Display image scroll control and method

• US 5,485,174 A
• Filed: 11/12/1992
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Henshaw, Susan F., Redpath, Sarah D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US07/973,929
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 345/115, 345/119, 345/120, 345/123, 345/127, 345/129, 345/130, 395/156, 395/157
• US Class Current: 345/684
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

Scrolling of work objects displayed on a computer display screen is controlled by a control element window displayed simultaneously on the display screen with the work area which is to be scrolled. A reduced size representation of the overall dimensions of the work object with the work area viewing portion of reduced size superimposed over it are displayed in a second window or display area on the screen. Cursor selection or movement of the reduced size representation of the work area within the representation of the overall work object by cursor selection and dragging or by activation of incremental scrolling or directional scrolling buttons displayed within the second display area, controls the portion of the overall work object displayed within the first display area.

Claims

1. In a computer display control system, having means for presenting within a first area of a display screen at least a portion of a work object, said work object having overall dimensions larger than said display screen, control means for controlling which portions of said work object are displayed in said first area of said display screen, comprising:

means for presenting simultaneously with said display of said portion of said work object, a second display of data in a second area of said display screen, said second display of data comprising a reduced size representation of the overall relative dimensions of said work object and the placement of said first display area relative to the overall dimensions of said work object; and

means for controlling the portion of said work object presented in said first display area of said display screen in response to changes in the relative positioning of said representation of said first display area and said representation of said overall dimensions of said work object in said second display area.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising:

means for displaying in said second display area at least one control function indicator area.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:

said means for controlling the portion of said work object presented in said first area is responsive to a selection in said second display area of at least one said control function indicator area.

9. A method as described in claim 2, further comprising:

said displaying includes displaying a plurality of said identifiable subareas, each of which is provided with a different direction of motion indicator.

4. A method of operating a computer display system having a computer and a display element in a manner to control the portion of a work object viewable on the display element of said system, comprising steps of:

displaying in a first window area of said display at least a portion of said work object for review and/or operation thereon;

displaying simultaneously in a second area of said display element a presentation of a reduced size representation of the overall relative dimensions and placement of said first area of said display relative to the overall dimensions of said work object; and

controlling the portion of said work object presented in said first display area step in response to changes in the relative positioning of said representation of said first display area and said representation of said work object in said second display area of said display.

5. A method as described in claim 4, wherein:

said displaying step further comprises a step of displaying at least one control function indicator area within said second display area.

6. A method as described in claim 5, wherein:

said controlling step further comprises controlling the portion of said work object presented in said first display area in response to the selection in said second display area of said at least one control function indicator area.

7. In a computer display system having a display means and a computer controlling said display means, a method of controlling incrementation on said display means of a field of data from an array of data which array, if fully displayed, would be physically of greater extent than may be displayed within the confines of the available display area on said display means, comprising steps in said system of:

a first step of displaying in a first area on said display means a said field of data comprising a portion of said data from said array;

a second displaying step in a second area on said display means of displaying a reduced size geometrically similar representation of said first area; and

a third displaying step of displaying simultaneously with said first and second step and in said second area, a physically reduced size outline representation of the overall outline extent of said array of data, said representation of said first area being contained within the borders of said outline representation; and

controlling the placement of said first area representation within said outline representation; and

controlling the said portion of said array of data displayed in said first area in response to the placement of said first area representation within said outline representation in said second area.

8. A method as described in claim 7, further comprising:

a step of displaying in said second area at least one identifiable subarea having a direction of motion indicator; and

controlling the said portion of said array of data displayed in said first area of said display in response to the selection of said identifiable subarea by translating the portion of said array displayed in said first area in the direction indicated by said direction of motion indicator in said selected identified subarea of said second area.

10. Computer display control means, comprising:

means for displaying in a first area on a computer display a field of data comprising a portion of data from an array of data which, if made fully visible, would be of physically greater extent than may be displayed within said first area;

means for displaying in a second area in said display a reduced size, geometrically similar representation of said first area of said display together with said field of data, said field of data being reduced in size and displayed within said representation of said first area;

means for displaying simultaneously in said second area of said display a physically reduced size outline representation of the overall extent of said army of data, said outline representation of said army of data containing said representation of said first area within its borders; and

controlling the placement of said first area of representation within said outline representation; and

controlling the portion of said array of data displayed in said first area in response to the movement of said first area representation within the said outline representation in said second area.

11. A computer display system as described in claim 10, further comprising:

means for displaying in said second area at least one identifiable subarea having a direction of motion indicator represented thereon; and

controlling the said portion of said array of data displayed in said first area of said display in response to the selection of said identifiable subarea by moving the portion of said array of data displayed in said first area in the direction indicated by said direction of motion indicator on said selected identifiable subarea.

12. A computer display system as described in claim 11, further comprising:

means for displaying in said second area a plurality of said identifiable subareas, each of which is provided with a different function or direction of motion indicator.