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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A method of positioning a balloon near a sensitive area within a display
screen of a monitor of a computer system, the balloon having a body and a
tip extending from the body towards the sensitive area, the balloon for
enclosing information, the method comprising the steps of:
a) initializing the balloon to a preferred variant, the preferred variant
having a preferred body orientation with respect to the sensitive area and
a preferred tip orientation with respect to the body;
b) ending if the body of the balloon fits entirely within the display
screen, wherein the balloon is displayed on the monitor;
c) selecting a new tip orientation for the balloon from a set of possible
tip orientations if the body of the balloon does not fit entirely within
the display screen, wherein the new tip orientation has not been
previously tried;
d) ending if the body of the balloon fits entirely within the display
screen, wherein the balloon is displayed on the monitor;
e) selecting a new body orientation for of the balloon if the body of the
balloon does not fit entirely within the display screen;
f) ending if the body of the balloon fits entirely within the display
screen, wherein the balloon is displayed on the monitor;
g) repeating steps c) through f) if the body of the balloon does not fit
entirely within the display screen and if not all possible tip
orientations have been tried;
h) selecting a body orientation and a tip orientation that displays a
largest visible amount of information on the monitor if the body of the
balloon does not fit entirely within the display screen and all possible
tip orientations have been tried; and
i) displaying the balloon on the monitor.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
a) selecting a new tip orientation for the balloon if the preferred variant
is near an edge of the display screen when positioned near the sensitive
area.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of possible tip orientations with
respect to the body is:
a) extending from an upper left-side of the body;
b) extending from a lower left-side of the body
c) extending from an upper right-side of the body;
d) extending from a lower right-side of the body;
e) extending a left side of a top of the body;
f) extending a right side of the top of the body;
g) extending from a left side of a bottom of the body; and
h) extending from a right side of the bottom of the body.
4. A method of positioning a balloon near a sensitive area within a display
screen of a monitor of a computer system, the balloon having a body and a
tip extending from the body towards the sensitive area, the balloon for
enclosing information, the method comprising the steps of:
a) initializing the balloon to a preferred variant, the preferred variant
having a preferred body orientation with respect to the sensitive area and
a preferred tip orientation with respect to the body;
b) selecting a new tip orientation for the balloon if the preferred variant
is near an edge of the display screen when positioned near the sensitive
area;
c) ending if the body of the balloon fits entirely within the display
screen, wherein the balloon is displayed on the monitor;
d) selecting a new tip orientation for the balloon from a set of possible
tip orientations if the body of the balloon does not fit entirely within
the display screen;
e) ending if the body of the balloon fits entirely within the display
screen wherein the balloon is displayed on the monitor;
f) selecting a new body orientation for the balloon if the body of the
balloon does not fit entirely within the display screen;
g) ending if the body of the balloon fits entirely within the display
screen, wherein the balloon is displayed on the monitor;
h) repeating steps d) through g) if the body of the balloon does not fit
entirely within the display screen and if not all possible tip
orientations have been tried;
i) selecting a body orientation and a tip orientation that displays a
largest amount of information on the monitor if the body of the balloon
does not fit entirely within the display screen and all possible tip
orientations have been tried; and
j) displaying the balloon on the monitor.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the set of possible tip orientations with
respect to the body is:
a) extending from an upper left-side of the body;
b) extending from a lower left-side of the body
c) extending from an upper right-side of the body;
d) extending from a lower right-side of the body;
e) extending a left side of a top of the body;
f) extending a right side of the top of the body;
g) extending from a left side of a bottom of the body; and
h) extending from a right side of the bottom of the body.
