User interface with non-intrusive display element

• US 6,570,594 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1998
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Wagner, Annette
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joseph, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US09/107,146
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 345/123, 345/125, 345/124, 345/113, 345/345, 345/340, 345/341, 345/342, 345/337, 345/338, 345/347, 345/781-789, 345/706-709, 345/808, 345/809, 345/629, 345/635, 345/684, 345/687, 345/688, 707/531, 707/529
• US Class Current: 715/786
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention improve display systems by providing a non-intrusive user interface where an application displays data in a designated area of a display screen that otherwise hides the data from view. The designated area contains at least one control element that, when selectively triggered, invokes a particular operation.

Claims

1. A method of manipulating a display of information in a system including a processor and a display screen having an information display field and a scroll bar field, said scroll bar field assigned to a particular location on the display screen adjacent to the information display field, and said display screen displaying a cursor at a location in response to signals from a cursor control device, the method comprising:

permitting display of data viewable within both the information display field and the scroll bar field with a set of scroll bar elements assigned to particular locations within the scroll bar field, wherein the scroll bar elements are alternatively in a displayed state, during which the scroll bar elements are viewable within the scroll bar field, and a hidden state, during which the scroll bar elements are not viewable within the scroll bar field;

receiving a cursor control signal from the cursor control device indicating movement of the cursor;

determining whether the received cursor control signal indicates that the cursor entered the scroll bar field;

receiving a signal reflecting selection of a scroll bar element while maintaining the selected scroll bar element in the hidden state; and

identifying the selected scroll bar element based on a location of the cursor within the scroll bar field.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

switching at least one of the scroll bar elements to the displayed state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the scroll bar field is displayed in a semi-transparent form.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the scroll bar field is displayed in a different color or shade from the information display field.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein switching at least one of the scroll bar elements to the displayed state includes:

displaying at least one of the scroll bar elements in a form distinguishable from the scroll bar field.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the scroll bar element is displayed in a semi-transparent form permitting view of data through the scroll bar element within the scroll bar field.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the scroll bar element is displayed in an opaque form obscuring from view data in the scroll bar field.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the scroll bar element is displayed in a different color or shade from the scroll bar field.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined time has elapsed since the cursor entered a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to a displayed state when the cursor enters a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing an operation on the displayed data corresponding to the selected scroll bar element.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

altering a viewable characteristic of the scroll bar field when it is determined that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field making the scroll bar field viewably distinguishable from the information display field on the display screen.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the scroll bar field is adjacent to the information display field by being one of adjacent to the right of the information display field, adjacent to the left of the information display field, adjacent to the top of the information display field, adjacent to the bottom of the information display field, diagonally across the information display field, and adjacent to the middle of the information display field such that the information display field is split on either side of the scroll bar field.

15. A method of displaying scroll bar elements in a system including a processor and a display screen, comprising:

providing a user interface having an information display field and a scroll bar field wherein said scroll bar field is assigned to a particular location on the display screen adjacent to the information display field;

permitting an application to display data viewable within both the information display field and the scroll bar field with a set of scroll bar elements assigned to particular locations within the scroll bar field, wherein the scroll bar elements are alternatively in a displayed state, during which the scroll bar elements are viewable within the scroll bar field, and a hidden state, during which the scroll bar elements are not viewable within the scroll bar field;

receiving a cursor control signal from the cursor control device indicating movement of the cursor;

determining whether the received cursor control signal indicates that the cursor entered the scroll bar field;

receiving a signal reflecting selection of a scroll bar element while maintaining the selected scroll bar element in the hidden state; and

identifying the selected scroll bar element based on a location of the cursor within the scroll bar field.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

switching at least one of the scroll bar elements to the displayed state.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the scroll bar field is displayed in a semi-transparent form.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the scroll bar field is displayed in a different color of shade from the information display field.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein switching at least one of the scroll bar elements to the displayed state includes:

displaying at least one of the scroll bar elements in a form distinguishable from the scroll bar field.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the scroll bar element is displayed in a semi-transparent form permitting view of data through the scroll bar element within the scroll bar field.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the scroll bar element is displayed in an opaque form obscuring from view data in the scroll bar field.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the scroll bar element is displayed in a different color or shade from the scroll bar field.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined time has elapsed since the cursor entered a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to the displayed state when the cursor enters a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

performing an operation on the displayed data corresponding to the selected scroll bar element.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

altering a viewable characteristic of the scroll bar field when it is determined that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field making the scroll bar field viewably distinguishable from the information display field on the display screen.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein the scroll bar field is adjacent to the information display field by being one of adjacent to the right of the information display field, adjacent to the left of the information display field, adjacent to the top of the information display field, adjacent to the bottom of the information display field, diagonally across the information display field, and adjacent to the middle of the information display field such that the information display field is split on either side of the scroll bar field.

