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U.S. Patent #6,252,596
Following is the complete patent document issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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| United States Patent |
6,252,596
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Garland
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June 26, 2001
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Command entry highlight editing for a menu selection system and method
Abstract
System 10 (shown in FIG. 1A) provides highlighting for a command entry
within a menu of command entries displayed on monitor 10M. In menu 12 of
entry options 12A-E (shown in FIG. 1B), entry 12C is highlight enlarged.
Structure library 10S contains a collection of visible display structures
available in memory for forming the displayed command entries. Each
visible display structure is defined by a cluster of attributes available
in the memory of structure library 10S. Attribute morphing functions in
association with at least some of the attributes are available for
morphing the attributes from a pre-morphic visible state to a different
post-morphic visible state inorder to highlight one of the command
entries. The attribute morphing functions may be stored in structure
library 10S together with the associated attributes (as shown in the
Figure table), or stored separately in memory in morphing function library
10F. Libraries 10S and 10F may contain the actual morphing function in the
form of a mathematical formula expressing the frame-to-frame change of the
morphed attribute as a function of time. Command entry editor 10E is
responsive to the operator through operator input 10K for editing the
visible display structures, attributes, and morphing functions. Selector
14 is activated by the operator through SELECT command from operator input
10K for selecting the highlighted command entry in the displayed menu.
Selector 14 then provides SELECTION signal to application program 10P
(shown in dash) for directing the application program.
| Inventors:
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Garland; Harry B. (Mountain View, CA)
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| Assignee:
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Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
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| Appl. No.:
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053142 |
| Filed:
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March 31, 1998 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
345/810; 345/821; 345/856 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G06F 003/00 |
| Field of Search: |
345/333,352,949,955,114,349,334,116,977,146,353
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References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 5119079 | Jun., 1992 | Hube et al. | 345/146.
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| 5565888 | Oct., 1996 | Selker | 345/146.
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| 5956035 | Sep., 1999 | Sciammarella et al. | 345/353.
|
Primary Examiner: Cabeca; John
Assistant Examiner: Luu; Sy D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hentzel; Paul
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. 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, comprising:
a library of visible display structures available for forming the displayed
command entries;
a cluster of attributes within the structure library available for defining
each visible display structure;
cursor control responsive to the operator for positioning a cursor within
the displayed menu;
attribute morphing functions associated with at least some of the
attributes, available for morphing these attributes from a pre-morphic
state to a post-morphic state in order to highlight a command entry;
a command entry editor responsive to the operator for editing the visible
display structures forming the command entries based on the visible
display structures in the library, and editing the attributes defining the
visible display structures based on the attribute clusters in the library,
and editing the attribute morphing functions highlighting the command
entries;
display controller responsive to the cursor control and to the editor for
presenting the cursor and the edited command entries to the monitor; and
selector for selecting the highlighted command entry from the displayed
menu when the selector is activated by the operator.
2. The highlighting system of claim 1, further comprising:
a highlight threshold means responsive to the display controller, which
initiates the morphing of attributes defining visible display structures
to highlight a particular command entry when the position separation
between the cursor and that particular command entry is less than a
highlight threshold separation defined by the highlight threshold means.
3. The highlighting system of claim 2, wherein the highlight threshold
separation defines a highlight perimeter around the particular command
entry which initiates the highlight morphing of attributes when the cursor
penetrates the entry highlight perimeter.
4. The highlighting system of claim 2, wherein the highlight threshold
separation defines a highlight perimeter around the cursor which initiates
the highlight morphing of attributes when the particular command entry
penetrates the cursor highlight perimeter.
5. The highlighting system of claim 2, further comprising:
a selection threshold means responsive to the display controller, for
defining an entry selection perimeter around the highlighted command
entry, and for enabling the selector when the cursor penetrates the
selection perimeter.
6. The highlighting system of claim 5, further comprising:
a selection threshold morphing function associated with the selection
threshold means, which morph increases the penetrated selection perimeter
after the highlight morphing has been initiated by the highlight threshold
means.
7. The highlighting system of claim 1, wherein the command entries have
captions containing informational text.
