaluation criteria;
• means for adjusting at least one condition for triggering at least one event associated with the element if the predefined evaluation criteria is met;
• means for controlling the triggering of the at least one event utilizing the adjusted condition;
• means for tracking pointer movement so as to establish a history of pointer movement;
• and
• means for revising the predefined evaluation criteria based on the history of pointer movement so as to dynamically update the predefined evaluation criteria to reflect the history of pointer movement.

A system for controlling events associated with an element of a user interface, comprising:

• means for determining at least one characteristic of pointer movement of a pointing device;
• means for evaluating the characteristic of pointer movement based on a predefined evaluation criteria;
• means for adjusting at least one condition for triggering at least one event associated with the element if the predefined evaluation criteria is met;
• means for controlling the triggering of the at least one event utilizing the adjusted condition;
• and
• means for adjusting the predefined evaluation criteria based on characteristics of the user interface element.

A computer program product for controlling events associated with an element of a user interface, comprising:

• a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising:
• computer readable program code which determines if a direction of movement of a pointer is away from the element;
• computer readable program code which determines a speed of the pointer;
• computer readable program code which determines an acceleration of the pointer;
• and
• computer readable program code which increases a delay associated with triggering at least one event if the direction of movement is away from the element, the speed is below a predefined threshold and the acceleration of the pointer indicates that the pointer is decelerating.

A computer program product for controlling events associated with an element of a user interface, comprising:

• a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising:
• computer readable program code which determines at least one characteristic of pointer movement of a pointing device;
• computer readable program code which evaluates the characteristic of pointer movement based on a predefined evaluation criteria;
• computer readable program code which adjusts at least one condition for triggering at least one event associated with the element if the predetermined evaluation criteria is met;
• computer readable program code which controls the triggering of the at least one event utilizing the adjusted condition;
• computer readable program code which tracks pointer movement so as to establish a history of pointer movement;
• and
• computer readable program code which revises the predefined evaluation criteria based on the history of pointer movement so as to dynamically update the predefined evaluation criteria to reflect the history of pointer movement.

A computer program product for controlling events associated with an element of a user interface, comprising:

• a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising:
• computer readable program code which determines at least one characteristic of pointer movement of a pointing device;
• computer readable program code which evaluates the characteristic of pointer movement based on a predefined evaluation criteria;
• computer readable program code which adjusts at least one condition for triggering at least one event associated with the element if the predetermined evaluation criteria is met;
• computer readable program code which controls the triggering of the at least one event utilizing the adjusted condition;
• and
• computer readable program code which adjusts the predefined evaluation criteria based on characteristics of the user interface element.