Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-06
2001-05-08
Shankar, Vijay (Department: 2778)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S182000, C345S156000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229525
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer-based systems and, more particularly, to hit-testing in a computer-based system.
2. Related Art
A common technique for presenting information to users of computer-based systems is through use of a graphical user interface (GUI). A graphical user interface is typically part of an environment provided by an operating system executed by a processor in the computer system. Generally, the GUI is controlled by the operating system in response to commands provided by a user and application programs or other processes executing on or accessible to the computer-based system.
Common to virtually all conventional GUIs is the use of a mouse or other pointing device in a display environment. A common problem in conventional display environments is that it at times difficult to graphically select a display element due to the relative size of the cursor and the display element, the number of display elements displayed simultaneously, etc. This inability to quickly and accurately graphically select a display element rendered on the display device, particularly when such a display element is one of many currently-rendered display elements, results in a system that is difficult and frustrating to use. What is needed, therefore, is a technique for selecting quickly and easily desired display elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a hit-test system and methodology for use in a computer-based system having a display device. The invention searches a display pixel map in successively-increasing distances from a selected pixel location associated with a current cursor position in accordance with a predetermined search topology. The search topology may be defined by pixel offset values that are calculated, coded or stored in memory, such as in a look-up table.
A number of aspects of the invention are summarized below, along with different embodiments that may be implemented for each of the summarized aspects. It should be understood that the summarized embodiments are not necessarily inclusive or exclusive of each other and may be combined in any manner in connection with the same or different aspects that is non-conflicting and otherwise possible. These disclosed aspects of the invention, which are directed primarily to high performance capacitor charging systems and methodologies, are exemplary aspects only and are also to be considered non-limiting.
In one aspect of the invention, a hit-test system for use in a computer-based system having a display and a memory is disclosed. The hit-test system is configured to search a display pixel map of pixel data in successively-increasing distances from a selected pixel location for a pixel location having stored therein a portion of a display element. The search is performed in accordance with a search topology. The search topology may be defined by pixel offset values stored in the memory, wherein the pixel locations at each of the distances from the selected pixel location is determined by adding the pixel offset values to said selected pixel location. Alternatively, the search topology is defined algorithmically or through some combination of stored values and algorithms.
Preferably, the successively-increasing distances from the selected pixel location includes a maximum distance from said selected pixel location that is to be searched. The maximum distance defines a range of pixel locations likely to include a display element of interest to the user while preventing the selection of an undesired display element, wherein when no display element is rendered at a pixel located within said maximum distance, said hit-test system identifies a background region of the display as being selected by the user.
More than one display element may be located at a pixel location. The hit test system arbitrates between more than one display element rendered at a pixel location closest to said selected pixel location, thereby identifying a display element that is more likely to be a display element desired by the user.
The search topology may be any configuration, such as circular, elliptical, rectangular or the like. In one embodiment, the search topology is biased by an inverse of a linear aspect ratio of the display pixel map to provide a more intuitive search region.
In another aspect of the invention, a method for determining a graphical selection is disclosed. The method includes (a) identifying a user-selected pixel location; (b) querying a plurality of pixel locations at a distance from said selected pixel location; (c) determining which of said plurality of pixel locations contains a display element; and (d) repeating (b) and (c) for successively-increasing distances from said selected pixel location, wherein said plurality of pixel locations at each of said successively-increasing distances conforms to a search topology. The search topology may be determined algorithmically, by accessing predefined pixel offset values stored in memory, or any combination thereof.
In a further aspect of the invention, a hit-test system for use in a computer-based system having a display is disclosed. The hit-test system is configured to search a display pixel map having stored therein pixel data. The search is performed in successively-increasing distances from a selected pixel location associated with a cursor position in accordance with a first search topology. In one embodiment, the search topology is one of a plurality of search topologies, and wherein each of said plurality of search topologies is defined by pixel offset values stored in memory. In one particular implementation, the pixel offset values for each of said plurality of search topologies are stored in a look-up table for said search topology.
In a still further aspect of the invention, a memory for storing data for access by a program being executed on a computer-based system having a display is disclosed. The memory includes a data structure stored in said memory. The data structure includes information used by said program to identify, in response to a user selection, a display element displayed on the display that is closest to a current cursor position. The information in said data structure comprises pixel offset values for successively-increasing distances from the current cursor position, said successively-increasing distances defined by a search topology. The program accesses said data structure to retrieve successive portions of said pixel offset values, each portion associated with one of said successively-increasing distances, to determine which pixel locations to query whether a display element is rendered at that pixel location.
In a still further aspect of the invention, in a computer-based system including a display, a computer readable medium encoded with a program for execution by a processor is disclosed. The program, when executed, performs a search of a display pixel map of pixel data in successively-increasing distances from a selected pixel location for a pixel location at which a portion of a display element is rendered, wherein said search is performed in accordance with a search topology.
Further features and advantages of the present invention as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most one or two digits of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
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Agilent Technologies
Piziali Jeff
Shankar Vijay
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