8. The highlighting system of claim 7, wherein the library of visible
display structures includes:
a code identifying a highlight font forming the caption text of the
highlighted command entry, which highlight font is an expansive font for
providing optimal readability by the operator; and
a code identifying a non-highlight font forming the caption text of the
non-highlighted command entry, which non-highlight font is a constrictive
font for maximum display of caption text on the monitor.
9. The highlighting system of claim 7, wherein the highlighted command
entry has a command button displayed on the monitor encompassing the
caption thereof, which command button is formed by visible display
structures.
10. The highlighting system of claim 9, further comprising:
a caption attribute within the structure library defining the size of the
caption text;
a command button attribute within the structure library defining the size
of the command button; and
an enlargement morphing function associated with the caption attribute and
the command button attribute for highlighting the caption text and command
button through enlargement.
11. The highlighting system of claim 10, further comprising:
enlargement stopping means responsive to the operator for stopping the
enlargement morphing of the caption text when the enlargement thereof is
within an operator preferred range of sizes, which range of sizes defines
a stopping time window.
12. The highlighting system of claim 11, wherein the rate of enlargement
morphing of the caption text decelerates as the enlargement approaches the
operator preferred range expanding the stopping time window.
13. The highlighting system of claim 1, wherein the attribute morphing
functions are in the structure library with the associated attributes.
14. The highlighting system of claim 1, further comprising:
a library of morphing functions for providing the attribute morphing
functions to the editor permitting the operator to determine the
association between the morphing functions and the attributes for editing
the highlighting of the command entries.
15. A method of highlighting a command entry within a menu of command
entries displayed on a monitor to assist an operator with selection of a
command entry, comprising the steps of:
displaying a command menu having a plurality of command entries for
operator selection, each command entry formed by visible display
structures, which visible display structures are defined by attributes;
providing a cursor within the displayed menu;
positioning the cursor within the displayed menu for highlighting a command
entry;
determining at least one visible display structure and at least one
attribute thereof forming the command entry to be highlighted in response
to the operator;
morphing the at least one determined attributes from a pre-morphic state to
a post-morphic state in order to highlight the command entry, through a
series of subliminal incremental chances which provide a smooth morph from
the pre-morphic state to the post-morphic state without instantaneous
changes detectable by the operator, the morphing of each morphed attribute
established by an numerical field which is incremented or decremented to
morph the attribute;
providing a range of incrementing and decrementing rates of the numerical
field for morphine the attribute; and
editing the range of rates for enhancing the highlighting of the command
entry.
16. The highlighting method of claim 15, further comprising the additional
step of:
selecting the highlighted command entry with the morphed attribute.
17. The highlighting method of claim 15, wherein the numerical field is
incremented or decremented at a constant rate to provide linear morphing
of the attribute.
18. The highlighting method of claim 15, wherein the numerical field is
incremented or decremented at a decelerating rate to provide decelerating
morphing of the attribute.
19. The highlighting method of claim 15, wherein the numerical field is
incremented or decremented at an accelerating rate to provide accelerating
morphing of the attribute.
20. The highlighting method of claim 15, wherein the initial increment or
decrement of the numerical field of the morphed attribute, advances that
attribute from the pre-morphic state to the first incremental state
following the pre-morphic state, which advance is visually subliminal.
21. The highlighting method of claim 20, wherein the final increment or
decrement of the numerical field of the morphed attribute, advances that
attribute from the final incremental state before the post-morphic state
to the post-morphic state, which advance is visually subliminal.
22. The highlighting method of claim 15, wherein during the morphing step
the morph attribute of the highlighted command entry is forward morphed
from the pre-morphic state to the post-morphic state.
23. The highlighting method of claim 22, wherein after the forward morphing
step and before the selection step, the additional steps of:
repositioning the cursor to a new position proximate a new command entry
away from the prior position and prior highlighted command entry with the
forward morphed attribute;
forward morphing the morph attribute of the new command entry from the
pre-morphic state to the post-morphic state; and
reverse morphing the morph attribute of the prior command entry from the
post-morphic state to the pre-morphic state.
