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US 20120174031Al (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. N0.: US 2012/0174031 A1 DONDURUR et a]. (43) Pub. Date: Jul. 5, 2012

(54) CLICKLESS GRAPHICAL (52) US. Cl...... 715/808

(75) Inventors: MEHMET DONDURUR, (57) ABSTRACT DHAHRAN (SA); AHMET Z...... SAHIN’ DH AHRAN (SA) The chckless graphical user mterface provldes a pop-up Wm doW When a is moved over designated areas on the (73) Assigneez KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF screen. The pop-up includes item choices, e. g., PETROLEUM AND MINERALS “double click”, “single click”, “close” that execute ‘When the DH AHRAN (SA) ’ cursor is moved over the item. This procedure eliminates the traditional ‘mouse click’, thereby allowing users to move the cursor over the a lication or ?le and 0 en it b choosin (21) Appl' NO" 12/985’165 among the aforerrrifntioned choices in the? ?le or Zipplicatior'i . bein focused on. The 0 -u WindoW shoWs the navi ation (22) Flled: Jan‘ 5’ 2011 choiges in the form of 1; tgxt,pe.g., yes/no or color, egg, red/ _ _ _ _ blue, or character, such as triangle for ‘yes’ and square for Pubhcatlon Classl?catlon ‘no’. Pop-up WindoW indicator types are virtually unlimited (51) Int, Cl, and canbe changed to any text, color or character. The method G06F 3/048 (200601) is compatible With touch pads and mouses. .5 10a

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CLICKLESS [0010] These and other features of the present invention Will become readily apparent upon further revieW of the fol BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION loWing speci?cation and draWings.