6. A method for dimensioning and displaying a balloon near a sensitive area
within a display screen of a monitor of a computer system, the balloon
having a body for enclosing information and a tip extending from the body
towards the sensitive area, the body of the balloon having a first balloon
dimension and a second balloon dimension wherein the first balloon
dimension is greater than the second balloon dimension, the method
comprising the steps of:
a) computing an initial area of the balloon based on a length of the
information;
b) initially calculating the second balloon dimension based upon the
initial area and a golden ratio, wherein the golden ratio relates the
first balloon dimension to the second balloon dimension;
c) initially calculating the first balloon dimension based on the second
balloon dimension and the golden ratio;
d) ending calculation of the first and second balloon dimensions if the
information is fully visible in a balloon having the first and second
balloon dimensions;
e) initializing the balloon having the first and second balloon dimensions
to a preferred variant, the preferred variant having a preferred body
orientation with respect to the sensitive area and a preferred tip
orientation with respect to the body;
f) displaying the balloon on the monitor if the body of the balloon is
fully visible within the display screen;
g) selecting a new tip orientation for the balloon from a set of possible
tip orientations if the body of the balloon does not fit entirely within
the display screen, wherein the new tip orientation has not been
previously tried;
h) displaying the balloon on the monitor if the body of the balloon is
fully visible within the display screen;
i) selecting a new body orientation for of the balloon if the body of the
balloon does not fit entirely within the display screen;
j) displaying the balloon on the monitor if the body of the balloon is
fully visible within the display screen;
k) repeating steps g) through j) if the body of the balloon does not fit
entirely within the display screen and if not all possible tip
orientations have been tried;
l) selecting a body orientation and a tip orientation for the balloon that
displays a largest visible amount of information on the display screen if
the body of the balloon does not fit entirely within the display screen
and if all possible tip orientations have been tried; and
m) displaying the balloon on the monitor.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of selecting a new
tip orientation for the balloon if the preferred variant is near an edge
of the display screen when positioned near the sensitive area.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the set of possible tip orientations with
respect to the body includes:
a) extending from an upper left-side of the body;
b) extending from a lower left-side of the body;
c) extending from an upper right-side of the body;
d) extending from a lower right-side of the body;
e) extending from a left side of a top of the body;
f) extending from a right side a top of the body;
g) extending from a left side of a bottom of the body; and
h) extending from a right side a bottom of the body.
9. A method for dimensioning and displaying a balloon near a sensitive area
within a display screen of a monitor of a computer system, the balloon
having a body for enclosing information and a tip extending from the body
towards the sensitive area, the body of the balloon having a first balloon
dimension and a second balloon dimension wherein the first balloon
dimension is greater than the second balloon dimension, the method
comprising the steps of:
a) computing an initial area of the balloon based on a length of the
information;
b) initially calculating the second balloon dimension based upon the
initial area and a golden ratio, wherein the golden ratio relates the
first balloon dimension to the second balloon dimension;
c) initially calculating the first balloon dimension based on the second
balloon dimension and the golden ratio;
d) ending calculation of the first and second balloon dimensions if the
information is fully visible in a balloon having the first and second
balloon dimensions;
e) increasing the second balloon dimension if the information does not fit
in the rectangular balloon such that the second balloon dimension is
greater than the first balloon dimension and the golden ratio is
maintained;
f) ending if the information fits in the rectangular balloon having the
first dimension and the second dimension;
g) increasing the first dimension by a first amount if the information does
not fit in the rectangular balloon;
h) ending if the information fits in the rectangular balloon having the
first dimension and the second dimension;
i) repeating steps e) through h) until the information fits in the
rectangular balloon;
j) initializing the balloon having the first and second balloon dimensions
to a preferred variant, the preferred variant having a preferred body
orientation with respect to the sensitive area and a preferred tip
orientation with respect to the body;
k) displaying the balloon on the monitor if the body of the balloon is
fully visible within the display screen;
l) selecting a new tip orientation for the balloon from a set of possible
tip orientations if the body of the balloon does not fit entirely within
the display screen, wherein the new tip orientation has not been
previously tried;
m) displaying the balloon on the monitor if the body of the balloon is
fully visible within the display screen;
n) selecting a new body orientation for of the balloon if the body of the
balloon does not fit entirely within the display screen;
o) displaying the balloon on the monitor if the body of the balloon is
fully visible within the display screen;
p) repeating steps l) through o) if the body of the balloon does not fit
entirely within the display screen and if not all possible tip
orientations have been tried;
q) selecting a body orientation and a tip orientation for the balloon that
displays a largest visible amount of information on the display screen if
the body of the balloon does not fit entirely within the display screen
and if all possible tip orientations have been tried; and
r) displaying the balloon on the monitor.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of selecting a new
tip orientation for the balloon if the preferred variant is near an edge
of the display screen when positioned near the sensitive area.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of possible tip orientations
with respect to the body includes:
a) extending from an upper left-side of the body;
b) extending from a lower left-side of the body;
c) extending from an upper right-side of the body;
d) extending from a lower right-side of the body;
e) extending from a left side of a top of the body;
f) extending from a right side a top of the body;
g) extending from a left side of a bottom of the body; and
h) extending from a right side a bottom of the body. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of providing balloon help to
computer users. In particular, the present invention relates to a method
of calculating the dimensions of an aesthetically pleasing rectangular
balloon and a method of positioning a balloon relative to a sensitive area
of a display screen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Prior computer systems provide helpful information to on-line computer
users in a help-mode. One prior help mode displays help information to
computer users in graphic screen objects, which are commonly called
balloons. In prior computer systems help balloons may be positioned
arbitrarily. Often the help balloon obscures the item that prompted the
request for help. This is a disadvantage for computer users who are
frequently interrupted and may not readily recall why they requested help.