24. A computer readable medium containing a computer program that
highlights a command entry within a menu of command entries displayed on a
monitor to assist an operator with selection of a command entry, by
directing the computer to execute the steps of:
displaying a command menu having a plurality of command entries for
operator selection, each command entry formed by visible display
structures, which visible display structures are defined by attributes;
providing a cursor within the displayed menu;
positioning the cursor within the displayed menu for highlighting a command
entry;
determining at least one visible display structure and at least one
attribute thereof forming the command entry to be highlighted in response
to the operator; and
morphing the at least one determined attribute from a pre-morphic state to
a post-morphic state in order to highlight the command entry, through a
series of subliminal incremental changes which provide a smooth morph from
the pre-morphic state to the post-morphic state without instantaneous
changes detectable by the operator, the morphing of each morphed attribute
established by an numerical field which is incremented or decremented to
morph the attribute;
providing a range of incrementing and decrementing rates of the numerical
field for morphine the attribute; and
editing the range of rates for enhancing the highlighting of the command
entry.
Description
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 1/2 second. Hardly any
real world events are step changes occurring faster than the reaction time
of the human retina--about 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Further objects and advantages of the present highlight system and method
and the operation of the highlighting editor will become apparent from the
following detailed description and drawing in which:
FIG. 1A is a functional block diagram of highlighting system 10 showing
command entry editor 10E and display controller 10D for presenting a
display on monitor 10M;
FIG. 1B shows a simple display menu 12 with command entry 12C highlighted
by enlargement;
FIG. 2 is a table showing command entry visible display structures and
associated attributes stored in of structure library 10S;
FIG. 3 shows a complex menu with three columns of non-highlighted entries,
and a single highlighted entry within a command button in the center
column;
FIG. 4A shows command entry 42 within command button 44B separated from
cursor 43 by distance D;
FIG. 4B shows the cursor and command entry of FIG. 4A separated by a
smaller distance which, is less than threshold distance H which initiates
highlight morphing by enlargement;
FIG. 4C shows cursor 43 and selection perimeter 44S separated by distance
S;
FIG. 4D shows cursor 43 penetrating into selection perimeter 44S enabling
selector 14;
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the steps of the general method of
highlighting command entries: and
FIG. 6 is a plot of enlargement morphing against time illustrating several
morphing rates.
The first digit of each reference numeral in the above figures indicates
the figure in which that element is most prominently shown. The second
digit indicates related structural elements, and a final letter (when
used) indicates a sub-portion of an element.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWING
The table below lists all of the reference numerals employed in the
figures, and identifies the element designated to by each numeral.
10 highlighting system 10
10C cursor control 10C
10D display controller 10D
10E command entry editor 10E
10F function library 10F
10K operator input 10K
10M display monitor 10M
10P application program 10P
10S structure library 10S
12 simple display menu 12
12C command entry 12C
12A-E entry options 12A-E
14 selector 14
14H highlight threshold device 14H
14S selection threshold device 14S
32 menu 32
32H highlighted patent entry 32H
42 command entry 42
43 cursor 43
44B command button 44B
44H highlight perimeter 44H
44S selection perimeter 44S
Glossary of Terms
The following terms are used in the claims to specify this invention. Each
term is defined briefly below in the order of appearance in the claims.
Highlighting--any suitable distinction in any attribute of a command entry
which may be visibly presented on a display in order to enhance the visual
profile of a highlighted command entry over the non-highlighted command
entries.
Library--a data storage device or memory such as structure library 10S or
function library 10F for storing a collection of visible display
structures or morphing functions, which are accessible to the operator
during editing of the command entries.
Visible Display Structure--an image feature capable of being displayed on a
monitor to form all or part of a command entry. Each visible display
structure is defined by a cluster of attributes.
Attribute--an independent property of a visible display structure which can
be added, deleted or morphed independently of the other attributes of that
visible display structure.
Morph--a term of art based on a corruption of the word "metamorphose". In
this disclosure, morph means to smoothly change the visual display of an
attribute defining a visible display structure.