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0002] The present invention relates to a graphical user interface (GUI), and more particularly to a clickless graphical [0011] FIG. 1 is a screen shot shoWing a text-based embodi user interface (GUI) that eliminates the need for mouse clicks ment of a clickless graphic user interface according to the for activation of objects pointed to by a cursor. present invention. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0012] FIG. 2 is a screen shot shoWing a color-based embodiment of the clickless graphic user interface according [0004] Many computer operating systems on personal to the present invention. computers, desktops, notebooks, and laptops have a graphical [0013] FIG. 3 is a screen shot shoWing a color-based interface that utiliZes clickable icons and menus on the com embodiment of the clickless graphic user interface according puter screen. To input commands to the computer, a user to the present invention. commonly uses a mouse to move a cursor over an object of [0014] Similar reference characters denote corresponding interest on the screen, and then physically clicks on an appro features consistently throughout the attached draWings. priate mouse to activate an , button, Web page link, drag-doWn menu, or the like associated With the object of interest pointed to by the cursor. The trend of using mouse DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS clicks for input appears likely to continue into the future, as it has become ingrained into the Way We interact With our com [0015] The clickless graphical user interface has been puters. developed in a text-based embodiment of a clickless graphi [0005] Clicking on a requires a certain cal user interface 10a (shoWn in FIG. 1), a color-based nimbleness in the user’s ?ngers, especially for such opera embodiment of a clickless graphical user interface 10b tions as double-clicks (in Which the user clicks on the mouse (shoWn in FIG. 2), and a shape-based embodiment of a click button tWice in rapid succession), drag-and-drops (in Which less graphical user interface 100 (shoWn in FIG. 3), Which the user clicks and holds the mouse button, moves the cursor provide a pop-up WindoW or pop-up menu When a cursor is and then releases the mouse button), copy-and-paste (in moved over designated areas on the screen (it Will be under Which the cursor is moved to the beginning of the text, the stood that “moved over” means moving the cursor and retain mouse button held doWn, and the cursor dragged across the ing the cursor in the desired position for a predetermined text to be marked), and even triple-clicks (in Which the user period of time), e. g., by moving a mouse. The pop-up WindoW presses the button three times in quick succession, most com 12 includes a choice of menu items, e.g., “double click”, monly seen in Word processors and Web broWsers to select a “single click”, “close”, etc., that execute When the cursor is Whole section of text). HoWever, a clumsy user or one Who is When moved over the item. This procedure eliminates the suffering from arthritis or other ailments of the ?nger joints traditional ‘mouse click,’ thereby alloWing users to move the may lack the capacity to perform these actions, Which may be cursor over the application or ?le and open it by choosing required to operate the computer properly. among the aforementioned menu item choices provided for [0006] Studies have shoWn that a user may click the mouse the ?le or application being focused on. button more than tWo million times a year. Users are begin [0016] As shoWn in FIG. 1, the pop-up WindoW 12 can ning to tire of the same old interfacing methodologies, Which display the navigation choices in the form of a text (Y 1411 for strain users’ digits. There is a long felt need for a better yes/N 16a for no), Y 1411 causing the ?le or application to methodology for using graphical user interfaces. open, and N 1611 causing the ?le or application to close or go [0007] Thus, a clickless graphical user interface solving the back or cancel an action. Instead of “Y” and “N”, the menu aforementioned problems is desired. items may be the Words “Open”, “Close”, and “Cancel”, or any other descriptive Word or phrase suitable to the context. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0017] As shoWn in FIG. 2, the pop-up WindoW 12 can display the navigation choices in the form of colors e. g., red [0008] The clickless graphical user interface provides a 20, green 22, or blue 18, Where blue 18 is used to open an pop-up WindoW When a cursor is moved over designated areas application, ?le or folder, red 20 is used to close, and green 22 on the screen. The pop-up WindoW includes choices, e.g., is used to cancel an action. “double click”, “single click”, “close” that execute When a [0018] As shoWn in FIG. 3, the pop-up WindoW 12 can mouse is moved over the menu item. This procedure elimi display the navigation choices in the form of iconic indicia nates the traditional ‘mouse click’, thereby alloWing users to distinguished by the shape of the icon or symbol, e.g., triangle move the cursor over the application or ?le and open it by 14b for ‘yes’ and hexagon 16b for ‘no’. choosing among the aforementioned choices in the ?le or [0019] The pop-up WindoW indicator types of 10a, 10b, and application being focused on. 100 are virtually unlimited and can be changed to any text, [0009] The pop-up WindoW shoWs the navigation choices in color, character, or visual indicia. Thus, clickless ?le naviga the form of a text (yes/no) or color (Red/blue), or character tion is provided. The method is easier to use, faster to navi (such as triangle for ‘yes’ and square for ‘no’). Pop-up Win gate, and eliminates the noise of a mouse click. The method is doW indicator types are unlimited and can be changed to any compatible With touch pads and mouses. Thus, navigation text, color or character. Thus, clickless ?le navigation is pro style is re?ected in the type of text, color or shape used, and vided. The method is easier to use, faster to navigate, and the ?nal action choice re?ects the functionality to ?naliZe a eliminates the noise of the mouse click. The method is com navigation action initiated by the user positioning of a cursor patible With touch pads and mouses. on an object, item, or visual image displayed on the screen. US 2012/0174031A1 Jul. 5, 2012