Some prior systems utilize standard balloon sizes. Every balloon is the
same size regardless of the amount of information displayed within the
balloon. Standard sized balloons can produce aesthetically displeasing
results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of positioning
help balloons that does not obscure the item that prompted the help
request.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of creating
pleasingly sized help balloons.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method of
quickly calculating the dimensions rectangular balloons having an
aesthetically pleasing ratio.
An iterative method of quickly calculating the dimensions of a rectangular
balloon having a golden mean is described. A golden mean defines a
rectangle in which the lesser of the two dimensions is to the greater of
the two dimensions as the greater is to the sum of both.
The computation begins by computing a minimum area for the balloon based
upon the size of the information to displayed in the balloon. This area is
then used to calculate a initial value of a first dimension, which may be
either height or width. The second, or other, dimension is initially
defined as the lesser of the two dimensions. An initial value for the
second dimension is then calculated accordingly.
The information is then displayed if the information fits in the
rectangular balloon having the initial first and second dimensions. If
not, a second value of the second dimension is calculated by defining the
second dimension as the greater dimension and maintaining the first
dimension at its initial value.
The information is then displayed on the monitor if the information fits in
a rectangular balloon having the second value of the second dimension and
the initial value of the first dimension. If, on the other hand, the
information does not fit then the first dimension is increased to a second
value. Afterward, it is determined whether the information fits in a
rectangular balloon having first and second dimensions equal to their
second values.
If so, the information is displayed on a monitor within a balloon having
said values. Otherwise the first and second dimensions are repeatedly
increased, one at a time, until the dimensions are found for a balloon
large enough to encompass the information.
Also described is a method of positioning a balloon near a sensitive area
within a display screen or a monitor. Positioning of the balloon begins by
initializing the balloon to a preferred variant. If the balloon fits
within the display screen, the balloon is displayed. On the other hand, if
the balloon does not fit on the display screen a new tip orientation is
selected from a set of possible tip orientations. If this balloon fits
within the display screen, the balloon is displayed. If the balloon does
not fit on the display screen a new body orientation is selected. These
steps are repeated until a balloon variant is found that fits on the
display screen or all tip orientations have been tried. If no variant can
be found which fits entirely within the display screen then the balloon
which displays the largest amount of information is displayed.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent from the accompanying drawings and the detailed description that
follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation
in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which references indicate
similar elements and in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a computer system;
FIG. 2 illustrates a graphic balloon;
FIGS. 3 illustrates possible balloon tip orientations;
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method of calculating balloon dimensions;
FIG. 5 illustrates the various balloons resulting from balloon dimension
calculations;
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method of positioning a balloon within a
display area;
FIG. 7 illustrates various balloon positions examined by the method of FIG.
6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a computer system 30 in which the present invention
operates. Computer system 30 includes a monitor 32 for visually displaying
information to a computer user, and a central processing unit and internal
memory, enclosed by housing 34. Monitor 32 may be divided into multiple
display screens 33, according to the computer user's wishes. Keyboard 36
allows a computer user to provide input to the central processing unit. By
moving mouse 38 a computer user may move a pointer on monitor 32. Mouse 38
and its associated pointer are typically used to select graphical objects
known as icons, which are also displayed on monitor 32. Computer system 30
also includes a disk drive 40, which reads software stored on floppy
disks.