Morphing--a corruption of the verb "metamorphosing"
Morphic--a corruption of the adjective "metamorphic".
Morphing Function--a mathematical formula or relationship associated with
an attribute expressing the morphing parameters of that attribute.
Caption Text--human readable symbols such as text or icons in a command
entry containing instructional information for the operator about that
entry.
Command Button--a border or other visible display structure encompassing a
command entry for highlighting that command entry to the operator.
Numerical Field--a data field within a structure library for storing
numerical data which may be incremented or decremented by an integer
counter within a display controller for advancing each morphed attribute
from a pre-morphic state, through the intermediate morphic states, to a
post-morphic state.
General Embodiment--FIGS. 1A-B
System 10 (shown in FIG. 1A) provides highlighting for a command entry
within a menu of command entries displayed on monitor 10M. Highlighting
effects such as enlargement assist the operator with entry selection from
among the non-highlighted command entry options in the menu. In menu 12 of
entry options 12A-E (shown in FIG. 1B), command entry 12C (and the
surrounding command button) is highlight enlarged. The enlarged command
entry may be more easily read by the operator when selecting an entry. In
addition, the enlargement is visual feedback to the operator indicating
which command entry is about to be selected. The command entry may be
highlighted in ways besides enlargement for enhancing the highlight
profile, such as the presence of a border surrounding highlighted command
entry 12C.
Structure library 10S contains a collection of visible display structures
available in memory for forming the displayed command entries. A visible
display structure may be any suitable feature capable of being displayed
on a monitor. Such features include a caption of informational text, a
border around the caption text (as shown in FIG. 1B), the background area
behind the caption text, and underlining beneath the caption text. Each
visible display structure is defined by a cluster of attributes available
in the memory of structure library 10S. The attributes may be any suitable
property which is can be included in a visible display structure, such as
height, length, line thickness, color, intensity, etc. An example of
several visible display structures each with a cluster of attributes
stored in structure library 10S is shown in the table of FIG. 2. The
structure library may contain the actual structure or attribute data which
is then processed by display controller 10D. Alternatively, the library
may merely contain a code identifying the structure or attribute to
display controller 10D.
Cursor control 10C is responsive to the operator through operator input 10K
for positioning a cursor within the displayed menu next to a command entry
being considered for selection. Operator input 10K may be any suitable
operator input device such as a keyboard or a mouse.
Attribute morphing functions in association with at least some of the
attributes are available for morphing the attributes from a pre-morphic
visible state to a different post-morphic visible state inorder to
highlight one of the command entries. The attribute morphing functions may
be stored in structure library 10S together with the associated attributes
(as shown in the Figure table), or stored separately in memory in morphing
function library 10F. Library 10F provides the morphing functions to
command entry editor 10E, permitting the operator to modify the morphing
functions and to establish the association between the morphing functions
and the attributes for editing the highlighting of the command entries.
Libraries 10S and 10F may contain the actual morphing function in the form
of a mathematical formula expressing the frame-to-frame change of the
morphed attribute as a function of time. That is, the morphing functions
may be in the standard mathematical format y=f(x) where:
y is the morphed parameter
such as size or color and
x is display time, clock cycles,
a percentage of a morph time window, or other parameter having some
relationship with the passage of display frames.
The morphing function formula is then processed through display controller
10D to provide the required display changes in the morphed attribute.
Alternatively, the morphing functions may be in the form of morph codes
identifying the morphing function formula to display controller 10D.
Command entry editor 10E is responsive to the operator through operator
input 10K 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. Editing by the operator may customize the presentation of
the command entries, and enhance the highlighting profile. Any attribute
may be morphed to provide a visibly distinct highlight.
Selector 14 is activated by the operator through SELECT command from
operator input 10K for selecting the highlighted command entry in the
displayed menu. In the perimeter embodiment of FIG. 4, a command entry
must be highlighted by a command button from the editor, and the selector
must be ENABLED by selection threshold device 14S before the command entry
of that command button may be selected. The command button is a
highlighted area of the monitor display encompassing the command entry,
and is typically designated by a border. The command button may be
responsive to the cursor position for causing the selection of the
highlighted command entry. Selector 14 then provides SELECTION signal to
application program lop (shown in dash) for directing the application
program. Application program lop is the source of the menu of command
entries, and provides menu captions in ASCII to display controller 10D for
display on monitor 10M.
