Accelerated data navigation

• US 6,989,819 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bathiche, Steven N, Hinckley, Kenneth P
• Primary Examiner(s): Osorio, Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US10/812,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/159, 345/163, 345/164, 345/167, 345/168, 345/784, 345/785, 715/784, 715/785
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A method and system uses an acceleration curve to enhance data navigation. In a preferred embodiment, the scrolling algorithm of an input device with a rotational member accelerates a resultant scroll amount in direct relation to a rotational speed of the rotational member. The acceleration curve may be implemented in a look-up table in the mouse driver. Different acceleration curves may be used based upon whether a user is scrolling up or scrolling down. In a further embodiment, acceleration is temporarily inhibited upon the occurrence of a change in the direction of rotation of the rotational member.

Claims

1. A system for controlling navigation of a data file, comprising:

an input device having a user-actuated rotational input mechanism for generating signals representative of input events, wherein said user-actuated rotational input mechanism comprises a rotational member

detection means for detecting a rate of user actuation of said mechanism, wherein said rate of user actuation comprises a rotational speed of said rotational member;

determination means for determining a data file navigation rate representing a navigation amount per input event as an increasing exponential function of the detected rate of user actuation; and

output means for outputting control signals indicative of said navigation rate,

wherein the system is adapted to monitor a direction of rotational member, and when the direction of rotation of the rotational member changes the scroll rate is fixed at a default value for a predetermined amount of time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said determination means rounds the data file navigation rate up to a predetermined level when the data file navigation rate would otherwise be less than the predetermined level.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said rotational member comprises a wheel.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein a first exponential function is used when scrolling in a first direction and a second exponential function, different from said first exponential function, is used when scrolling in a second direction.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the increasing exponential function produces at least three data file navigation rates based on different detected rates of user actuation.

6. A method for controlling navigation of a data file, comprising the steps of:

detecting a rate of user actuation of a user-actuated rotational input mechanism that generates signals representative of input events on an input device;

determining a data file navigation rate representing a navigation amount per input event as an increasing exponential function of the detected rate of user actuation, wherein said rate of user actuation is a rotational speed of said rotational member, and wherein said data file navigation rate comprises a scroll rate;

outputting control signals indicative of said navigation rate,

rounding the data file navigation rate up to a predetermined level when the data file navigational rate would otherwise be less than the predetermined level,

monitoring a direction of rotation of the rotational member; and

fixing the scroll rate at a default value for a predetermined amount of time when the direction of rotation of the rotational member changes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said rotational member comprises a wheel.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a first exponential function is used when scrolling in a first direction and a second exponential function, different from said first exponential function, is used when scrolling in a second direction.

9. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that perform the method of claim 6.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the increasing exponential function produces at least three data file navigation rates based on different detected rates of user actuation.

11. A method for controlling scrolling of a display of a data processing system, comprising:

detecting a current rate of user actuation of a scroll wheel input mechanism that generates signals causing the data processing system to scroll information displayed on the display, said detecting comprising steps of;

receiving a first scroll event resulting from user actuation of the scroll control input mechanism;

receiving an immediate next scroll event resulting from user actuation of the scroll control input mechanism; and

determining an amount of time lapsed between the first and next scroll events,

determining a scroll rate representing a navigation amount based on the amount of time as an increasing exponential function of the detected rate of user actuation;

monitoring a direction of rotation of the scroll wheel; and

when the direction of rotation of the scroll wheel changes, fixing the scroll rate at a default value for a predetermined amount of time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining the scroll rate step comprises rounding the scroll rate up to a predetermined level when the scroll rate would otherwise be less than the predetermined level.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

using a first exponential function when actuating the scroll wheel input mechanism in a first direction and using a second exponential function, different from said first function, when actuating the scroll wheel input mechanism in a second direction.

14. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the method of claim 11.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the increasing exponential function produces at least three scroll rates based on different rates of user actuation.