Intelligent scrolling

• US 20070109326A1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1990
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sullivan, John, Mercer, Paul, Meier, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,479,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/684
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

A method and apparatus for intelligent scrolling. In a computer system that has a user interface which allows for the movement of items from a first open window to a second open window or to a second region, such as a desktop, the present invention allows a user to select one or more items in the first window, move the selected item(s) to within a predetermined distance from an edge of the first window for a predetermined period of time and cause the viewable portion of the data and/or document within the first window to scroll in a corresponding direction.

Claims

1. In a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a plurality of regions may be displayed including at least a first region and a second region, said first region having at least one item, including a first item, within a visible display area of said region and said first region having at least one item, including a second item, which is not within the visible display area of said region, a method for scrolling the contents of said first region to display said second item comprising:

selecting at least said first item within said first region by positioning a cursor over said first item and by placing a switch means in a predetermined position;

positioning said cursor over a predetermined scrolling area;

determining that a predetermined period of time, has elapsed while the cursor has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area; and

scrolling the contents of said first region to display said second item while said first item remains selected.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said step of positioning said cursor over said predetermined scrolling area occurs while said switch means is kept in said predetermined position.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein said first region comprises a window and wherein one of said regions comprises a desktop which cannot be scrolled.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein said switch means is located on a cursor control device which positions said cursor on said display and said first region contains at least four predetermined scrolling areas comprising a scrolling area located near the tip edge of said first region, a scrolling area near the bottom edge of said first region, a scrolling area near the left edge of said first region, and a scrolling area near the right edge of said first region.

5. In a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a plurality of windows may be displayed, each of said plurality of windows being capable of displaying a plurality of items, said computer controlled display system allowing at least one selected item from a first window of said plurality of windows to be moved to a second of said plurality of windows, a method for scrolling a visible display area of said first window comprising the steps of:

positioning a cursor on a first item in said first window by manipulation of a cursor control device;

selecting said item;

positioning said cursor in one of a plurality of predetermined scrolling areas;

determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed while the cursor has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area; and

scrolling said visible display area in a Corresponding direction of said predetermined scrolling area.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein said step of selecting said item is further comprised of placing a switch means associated with said cursor control device in a predetermined position.

7. A method as in claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

determining said switch associated with said cursor control device is not in said predetermined position; and

terminate scrolling of said visible display area.

8. A method as in claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

determining that the cursor is no longer positioned in said predetermined scrolling area; and

terminate scrolling of said visible display area.

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein said predetermined period of time has elapsed while the cursor has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area is one-sixth of a second.

10. A method as in claim 9 wherein a rate of scrolling is dependant on cursor position with respect to an outside edge of said predetermined scrolling areas, so that when said cursor is positioned closer to an outside edge of said predetermined scrolling areas, said scrolling rate is increased.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein said cursor may be simultaneously positioned in more than one of said predetermined scrolling areas, so that scrolling is in two directions.

12. In a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a plurality of regions may be displayed including at least a first region and a second region, said first region having at least one item, including a first item, within a visible display area of said region and said first region having at least one item, including a second item, which is not within the visible display area, said second item being a directory, a method for scrolling the contents of said first region to display said second item and depositing at least said first item into said second item, comprising:

selecting at least said first item within said first region by positioning a cursor over said first item and by placing a switch means in a first predetermined position;

positioning said cursor over a predetermined scrolling area;

determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed while the cursor has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area;

scrolling the contents of said first region to display said second item while said first item remains selected; and

depositing at least said first item into said second item by positioning the cursor over said second item and by placing said switch in a second predetermined position.

13. In a computer system, said computer system including a processor, bus, RAM memory and disk memory a computer controlled display system for providing an interface with a user of said computer system, said computer controlled display system comprising:

a display means for producing a display having a plurality of regions which may be displayed including at least a first and a second region;

a cursor control means coupled to said computer controlled display system, said cursor control means controlling the position of a cursor on said display;

a switch means coupled to said computer controlled display system, said switch means having a first position and a second position;

a context recognition means for recognizing user operation in a plurality of contexts, including a first context and a second context;

a first scroll area and a second scroll area associated with said first region, said first scroll area for scrolling in a vertical direction and said second scroll area for scrolling in a horizontal direction when said user operation is in a first context,and said first scroll area for scrolling in a right to left direction and the second scroll area for scrolling in a bottom to top direction when said user operation is in a second context;

a third scroll area and a fourth scroll area associated with said first region, said third scroll area for scrolling in a left to right direction and said fourth scroll area for scrolling in a top to bottom direction when said user operation is in a second context; and

a scrolling means coupled to said context recognition means, said scrolling means for invoking scrolling.

14. The computer controlled display system as in claim 13 wherein said scrolling means is further comprised of:

means for detecting said cursor is in an associated one of said plurality of scroll areas; and

means for determining direction of scrolling based on said user operation context.

15. The computer controlled display system as in claim 14 wherein said second user operation context is a select and drag operation.