Display controller 10D is also responsive to cursor control 10C and to
editor 10E for presenting the cursor movement and the edited command
entries to the monitor. The display controller includes a frame generator
which generates the raster scans of pixels required to present the menu
image on monitor 10M. The display controller may include a math unit and
an integer counter for converting each morphing function formula into
interframe increment changes in the attribute morphed by that morphing
function.
Structure Library (FIG. 2 Table)
An example of attribute clusters defining a border visible display
structure, a non-highlight caption font, and a highlight caption font is
shown in the table of FIG. 2. These attributes clusters are stored an
attribute column in structure library 10S, and are available to display
controller 10D to present a border and fonts for the caption text to the
monitor. Structure library 10S may store other visible display structures
and attribute clusters, but only the border attributes and caption
attributes are shown in the FIG. 2 table.
Border
The attributes (visible properties) of a rectangular border or command
button around the highlighted command entry may include:
height (number of scan lines along the vertical axis of the display
monitor),
length (number of pixels along the horizontal axis of the display monitor),
thickness (number of pixels in the thickness of the line forming the
border), and
color rendered by red and green and blue components on a 0-15 color
intensity scale.
Each of the above border attributes are morphable and may be smoothly
morphed from a pre-morphic state (listed in the pre-morphic column of
structure library 10S) to a different post-morphic state (listed in the
post-morphic column of structure library 10S). In the FIG. 2 example, both
the height and the length are morph enlarged to twice the pre-morphic size
as indicated by the pixel entries in the morphic state columns. The line
thickness is morphed to three times the pre-morphic thickness. For
convenience of illustration, size and thickness are given in FIG. 2 as
pixels. These pixel quantities are converted directly into display image
dimensions by display controller 10D. Size and thickness in the table
could be given directly as dimensions such as millimeters or inches (or in
time), for conversion into display dimensions. The TWIP unit (1,440 of an
inch) is easily converted to many systems and monitors employing various
resolutions, and may be preferred. Alternatively, a unitless scaler may be
employed representing a percentage of the display dimension unity.
The red component of the border color has been morph decreased from a red
intensity of 15 to a red intensity of 0. The blue component has been morph
increased from a blue intensity of 0 to a blue intensity of 15. The green
component has not been morphed and remains at 0. The color intensity
number between 0 and 15 is unitless representing an intensity level within
a color intensity scale having 16 levels. Other embodiments may employ
expanded color scales having more color intensity levels such as 256. As
the morphing proceeds, the rectangle enlarges in both dimensions, the line
becomes thicker, and the color of the line changes from red to blue. Many
different colors may be created (including white, black, and greyscale) by
changing the relative intensity stored in the red, green and blue
numerical fields. The apparent fading of a pre-morph color into a
post-morph color may be effected by a simultaneous double morph. The
pre-morp color is decrease morphed at the same time that the post-morph
color is increased morphed.
Non-Highlight Caption
The caption attributes (visible properties) of a simple non-highlight
caption may include:
font (style of the characters forming the caption),
size (height, length and stroke width of the characters), and
color rendered by red and green and blue components on the 0-15 color
intensity scale.
In the FIG. 2 example, the non-highlight font is aerial narrow (see FIG. 3)
and the color is white (all intensities at 10). The non-highlight font is
not morphed. The each pre-morphic state is identical to the adjacent
post-morphic states.
Highlight Caption
The highlight caption may have the same caption attributes as the
non-highlight caption with different values in the numerical fields. In
the FIG. 2 example, the highlight font is expanding Times Roman (see FIG.
3) and the color is green.
Menu of Command Entries--FIG. 3
Each command entry may have a caption containing informational text for
instructing the operator about that entry. Menu 32 in the embodiment of
FIG. 3 is a three column directory of issued US patents. The caption text
with each entry is the issue number and inventor(s) of a US patent.