The present invention is stored in computer system 30, either within
internal memory or on floppy disk. As will be described in detail below,
the present invention alters the operation of computer system 30, allowing
it to display help information on monitor 32. Creating help information
and displaying balloons is a multistep process. First, the text of the
help information is created using computer system 30. Second, the
dimensions of a balloon large enough to encompass the information are
calculated by computer system 30 using the method of the present
invention. Third, and finally, the computer system 30 displays the help
balloon using the positioning method of the present invention. The
positioning method helps prevent the obscuring of a selected sensitive
area associated with the help information.
As will be described in detail below, the present invention quickly
calculates the dimensions of a rectangular balloon having a golden mean.
Briefly described, the calculation is an iterative process involving three
steps that are repeated as necessary to find dimensions of a balloon large
enough to display the desired information. An initial area is calculated
based upon the size of the information. Using this area, an initial value
of a first dimension, either height or width, is calculated by defining
the second of the two dimensions as the lesser of the two dimensions. An
initial value of the second dimension is then calculated. These dimensions
are then checked to see if the information fits within such a balloon. If
not, a second value of the second dimension is calculated by redefining
the second dimension as the greater of the two dimensions and maintaining
the first dimension at its initial value. These new dimensions are then
checked to see if the information fits within such a balloon. If the
information does not fit, the value of the first dimension is increased.
The two dimensions are increased in the same order until a rectangle with
large enough dimensions to accommodate the information is found.
Having calculated the dimensions of the balloon it may now be displayed on
monitor near 32, a sensitive area with which the balloon is associated.
Briefly stated, the present invention is an iterative process that begins
by initializing the balloon to a preferred variant. If the balloon fits
within the display screen, the balloon is displayed. On the other hand, if
the balloon does not fit on the display screen a new tip orientation is
selected from a set of possible tip orientations. If this balloon fits
within the display screen, the balloon is displayed. If the balloon does
not fit on the display screen a new body orientation relative to the
sensitive area is selected. These steps are repeated until a balloon is
found that fits on the display screen or all tip orientations have been
tried. If no balloon can be found which fits entirely within the display
screen then the balloon which displays the largest amount of information
is displayed.
FIG. 2 illustrates a graphic object known as a balloon 50. Balloon 50 is
used to display help information, which may take the form of text or
graphics. Help information is displayed in the content area 52 of balloon
50.
Balloon 50 includes a body 51, which encloses the help information, and a
balloon tip 54. Balloon tip 54, also referred to as cartouche 54, points
to a sensitive area with which balloon 50 is associated. Typically, the
sensitive area is associated with a graphic object, such as an icon.
FIG. 2 shows balloon tip 54 located on the upper, left side of balloon body
51. Such a tip orientation is appropriate when balloon body 51 is
positioned below and to the right of a sensitive area. Other balloon tip
54 orientations may be appropriate depending on the location of balloon
body 51 relative to the sensitive area. FIG. 3 illustrates a number of
cartouche orientations. As can be seen, cartouche 54 may be located on any
of the balloon's four sides: top, bottom, left, or right. Further, on each
side, there are two possible positions for balloon tip 54. On the top and
bottom sides cartouche 54 may reside near the left or right corners.
Analogously, on the left and right sides balloon tip 54 may be located
near the upper or lower corners.
In FIG. 3B balloon tip 54 is located on on the left corner of the top of
balloon 50. The balloon tip of FIG. 3B is appropriate when balloon body 51
is positioned above and to the right of a sensitive area.
In FIG. 3C balloon tip resides near the opposite corner of balloon body 51;
i.e. near the right corner of the top of balloon 50. The tip of FIGS. 3C
is appropriate when balloon body 51 is positioned below and to the left of
a sensitive area.
Balloon tip 54 is attached on the top of body 51 near its upper right
corner in FIG. 3D. The tip of FIG. 3D is appropriate when balloon body 51
is positioned below and to the right of a sensitive area.
In FIG. 3E cartouche 54 resides near the bottom corner of the right side of
balloon 50. The tip orientation of FIG. 3E is appropriate when balloon
body 51 is positioned above and to the left of a sensitive area.
Cartouche 54 is located on bottom of balloon 50, near the right corner, in
FIG. 3F. The tip orientation of FIG. 3F is appropriate when balloon body
51 is positioned above and to the left of a sensitive area.
Balloon tip 54 is located near the opposite corner, the left corner, of the
bottom of balloon 50 in FIG. 3G. The balloon tip orientation of FIGS. 3G
is appropriate when balloon body 51 is positioned above and to the right
of a sensitive area.
In FIG. 3H balloon tip 54 resides near the lower corner of the left side of
balloon 50. The balloon tip orientation of FIG. 3H is appropriate when
balloon body 51 is positioned below and to the right of a sensitive area.
Balloon body 51 has a generally rectangular shape, with rounded corners.
Body 51 has an aesthetically pleasing ratio of balloon height 56 to
balloon width 58, called a golden section or a golden mean. A golden
section occurs when the lesser of two dimensions is to the greater as the
greater is to the sum of both the lesser and greater dimensions. A golden
section is created when this ratio is between 0.618 to 1.000.
FIG. 4 illustrates a method of quickly calculating the dimensions of a
balloon preferably having a golden section. Prior to beginning calculation
of balloon dimensions, the user should have selected the help information
to be displayed in the balloon, the font and the font size, if
appropriate.
Calculation of balloon dimensions by computer system 30 begins in step 100
by calculating an initial balloon area. The initial area A.sub.1 is
computed by multiplying the length of the text to be displayed by the text
line height for the font size to be used. If the help information is
graphics, the initial area may also calculated in terms of a font size.
The initial area A.sub.1 is used in step 102 to calculate an initial height
for a balloon with a golden rectangle. In the preferred embodiment the
golden ratio is chosen to be 0.618 and the width is initially defined the
lesser of the balloon's two dimensions. In other words:
W.sub.1 =0.618 H.sub.1
The height of a rectangle is then calculated by dividing initial area by
the initial width; i.e:
H.sub.1 =A.sub.1 /W.sub.1
To solve the equation the term 0.618 H.sub.1 is substituted for the width,
W.sub.1. Thus:
H.sub.1 =A.sub.1 /(0.618 H.sub.1)
Solving for H.sub.1 the equation becomes:
H.sub.1 =(A.sub.1 /0.618).sup.1/2
H.sub.1 =(1.618 A.sub.1).sup.1/2
To save time in the computation of H.sub.1 an approximation is made; to wit
1.618=(1272/1000).sup.2
Substituting this approximation into the equation for H.sub.1 the equation
becomes:
H.sub.1 =(1272/1000)*(A).sup.1/2
This approximation allows the quick computation of initial height H.sub.1
of a golden rectangle.
Next, in step 104, the initial height H.sub.1 is rounded up to a multiple
of the text line height to ensure that all the text will be visible in the
balloon. This new height is called the starting height, H.sub.S.
The starting width W.sub.S is calculated in step 106. The starting width
W.sub.S is calculated by dividing the initial area A.sub.1 by starting
height H.sub.S. In other words, W.sub.S is found by solving:
W.sub.S =A.sub.1 /H.sub.S
Thus, after completing step 106 the dimensions of a golden rectangle
R.sub.1 140 have been calculated. The text will fit into R.sub.1 140 and
be visible without word-breaking; i.e. without inserting spaces between
words and sentences.
In step 108, computer system 30 parses the text into the initial golden
rectangle R.sub.1 140. Word-breaking of text is used as necessary to
prevent words from appearing on more than one line.
Afterward, computer system 30 determines in step 110 whether all the text
fits into the initial rectangle R.sub.1 140. If so, the method ends by
branching to step 126. If all the text does not fit into R.sub.1 140 the
calculation of balloon dimensions continues in step 112.
A goal of step 112 is calculate the dimensions of a second golden rectangle
R.sub.2 142 with greater area than R.sub.1 140, into which the text will
hopefully fit. Another goal of step 112 is quickly calculate the
dimensions of R.sub.2 142 while maintaining the golden section. These
goals are achieved by increasing only one of the dimensions of R.sub.2 142
with respect to R.sub.1 140. In the preferred embodiment the width W.sub.S
is increased to W.sub.2 while height H.sub.S is held constant. The width
of W.sub.2 is calculated to maintain a golden section. To achieve these
goals the width W.sub.2 is defined as the greater of the balloon's two
dimensions. The golden ratio remains set at 0.618. In other words:
H.sub.S =0.618 W.sub.2
Solving for W.sub.2 the equation becomes:
W.sub.2 =1.618 H.sub.S
Thus, in step 112 the dimensions of a second golden rectangular balloon
R.sub.2, having a width H.sub.S and width W.sub.2, are calculated.
Computer system 30 parses the text into rectangle R.sub.2 142 in step 114.
As in step 108, word-breaking is used as necessary.
In step 116, computer system 30 determines whether all the text fits within
rectangle R.sub.2 142. If so, the method ends by branching to step 126. If
all the text does not fit into R.sub.2 142 the calculation of balloon
dimensions continues in step 118.
The goals of step 118 are similar to those of step 112. In step 118 the
dimensions of a third rectangle R.sub.3 144 with greater area than R.sub.2
142 into which the text will hopefully fit. Another goal of step 112 is
quickly calculate the dimensions of R.sub.3 144. These goals are achieved
by increasing only one of the dimensions with respect to R.sub.2 142. The
width W.sub.2 is increased to W.sub.3 while H.sub.S is remains constant.
Again, the width W.sub.3 is defined the greater of the balloon's two
dimensions. Step 118 differs from step 112 in that the golden ratio of
0.618 is not maintained. Instead, the width is increased only slightly to
avoid adding a new line to the balloon just to accommodate one word. This
choice is made because lines with only a single word in them are not
aesthetically pleasing. Thus, W.sub.3 is calculated as:
W.sub.3 =1.618(H.sub.S +line height)
Note that for quick computation the term 1.618 may be approximated as
(1272/1000).sup.2.
The result of step 118 is a new rectangle R.sub.3 144 having dimensions of
H.sub.S and W.sub.3.
In step 120 computer system 30 parses the text into rectangle R.sub.3 144,
using wordbreaking as necessary.
It is determined whether all the text fits within rectangle R.sub.3 144 in
step 122. If all the text fits into rectangle R.sub.3 144, computer system
30 ends its calculation of balloon dimensions by branching to step 126. If
all the text does not fit into R.sub.3 144 the calculation of balloon
dimensions continues.
Having reached step 120, it is reasonable to assume that rectangle R.sub.2
was too small for the text by more than one word. Therefore, the height of
the balloon is increased to by a line height allow several more words to
fit into rectangle R.sub.4 146 as compared to previous rectangles. In
other words, the height is changed from H.sub.S to H.sub.2 where:
H.sub.2 =H.sub.S line height
To save time, computer system 30 sets the width of rectangle R4 146 to
W.sub.2. As a result, rectangle R.sub.4 146 does not have a golden
section.
From step 124, computer system 30 branches back to step 108 to parse the
text into rectangle R.sub.4 146. From step 108 computer system 30 branches
through steps 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, and 126 until the
information fits into a rectangle.
In an alternative embodiment, the balloon height may be be the first
dimension to be increased in the algorithm of FIG. 4.
Having selected the text of the help message and calculated balloon
dimensions, computer system 30 is ready to display balloon 50 on monitor
32. Balloon 50 may be displayed whenever activated by computer system 30.
In the preferred embodiment, computer system 30 continuously monitors the
position of a pointer. Whenever the pointer moves within a sensitive area
associated with an icon and a help message, computer system 30 uses the
method of positioning balloons of the present invention to display the
help balloon.
The method of positioning balloons preferably displays balloons adjacent to
an icon or graphic object with which its is associated. If possible, the
balloon is positioned by computer system 30 to avoid obscuring the icon
with which the balloon is associated. The method of positioning balloons
adjusts to changing positions of the icon on monitor 32 and to placement
of the icon within differing and multiple screen displays, which are also
called windows. The method allows computer system 30 to do so by utilizing
multiple balloon and tip orientations. Preferred positions may be
specified for each balloon. The preferred position will be overridden when
it is inappropriate, however.
A method of positioning help balloons on monitor 32 is shown in FIG. 6.
Upon activation, computer system 30 begins positioning the balloon in step
150. Them computer system 30 determines whether there is enough room
within the display screen to display the balloon using the preferred body
and tip orientations. If the preferred variant is either too long or too
wide for the display screen, then computer system 30 branches to step 152.
