Pen-mouse system
View Patent ↗The present invention is a system that provides a pen based computer user with a graphical user interface tool, a pen-mouse, that looks like and functions like a mouse but that is controlled by a limited input device such as a pen or stylus of the pen based computer. The pen-mouse is a tracking menu that tracks the position of the pen. A pen cursor that corresponds to the pen is allowed to be moved about within the pen-mouse graphic by the pen and the pen-mouse remains stationary. The pen-mouse is moved when the location of the pen encounters a tracking boundary of the pen-mouse. The tracking boundary typically coincides with the graphic representing the mouse. While moving within the pen-mouse, the pen can select objects within the pen-mouse body, such as buttons, wheels, etc. The selection of a button or other virtual control causes a corresponding computer mouse button function to be executed. The execution focus is directed at any object designated by a pen-mouse tracking symbol, such as an arrow, that is part of the pen mouse graphic. The pen-mouse can emulate functions or operations of a mouse including single button clicks, double button clicks, finger wheels, track balls, etc.
1. A graphical user interface, comprising:
a mouse graphic having the appearance of a computer mouse;
at least one button control positioned within the graphic with a button event being produced when activated;
a tracking symbol graphic associated with the mouse graphic and indicating event focus; and
a tracking menu boundary providing tracking menu control of the interface for a pen type input device.
2. An interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tracking boundary coincides with an edge of the mouse graphic.
3. An interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tracking boundary comprises a safety neck.
4. An interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control is activated by a pen input event.
5. An interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein three button controls are provided and multiple button events can be emulated.
6. An interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interface can drag objects.
7. An interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tracking symbol graphic has an appearance corresponding to system state.
8. An interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tracking symbol graphic is positionable at various positions around the mouse graphic.
9. An interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein said tracking boundary comprises an interior tracking wall.
10. An interface as recited in claim 1 , further comprising one of a wheel control, a ball control, a bar control, joystick, track pad, buttons, keyboard buttons, and status indicators.
11. An interface as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a second mouse graphic having the appearance of a computer mouse;
at least a second button control positioned within the second graphic with a second button event being produced when activated;
a second tracking symbol graphic associated with the second mouse graphic and indicating event focus; and
a second tracking menu boundary providing tracking menu control of the interface for a second pen type input device.
12. A graphical user interface, comprising:
a mouse graphic having the appearance of a computer mouse;
at least three button controls positioned within the graphic with a button event being produced when activated by a stylus input event and the button controls changing appearance when activated;
a tracking symbol graphic associated with the mouse graphic, indicating event focus and system state; and
a tracking menu boundary coinciding with an edge of the mouse graphic and extending into the mouse graphic, and providing tracking menu control of the interface for a pen type input device.
13. A method, comprising:
producing a graphical user interface on a display that has an appearance of a computer mouse;
moving the graphical user interface on the display as a tracking menu responsive to movement of a pen by moving the graphical user interface when a cursor for the pen encounters a boundary of the graphical user interface; and
interpreting input events initiated by the pen as mouse events.