METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAINTAINING SCROLL POSITION IN A WEB USER INTERFACE

• US 20060075357A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Riley, Wayne B., McMahan, Paul F., Leah, Robert C., Guido, Patrick R., Hayes, Kent F. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,496,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/784
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A method for maintaining scroll position in a web user interface may include translating a selected scroll position in the web user interface to a pair of scroll coordinates in response to operation of a set scroll position function. The method may also include advancing the web user interface to the selected scroll position in response to each occurrence of an event. The event may include at least one of opening, reloading or refreshing the web user interface or operating a hyperlink in the web user interface.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining scroll position in a web user interface, comprising:

translating a selected scroll position in the web user interface to a pair of scroll coordinates in response to operation of a set scroll position function; and

advancing the web user interface to the selected scroll position in response to each occurrence of an event including at least one of opening, reloading or refreshing the web user interface or operating a hyperlink in the web user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting at least a vertical scroll position and a horizontal scroll position in response to operation of the set scroll position function.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting either a vertical or horizontal scroll position in response to operation of the set scroll position function; and

automatically setting the other of the vertical or horizontal scroll position in response to setting either the vertical or horizontal scroll position.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the pair of scroll coordinates in association with a universal resource locator (URL) for the web user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating the set scroll position function in response to one of a right click action in a scrollbar of the web user interface to present a menu including a set position option or operating a button in the web user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising listening for an unload event triggered in response to a browser unloading the web user interface.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising using a JavaScript to listen for the unload event and to translate the selected scroll position to the pair of scroll coordinates.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving a browser request for a URL associated with the web user interface;

generating a script for resetting the web user interface to the selected scroll position in response to the browser request containing the pair of scroll coordinates;

adding the script to a response to the browser request; and

automatically scrolling a browser to the selected scroll position in response to the script.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating the set scroll position function in association with a selected portlet in a portal environment to present the selected portlet at a same selected scroll position each time the portal environment is entered, refreshed, reloaded or another portlet or hyperlink is activated in the portal environment.

10. A method for maintaining scroll position in a web user interface, comprising:

receiving a browser request for a URL associated with the web user interface;

generating a script for resetting a browser to a preset scroll position in

response to the browser request containing a pair of scroll coordinates;

adding the script to a response to the browser request; and

automatically scrolling the browser to the preset scroll position in response to the script.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming the pair of scroll coordinates by translating the preset scroll position in the web user interface.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

listening for an unload event; and

appending the pair of scroll coordinates to the URL in response to detecting the unload event.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising translating the preset scroll position to the pair of scroll coordinates in response to operation of a set scroll position function in the browser.

14. The method of claim 10, appending the pair of scroll coordinates to the URL in response to operation of a set scroll position function in the browser.

15. A system for maintaining scroll position in a web user interface, comprising:

a processor;

a set scroll position function operable on the processor, wherein the set scroll position function includes;

a data structure to translate a selected scroll position in the web user interface to a pair of scroll coordinates in response to operation of the set scroll position function; and

a data structure to advance the web user interface to the selected scroll position in response to each occurrence of an event including at least one of opening, reloading or refreshing the web user interface or operation of a hyperlink in the web user interface.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a data structure to set at least a vertical scroll position and a horizontal scroll position in response to operation of the set scroll position function.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a storage device to store the pair of scroll coordinates in association with a URL for the web user interface.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the set scroll position function is operated in response to one of a right clicking action in a scrollbar of the web user interface to present a menu including a set position option or operation of a button in the web user interface.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the set scroll data function comprises a JavaScript to listen for an unload event and to translate the scroll position to the pair of scroll coordinates.

20. A system for maintaining scroll position in a web user interface, comprising:

a server;

a data structure operable on the server to receive a browser request for a URL associated with the web user interface;

a data structure operable on the server to generate a script for resetting a browser to a preset scroll position in response to the browser request containing a pair of scroll coordinates; and

a data structure operable on the server to add the script to a response to the browser request.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a data structure to automatically scroll the browser to the preset scroll position in response to the script.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a data structure to listen for an unload event; and

a data structure to append the pair of scroll coordinates to the URL in response to detecting the unload event.

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising a data structure to translate the preset scroll position to the pair of scroll coordinates in response to operation of a set scroll position function.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising a data structure to append the pair of scroll coordinates to the URL in response to operation of a set scroll position function in the browser.

25. A method of making a system for maintaining scroll position in a web user interface, comprising:

providing a processor;

providing a set scroll position function operable on the processor, wherein providing the set scroll position function includes;

providing a data structure to translate a selected scroll position in the web user interface to a pair of scroll coordinates in response to operation of the set scroll position function; and

providing a data structure to advance the web user interface to the selected scroll position in response to each occurrence of an event including at least one of opening, reloading or refreshing the web user interface or operation of a hyperlink in the web user interface.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

providing a server;

providing a data structure operable on the server to receive a browser request for a URL associated with the web user interface;

providing a data structure operable on the server to generate a script for resetting a browser to the selected scroll position in response to the browser request containing a pair of scroll coordinates; and

providing a data structure operable on the server to add the script to a response to the browser request.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing a data structure to automatically scroll the browser to the selected scroll position in response to the script.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

providing a data structure to listen for an unload event; and

providing a data structure to append the pair of scroll coordinates to a URL corresponding to the web user interface in response to detecting the unload event.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing a data structure to append the pair of scroll coordinates to a URL corresponding to the web user interface in response to operation of a set scroll position function in a browser.

30. A web user interface, comprising:

a scroll feature to scroll the web user interface to a selected position in at least a horizontal or a vertical direction; and

a set scroll position feature displayable in the web user interface to set or lock the selected scroll position.

31. The web user interface of claim 30, wherein the set scroll position feature comprises a set scroll position option included in a context menu.

32. The web user interface of claim 31, wherein the context menu is displayed in response to performing a right-clicking action on a scrollbar of a browser.

33. The web user interface of claim 30, wherein the set scroll position feature comprises a floating button.

34. The web user interface of claim 30, wherein operation of the set scroll feature causes the selected scroll position in the web user interface to be translated to a pair of scroll coordinates.

35. The web user interface of claim 30, wherein operation of the set scroll position feature causes a browser to advance the web user interface to the selected scroll position in response to an occurrence of each event including at least one of opening, reloading or refreshing the web user interface or operating a hyperlink in the web user interface.

36. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

translating a selected scroll position in the web user interface to a pair of scroll coordinates in response to operation of a set scroll position function; and

advancing the web user interface to the selected scroll position in response to each occurrence of an event including at least one of opening, reloading or refreshing the web user interface or operating a hyperlink in the web user interface.

37. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 36, further comprising:

setting either a vertical or horizontal scroll position in response to operation of the set scroll position function; and

automatically setting the other of the vertical or horizontal scroll position in response to setting either the vertical or horizontal scroll position.

38. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 36, further comprising storing the pair of scroll coordinates in association with a universal resource locator (URL) for the web user interface.

39. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 36, further comprising operating the set scroll position function in response to one of a right click action in a scrollbar of the web user interface to present a menu including a set position option or operating a button in the web user interface.

40. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 36, further comprising listening for an unload event triggered in response to a browser unloading the web user interface.

41. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 36,

receiving a browser request for a URL associated with the web user interface;

generating a script for resetting the web user interface to the selected scroll position in response to the browser request containing the pair of scroll coordinates;

adding the script to a response to the browser request; and

automatically scrolling a browser to the selected scroll position in response to the script.