Device having adjustable touch-based display of data

• US 6,154,194 A
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Singh, Mona
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/205,536
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 345/115, 345/116, 345/127, 345/129, 345/131, 345/340, 345/341, 345/342, 345/346, 345/973, 345/974, 345/123
• US Class Current: 345/661
• 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

Abstract

A display control structure for a data storage device. The device includes a screen portion for visually displaying at least a part of two different virtual display pages of the data adjacent a separating line. The display control structure includes touch-responsive resizing areas adjacent to and on opposite sides of the separating line with oppositely pointing indicators which, when touched by a user, cause the device to move the separating line in the direction of the indicator in the touched resizing area. The resizing areas when touched by a user may also cause the device to move the separating line in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in a direction perpendicular to the separating line. Scrolling areas extend from the resizing areas in opposite directions perpendicular to the separating line with bar indicators in each smaller than the scrolling areas. When touched by a user, the bar indicators cause the device to move the portion of the associated virtual display page displayed in the screen portion in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction. The bar indicators may also have oppositely pointing indicators at opposite ends which, when touched by a user, cause the device to move the portion of the associated virtual display page displayed in the screen portion in the direction of the pointing indicator of the bar indicator touched. When touched between its opposite ends by a user, the device causes the portion of the associated virtual display page displayed in the screen portion to move in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction in the associated scrolling area.

Claims

1. In a data storage device including a screen portion for visually displaying at least a part of two different virtual display pages of said data adjacent a separating line, said two virtual display pages when together adjacent said separating line being larger than said screen portion in a direction generally perpendicular to said separating line whereby only a portion of one of the virtual display pages is displayed in said screen portion, a display control structure comprising:

first and second touch-responsive resizing areas adjacent to and on opposite sides of the separating line with oppositely pointing indicators in said first and second resizing areas, said resizing areas when touched by a user causing said device to move the separating line between pages in the screen portion in the direction of the indicator in the touched resizing area; and

a first scrolling area extending from said first resizing area in said generally perpendicular direction with a first bar indicator smaller than said first scrolling area in said generally perpendicular direction, said first bar indicator when touched by a user causing said device to move the portion of the one virtual display page displayed in the screen portion in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction in the first scrolling area.

2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said first bar indicator is spaced from opposite sides of said first scrolling area by amounts which are proportionate to the amounts of the associated virtual display page not displayed in said screen portion.

3. The improvement of claim 1, further comprising a second scrolling area extending from said second resizing area in said generally perpendicular direction with a second bar indicator smaller than said second scrolling area in said generally perpendicular direction, said second bar indicator when touched by a user causing said device to move the portion of the other virtual display page displayed in the screen portion in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction in the second scrolling area.

4. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said first and second touch-responsive resizing areas move in response to movement of said separating line.

5. The improvement of claim 1, said first and second touch-responsive resizing areas when touched by a user further causing said device to move the separating line between pages in the visually displaying screen portion in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction.

6. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said user touch is accomplished by physical contact of the user with the screen.

7. In a data storage device including a screen portion for visually displaying at least a part of two different virtual display pages of said data adjacent a separating line, said two virtual display pages when together adjacent said separating line being larger than said screen portion in a direction generally perpendicular to said separating line whereby only a portion of one of the virtual display pages is displayed in said screen portion, a display control structure comprising:

first and second touch-responsive resizing areas adjacent to and on opposite sides of the separating line with oppositely pointing indicators in said first and second resizing areas, said resizing areas when touched by a user causing said device to move the separating line between pages in the screen portion in the direction of the indicator in the touched resizing area;

a first scrolling area extending from said first resizing area in said generally perpendicular direction; and

a first bar indicator in said first scrolling area having oppositely pointing indicators at opposite ends in said generally perpendicular direction, said first bar indicator when touched by a user causing said device to move the portion of the one virtual display page displayed in the screen portion in the direction of the pointing indicator of the bar indicator touched.

8. The improvement of claim 7, further comprising:

a second scrolling area extending from said second resizing area in said generally perpendicular direction; and

a second bar indicator in said second scrolling area having oppositely pointing indicators at opposite ends in said generally perpendicular direction, said second bar indicator when touched by a user causing said device to move the portion of the other virtual display page displayed in the screen portion in the direction of the pointing indicator of the bar indicator touched.

9. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said first and second touch-responsive resizing areas move in response to movement of said separating line.

10. The improvement of claim 7, said first and second touch-responsive resizing areas when touched by a user further causing said device to move the separating line between pages in the visually displaying screen portion in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction.

11. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said user touch is accomplished by physical contact of the user with the screen.

12. The improvement of claim 7, said first bar indicator when touched between its opposite ends by a user causing said device to move the portion of the one virtual display page displayed in the screen portion in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction in the first scrolling area.

13. The improvement of claim 12, wherein said first bar indicator is spaced from opposite sides of said first scrolling area by amounts which are proportionate to the amounts of the associated virtual display page not displayed in said screen portion.

14. A data storage device comprising:

a memory for storing data displayable in at least two different virtual display pages;

a display screen including a portion adapted to display at least a portion of each of said two different virtual display pages adjacent one another at a separating line;

first and second touch-responsive resizing areas adjacent to and on opposite sides of the separating line with oppositely pointing indicators in said first and second resizing areas, said resizing areas when touched by a user causing said device to move the separating line between pages in the screen portion in the direction of the indicator in the touched resizing area; and

a first scrolling area extending from said first resizing area in a direction generally perpendicular to said separating line with a first bar indicator in said first scrolling area, said first bar indicator when touched by a user causing said device to move the portion of the virtual display page displayed in the screen portion adjacent the first scrolling area in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction in the first scrolling area.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said first bar indicator is spaced from opposite sides of said first scrolling area by amounts which are proportionate to the amounts of the associated virtual display page not displayed in said screen portion.

16. The device of claim 14, further comprising a second scrolling area extending from said second resizing area in said generally perpendicular direction with a second bar indicator smaller in said second scrolling area, said second bar indicator when touched by a user causing said device to move the portion of the other virtual display page displayed in the screen portion in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction in the second scrolling area.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein said first and second touch-responsive resizing areas move in response to movement of said separating line.

18. The device of claim 14, said first and second touch-responsive resizing areas when touched by a user further causing said device to move the separating line between pages in the visually displaying screen portion in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein said user touch is accomplished by physical contact of the user with the screen.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein said device is a hand-held portable communicator.

21. A data storage device comprising:

a memory for storing data displayable in at least two different virtual display pages;

a display screen including a portion adapted to display at least a portion of each of said two different virtual display pages adjacent one another at a separating line;

first and second touch-responsive resizing areas adjacent to and on opposite sides of the separating line with oppositely pointing indicators in said first and second resizing areas, said resizing areas when touched by a user causing said device to move the separating line between pages in the screen portion in the direction of the indicator in the touched resizing area;

a first scrolling area extending from said first resizing area in said generally perpendicular direction; and

a first bar indicator in said first scrolling area having oppositely pointing indicators at opposite ends in said generally perpendicular direction, said first bar indicator when touched by a user causing said device to move the portion of the one virtual display page displayed in the screen portion in the direction of the pointing indicator of the bar indicator touched.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

a second scrolling area extending from said second resizing area in said generally perpendicular direction; and

a second bar indicator in said second scrolling area having oppositely pointing indicators at opposite ends in said generally perpendicular direction, said second bar indicator when touched by a user causing said device to move the portion of the other virtual display page displayed in the screen portion in the direction of the pointing indicator of the bar indicator touched.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein said first and second touch-responsive resizing areas move in response to movement of said separating line.

24. The device of claim 21, said first and second touch-responsive resizing areas when touched by a user further causing said device to move the separating line between pages in the visually displaying screen portion in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein said user touch is accomplished by physical contact of the user with the screen.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the device is a hand-held portable communicator.

27. The device of claim 21, said first bar indicator when touched between its opposite ends by a user causing said device to move the portion of the one virtual display page displayed in the screen portion in response to movement of the user'"'"'s touch in the generally perpendicular direction in the first scrolling area.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein said first bar indicator is spaced from opposite sides of said first scrolling area by amounts which are proportionate to the amounts of the associated virtual display page not displayed in said screen portion.