AUTOMATED SCROLLING OF BROWSER CONTENT AND AUTOMATED ACTIVATION OF BROWSER LINKS

• US 20080109750A1
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catherine Lin-Hendel
• Original Assignee: Catherine Lin-Hendel
• Inventors: Lin-Hendel, Catherine
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/785
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/07 Guided tours
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

An automatic scrolling mechanism converts an information repository into media that can actively present and “push” information to the users/viewers while retaining existing “pull” and interactivity functions. Automatic scrolling can be controlled by placing a cursor on control icons, such as boxes, lines, and arrow clusters. While the cursor is on an icon, automatic scrolling brings into view content that extends beyond the field of view. The scrolled content is moved into the field of view of the display window in a predetermined direction designated by the icon. Sub-windows are also designed to be independently and automatically scrolled or floated with respect the main window. Links created in an information repository may be automatically activated to retrieve the linked information, and to automatically present and scroll the information. As the content is automatically scrolled, the repository is pushed and the user is allured to further navigate through the repository.

Claims

1. A method of automatically scrolling comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a cursor on a respective end of a floating border structure; and

,

(b) in direct response to step (a), automatically scrolling through content extending beyond a display window into a field of view of the display window in a predetermined direction designated by the end, wherein the step of automatically scrolling continues to be performed without user input.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the floating border structure has a top end and a bottom end; and

the step (b) includes;

when the respective end is the top end, the content is automatically scrolled down to bring the content within the field of view; and

,

when the respective end is the bottom end, the content is automatically scrolled up to bring the content within the field of view.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the floating border structure has a right-side end and a left-side end; and

the step (b) further includes the steps of;

when the respective end is the right-side end, the content is automatically scrolled left to bring the content within the field of view; and

when the respective end is the left-side end, the content is automatically scrolled right to bring the content within the field of view.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(c) moving the cursor away from the respective end; and

(d) directly in response to the step (c), automatically stopping the step (b).

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(c) during the step (b), determining if a full-screen shift of the content has occurred; and

(d) in response to step (c) automatically pausing the step (b).

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display window is a browser window, and the content is a page.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of activating a user control to perform at least one of:

begin automatic scrolling, stop automatic scrolling, advance scrolling a page, increase scrolling speed, and decrease scrolling speed.

8. A method of automatically scrolling comprising the steps of:

placing a cursor on at least one direction indicator of a plurality of direction indicators; and

in direct response to the step of placing the cursor on the at least one direction indicator, beginning automatically scrolling through content extending beyond a display window, into a field of view of the display window, in a predetermined direction designated by the at least one direction indicator, wherein the step of automatically scrolling continues to be performed without user input.

9. A computer configured to display a browser display window having a field of view, the browser display window comprising:

a first floating border structure having first and second ends oriented in a vertical plane for effectuating automatic scrolling vertically through content within the field of view in direct response to a cursor being placed on a respective one of the first and second ends, wherein automatically scrolling vertically is effectuated continuously without user input; and

a second floating border structure having third and fourth ends oriented in a horizontal plane for effectuating automatic scrolling horizontally through content within the field of view in direct response to the cursor being placed on a respective one of the third and fourth ends, wherein automatically scrolling horizontally is effectuated continuously without user input.

10. The computer according to claim 9, wherein, the first floating border structure has a top end and a bottom end such that when the respective end is the top end, the content is automatically scrolled down to bring the content within the field of view, and when the respective end is the bottom end, the content is automatically scrolled up to bring the content within the field of view.

11. The computer according to claim 10, wherein:

the second floating border structure has a right-side end and a left-side end;

when the respective end is the right-side end, the content is automatically scrolled left to bring the content within the field of view; and

when the respective end is the left-side end, the content is automatically scrolled right to bring the content within the field of view.

12. The computer according to claim 9, wherein the automatic scrolling is limited to a full-screen shift.

13. The computer according to claim 9, wherein the automatic scrolling is automatically stopped when the cursor is moved away from the first floating border structure or the second floating border structure.

14. The computer according to claim 9, wherein the browser display window is a main display window, the computer being further configured to display a second display window having a second field of view within the main display window, the second display window comprising:

a first floating sub-border structure having first and second ends of the first floating sub-border structure oriented in a vertical plane for effectuating automatic scrolling vertically through content within the second field of view in direct response to the cursor being placed on a respective one of the first and second ends of the first floating sub-border structure; and

a second floating sub-border structure having third and fourth ends of the second floating sub-border structure oriented in a horizontal plane for effectuating automatic scrolling horizontally through content within the second field of view in direct response to the cursor being placed on a respective one of the third and fourth ends of the second floating sub-border structure.

15. A method of displaying and navigating through a website comprising the steps of:

displaying on a display of a computer a page of the website; and

,

during the displaying step, automatically scrolling the page while the user of the computer does nothing.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the page includes at least two independent windows.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of automatically scrolling independently the at least two independent windows.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

automatically scrolling a first one of the at least two independent windows at a first speed; and

,

automatically scrolling a second one of the at least two independent windows at a second speed different from the first speed.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

manually scrolling a first one of the at least two independent windows; and

,

continuously, automatically scrolling a second one of the at least two independent windows.

20. An apparatus for displaying and navigating through a website, the apparatus comprising a computer configured to perform steps comprising:

displaying on a computer display a browser window having a field of view for displaying a webpage of the website within the field of view; and

automatically scrolling the webpage in response to placement of a cursor on a floating structure displayed on the display to push and allure navigation through the website, wherein the step of automatically scrolling continues to be performed when the user of the computer does nothing.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the webpage includes at least two independent windows.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least two independent windows are automatically scrolled independently.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein:

a first one of the at least two independent windows is automatically scrolled at a first speed; and

a second one of the at least two independent windows is automatically scrolled at a second speed different from the first speed.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

means for manually scrolling a first one of the at least two independent windows; and

means for continuously, automatically scrolling a second one of the at least two independent windows.