US Patent 6930672 Input processing method and input control apparatus

An input processing method and input control apparatus that enable switching between normal operation and hovering operation to be accomplished with a very simple operation in an information processing apparatus that uses a touch input device such as a tablet or the like as an input device. During a period that an improved hovering mode according to the present invention is set active, the time interval between a pen up motion and a subsequent pen down motion is detected. If the time interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined length of time, pen down information to be sent to the OS is set OFF, thereby effecting the hovering operation. On the other hand, if the time interval is shorter than the predetermined length of time, the pen down information to be sent to the OS is set ON, thereby effecting the normal operation. Thus, in the improved hovering mode, with an extra tap of a pen, the immediately following pen operation works as if it were performed in normal mode.