Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-31
2001-06-26
Cabeca, John (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S182000, C345S215000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252596
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to highlighting for command entries, and more particularly to such highlighting which assists the operator during selection of a command entry from a menu.
BACKGROUND
Heretofore the background of the caption text in directory menus has been highlight colored to assist the operator in selecting a command entry. This background color change was typically instantaneous, a two frame transition done between frames. That is, the background changed from a non-highlight color in one frame to the highlight color in the next frame as the cursor touched the command entry. To the operator, this change to highlight color appeared instantaneous. Such abrupt changes are rare in the real world outside of the electronic world of PC display monitors. Most real world changes are smooth transitions occurring over a perceptible time period. Oncoming traffic approaches us smoothly over a ten second time frame or longer. Elevator doors open and shut in several seconds. Coffee may spill over a time period of ½ second. Hardly any real world events are step changes occurring faster than the reaction time of the human retina—about {fraction (1/20)} of a second. However, abrupt changes are commonplace in the electronic world. A person interfacing with at a PC may be exposed to hundreds of instantaneous changes in only a few minutes. Over time these repeated visual impacts can cause operator tension, headaches and other deleterious effects. The operator distress caused by visual impacts may be viewed as carpal tunnel syndrome of the optic nervous system, and is an affront to the new workplace science of ergonomics.
SUMMARY
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a system and method for morphing the highlight attributes of command entries within a menu.
It is another object of this invention to provide such a system and method for editing the morphing of highlighted command entries to customize the display presentation and enhance the profile of the highlighting.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system and method in which the morphing is smooth and optically ergonomic.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system and method in which attributes are highlighted by enlargement morphing.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system and method which employs a constricted small non-highlight font for presenting more information to the operator on the display monitor.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system and method in which the rate of morphing is controlled to provide linear and non-linear rates of change.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system and method in which the morphing direction may be reversed from forward morph to reverse morph.
Briefly, these and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing a system for highlighting a command entry within a menu of command entries displayed on a monitor to assist an operator with selection of a command entry. A library of visible display structures form the displayed command entries. A cluster of attributes within the structure library define each visible display structure. A cursor control is responsive to the operator for positioning a cursor within the displayed menu. Attribute morphing functions associated with at least some of the attributes, morph the attributes from a pre-morphic state to a post-morphic state inorder to highlight a command entry. A command entry editor is responsive to the operator for editing the visible display structures forming the command entries, and editing the attributes defining the visible display structures, and editing the attribute morphing functions highlighting the command entries. A display controller is responsive to the cursor control and to the editor for presenting the cursor and the edited command entries to the monitor. A selector selects the command entry within a highlighted command button from the displayed menu when activated by the operator.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5119079 (1992-06-01), Hube et al.
patent: 5565888 (1996-10-01), Selker
patent: 5956035 (1999-09-01), Sciammarella et al.
Cabeca John
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Hentzel Paul
Luu Sy D.
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