Virtual force feedback interface

Abstract

A method interfacing of a display and a pointing device employing regions of the display, sub-regions and objects with induced motion effects which alter the observed motion on the display of the content related to the pointing device are claimed. Induced motion effects include use of induced motion rules. The display may present one or more views of a 2-D, 3-D, 4-D or higher dimensional virtual space with regions, sub-regions and objects reflecting that dimensionality.

In the claims:  
     
         1 . A cursor control system comprising: 
 a display having a plurality of distinct regions;    a pointing device influencing a pointer on said display; and    a mapper responsive to said pointing device and to a position of said pointer relative to said distinct regions, and operative to affect a continued movement of said pointer,    wherein said continued movement is a transform of said pointer in at least one of said regions.    
     
     
         2 . A cursor control system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said display has a first region surrounded by a second region wherein said second region urges said pointer toward said first region.  
     
     
         3 . A cursor control system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said second region urges said pointer toward said first region when said pointer enters said second region from outside said first region.  
     
     
         4 . A cursor control system as recited in  claim 3  wherein said second region urges said pointer away from said first region when said pointer enters said second regions from inside said first region.  
     
     
         5 . A cursor control system as recited in  claim 3  wherein said display has a third region proximate to said second region surrounding said first region 
 wherein said second region urges said pointer away from said first region and said toward said third region when said pointer enters said second region from inside said first region moving toward said third region.  
 
     
     
         6 . A cursor control system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said first region slows said continued motion.  
     
     
         7 . A cursor control system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said pointer position is a vector of at least two dimensions.  
     
     
         8 . A cursor control system as recited in  claim 7  wherein said pointer position is a vector of at least three dimensions.  
     
     
         9 . A cursor control system as recited in  claim 8  wherein said pointer position is a vector of at least four dimensions.  
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling a pointer in an object oriented graphical environment comprising: 
 developing a list of objects pertaining to graphical regions in a specified area of a display;    determining for all of said objects which are pertinent to a location of said pointer on said display; and    modifying a movement on said display based upon properties of said pertinent objects.    
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling a pointer in an object oriented graphical environment as recited in  claim 10  wherein developing a list of objects pertaining to graphical regions in a specified area of a display includes at least one of 
 adding an object;  
 deleting an object; and  
 modifying an object.  
 
     
     
         12 . A method for controlling a pointer in an object oriented graphical environment as recited in  claim 10   wherein said properties of said objects include a geometry;    wherein determining for all of said objects which are pertinent to a location of said pointer on said display includes determining if said pointer location is within said geometry of at least one of said objects.    
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling a pointer in an object oriented graphical environment as recited in  claim 12   wherein said object geometry includes a bounding box;    wherein determining if said pointer location is within said geometry of said object includes determining if said pointer location is within said bounding box.    
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling a pointer in an object oriented graphical environment as recited in  claim 12   wherein said list of said objects is ordered;    wherein determining for all of said objects which are pertinent to a location of said pointer on said display includes repeating for each one of said objects determining if said one object is pertinent to said pointer location by determining if said pointer location is within said geometry of said object until one of said object is determined to be pertinent.    
     
     
         15 . A method for controlling a pointer in an object oriented graphical environment as recited in  claim 12   wherein determining for all of said objects which are pertinent to a location of said pointer on said display includes placing said objects pertinent to said pointer location into an ordered list.    
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling a pointer in an object oriented graphical environment as recited in  claim 15   wherein modifying said movement on said display based upon properties of said pertinent objects includes modifying said movement is based upon an ordering within said ordered list of said pertinent objects.    
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling a pointer in an object oriented graphical environment as recited in  claim 16   wherein modifying said movement on said display is based upon at most a predetermined number of said pertinent objects using said ordering within said ordered list of said pertinent objects.    
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling a pointer in an object oriented graphical environment as recited in  claim 10   wherein said properties of said objects include at least one induced motion rule; and    wherein modifying said movement on said display based upon said pertinent objects involves applying said induced motion rules of said pertinent objects.    
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling a pointer in an operating system having an event queue comprising: 
 examining said event queue for original pointer events generated by a pointing device;    removing said original pointer events from said event queue;    generating new pointer events based upon said original pointer events; and    inserting said new pointer events into said event queue.