Enhanced scrolling technique for context menus in graphical user interfaces

• US 5,854,629 A
• Filed: 12/31/1996
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Redpath, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai, Cuong T.
• Application Number:
  US08/774,560
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 345/123, 345/341, 345/343, 345/973
• US Class Current: 715/830
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/973 Scroll tool, e.g. window scroll bar

Abstract

A technique is provided for permitting only a predetermined number of panes of a context menu to be displayed and the scrolling of the context menu for undisplayed panes. Before a context menu is displayed in a graphical user interface, it is determined whether the total number of panes or options in the context menu exceeds the number of panes or options to be displayed at one time. If so, upon displaying the context menu, a selectable mechanism is displayed along the bottom edge of the context menu. User selection of the selectable mechanism causes the context menu to scroll up to display previously undisplayed panes or options. When it is determined that panes logically exist above the top most displayed pane, a selectable mechanism is displayed along the top edge of the context menu, such that user selection of the top mechanism causes the scrolling of the panes down. Alternatively, top and bottom scrolling mechanisms may permanently be displayed along the top and bottom edges of the context menu, with the mechanisms being non-selectable when no panes logically exist above or below the respective mechanisms.

Claims

1. Computer readable code embodied on a computer readable-medium for use in a computing environment for providing a scrolling function for a context menu which logically comprises a first number of panes and for which a second number of panes may be displayed at a time via a graphical user interface, and the first number of panes is larger than the second number of panes, comprising:

first subprocesses for displaying a predetermined number of panes in a context menu;

second subprocesses for determining whether the predetermined number of panes is less than a total number of panes logically associated with the context menu;

third subprocesses for displaying a selectable mechanism along a bottom edge of the context menu if it is determined that the total number of panes is greater than the predetermined number of panes, wherein the selectable mechanism is a bar having a width substantially equal to that of the context menu; and

fourth subprocesses for causing the panes displayed in the context menu to logically scroll down one pane upon selection of the mechanism by a user.

2. Computer readable code according to claim 1, wherein the context menu as displayed comprises a number of horizontally disposed vertically stacked slots, one pane is displayed in each of the slots, and the number of slots is equal to the predetermined number of panes,

wherein the panes are numbered sequentially from a first pane to a last pane, and

wherein the context menu is first displayed when opened with the panes sequentially displayed in the slots from top to bottom of the context menu starting with the first pane in a top-most slot.

3. Computer readable code according to claim 2, further comprising fifth subprocesses for monitoring changes in the context menu as displayed and causing a top selectable mechanism to be displayed along a top edge of the context menu when undisplayed panes logically exist above the pane displayed in the top-most slot of the context menu;

wherein selection of the top selectable mechanism by the user causes the panes to logically scroll up.

4. Computer readable code according to claim 1, further comprising:

sixth subprocesses for causing the selectable mechanism along the bottom edge of the context menu not to be displayed when no panes logically exist beneath the pane is displayed beneath a bottom-most displayed pane of the context menu.

5. Computer readable code according to claim 1, wherein each of the panes include an available option and the panes are sequentially ordered and displayed in a vertically stacked manner in the context menu from a top-most pane through a bottom-most pane.

6. In a computing environment, a system for providing scrolling of panes within a context menu which does not display all of its panes at a time, comprising:

first means for determining whether a total number of panes logically associated with a context menu exceeds a number of display slots to be displayed for the context menu;

second means for displaying the context menu;

third means for displaying a selectable mechanism along a bottom edge of the context menu if it is determined by said first means that the total number of panes exceeds the number of display slots, wherein the selectable mechanism is a bar having a width substantially equal to that of the context menu; and

fourth means for scrolling the panes through the display slots of the context menu upon user selection of the selectable mechanism, the panes displayed in the context menu logically being scrolled down one pane upon the user selection.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the context menu as displayed comprises a number of horizontally disposed vertically stacked display slots, and one pane is displayed in each of the display slots;

wherein the panes are numbered sequentially from a first pane to a last pane, and

wherein the context menu is first displayed when opened with the panes sequentially displayed in the slots from top to bottom of the context menu starting with the first pane in a top-most slot.

8. A system according to claim 6, further comprising:

fifth means for causing the selectable mechanism along the bottom edge of the context menu not to be displayed when no panes logically exist beneath the pane which is displayed beneath a bottom-most display slot of the context menu.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein each of the panes includes an available option, and the panes are sequentially ordered and displayed in a vertically stacked manner in the context menu from a top-most pane through a bottom-most pane.

10. A method for scrolling panes within a context menu which does not display all of its panes at a time, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining whether a total number of panes logically associated with a context menu exceeds a number of display slots to be displayed for the context menu;

(b) displaying the context menu;

(c) displaying a selectable mechanism along a bottom edge of the context menu if it is determined by said step (a) that the total number of panes exceeds the number of display slots, wherein the selectable mechanism is a bar having a width substantially equal to that of the context menu; and

(d) scrolling the panes through the display slots of the context menu upon user selection of the selectable mechanism, the panes displayed in the context menu logically being scrolled down one pane upon the user selection.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the context menu as displayed comprises a number of horizontally disposed vertically stacked display slots, and one pane is displayed in each of the display slots;

wherein the panes are numbered sequentially from a first pane to a last pane, and

wherein the context menu is first displayed when opened with the panes sequentially displayed in the slots from top to bottom of the context menu starting with the first pane in a top-most slot.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of (e) monitoring changes in the context menu as displayed and causing a top selectable mechanism to be displayed along a top edge of the context menu when undisplayed panes logically exist above the pane displayed in the top-most slot of the context menu;

wherein selection of the top selectable mechanism by the user causes the panes to logically scroll up.

13. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of (f) causing the selectable mechanism along the bottom edge of the context menu not to be displayed when no panes logically exist beneath the pane is displayed beneath a bottom-most displayed pane of the context menu.