Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2002-09-17
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S157000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06452606
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention refers to improvements in pointer-controlled computer operations, and more specifically, to means for causing a computer to repeat a desired operation or series of operations by a reduced number of commands or by a single command, without interfering with the computer software. In particular, it refers to means for causing a computer to repeat the transfer of print or graphic elements from one zone of the computer screen to another or for reproducing designs in any such zone, as well as for creating pointer commands that are not available in the computer toolbars or menus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Patent application PCT/IL96/00078, the contents of which are entirely incorporated herein by reference, describes improvements in pointer devices for operating computers in computer operation processes and in apparatus comprising computers and pointer devices.
In particular, it discloses a method of operating a pointer controlled computer, which comprises the following steps:
A—Choosing one of two Modes, the RIM (REGISTER/MEMORY) Mode or the A/P (ACTIVE/PLAY) Mode;
B—When the pointer is in the R/M Mode: a) selecting at least an operation unit, as hereinbefore defined, by bringing the pointer index to a reference position corresponding to said operation unit; and b) causing the pointer index coordinate displacements relative to said reference position and a fist, selected base point to be counted and registered or memorized as differential coordinate displacements;
C—When the pointer is in the A/P Mode: a) selecting an operation unit from among those previously selected in the R/M Mode; b) determining the corresponding counter coordinates, as hereinbefore defined, of the reference position by applying the differential coordinate displacements, with the appropriate sign, to the counter coordinates of a second base point; and c) carrying out the operation unit corresponding to said reference counter coordinates.
Said PCT application also discloses pointer controlled computer apparatus, which comprises:
I—a pointer device, comprising means for producing and transmitting to a computer at least signals corresponding to pointer index displacements and other desired information and instructions;
II—a computer having means for receiving and means for processing signals from said pointer, said processing means comprising means for causing pointer index displacements and other operations directed by said signals to be performed;
III—means for identifying, among said signals, those corresponding to differential displacements;
IV—counter means for registering differential displacements;
V—means for reading and/or retrieving said differential displacements and determining from them reference counter coordinates; and
VI—means for performing the operations corresponding to said reference counter coordinates.
The pointer to which said PCT application, as well as the present application, refers, may be, and often is, a mouse; however, it may be any kind of pointer, and therefore, while reference may be, made to a mouse for descriptive purposes, it should be remembered that what is said about a mouse extends to any computer controlling pointers, and, conversely, that the term “pointer” includes a mouse. It should also be remembered that a pointer is represented on the computer screen by a pointer index or cursor (“index” and “cursor” being herein synonymous) and what is seen by the computer operator is the positions and displacements of said index, so that, when pointer positions or displacements are mentioned herein. what is intended are the positions or displacements of the pointer index. In computer operation, the pointer index may assume different shapes depending on the computer software, in particular the arrow shape, the I-shape and the L- or equivalent shape, said shapes and their changes have a significance well known to all persons who use computers.
The smallest displacements that a pointer index can make along the X and Y axes, and the corresponding X-Y elementary vector displacements, will be called herein, as they are called in the aforesaid PCT/IL96/00078, “elementary” coordinate displacements or vector displacements, respectively. Their size depends on the particular pointer and especially on the particular system in which the pointer operates. In general, all coordinate displacements that are not elementary ones are algebraic sums of elementary coordinate displacements, and all vector displacements that are not elementary ones are vectorial sums of elementary vector displacements. It should be stressed that in this specification and claim the term “pointer” indicated the pointing device, while what is seen on the screen is “the pointer index or cursor”. The method and apparatus of the aforesaid PCT application associate to any operation, or series of operations, the succession of pointer events which cause them to be carried out by the computer. According to it, two Modes are available in the pointer-computer device and in its operation: the R/M (REGISTER/MEMORY) Mode and the A/P (ACTIVE/PLAY) Mode. In the R/M Mode, successions of pointer events, required to cause an operation or series of operations to be performed by the computer, are registered and memorized in appropriate memory banks; in the A/P Mode, said successions are reproduced, and the corresponding operation or series of operations are caused to be performed by a single or a limited number of pointer events, regardless of how many such events were originally and are ordinarily required to achieve the same effect. The expression “pointer (mouse) event” is ordinarily used to mean the actuation of a pointer (or, in particular, mouse) key, or in general, any command given by means of a pointer, but in this specification and claims, it should be construed to further include any elementary X or Y displacement of the pointer or of the pointer index. More generally, a pointer event is the transmission of a message or code from the pointer to the computer, which message or code is generally a digital one, composed of a number of bits. The method and apparatus described in said PCT application permit, and in fact require, to register and memorize all pointer events—viz. the corresponding messages or codes—which are relevant for carrying out any desired computer operation and to “play”, viz. reproduce those same successions of events as if they originated at the moment from the pointer, whenever desired to carry out once again the same operation or succession of operations. When said successions of events are so reproduced, the computer believes, so to speak, that they originate from the pointer, and reacts accordingly.
There are, however, a number of desirable improvements in computer operations that are not connected, or not directly connected, to the carrying out of specific operations, in particular, such operations as are displayed on the toolbars or menus of the computer. For example, in drawing operations, the pointer may be used to define what will be called a “design”, viz. a geometric figure, a curve, a shaped surface or any regular or irregular graphic entity, on the computer screen. Some computer programs are capable of memorizing an approximation of the path which the pointer has followed in defining the design, by memorizing the positions of the pointer at certain time intervals and by approximately reproducing the design as defined by the points at which the pointer was located at said time intervals. In other words, the design is approximately memorized as a succession of segments, the length of which depends on the length of displacement of the pointer between the two successive times at which the position of the pointer has been memorized. It is apparent that in this way, the design is reproduced with an approximation that depends on the speed with which it has been generated by the pointer in its displacement. If the pointer has been moved fairly rapidly, the succession of segments will not adequately approximate the pointer path, and therefore the design itself and it will
Bayerl Raymond J.
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Thai Cuong T.
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