Method and system for multi-dimensional scrolling of displayed data collections in a data processing system

• US 5,528,259 A
• Filed: 10/29/1992
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pendragon Networks LLC (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bates, Cary L., Ryan, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Au, A.
• Application Number:
  US07/968,604
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 340/709, 340/706, 340/710, 340/721, 340/722, 340/723, 340/724, 340/726, 340/731, 345/119, 345/120, 345/123, 345/145, 345/146, 345/157, 345/121, 345/125, 345/124, 395/159, 395/158, 395/157, 395/156, 395/155
• US Class Current: 345/676
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for permitting multi-dimensional scrolling of overlapping data collections which are displayed in multiple layers or in a simulated three-dimensional manner within a data processing system. A moveable and selectable control icon, such as the scroll box, is displayed within a scroll bar in the data processing system in association with a display of a portion of a selected data collection. The portion of the selected data collection which is displayed may be scrolled in a vertical or horizontal direction by moving a control icon in a so-called "drag and drop" technique or by designating a new location within the scroll bar utilizing a graphical pointing device, such as a mouse. A display of a portion of an alternate data collection may be provided in response to a selection and manipulation of the scroll box by a user and the physical appearance of the depth of the scroll box is altered to provide a graphic indication of relative display position within the multiple layers of data collections thus displayed.

Claims

1. A method of selectively manipulating a display of a plurality of overlapping data collections within a data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a moveable and selectable control icon within a scroll bar within said data processing system;

altering a display of a portion of a selected one of said plurality of overlapping data collections in response to a movement of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar;

displaying at least a portion of an alternate one of said plurality of overlapping data collections in response to a selection and manipulation of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar; and

altering an appearance aspect of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar in response to a selection of and manipulation of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar wherein a graphic indication of display position within said plurality of overlapping data collections is provided.

2. The method of selectively manipulating a display of a plurality of overlapping data collections within a data processing system according to claim 1 wherein said step of altering an appearance aspect of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar in response to a selection and manipulation of said moveable and selectable control icon comprises varying the display of said moveable and selectable control icon relative to a visual depth cue.

3. The method of selectively manipulating a display of a plurality of overlapping data collections within a data processing system according to claim 1 wherein said step of altering an appearance aspect of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar in response to a selection and manipulation of said moveable and selectable control icon comprises the step of varying the size of an element of said moveable and selectable control icon.

4. A data processing system for selectively manipulating a display of a plurality of overlapping data collections within said data processing system, said data processing system comprising:

means for displaying a moveable and selectable control icon within a scroll bar within said data processing system;

means for altering a display of a portion of a selective one of said plurality of overlapping data collections in response to a movement of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar;

means for displaying at least the portion of an alternate one of said plurality of overlapping data collections in response to a selection and manipulation of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar; and

means for altering an appearance aspect of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar in response to a selection and manipulation of said moveable and selectable control icon wherein a graphic indication of display position within said plurality of overlapping data collections is provided.

5. The data processing system for selectively manipulating a display of a plurality of overlapping data collections within said data processing system according to claim 4 wherein said means for altering an appearance aspect of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar in response to a selection and manipulation of said moveable and selectable control icon comprises means for varying a display of said moveable and selectable control icon with respect to a visual depth cue.

6. The data processing system for selectively manipulating a display of a plurality of overlapping data collections within said data processing system according to claim 4 wherein said means for altering an appearance aspect of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar in response to a selection and manipulation of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar comprises means for altering the size of a display of an element of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar in response to a selection and manipulation of said moveable and selectable control icon within said scroll bar.