Patent ID: 6281879
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a data processing system having a video display for displaying a cursor that points at positions on the video display and an input device for manipulating the cursor, a method comprising the steps of:displaying a tool bar having tools on the video display;in response to the user using the input device, positioning the cursor to point at a selected one of the tools on the tool bar;waiting a predetermined non-negligible amount of time;measuring a velocity metric of the cursor within the selected tool during the predetermined non-negligible amount of time; andif the cursor still points at the selected tool and the velocity metric remains below a predetermined threshold during the predetermined non-negligible amount of time, displaying information about the selected tool on the video display adjacent to the selected tool;changing the predetermined non-negligible amount of time to a new period of time;in response to the user using the input device, positioning the cursor to point to a second of the tools on the tool bar;waiting the new period of time;measuring a velocity metric of the cursor within the second of the tools during the new period of time; andwhen the cursor still points at the second of the tools on the tool bar and the velocity metric within the second of the tools has remained below the predetermined threshold during the new period of time, displaying information about the second tool on the video display adjacent to the selected tool.