A system and method for minimizing clicks in the operation of a graphical user interface such as the WINDOWS operating environment is disclosed. The invention emulates a double click (referred to as the "ClickSaver" feature) which virtually eliminates the need to double click thereby making Windows easier for both the novice and experienced Windows user. A ClickSaver process determines the type of window on which a single click has occurred and, if ClickSaver is enabled and the window has been deemed eligible for a double click such as an icon or control menu, the ClickSaver process sends a double click signal in order to activate the application. |
Citations|
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Claims1. A computer-implemented method for interpreting data received from a mouse to minimize the need for clicking the mouse when using a graphical user interface which includes a plurality of window types, the plurality of window types includes a subset of windows designed to be activated only by a double click, the method comprising the steps of: - receiving a single click;
- determining if the single click occurred on the subset window type;
- sending a double click signal, if the window is the subset window type, to activate the window.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of - determining if the received click occurred within a time period less than a predetermined time period defined for double clicking; and
- not sending a double click signal, if the received click did not occur within the predetermined time.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of - determining if a control key or a shift key are depressed concurrently with the click; and
- not sending a double click signal, if a control key or a shift key was depressed concurrently with the click.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is provided by a WINDOWS operating environment. 5. A system for interpreting data received from a mouse to minimize the need for clicking the mouse when using a graphical user interface which includes a plurality of window types, the plurality of window types includes a subset of windows designed to be activated only by a double click, the system comprising: - means for receiving a single click;
- means for determining if the single click occurred on the subset window type;
- means for sending a double click signal, if the window is the subset window type, to activate the window.
6. The system of claim 5, further comprising - means for determining if the received click occurred within a time period less than a predetermined time period defined for double clicking and for not sending a double click signal, if the received click did not occur within the predetermined time.
7. The system of claim 5, further comprising - means for determining if a control key or a shift key are depressed concurrently with the click and for not sending a double click signal, if a control key or a shift key was depressed concurrently with the click.
8. The system of any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the graphical user interface is provided by a WINDOWS operating environment. 9. The system of claim 5, wherein the subset window type includes control menus and icons. 10. A computer-implemented method to minimize the need for clicking when using a graphical user interface, related to an operating system, which includes a plurality of window types, the plurality of window types includes a subset of windows designed to be activated only by a double click, the method comprising the steps of: - enabling a click saver feature;
- receiving a single click;
- identifying, by way of a request to the operating system, if the type of window on which the single click occurred is the subset window type;
- if the single click occurred on the subset window type, sending a double click signal in order to activate the window.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of - determining if the received click occurred within a time period less than a predetermined time period defined for double clicking; and
- not sending a double click signal, if the received click did not occur within the predetermined time.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of - determining if a control key or a shift key are depressed concurrently with the click; and
- not sending a double click signal, if a control key or a shift key was depressed concurrently with the click.
13. A computer-implemented system to minimize the need for clicking when using a graphical user interface, related to an operating system, which includes a plurality of window types, the plurality of window types includes a subset of windows designed to be activated only by a double click, the system comprising: - means for enabling a click saver feature;
- means for receiving a single click;
- means for identifying, by way of a request to the operating system, if the type of window on which the single click occurred is the subset window type;
- means for sending, if the single click occurred on the subset window type, a double click signal in order to activate the window.
14. The system of claim 13, further comprising - means for determining if the received click occurred within a time period less than a predetermined time period defined for double clicking and for not sending a double click signal, if the received click did not occur within the predetermined time.
15. The system of claim 13, further comprising - means for determining if a control key or a shift key are depressed concurrently with the click and for not sending a double click signal, if a control key or a shift key was depressed concurrently with the click.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the subset window type includes control menus and icons. |