Simplified method for setting time using a graphical representation of an analog clock face
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorMark E. Molander
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Time values (hour, minute, AM/PM parameter) can be simply and quickly set in a computer system using a graphical representation of a circular analog clock face. Time setting zones (hour-indicative sectors and minute-indicative subsectors) are defined on the displayed clock face. A user selects an hour and a minute value in a single point-and-click operation by moving a cursor into the appropriate subsector within the appropriate sector and then performing a cursor select operation. Two different approaches are described for choosing an AM or a PM parameter to be associated with the selected time value.
Claims26
For use in a computer system that includes a display screen and a user-controlled pointing device for positioning a cursor on the display screen and providing position input in response to a user-initiated pointing device select operation, a method of establishing a time value comprising the steps of:
- a) displaying an analog clock face on the display screen with an hour hand and a minute hand set to initial time values;
- b) creating a time setting zone centered on the clock face and divided into a number of sectors equal to the number of hours represented on the clock face;
- c) detecting a cursor position input resulting from a select operation while the cursor is in the time setting zone;
- and
- d) setting the hour hand to a time value associated with the sector within which the position input is detected and the minute hand to a time value dependent upon the location of the position input within said sector.
For use in a computer system that includes a display screen, a user-controlled pointing device for positioning a cursor on the display screen, and means for generating an input signal indicative of the position of the cursor, a method of establishing a time value comprising the steps of:
- a) displaying a graphical representation of an analog clock face on the display screen, said clock face including hour-indicating indicia, an hour hand set to an initial hour time value and a minute hand set to an initial minute time value;
- b) creating at least one time setting zone centered on the displayed analog clock face, said at least one time setting zone being divided into a number of sectors equal to the number of hours represented on the clock face, each sector having one boundary coincident with a first hour-indicating indicia and another boundary coincident with an adjacent hour-indicating indicia;
- c) creating two zones on the display screen, one of said two zones being associated with an AM parameter and the other of said two zones being associated with a PM parameter;
- d) detecting an input signal resulting from a user-initiated cursor-select operation occuring while the cursor is the time setting zone;
- e) setting the hour hand to a time value associated with the sector within which the cursor is positioned when the input signal is detected and the minute hand to a time value dependent upon the location of the cursor within the sector;
- f) detecting an input signal resulting from a user-initiated cursor-select operation occuring while the cursor is in one of said two zones;
- g) assigning either an AM or a PM parameter depending on which of said two zones the cursor was in;
- and
- h) accepting the set time value, including the assigned parameter, in the computer system.
For use in a computer system that includes a display screen, a user-controlled pointing device for positioning a cursor on the display screen, and means for generating a first input signal indicative of the position of the cursor when a button on the user-controlled pointing device is depressed and a second input signal indicative of the position of the cursor when the button is released, a method of establishing a time value comprising the steps of:
- a) displaying a graphical representation of an analog clock face on the display screen, said clock face including hour-indicating indicia, an hour hand set to an initial hour time value and a minute hand set to an initial minute time value;
- b) creating at least one time setting zone centered on the displayed analog clock face, said at least one time setting zone being divided into a number of sectors equal to the number of hours represented on the clock face, each sector having one boundary coincident with a first hour-indicating indicia and another boundary coincident with an adjacent hour-indicating indicia;
- c) creating two zones on the display screen, one of said two zones being associated with an AM parameter and the other of said two zones being associated with a PM parameter;
- d) detecting a first input signal occuring while the cursor is the time setting zone;
- e) upon detection of the first input signal, setting the hour hand to a time value associated with the sector within which the cursor is positioned and the minute hand to a time value dependent upon the location of the cursor within the sector;
- f) detecting a second input signal occurring while the cursor is in the time setting zone;
- g) setting the minute hand to a time value dependent upon the change in cursor position occuring between the detection of the first and second input signals;
- h) detecting an input signal resulting from a user-initiated cursor-select operation occuring while the cursor is in one of said two zones;
- i) assigning either an AM or a PM parameter depending on which of said two zones the cursor was in;
- and
- j) accepting the set time value, including the assigned parameter, in the computer system.
A computer system having a display with a display screen, a user-controlled pointing device for positioning a cursor on the display screen, cursor position logic for providing an input signal representing the current cursor position and a subsystem for setting time values, said subsystem comprising:
- a) display logic for generating a representation of an analog clock face on the display screen, said analog clock face including hour-representing indicia, an hour hand and a minute hand;
- b) definitional logic for defining a time setting zone on the display screen, said time setting zone being centered on the clock face and being divided into a number of sectors equal to the number of hours represented on the clock face;
- c) time setting logic responsive to the occurrence of an input signal generated while the cursor is positioned in the time setting zone to set the hour hand to a time value associated with the sector in which the cursor is positioned at the time of the input signal and the minute hand to a time value associated within the position of the cursor within the sector;
- and
- d) system logic for entering the set time values into the computer system.