[0020] To operate or open an item, a user merely moves the 4. The computer-implemented clickless graphical user mouse or a touch in a touch screen over any item, and this user interface method according to claim 1, Wherein said step of action causes a hierarchal pop-up WindoW 12 or pop-up menu displaying a plurality of menu items comprises the step of to display text (Y 14a/N 1611 or OPEN/CANCEL etc), or a displaying unique iconic shape indicia representing each of color (R 18, G 20, or B 22) or graphic iconic indicia, e.g. the menu item choices presented to the user. triangle 14b or hexagon 16b to open a ?le. The user then 5. The computer-implemented clickless graphical user moves the mouse cursor over a choice, such as OPEN/CAN interface method according to claim 1, Wherein the alternate CEL orY/N text or color icon (Red for close, Blue for Open), computer actions related to the object are OPEN, CLOSE, or or shape (small characters or shapes to open and close) to CANCEL. open or cancel the open action for opening ?le or application. 6. The computer-implemented clickless graphical user To close an already open ?le or application, the user moves interface method according to claim 1, Wherein said object is the cursor over the title bar of the WindoW, Which causes a a ?le. small action WindoW to popup to close or cancel the close 7. The computer-implemented clickless graphical user action. The clickless graphical user interface can be used for interface method according to claim 1, Wherein said object is all GUI-based operating systems, such as Mac OSX, Win an application. doWs, Linux, or the like. Moreover, the clickless method may 8. The computer-implemented clickless graphical user be used for any application utiliZing a no click interface method according to claim 1, Wherein said object is concept, including Web tools and applications. the title bar of a WindoW. [0021] It Will be understood that the diagrams in the Figures 9. A computer softWare product, comprising a medium depicting the clickless graphical user interface are exemplary readable by a processor, the medium having stored thereon a only, and may be embodied in a dedicated electronic device set of instructions for establishing a clickless graphical user having a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal pro interface, the set of instructions including: cessor, application speci?c integrated circuit, ?eld program (a) a ?rst sequence of instructions Which, When executed mable gate array, any combination of the aforementioned by the processor, causes said processor to display a devices, or other device that combines the functionality of the pop-up WindoW When a cursor is placed over an object clickless graphical user interface onto a single chip or mul on the display device; tiple chips programmed to carry out the method steps (b) a second sequence of instructions Which, When described herein, or may be embodied in a general purpose executed by the processor, causes said processor to dis computer having the appropriate peripherals attached thereto play a plurality of choices in said pop-up WindoW, the and softWare stored on a computer readable media that can be choices representing alternate computer actions related loaded into main memory and executed by a processing unit to the object; and to carry out the functionality of the apparatus and steps of the (c) a third sequence of instructions Which, When executed method described herein. by the processor, causes said processor to activate a [0022] It is to be understood that the present invention is not speci?c one of the object related alternate computer limited to the embodiments described above, but encom actions corresponding to cursor placement of the cursor passes any and all embodiments Within the scope of the fol over the speci?c one of the menu item choices solely in loWing claims. response to cursor position. We claim: 10. The computer softWare product according to claim 9, 1. A computer-implemented clickless graphical user inter Wherein said second sequence of instructions further com face method for interfacing a user With a display device, the prises displaying unique text representing each of the menu method comprising the steps of: item choices presented to the user. displaying a pop-up WindoW When a cursor is moved over 11. The computer softWare product according to claim 9, an object on the display device; Wherein said second sequence of instructions further com displaying a plurality of menu item choices in the pop-up prises displaying unique color schemes representing each of WindoW, the choices representing alternate computer the menu item choices presented to the user. actions related to the object; and 12. The computer softWare product according to claim 9, activating a speci?c one of the object related alternate Wherein said second sequence of instructions further com computer actions corresponding to cursor placement of prises displaying unique iconic shape indicia representing the cursor over the speci?c one of the menu item choices each of the menu item choices presented to the user. solely in response to cursor position. 13. The computer softWare product according to claim 9, 2. The computer-implemented clickless graphical user Wherein the alternate computer actions related to the object interface method according to claim 1, Wherein said step of are OPEN, CLOSE, or CANCEL. displaying a plurality of menu items comprises the step of 14. The computer softWare product according to claim 9, displaying unique text representing each of the menu item Wherein said object is a ?le. choices presented to the user. 15. The computer softWare product according to claim 9, 3. The computer-implemented clickless graphical user Wherein said object is an application. interface method according to claim 1, Wherein said step of 16. The computer softWare product according to claim 9, displaying a plurality of menu items comprises the step of Wherein said object is the title bar of a WindoW. displaying unique color schemes representing each of the menu item choices presented to the user. * * * * *