Selecting the highlighted (enlarged) patent entry 32H retrieves the text
and drawing of that patent for presentation on monitor 10M. One of the
visible display structures in structure library 10S of the FIG. 2 table is
a non-highlight caption with a font attribute code identifying the size
and style of the non-highlight font forming the caption text of the
non-highlighted command entries. The non-highlight font is preferable
small in size and constricted in style (shown in FIG. 3) such as aerial
narrow for maximum display of caption text within the limited space on the
monitor. The small non-highlight font permits more columns of command
entries to be crowded into the display presentation, with more patent
entry rows in each column. The operator can see more command entry options
in a single screen of display monitor 10M.
Another one of the visible display structures in structure library 10S of
the FIG. 2 table is a highlight caption with a font attribute code
identifying the size and style of the highlight font forming the caption
text of the command entry within the highlighted command button. The
highlight font is preferable large in size and expansive in style (shown
in FIG. 3) such as Times Roman for providing optimal readability by the
operator. The enlarged highlight font clearly indicates to the operator
which command entry is being considered for selection, and permits the
operator to easily read the highlight font at a glance without having to
lean forward toward the monitor to scrutinize the text. The highlight font
may be may have special characteristics such italics or bold or all caps
(as shown in FIG. 3), for enhancing the highlight profile against the
initial caps only of the non-highlight patent entries. The highlight font
may be presented in pseudo three dimensions by adding line of perspection
and shading the face created by the lines. The shape of border around the
highlighted entry may be edited to further enhance the highlighting. The
rectangular border of FIG. 1B minimal software burden and is therefore
easy to generate and move. However, other shapes with more highlight
potential may be employed to catch the operators eye. The border employed
for highlighted entry 32H in FIG. 3 is an elongated octagon, a rectangle
with beveled corners. The enlarged highlighted captions may partially
occult the surrounding non-highlighted captions (as shown in FIG. 3),
which further reduces selection confusion.
Highlight Perimeter--FIGS. 4A and 4B
The decreasing distance separating the cursor and the command entries in
the display presentation from display controller 10D, may be employed to
initiate the highlight morphing. In FIG. 4A, position separation distance
D between cursor 43 and command button 44B encompassing command entry 42
is great (D>H). Command entry 42 is non-highlighted (pre-morphic state),
and selector 14 (see FIG. 1A) is not enabled. Highlight threshold device
14H is responsive to separation distance D out of display controller 10D,
for initiating the morphing of the attributes which highlight command
button 44B. The highlighting is initiated when position separation D is
less than a highlight threshold separation H defined by highlight
threshold device 14H. Highlight threshold separation H defines highlight
perimeter 44H (shown in dash in FIG. 4B) around command button 44B, which
initiates the highlight morphing when penetrated by cursor 43. In FIG. 4B,
cursor 43 is closer to command button 44B and command entry 42 than in
FIG. 4A (D<H). The arrow point of the cursor protrudes slightly passed
highlight perimeter 44H into the region within the perimeter. Small
expansion arrows shown in FIG. 4B indicate the resulting vertical and
horizontal enlargement highlight morphing of command button 44B (both text
and border). FIG. 4C shows continued enlargement morphing of command
button 44B, and FIG. 4D shows the command button fully morphed
(post-morphic state). The dashed highlight perimeter may be a construction
by the display controller for internal use only, and is not necessarily
part of the visible display presentation from display controller 10D. In
the highlight perimeter embodiment of FIG. 4, the cursor does not have to
actually touch any of the command entries inorder to initiate the
highlighting. The cursor only has to get close enough to touch the
highlight perimeter of one of the command entries.
Reverse Morphing
As the cursor approaches a command entry and passes into the highlight
perimeter, the command entry becomes highlighted. The morph attributes of
the highlighted, command button may forward morph the command entry
therein from the pre-morphic state to the post-morphic state. After this
forward morphing (but before selection), the cursor may be repositioned to
a new position proximate a new command entry away from the prior position
and prior highlighted command entry. As the cursor moves away from the
prior highlighted command entry and passes out of the highlight perimeter,
the prior command entry loses highlight status. The new command entry may
simultaneously gain highlight status. The morph attributes of the prior
command entry may then reverse morph from the post-morphic state back to
the pre-morphic state, indicating the loss of status.