A computer system having a display with a display screen, a user-controlled pointing device for positioning a cursor on the display screen, cursor position logic for providing a first input signal representing the cursor position when a button on the pointing device is pressed and second input signal representing the cursor position when the button is released and a subsystem for setting time values, said subsystem comprising:
- a) display logic for generating a representation of an analog clock face on the display screen, said analog clock face including hour-representing indicia, an hour hand and a minute hand;
- b) definitional logic for defining a time setting zone on the display screen, said time setting zone being centered on the clock face and being divided into a number of sectors equal to the number of hours represented on the clock face;
- c) time setting logic responsive to the occurrence of a first input signal generated while the cursor is positioned in the time setting zone to set the hour hand to a time value associated with the sector in which the cursor is positioned at the time of the input signal and the minute hand to a time value associated within the position of the cursor within the sector, said time setting logic further being responsive to the occurrence of a second input signal to set the minute hand to a time value dependent upon the change in cursor position occurring between the first and second signals;
- and
- d) system logic for entering the set time values into the computer system.
A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program embodied in said medium, wherein the computer readable readable program when executed on a computer system having a display screen and a user-controlled pointing devices causes the computer system to:
- a) display an analog clock face with an hour hand and a minute hand set to initial time values;
- b) define a time setting zone centered on the clock face and divided into a number of sectors equal to the number of hours represented on the clock face;
- c) detect a cursor position input resulting from a select operation while the cursor is in the time setting zone;
- and
- d) set the hour hand to a time value associated with the sector within which the position input is detected and the minute hand to a time value dependent upon the location of the position input within said sector.
A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program embodied in said medium, wherein the computer readable readable program when executed on a computer system having a display screen and a user-controlled pointing devices causes the computer system to:
- a) display a graphical representation of an analog clock face on the display screen, said clock face including hour-indicating indicia, an hour hand set to an initial hour time value and a minute hand set to an initial minute time value;
- b) create at least one time setting zone centered on the displayed analog clock face, said at least one time setting zone being divided into a number of sectors equal to the number of hours represented on the clock face, each sector having one boundary coincident with a first hour-indicating indicia and another boundary coincident with an adjacent hour-indicating indicia;
- c) create two zones on the display screen, one of said two zones being associated with an AM parameter and the other of said two zones being associated with a PM parameter;
- d) detect an input signal resulting from a user-initiated cursor-select operation occuring while the cursor is the time setting zone;
- e) set the hour hand to a time value associated with the sector within which the cursor is positioned when the input signal is detected and the minute hand to a time value dependent upon the location of the cursor within the sector;
- f) detect an input signal resulting from a user-initiated cursor-select operation occuring while the cursor is in one of said two zones;
- g) assign either an AM or a PM parameter depending on which of said two zones the cursor was in;
- and
- h) accept the set time value, including the assigned parameter.
A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program embodied in said medium, wherein the computer readable readable program when executed on a computer system having a display screen and a user-controlled pointing devices causes the computer system to:
- a) display a graphical representation of an analog clock face on the display screen, said clock face including hour-indicating indicia, an hour hand set to an initial hour time value and a minute hand set to an initial minute time value;
- b) create at least one time setting zone centered on the displayed analog clock face, said at least one time setting zone being divided into a number of sectors equal to the number of hours represented on the clock face, each sector having one boundary coincident with a first hour-indicating indicia and another boundary coincident with an adjacent hour-indicating indicia;
- c) create two zones on the display screen, one of said two zones being associated with an AM parameter and the other of said two zones being associated with a PM parameter;
- d) detect a first input signal occuring while the cursor is the time setting zone;
- e) respond to detection of the first input signal by setting the hour hand to a time value associated with the sector within which the cursor is positioned and the minute hand to a time value dependent upon the location of the cursor within the sector;
- f) detect a second input signal occurring while the cursor is in the time setting zone;
- g) respond to detection of the second input signal by setting the minute hand to a time value dependent upon the change in cursor position occuring between the detection of the first and second input signals;
- h) detect an input signal resulting from a user-initiated cursor-select operation occuring while the cursor is in one of said two zones;
- i) respond to detection of said input signal by assigning either an AM or a PM parameter depending on which of said two zones the cursor was in;
- and
- j) accept the set time value, including the assigned parameter, in the computer system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.