Patent ID: 7293246

Claim:
In a computer device that includes a display for displaying a graphical user interface that includes a pointer, a pointer input device, and an operating system, a method of assisting users in aligning a selected object with an object displayed on the graphical user interface comprising: in response to receiving notice of a pointer movement event, obtaining the current and projected coordinate positions of the pointer; determining if the pointer will intersect an alignment area during movement; if the pointer an intersects an alignment area during movement, calculating an adjusted coordinate position for the pointer, wherein calculating an adjusted coordinate position for the pointer includes: calculating the coordinate position where the pointer intersects the alignment area; and for each directional component in the projected movement of the pointer from the current to the projected coordinate positions (“projected movement”): determining the projected change in pointer location; determining an adjustment amount based on the attributes of the alignment area, wherein determining an adjustment amount includes: calculating the total amount of resistance generated by the alignment area; if the total amount of resistance is larger than the projected change in pointer location, determining that the adjustment amount equals the total amount of resistance; and alternatively if the total amount of resistance is not larger than the projected change in pointer location, determining the adjustment amount by calculating the point on a directional friction curve where the projected pointer movement equals the area under the directional friction curve.