In a different embodiment, the highlight threshold separation H may define
a highlight perimeter around the cursor. In this curser perimeter
embodiment, the highlight morphing is initiated when the cursor is moved
close enough to a command entry to become penetrated by that command
entry.
Selection Perimeter--FIGS. 4C and 4D
The decreasing distance separating the cursor and a selection perimeter in
the display presentation from display controller 10D, may be employed to
enable selector 14. In FIG. 4C, position separation distance S between
cursor 43 and selection perimeter 44S (shown in dots) around highlighted
command entry 42, is great. Selector 14 (see FIG. 1A) is not enabled.
Selection threshold device 14S provides a threshold separation distance
which defines selection perimeter 44S. Selection threshold device 14S is
responsive to position separation distance S out of display controller
10D, for enabling selector 14 to be activated by the operator through the
SELECT command for selection of the highlighted command entry. Selector 14
is enabled when distance S is zero. That is when cursor 43 touches or
penetrates selection perimeter 44S as shown in FIG. 4D. A selection
threshold morphing function associated with selection threshold device
14S, morph increases the penetrated selection perimeter 44S (or morph
decreases S), after the highlight morphing has been initiated by highlight
threshold device 14H. The increasing selection perimeter 44S around
highlighted command entry 42, (or decreasing S) causes the perimeter to
expand into the cursor. The expanding selection perimeter 44S (indicated
by expansion arrows), enables selector 14 when penetrated by cursor 43 as
shown in FIG. 4D. In a simpler embodiment, the expanding selection
perimeter may coincide with expanding edge of the highlight border. Use of
the expanding selection perimeter permits the operator to activate
selector 14 without requiring the cursor to first touch the highlighted
command entry. Command entries may be selected "on the fly".
The highlight perimeter and selection perimeter may be defined by pixel
zones instead of separation distances D and S. In this zone embodiment,
display controller 10D establishes a highlight zone of pixels around each
command entry, and a separation zone of pixels around the command button
for the highlighted command entry. When the cursor is moved to occupy a
pixel of the highlight pixel zone of a command entry, that command entry
becomes highlighted. When a pixel of the expanding selection zone is
occupied by the cursor, selector 14 becomes enabled.
Method of Operation--FIG. 5
The primary steps of a general method of highlighting a command entry
within a menu of command entries to assist an operator with entry
selection is shown in the flow chart of FIG. 5. The steps of the method
are described below with reference to highlighting system 10 of FIG. 1A.
Displaying a command menu having a plurality of command entries on a
display monitor for operator selection. Each command entry is formed by
visible display structures defined by attributes (see FIG. 2 table).
Providing a position cursor within the displayed menu.
Positioning the cursor within the displayed menu for highlighting a command
entry.
Determining at least one visible display structure and at least one
attribute thereof of that command entry which is to highlight the command
entry based on the contents of structure library 10S. The determined
visible display structure(s) and attribute(s) are retrieved from the
library and processed for presentation on the display monitor.
Morphing the at least one determined attribute from a pre-morphic state to
a post-morphic state in order to highlight the command entry. The morphing
step may be a series of subliminal incremental changes which provide a
smooth morph without instantaneous changes detectable by the operator.
Smooth, continuous morphs, such as morphs based on mathematically
continuous zoom functions, are generally more optically ergonomic than
instantaneous step changes (two frame morphs). The morphing of each
morphed attribute is established by incrementing or decrementing the
numerical field for that attribute through a counter within display
controller 10D.
Selecting the highlighted command entry with the morphed attribute.
Application program 10P is responsive to the operator selection through
SELECTION signal for implementing the requirements of the selected command
entry. In the patent directory embodiment of FIG. 3, the application
program responds to the highlighted command entry by retrieving the record
of U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,139 from an application program data base.
