METHOD OF INTERACTING WITH A SCROLLABLE AREA ON A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20130339899A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hong, Yoojin, Adamczyk, Patryk
• Application Number:
  US13/974,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20130339899A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/786
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method of interacting with a scrollable area on a portable electronic device is described. In accordance with one embodiment, the method comprises: displaying on a touch-sensitive display a transparent scrollbar which overlays elements of a user interface screen; decreasing a transparency level of the transparent scrollbar when a touch event is detected in a scrollable area of the user interface screen to increase visibility of the transparent scrollbar, wherein the transparency level of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased from a default level over a duration of the touch event; and hiding the transparent scrollbar when the touch event ends.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying on a touch-sensitive display a transparent scrollbar which overlays elements of a user interface screen;

decreasing a transparency level of the transparent scrollbar when a touch event is detected in a scrollable area of the user interface screen to increase visibility of the transparent scrollbar, wherein the transparency level of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased from a default level over a duration of the touch event; and

hiding the transparent scrollbar when the touch event ends.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transparency level of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased up to a limit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transparency level of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased until the duration of the touch event is greater than or equal to a threshold duration.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

highlighting the transparent scrollbar when the duration of the touch event is greater than or equal to a threshold duration.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the highlighting comprises changing a color of the transparent scrollbar.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the highlighting comprises changing an appearance of the transparent scrollbar from a first visual state to a second visual state different from the first visual state.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

performing an action associated with the transparent scrollbar when selection input is detected while the transparent scrollbar is highlighted.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the action is context-sensitive in dependence on one or both of content of the scrollable area or an item in the scrollable area beneath the transparent scrollbar.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

scrolling content of the scrollable area at a first rate when the transparent scrollbar is not highlighted; and

scrolling content of the scrollable area at a second rate when the transparent scrollbar is highlighted.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the threshold duration represents a touch and hold gesture.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the threshold duration is 400 milliseconds.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

increasing a width of the transparent scrollbar concurrently with the transparency level over the duration of the touch event.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the width of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased up to a limit.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the width of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased until the duration of the touch event is greater than or equal to a threshold duration.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the transparent scrollbar is displayed adjacent to a location of the touch event.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the transparent scrollbar overlays at least part of the scrollable area.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the transparent scrollbar is displayed concurrently with the user interface screen when the user interface screen is displayed.

19. A method, comprising:

displaying on a touch-sensitive display a transparent scrollbar which overlays elements of a user interface screen;

decreasing a width of the transparent scrollbar when a touch event is detected in a scrollable area of the user interface screen to increase visibility of the transparent scrollbar, wherein the width of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased from a default level over a duration of the touch event; and

hiding the transparent scrollbar when the touch event ends.

20. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a touch-sensitive display having a touch-sensitive overlay coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured for;

displaying on a touch-sensitive display a transparent scrollbar which overlays elements of a user interface screen;

decreasing a transparency level of the transparent scrollbar when a touch event is detected in a scrollable area of the user interface screen to increase visibility of the transparent scrollbar, wherein the transparency level of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased from a default level over a duration of the touch event; and

hiding the transparent scrollbar when the touch event ends.