Mode activated scrolling

• US 20040021694A1
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Doar, Jeffrey Braun
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/784
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A computer implemented method for changing between a cursor control mode and a scroll control mode. The cursor control mode allowing a user to move a cursor on a graphical user interface (GUI) and the scroll control mode allowing a user to scroll on the GUI. The cursor and scroll movements are based on positional data supplied by an input device such as a mouse.

Claims

1. A method of implementing mode activated scrolling in a computer system having a display for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI), an input device for supplying position data associated with controlling cursor or scroll movements on the GUI and a command generator for supplying command data associated with executing tasks on the GUI, the system providing a cursor control mode for allowing movements of a cursor to be controlled on the GUI via the input device and a scroll control mode for allowing scrolling to be controlled on the GUI via the input device, the method comprising:

determining a location of the cursor on the GUI during the cursor control mode;

determining a status of the command generator during the cursor control mode; and

switching from the cursor control mode to the scroll control mode when the cursor is positioned over an onscreen option of the GUI and when the command generator is activated.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

determining a status of the command generator during the scroll control mode; and

switching from the scroll control mode to the cursor control mode when the command generator is activated.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the onscreen option corresponds to a scroll bar.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the onscreen option corresponds to a scroll tab of the scroll bar.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the scroll control mode allows a user to move a scroll tab of a scroll bar so as to scroll through the content of a window displayed on the GUI.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the system is configured to remain in the scroll control mode until the command generator is activated a second time.

7. A method of switching between movement modes in a computer system having a display for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI), an input device for supplying position data associated with controlling cursor or scroll movements on the GUI and a command generator for supplying command data associated with executing tasks on the GUI, the method comprising:

monitoring position data so as to implement a cursor event or a scroll event, the cursor event being associated with moving a cursor, the scroll event being associated with moving a scroll tab;

monitoring command data so as to implement selection events;

locking position data to the scroll event when the cursor is positioned on an onscreen option of the GUI during a first selection event; and

unlocking position data from the scroll event during a second selection event.

8. A method of executing a modal change between a cursor control mode and a scroll control mode in a computer system having a display for displaying a graphical user interface and an input device for supplying position data associated with controlling cursor and scroll movements on the graphical user interface, the cursor control mode allowing movements of a cursor to be controlled on the graphical user interface via the input device and the scroll control mode allowing scrolling to be controlled on the graphical user interface via the input device, the method comprising

selecting an onscreen option of the graphical user interface with a computer implemented action when the input device is in a cursor control mode so as to place the input device in the scroll control mode;

and

performing another computer implemented action when the input device is in the scroll control mode so as to place the input device back in the cursor control mode.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the input device is capable of providing command information for implementing the computer implemented action.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the computer implemented action is a button click.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the button click is performed with the input device.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the input device is a mouse.

13. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the button click is performed with a second input device.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the second input device is a keyboard.

15. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the computer implemented action is caused by the positional information supplied by the input device.

16. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the scroll mode locks the positional information supplied by the input device to scrolling movements on the GUI.

17. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the scroll mode locks the positional data supplied by the input device to movements of a scroll tab on the GUI.

19. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the on screen option of the GUI corresponds to a scroll tab that moves within a scroll bar.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the positional data controls the movement of the scroll tab within the scroll bar in the scroll mode.

21. A graphical user interface, comprising:

a graphical image for executing a modal change of an input device when the graphical image is selected, the modal change being configured to switch the input device from a cursor control mode for moving a cursor to a scroll control mode for scrolling.

22. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 22 wherein the graphical user interface includes a window frame defining a window, and having a horizontal scroll bar and a vertical scroll bar positioned adjacent the window, the horizontal scroll bar being disposed below the window, and the vertical scroll bar being disposed to the side of the window, each of the scroll bars being configured to allow a user to scroll through the contents of the window, the horizontal scroll bar permitting horizontal scrolling while the vertical scroll bar permitting vertical scrolling, each of the scroll bars including a scroll tab that moves within their respective scroll bar in order to initiate scrolling.

25. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 22 wherein the graphical image is configured to change its appearance in order to visually alert a user that the modal change has been implemented.

23. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 23 wherein the graphical image is located within the window frame.

24. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 23 wherein the graphical image is one of the scroll tabs.