29. An apparatus for displaying scroll bar elements, comprising:

a memory having program instructions;

a display screen; and

a processor responsive to the program instructions, to

provide a user interface having an information display field and a scroll bar field wherein said scroll bar field is assigned to a particular location on the display screen adjacent to the information display field;

permit display of data viewable within both an information display field and a scroll bar field on the display screen with a set of scroll bar elements assigned to particular locations within the scroll bar field, wherein the scroll bar elements are alternatively in a displayed state, during which the scroll bar elements are viewable within the scroll bar field, and a hidden state, during which the scroll bar elements are not viewable within the scroll bar field;

receive a cursor control signal from the cursor control device indicating movement of the cursor;

determine whether the received cursor control signal indicates that the cursor entered the scroll bar field;

receive a signal reflecting selection of a scroll bar element while maintaining the selected scroll bar element in the hidden state; and

identify the selected scroll bar element based on a location of the cursor within the scroll bar field.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to:

switch at least one of the scroll bar elements to the displayed state.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is configured to display the scroll bar field in a semi-transparent form field.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is configured to display the scroll bar field in a different color or shade from the information display field.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured to

display at least one of the scroll bar elements in a form distinguishable from the scroll bar field.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to display the scroll bar element in a semi-transparent form permitting view of data through the scroll bar element within the scroll bar field.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to display the scroll bar element in an opaque form obscuring from view data in the scroll bar field.

36. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to display the scroll bar element in a different color or shade from the scroll bar field.

37. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to:

switch the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined time has elapsed since the cursor entered a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

38. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to:

switch the scroll bar elements to a displayed state when the cursor enters a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

39. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to:

switch the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field.

40. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to:

perform an operation on the displayed data corresponding to the selected scroll bar element.

41. The method of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to:

alter a viewable characteristic of the scroll bar field when it is determined that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field making the scroll bar field viewably distinguishable from the information display field on the display screen.

42. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the scroll bar field is adjacent to the information display field by being one of adjacent to the right of the information display field, adjacent to the left of the information display field, adjacent to the top of the information display field, adjacent to the bottom of the information display field, diagonally across the information display field, and adjacent to the middle of the information display field such that the information display field is split on either side of the scroll bar field.

43. An apparatus for displaying scroll bar elements, comprising:

a memory having program instructions;

a display screen; and

a processor responsive to the program instructions, to

provide on the display screen a user interface having an information display field and a scroll bar field wherein said scroll bar field is assigned to a particular location on the display screen adjacent to the information display field;

permit the display of data viewable within both the information display field and the scroll bar field with a set of scroll bar elements assigned to particular locations within the scroll bar field, wherein the scroll bar elements are alternatively in a displayed state, during which the scroll bar elements are viewable within the scroll bar field, and a hidden state, during which the scroll bar elements are not viewable within the scroll bar field;

receive a cursor control signal from the cursor control device indicating movement of the cursor;

determine whether the received cursor control signal indicates that the cursor entered the scroll bar field;

receive a signal reflecting selection of a scroll bar element while maintaining the selected scroll bar element in the hidden state; and

identify the selected scroll bar element based on a location of the cursor within the scroll bar field.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to:

switch at least one of the scroll bar elements to the displayed state.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the processor is configured to display the scroll bar field in a semi-transparent form.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the processor is configured to display the scroll bar field in a different color or shade from the information display field.

47. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the processor is configured to

display at least one of the scroll bar elements in a form distinguishable from the scroll bar field.

48. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the processor is configured to display the scroll bar element in a semi-transparent form permitting view of data through the scroll bar element within the scroll bar field.

49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the processor is configured to display the scroll bar element in an opaque form obscuring from view data in the scroll bar field.

50. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the processor is configured to display the scroll bar element in a different color or shade from the scroll bar field.

51. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to:

switch the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined time has elapsed since the cursor entered a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

52. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to:

switch the scroll bar elements to the displayed state when the cursor enters a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

53. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to:

switch the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field.

54. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to:

perform an operation on the displayed data corresponding to the selected scroll bar element.

55. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to:

alter a viewable characteristic of the scroll bar field when it is determined that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field making the scroll bar field viewably distinguishable from the information display field on the display screen.

56. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the scroll bar field is adjacent to the information display field by being one of adjacent to the right of the information display field, adjacent to the left of the information display field, adjacent to the top of the information display field, adjacent to the bottom of the information display field, diagonally across the information display field, and adjacent to the middle of the information display field such that the information display field is split on either side of the scroll bar field.

57. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a system to perform a method, the system including a processor and a display screen having an information display field and a scroll bar field, wherein said scroll bar field is assigned to a particular location on the display screen adjacent to the information display field, said display screen displaying a cursor at a location in response to signals from a cursor control device, the method comprising:

permitting display of data viewable within both the information display field and the scroll bar field with a set of scroll bar elements assigned to particular locations within the scroll bar field, wherein the scroll bar elements are alternatively in a displayed state, during which the scroll bar elements are viewable within the scroll bar field, and a hidden state, during which the scroll bar elements are not viewable within the scroll bar field;

receiving a cursor control signal from the cursor control device indicating movement of the cursor;

determining whether the received cursor control signal indicates that the cursor entered the scroll bar field;

receiving a signal reflecting selection of a scroll bar element while maintaining the selected scroll bar element in the hidden state; and

identifying the selected scroll bar element based on a location of the cursor within the scroll bar field.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, further including:

switching at least one of the scroll bar elements to the displayed state.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, wherein the scroll bar field is displayed in a semi-transparent form.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, wherein the scroll bar field is displayed in a different color or shade from the information display field.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 58 further including:

displaying at least one of the scroll bar elements in a form distinguishable from the scroll bar field.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the scroll bar element is displayed in a semi-transparent form permitting view of data through the scroll bar element within the scroll bar field.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the scroll bar element is displayed in an opaque form obscuring from view data in the scroll bar field.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the scroll bar element is displayed in a different color or shade from the scroll bar field.

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, further including:

switching the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined time has elapsed since the cursor entered a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

66. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, further including:

switching the scroll bar elements to a displayed state when the cursor enters a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

68. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field.

69. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, further comprising:

performing an operation on the displayed data corresponding to the selected scroll bar element.

70. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, further comprising:

altering a viewable characteristic of the scroll bar field when it is determined that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field making the scroll bar field viewably distinguishable from the information display field on the display screen.

71. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, wherein the scroll bar field is adjacent to the information display field by being one of adjacent to the right of the information display field, adjacent to the left of the information display field, adjacent to the top of the information display field, adjacent to the bottom of the information display field, diagonally across the information display field, and adjacent to the middle of the information display field such that the information display field is split on either side of the scroll bar field.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 68, further comprising displaying one of the hidden scroll bar elements in the scroll bar field.

76. The computer-readable medium of claim 68, further comprising:

performing an operation on the displayed data corresponding to the selected scroll bar element.

67. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a system to perform a method for displaying scroll bar elements, the system including a processor and a display screen, the method comprising:

providing a user interface having an information display field and a scroll bar field wherein said scroll bar field is assigned to a particular location on the display screen adjacent to the information display field;

permitting display of data viewable within both the information display field and the scroll bar field with a set of scroll bar elements assigned to particular locations within the scroll bar field, wherein the scroll bar elements are alternatively in a displayed state, during which the scroll bar elements are viewable within the scroll bar field, and a hidden state, during which the scroll bar elements are not viewable within the scroll bar field;

receiving a cursor control signal from the cursor control device indicating movement of the cursor;

determining whether the received cursor control signal indicates that the cursor entered the scroll bar field;

receiving a signal reflecting selection of a scroll bar element while maintaining the selected scroll bar element in the hidden state; and

identifying the selected scroll bar element based on a location of the cursor within the scroll bar field.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the scroll bar field is displayed in a semi-transparent form.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the scroll bar field is displayed in a different color or shade from the information display field.

75. The computer-readable medium of claim 67, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field.

77. The computer-readable medium of claim 67, further comprising:

altering a viewable characteristic of the scroll bar field when it is determined that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field making the scroll bar field viewably distinguishable from the information display field on the display screen.

89. The computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the scroll bar field is adjacent to the information display field by being one of adjacent to the right of the information display field, adjacent to the left of the information display field, adjacent to the top of the information display field, adjacent to the bottom of the information display field, diagonally across the information display field, and adjacent to the middle of the information display field such that the information display field is split on either side of the scroll bar field.

