Abstract

A hit-test system and methodology for use in a computer-based system having a graphical user interface for searching a display pixel map in successively-increasing distances from a selected pixel location associated with a current cursor position in accordance with a predetermined search topology defined by pixel offset values stored in a look-up table. The hit-test system comprises a distance computation module for generating the pixel offset values corresponding to each of the successively-increasing distances. The pixel offset values define a determined search topology. A display search engine searches pixel locations determined from the pixel offset values and the selected pixel location. The display search engine comprises a radius search module selecting the successively-increasing distances and adds the pixel offset values to the selected pixel location. A display analysis module determines whether the queried pixel location in the display pixel map contains a color indicative of a display element. Preferably, the radius search module determines a maximum search limit which defines a range of pixel locations likely to include a display element of interest to the user while avoiding causing the user to select an undesired display element. In another embodiment the hit-test system also includes a user interface module for determining when the user has selected a pixel location and for providing the display search engine with the selected pixel location. The selected pixel location may be represented by a cursor positioned with a pointing device such as a mouse, light pen, keyboard controls, touch pad, etc. Preferably, the selected pixel location is also represented by dwelling the cursor at the selected pixel location for a predetermined period of time.