Rapid retrieval user interface designed around small displays and few buttons for searching long lists
First Claim
1. An apparatus having a user interface assisting in searching for information from items of an ordered list in a data array, the items having descriptions, the apparatus comprising:
- a display;
an array scroller for sequentially displaying on the display the descriptions from the ordered list on the user interface responsive to user actuation; and
a helper character-generator operative to display a helper character representative of a portion of a description of an item in the ordered list being displayed, the displaying of the helper character being responsive to continued user actuation of the array scroller, wherein the helper character is displayed in a size which is larger than a size of the descriptions, wherein a change in the size is made based on a scrolling speed that is responsive to the continued user actuation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a user-interface application, a computing apparatus has a user-interface to assist the user in searching for information from a data array. In an example embodiment according to the present invention, the data array is an ordered list of addresses. In a UI so equipped, the user experiences a particular sequence of events. The user begins at a point on a list of addresses. After the user presses the scroll key, the list rolls down a low rate. As the user continues to hold down the scroll button the scroll accelerates. After a predetermined time, a helper character is displayed. This character may represent a first letter of a name or a first digit of a telephone number. The UI displays the helper character to the user. The user continues to hold the scroll button until a help character, corresponding to his/her desired selection, appears. The user releases the scroll button and may slowly browse among a smaller group of data to locate the particular selection.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus having a user interface assisting in searching for information from items of an ordered list in a data array, the items having descriptions, the apparatus comprising:
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a display; an array scroller for sequentially displaying on the display the descriptions from the ordered list on the user interface responsive to user actuation; and a helper character-generator operative to display a helper character representative of a portion of a description of an item in the ordered list being displayed, the displaying of the helper character being responsive to continued user actuation of the array scroller, wherein the helper character is displayed in a size which is larger than a size of the descriptions, wherein a change in the size is made based on a scrolling speed that is responsive to the continued user actuation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for enabling a user to scroll through information in items of an ordered list in a data array accessible through a data processing device in a data processing environment, the items having descriptions, the method comprising the acts of:
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enabling the user to scroll sequentially the descriptions from the ordered list, in response to the user actuating the data processing device; generating a helper character representative of a portion of a description of an item in the ordered list being displayed; and displaying the helper character on a display in response to the user continuing to actuate the data processing device, wherein the helper character is displayed on the display in a size which is larger than a size of the descriptions, and wherein a change in the size is made based on a scrolling speed that is responsive to the continuing actuation. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A computer readable medium containing a set of instructions when executed by an information processing apparatus cause the information processing apparatus to display a helper character on a display representative of a portion of a description of an item in an ordered list being displayed, the display of the helper character being responsive to continued user actuation of the apparatus, wherein the helper character is displayed in a size which is larger than a size of descriptions of items of the ordered list, and wherein a change in the size is made based on a scrolling speed that is responsive to the continued user actuation.
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13. A client-sever configuration comprising a client and a server, wherein:
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the server provides user-access to an ordered list of information items having descriptions; and the client is enabled to interact with the server, the server controlling the client to display a helper character representative of a portion of a description of an item in the ordered list being displayed, the display of the helper character being responsive to continued user actuation of the client, wherein the helper character is displayed in a size which is larger than a size of the descriptions, and wherein a change in the size is made based on a scrolling speed that is responsive to the continued user actuation. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An information storage medium comprising:
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an ordered list of information items having descriptions; at least one respective helper character corresponding with and representative of a portion of a description of an item in the ordered list being displayed on a display, wherein displaying of the helper character is responsive to continued user actuation of a scroller, wherein the helper character is displayed in a size which is larger than a size of the descriptions, and wherein a change in the size is made based on a scrolling speed that is responsive to the continued user actuation; and control software for controlling a rendering of a specific one of the helper characters during the actuation of the scroller of the corresponding one of the items. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A data processing apparatus having a user interface assisting in searching for information from an ordered list in a data array, the apparatus comprising:
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a display; an array scroller adapted to scroll the information at a speed that is responsive to user actuation; and a helper character-generator, actuated by continued user actuation of the array scroller, the helper character generator being operative to display on the display a helper character that represents a scrolling position in the list and at least some of the information corresponding to the scrolling position, wherein the helper character is displayed in a size which is larger than a size of information, and wherein a change in the size is made based on a scrolling speed that is responsive to the continued user actuation. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification