Accelerated data navigation
First Claim
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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; and
memory storing computer readable instructions that perform a method of accelerating scrolling, said method comprising steps of;
detecting a rate of user actuation of said mechanism, wherein said rate of user actuation comprises a rotational speed of said rotational member;
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;
detecting a direction of rotation of the rotational member, and when the direction of rotation of the rotational member changes, fixing the scroll rate at a default value for a predetermined amount of time; and
outputting control signals indicative of said navigation rate.
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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.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for controlling navigation of a data file, comprising:
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an input device having a user-actuated rotational input mechanism for generating signals representative of input events; and memory storing computer readable instructions that perform a method of accelerating scrolling, said method comprising steps of; detecting a rate of user actuation of said mechanism, wherein said rate of user actuation comprises a rotational speed of said rotational member; 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; detecting a direction of rotation of the rotational member, and when the direction of rotation of the rotational member changes, fixing the scroll rate at a default value for a predetermined amount of time; and outputting control signals indicative of said navigation rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for performing a method for controlling navigation of a data file, said method comprising the steps of:
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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; rounding the data file navigation rate up to a predetermined level when the data file navigation rate would otherwise be less than the predetermined level; fixing the scroll rate at a default value for a predetermined amount of time when a direction of rotation of the rotational member changes; and outputting control signals indicative of said navigation rate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions for performing a method for controlling scrolling of a display of a data processing system, said method comprising steps of:
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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; and when a direction of rotation of the scroll wheel changes, fixing the scroll rate at a default value for a predetermined amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification