Patent US 6,545,669

Apparatus and process are provided for dragging or manipulating an object across a non-touch sensitive discontinuity between touch-sensitive screens of a computer. The object is selected and its parameters are stored in a buffer. The user activates means to trigger manipulation of the object from the source screen to the target screen. In one embodiment, a pointer is manipulated continuously on the source screen to effect the transfer. The object can be latched in a buffer for release on when the pointer contacts the target screen, preferably before a timer expires. Alternatively, the object is dragged in a gesture or to impinge a hot switch which, directs the computer to release the object on the target screen. In a hardware embodiment, buttons on a wireless pointer can be invoked to specify cut, copy or menu options and hold the object in the buffer despite a pointer lift. In another software/hardware embodiment, the steps of source screen and object selection can be aided with eye-tracking and voice recognition hardware and software.