The above general method may have the following additional steps:
Providing a range of incrementing and decrementing rates of the numerical
field for controlling the morphing rate of the attributes.
Editing the range of rates for enhancing the highlighting profile of the
command entry. In general, morphing rates may be controlled in two ways:
1) by small alterations in the step size of the individual increments, and
2) by changing the length of time between increments, the increment
frequency.
Zooming Rates--FIG. 6
Various rates of enlargement or zoom speed for the font size attribute is
shown by the plots in the graph of FIG. 6. The zoom time (horizontal axis)
plotted against the resulting zoom size (vertical axis), reveals the rate
of change of size over time (slope along each plot). In a linear
embodiment, (illustrated by the "Linear" plot in FIG. 6), the numerical
field is incremented or decremented at a constant rate to provide linear
morphing of the size attribute. The caption text is morphed to a larger
text size (zoomed up) by slowly incrementing the integer in the numerical
field for the font size. The numerical field may be incremented or
decremented at a non-linear rate such as deceleration (illustrated by the
"Decelerating" plot), or acceleration (illustrated by the "Accelerating"
plot), to provide decelerating or accelerating morphing of the size
attributes. An enlargement morphing function associated with the caption
attribute defines the rate of caption text enlargement.
The operator may issue a morph STOP command from keyboard 10K for stopping
the enlargement morphing of the caption text when the enlargement is
within a stopping time window defined by a range of larger sizes preferred
by the operator. In the graph of FIG. 6, the operator preferred range of
sizes is illustrated by size range S1-S2 (extending along the vertical
axis). In the case of linear enlargement, the operator stops the zoom-up
when the enlarging font size enters the preferred S1-S2 size range. The
stop occurs within time window L1-L2 (extending along the horizontal time
axis). This preferred size as defined by the stop time maybe retained in
memory for future use by the operator.
In the case of decelerating enlargement, the stop time for the S1-S2 range
is within time window D1-D2 which is longer than linear stop window L1-L2.
The decelerating zoom-up has an initial fast rate of size increase for the
small sizes, which slows as the size approaches the operator's preferred
size range S1-S2. The decelerating zoom provides the longer D1-D2 time
window in which the operator may to stop the zoom-up. The extended D1-D2
time is caused by the decelerating rate of enlargement morphing of the
caption text as the enlargement approaches the operator preferred range
S1-S2. In addition, the D1-D2 deceleration window opens sooner along the
horizontal time axis. That is, the zoom time is shorter, and the operator
may issue the STOP command sooner.
The initial or T0 (time zero) size of the caption text may be zero, and the
highlighted caption text zooms-up from this invisible start font to the
larger visible sizes. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, each of the
plots has a finite initial T0 which is small but visible. The starting
discontinuity at T0 of the linear zoom and decelerating zoom may be
minimized by an initial zero (or near zero) slope period (shown in dash).
The initial series of increments (or decrements) after T0 may be
sufficiently small to effect a smooth change from the initial T0 size to
the first few morph sizes. These initial small increments of the numerical
field of the morphed attribute, subliminally advance that attribute from
the pre-morphic state through the first incremental states following the
pre-morphic state. Similarly, the final few increments (or decrements) of
the morphed attribute, may smoothly and subliminally advance that
attribute from the final incremental states before the post-morphic state
to the post-morphic state.
Industrial Applicability
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the objects of this
invention have been achieved as described hereinbefore by providing a
system and method for morphing the highlight attributes of command entries
within a menu. The morphing of highlighted command entries may be edited
by a command entry editor to customize the display presentation and
enhance the profile of the highlighting. The morphing may be smooth and
optically ergonomic by employing small increments or low incrementing
rates. A small constricted non-highlight font may be employed for
presenting more information to the operator in the limited space of the
display monitor.
Conclusion
Clearly various changes may be made in the structure and embodiments shown
herein without departing from the concept of the invention. Further,
features of the embodiments shown in the various figures may be employed
with the embodiments of the other figures.
Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the
terminology of the following claims and the legal equivalents thereof.
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