78. A method of displaying a document on a display screen, said display screen displaying a cursor at a location in response to signals from a cursor control device, comprising:

providing a user interface where an application displays at least a portion of the document viewable in a designated area of the display screen and an adjacent area of the display screen, wherein the designated area has a display characteristic distinguishing the designated area from the adjacent area and contains a set of hidden control elements for implementing an operation, wherein the set of hidden control elements includes scroll bar elements that are alternatively in a displayed state, during which the scroll bar elements are viewable within the designated area, and a hidden state, during which the scroll bar elements are not viewable within the designated area; and

invoking the operation in response to a signal activating one of the hidden control elements, wherein the activating occurs when a signal reflects a selection of a scroll bar element while maintaining the selected scroll bar element in the hidden state.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein invoking the operation includes changing a view of the document within both the designated area and the adjacent area.

80. The method of claim 78, wherein the adjacent area is an information display field and the designated area is a scroll bar field.

81. The method of claim 78, wherein invoking the operation includes:

displaying a feature associated with one of the hidden control elements.

82. The method of claim 78, wherein the designated area is displayed in a semi-transparent form.

83. The method of claim 78, wherein the designated area is displayed in a different color or shade from the adjacent area.

84. The method of claim 81, wherein activating one of the hidden control elements further includes:

displaying at least one of the scroll bar elements in a form distinguishable from the scroll bar field.

85. The method of claim 81, wherein one of hidden control elements is displayed in a semi-transparent form permitting view of data through one of hidden control elements within the designated area.

86. The method of claim 81, wherein one of the hidden control elements is displayed in an opaque form obscuring from view data in the designated area.

87. The method of claim 81 wherein one of the hidden control elements is displayed in a different color or shade from the designated area.

88. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the adjacent area.

90. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

performing an operation on the displayed data corresponding to the activated scroll bar element.

91. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

altering a viewable characteristic of the adjacent area when it is determined that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the adjacent area making the adjacent area viewably distinguishable from the designated area on the display screen.

96. The method of claim 78, wherein the scroll bar field is adjacent to the information display field by being one of adjacent to the right of the information display field, adjacent to the left of the information display field, adjacent to the top of the information display field, adjacent to the bottom of the information display field, diagonally across the information display field, and adjacent to the middle of the information display field such that the information display field is split on either side of the scroll bar field.

98. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined time has elapsed since the cursor entered a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

99. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to a displayed state when the cursor enters a vicinity adjacent the scroll bar field.

92. A method of manipulating a display of information in a system including a processor and a display screen having an information display field and a scroll bar field, said scroll bar field assigned to a particular location on the display screen adjacent to the information display field, and said display screen displaying a cursor at a location in response to signals from a cursor control device, the method comprising:

permitting display of data viewable within both the information display field and the scroll bar field with a set of scroll bar elements assigned to particular locations within the scroll bar field wherein the scroll bar elements are alternatively in a displayed state, during which the scroll bar elements are viewable within the scroll bar field, and a hidden state, during which the scroll bar elements are not viewable within the scroll bar field; and

receiving a cursor control signal from the cursor control device indicating movement of the cursor;

determining whether the received cursor control signal indicates that the cursor entered the scroll bar field while the scroll bar elements are in a hidden state;

receiving a signal reflecting selection of a scroll bar element; and

identifying the selected scroll bar element based on a location of the cursor within the scroll bar field.

93. The method of claim 92, further comprising:

switching the scroll bar elements to the displayed state based on a determination that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field.

94. The method of claim 92, further comprising:

performing an operation on the displayed data corresponding to the selected scroll bar element.

95. The method of claim 92, further comprising:

altering a viewable characteristic of the scroll bar field when it is determined that a predetermined period has elapsed since the cursor entered the scroll bar field making the scroll bar field viewably distinguishable from the information display field on the display screen.

97. The method of claim 92, wherein the scroll bar field is adjacent to the information display field by being one of adjacent to the right of the information display field, adjacent to the left of the information display field, adjacent to the top of the information display field, adjacent to the bottom of the information display field, diagonally across the information display field, and adjacent to the middle of the information display field such that the information display field is split on either side of the scroll bar field.

100. An apparatus for displaying a document on a display screen, said display screen displaying a cursor at a location in response to signals from a cursor control device, comprising:

means for providing a user interface where an application displays at least a portion of the document viewable in a designated area of the display screen and an adjacent area of the display screen, wherein the designated area has a display characteristic distinguishing the designated area from the adjacent area and contains a set of hidden control elements for implementing an operation, wherein the set of hidden control elements includes scroll bar elements that are alternatively in a displayed state, during which the scroll bar elements are viewable within the designated area, and a hidden state, during which the scroll bar elements are not viewable within the designated area; and

means for invoking the operation in response to a signal activating one of the hidden control elements, wherein the activating occurs when a signal reflects a selection of a scroll bar element while maintaining the selected scroll bar element in the hidden state.