User interface with visual tracking feature
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for generating a user interface, said interface comprising:
- a document content portion displaying contents of a document, wherein the document includes information defining a displayed path along which scrolling of the document by a viewing interface is permitted, the displayed path including a graphical track having a positional relationship to the document, where the graphical track defines a display path stretching the extent of the document, the display path giving an indication of a relative position within the document; and
a stationary guide element different from and intersecting the graphical track, wherein, during scrolling, the document content portion and the track are each moved while the guide element remains stationary on a display screen and continues to intersect the graphical track, thereby limiting scrolling to a direction and duration of the graphical track.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user interface having a persistent graphical interface element is disclosed. The element may have an appearance of a mechanical structure that traverses one or more displayed tracks. Movement along the tracks may be animated in response to navigation commands. Selectable menu panels may be included in the interface, and may overlay displayed contents of documents being viewed and/or edited to ensure that certain menu options are always available. The menu may be given multiple distinct appearances corresponding to different display sizes.
93 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for generating a user interface, said interface comprising:
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a document content portion displaying contents of a document, wherein the document includes information defining a displayed path along which scrolling of the document by a viewing interface is permitted, the displayed path including a graphical track having a positional relationship to the document, where the graphical track defines a display path stretching the extent of the document, the display path giving an indication of a relative position within the document; and a stationary guide element different from and intersecting the graphical track, wherein, during scrolling, the document content portion and the track are each moved while the guide element remains stationary on a display screen and continues to intersect the graphical track, thereby limiting scrolling to a direction and duration of the graphical track. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing a user interface to a user, comprising the steps of:
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retrieving a document to be displayed, the document including a scroll direction interface element defining a permitted scroll direction path along which the document'"'"'s content is moved during scrolling, the scroll direction interface element including a graphical track having a positional relationship to the document, where the graphical track defines a display path stretching the extent of the document, the display path giving an indication of a relative position within the document; displaying contents of the document on a screen, including the scroll direction interface element; displaying an interface guide portion intersecting the graphical track of the scroll direction interface element; scrolling the contents in response to a navigation command while maintaining the interface guide portion at a stationary position on the screen; and maintaining an intersection between the interface guide portion and the graphical track of the scroll direction interface element during the scrolling such that scrolling is limited to a direction and duration of the graphical track. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a persistent user interface element on a predetermined portion of a display area on a computer screen, the persistent user interface element including a guide element; retrieving a document to be displayed, the document including a scroll direction interface element, the scroll direction interface element including at least one travel progress indicator and a graphical track having a positional relationship to the retrieved document, where the graphical track defines a display path stretching the extent of the document, the display path giving an indication of a relative position within the document; displaying the scroll direction interface element on the screen such that the guide element and the scroll direction interface element are optically coordinated; displaying contents of said document on the screen above the interface element; and scrolling the displayed contents, wherein the scrolling is constrained by the scroll direction interface element and the guide element such that the scrolling is limited to a direction and duration of the graphical track, and during the scrolling, the persistent user interface element and the guide element maintain fixed positions on the screen. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification