Field of the Invention
The invention relates to hypermedia objects such as hyperlink, roll-over, button, slider, and menus in hypermedia documents, and user interfaces providing simultaneously-adjustable interactively-controlled discrete and pseudo-continuous user-adjustable settings and parameters, and in particular to adapting such hypermedia objects to accept and utilize the additional number of simultaneously-adjustable interactively-controlled discrete and pseudo-continuous parameters, and uses in applications.
Overview of the Invention
The present invention provides various types of extensions to the traditional and contemporary hypermedia objects such as hyperlink, roll-over, button, menu, and slider functions found in web browsers and hypermedia documents by leveraging additional and richer collections of user interface signals provided by, for example, a High Dimensional Touchpad (HTPD, as taught for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,078 and pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/761,978 and 12/418,605), Advanced Mice (for example as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,557,797 pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/619,678, 13/025,129, 13/024,569, and related pending U.S. patent applications), and other rich parameter user interfaces (for example, popular advanced touch interfaces employing multitouch and/or gestures). Additionally, images of the human hand as captured by video cameras can be used as an enhanced multiple-parameter interface responsive to hand positions and gestures (for example as taught in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/683,915). The collection of these various technologies will be collectively referred to as Advanced Pointing Devices (“APD”). In a scaled-back implementation, scrollwheel controls of a conventional computer mouse can be used to operate the extended features of the inventive hypermedia objects such as hyperlink, roll-over, button, menu, and slider functions.
The extensions provided by the invention include:                Directing additional user input into a hypermedia “hotspot” by clicking on it in the case of a hyperlink; and        Directing additional user input into a hypermedia “hotspot” simply from cursor overlay or proximity (i.e., without clicking on it) in the case of a roll-over.The resulting extensions will be called “Multiparameter Hypermedia Objects” (“MHO”). Potential uses of the MHOs and more generally extensions provided for by the invention include:        Using the additional user input to facilitate a rapid and/or more detailed information gathering experience in an easily-entered and completed “sub-session” within a usage session;        Potentially capturing notes from the sub-session for future use;        Potentially allowing the sub-session to retain state (such as last image displayed);        Leaving the hypermedia “hotspot” without clicking out of it.A number of user interface metaphors can be employed by the invention and/or its use, including one or more of:        Creating a pop-up visual or other visual change responsive to the rollover or hyperlink activation;        Rotating an object using rotation angle metaphors provided by the APD;        Rotating a user-experience observational viewpoint using rotation angle metaphors provided by the APD, for example, as described in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/502,230 “Control of Computer Window Systems, Computer Applications, and Web Applications via High Dimensional Touchpad User Interface” by Seung Lim;        Navigating at least one (1-dimensional) menu, (2-dimensional) pallet or hierarchical menu, or (3-dimensional) space.        
Such extensions, features, and other aspects of the present invention permit far faster browsing, shopping, and information gleaning through the enhanced features of these extended functionality roll-over and hyperlink objects. The result is the advantageous employment of an APD to improve the throughput and ease of operation of a hypermedia application (for example, when doing online shopping, hypermedia reference reviews, and surfing the web) so as to obtain more information far more quickly with far less effort.
USPTO Backgrounds
USPTO Backgrounds