In step 152, computer system 30 attempts to fit the balloon within the
display screen by changing the body orientation relative to the sensitive
area with which it is associated. For example, if the preferred body
orientation was to the right of the sensitive area (see FIGS. 3C, 3D, 3G,
and 3H) then in step 152 computer system 30 will change the body
orientation to the left of the sensitive area (see FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3E, and
3F).
From step 152 computer system 30 branches to step 154. Computer system also
branches directly to step 154 from step 150 if the preferred balloon
variant was not too long or too wide for the display screen. In step 154
computer system 30 determines whether the balloon is positioned near an
edge of the display screen. This determination is made for aesthetic
reasons. Balloons near the top or bottom of a display screen do not appear
to float unless the tip is in a vertical orientation, like those tips of
FIGS. 3B, 3C, 3F, and 3G. Similarly, balloons located near the left or
right edge of a display screen do not appear to float unless the cartouche
extends horizontally from the balloon body orientation, like those tips of
FIGS. 3A, 3D, 3E, and 3H.
If the balloon's preferred orientation is near a screen edge, computer
system 30 branches to step 156. In step 156 the balloon's tip orientation
is set to make the balloon appear to float. For balloons positioned near
the top of a display screen, their tip orientation is changed to a tip
located on the balloon's bottom edge; i.e. either to to the tip
orientation of FIG. 3F or 3G. Computer system 30 sets tip orientation to
that of FIGS. 3B or 3C for balloon located near a display screen's bottom
edge. For balloons positioned near the right edge of a display screen,
computer system 30 changes the tip orientation to a horizontal
orientation; i.e. to the orientation of either FIG. 3A or 3H. Finally, for
balloons located near the left edge of a display screen computer system
sets the tip orientation to either that of FIG. 3D or FIG. 3E.
Computer system 30 branches to step 156 from step 154. If the balloon is
not positioned near a display screen edge, computer system 30 branches
directly to step 156 from step 152. In step 156, computer system 30
determines whether a balloon with the current body and tip orientations
fit within the display screen bounds. If the balloon does fit, computer
system 30 branches to step 168. Having determined a balloon variant that
will fit within the display screen, computer system 30 may now display
that variant.
If, on the other hand, the current body and tip orientations do not fit on
the display screen, computer system 30 branches from step 156 to step 158.
In step 158 computer system 30 attempts to fit the balloon within the
display screen by toggling the tip orientation, from horizontal to
vertical or vice-versa as appropriate.
FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a case in which a balloon variant does not fit
within a display screen. Each figure shows a display screen 180 on monitor
32. Entering step 156, the current balloon variant 182 is positioned to
the right and toward the top of a sensitive area 184. Current balloon
variant 182 has a tip 183 with a horizontal orientation. As seen in FIG.
7A, balloon variant 182 does not fit within display screen 180. Computer
30 attempts to fit a balloon within display screen 180 by toggling the
orientation of tip 183, as shown in FIG. 7B. In other words, after
execution of step 158 tip 183 is oriented vertically.
Computer system 30 determines the success of changing the tip orientation
in step 159. If the balloon now fits within the display screen, computer
system 30 branches to step 168. Having selected a balloon variant that
fits within the display screen, computer system 30 may now display that
variant.
If, on the other hand, the current balloon variant does not fit on the
display screen, computer system 30 branches from step 159 to step 160. In
step 160, computer system 30 attempts to fit the balloon with the display
screen by changing the body orientation. For example, computer system 30
may change body orientation from the above to below a sensitive area or
vice-versa. In step 160 computer system 30 also changes the tip
orientation back to the preferred orientation.
Computer system 30 may also toggle balloon body orientation left to the
right of a sensitive area, or vice-versa. This case is illustrated in
FIGS. 7B and 7C. Balloon 182 extends past the right side of display screen
180 in FIG. 7B. Computer system 30 responds to this situation by orienting
balloon body to the left of sensitive area 184, as shown in FIG. 3C.
Having changed the orientation of balloon 182, computer system 32 reverts
to the preferred tip orientation for a balloon located near a horizontal
edge of a display screen. In other words, balloon tip 183 once again
extends horizontally from balloon 182.
Computer system 30 determines the success of changing the body orientation
in step 162. If the balloon now fits within the display screen, computer
system 30 branches to step 168. Computer system 30 may now display that
variant.
If, on the other hand, the current balloon does not fit on th | | |
