Method and system for accelerated data navigation

• US 20020118169A1
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bathiche, Steven N., Hinckley, Kenneth P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,738,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A method and system uses an acceleration curve to enhance data navigation. In a preferred embodiment, the scrolling algorithm of an input device with a rotational member accelerates a resultant scroll amount in direct relation to a rotational speed of the rotational member. The acceleration curve may be implemented in a look-up table in the mouse driver. Different acceleration curves may be used based upon whether a user is scrolling up or scrolling down. In a further embodiment, acceleration is temporarily inhibited upon the occurrence of a change in the direction of rotation of the rotational member.

Claims

1. A system for controlling navigation of a data file, comprising:

an input device having a user-actuated input mechanism;

detection means for detecting a rate of user actuation of said mechanism;

determination means for determining a data file navigation rate as an increasing function of the detected rate of user actuation; and

output means for outputting control signals indicative of said navigation rate.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the function is an exponential function.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the exponential function is Δ

y=C+K₁ (1 +K₂ Δ

t)^α

, wherein Δ

y is the navigation rate, C is a constant, K₁ and K₂ are gain factors, α

is a non-linear parameter, and Δ

t is an indication of the rate of user actuation.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said exponential function is established such that Δ

y=1 when Δ

t is approximately 0.1 seconds.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system rounds the data file navigation rate up to a predetermined level when the data file navigation rate would otherwise be less than the predetermined level.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein a first set of values for C, K₁, K₂ and α

are used when actuating the input mechanism in a first direction and a second set of values different from said first set of values are used when actuating the input mechanism in a second direction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said navigation comprises scrolling of a display;

said user-actuated input mechanism comprises a rotational member;

said rate of user actuation is a rotational speed of said rotational member; and

said data file navigation rate is a scroll rate.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said rotational member comprises a wheel.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the function is an exponential function.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the exponential function is Δ

y=C+K₁(1+K₂Δ

t)α

, wherein Δ

y is the scroll rate, C is a constant, K₁ and K₂ are gain factors, α

is a non-linear parameter, and Δ

t is the indication of rotational speed.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said exponential function is established such that Δ

y =1 when Δ

t is approximately 0.1 seconds.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein for Δ

t measured in seconds, 75>

=K₁>

=2, 30>

=K₂>

=3, and −

2>

=α

>

−

5.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein the system is adapted to monitor a direction of rotation of the rotational member, and when the direction of rotation of the rotational member changes the scroll rate is fixed at a default value for a predetermined amount of time.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined amount of time is between 200 and 500 milliseconds.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said default value is one display line per notch indent of the wheel.

16. The system according to claim 7, wherein said system rounds the scroll rate up to a predetermined level when the scroll rate would otherwise be less than the predetermined level.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein a first set of values for C, K₁, K₂ and α

are used when scrolling in a first direction and a second set of values different from said first set of values are used when scrolling in a second direction.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the function is an exponential function.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the exponential function is α

y=C+K₁(1 +K₂Δ

t)^α

, wherein Δ

y is the navigation rate, C is a constant, K₁ and K₂ are gain factors, α

is a non-linear parameter, and Δ

t is an indication of the rate of user actuation.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said exponential function is established such that Δ

y=1 when A t is approximately 0.1 seconds.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of rounding the data file navigation rate up to a predetermined level when the data file navigation rate would otherwise be less than the predetermined level.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein a first set of values for C, K₁, K₂ and α

are used when actuating the input mechanism in a first direction and a second set of values different from said first set of values are used when actuating the input mechanism in a second direction.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein:

said navigation comprises scrolling of a display;

said user-actuated input mechanism comprises a rotational member;

said rate of user actuation is a rotational speed of said rotational member; and

said data file navigation rate is a scroll rate.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said rotational member comprises a wheel.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the function is an exponential function.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the exponential function is A y=C+K₁(1+K₂ Δ

t)^α

, wherein Δ

y is the scroll rate, C is a constant, K₁ and K₂ are gain factors, α

is a non-linear parameter, and Δ

t is the indication of rotational speed.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said exponential function is established such that a y=1 when A t is approximately 0.1 seconds.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein for a t measured in seconds, 75>

=K₁ >

=2, 30 >

=K₂>

=3, and −

2 >

=α

>

=−

5.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps:

monitoring a direction of rotation of the rotational member; and

fixing the scroll rate to a default value for a predetermined amount of time

when the direction of rotation of the rotational member changes.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the predetermined amount of time is between 200 and 500 milliseconds.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said default value is one display line per notch indent of the wheel.

33. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of rounding the scroll rate up to a predetermined level when the scroll rate would otherwise be less than the predetermined level.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein a first set of values for C, K₁, K₂ and α

are used when scrolling in a first direction and a second set of values different from said first set of values are used when scrolling in a second direction.

18. A method for controlling navigation of a data file, comprising the steps of:

detecting a rate of user actuation of a user-actuated input mechanism on an input device;

determining a data file navigation rate as an increasing function of the detected rate of user actuation; and

outputting control signals indicative of said navigation rate.