System and method for freezing columns and rows in a UI table

• US 8,533,585 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Buczek, Tomasz
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, CONG LAC T
• Application Number:
  US12/827,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20100269031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 715/212, 715/227, 715/228, 715/830
• US Class Current: 715/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/177 of tables; using ruled lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

Displaying tabular information in a user interface (UI) on a display screen is enhanced by freezing selected non-adjacent columns (rows). Freezing ensures the display of the selected non-adjacent columns (rows) when scrolling to bring other columns (rows) into the table for display. Border rows (columns) may also be frozen when scrolling. A table in a document navigable by moving a focus to scroll the document may be displayed by a UI control configured to automatically display the frozen border rows (columns). When scrolling a focus in the document at an edge of the display screen to bring the UI control into the display, the UI control aligns a portion of the table with the edge and paints the frozen border row (column). The UI control maintain the display of the border row (column) when scrolling through the table.

Claims

1. A method of displaying tabular information in a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display screen, said method comprising:

freezing the display of a first column or a first row of a table displayed in the GUI;

scrolling the table to bring at least one other column or at least one other row into the GUI for display;

freezing the display of a second column from said at least one other column or a second row from said at least one other row; and

scrolling between the two frozen columns or the two frozen rows in the same GUI, whereby the respective columns or rows therebetween scroll in the table.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising scrolling outside the columns or rows bounded by the two frozen columns or two frozen rows to bring at least one additional column or at least one additional row available for display into the GUI, such that one of the two frozen columns moves towards the other of the two frozen columns or one of the two frozen rows moves towards the other one of the two frozen rows to displace at least some of the respective columns or rows therebetween to accommodate the at least one additional column or at least one additional row.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an option to freeze the display of selected columns including non-adjacent columns or selected rows including non-adjacent rows; and

receiving first input selecting at least one row or column for freezing.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

receiving second input to move the focus to scroll the display of the table; and

ensuring the display of the selected at least one row or column when scrolling the display of the table.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising freezing a border row or border column of the table when scrolling the display of the table.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the table comprises a portion of a document being displayed on the display screen, which document is navigable by moving a focus to scroll the document;

and wherein the display of the table is invoked when scrolling to bring a UI control for the table onto the display screen.

7. The method of claim 6 comprising, receiving first input scrolling the UI control on to the display at an edge of the display screen, aligning a respective edge portion of the table to be scrolled onto the display with the edge of the display screen and displaying the border row or border column.

8. A system for displaying tabular information in a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display screen, said system comprising:

a display screen; and

a processor and a memory coupled thereto, said memory storing instructions and data for configuring the execution of the processor to;

freeze the display of a first column or a first row of a table displayed in the GUI;

scroll the table to bring at least one other column or at least one other row into the GUI for display;

freeze the display of a second column from said at least one other column or a second row from said at least one other row; and

scroll between the two frozen columns or the two frozen rows in the GUI, whereby the respective columns or rows therebetween scroll in the table.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to:

scroll outside the columns or rows bounded by the two frozen columns or two frozen rows to bring at least one additional column or at least one additional row available for display into the GUI, such that one of the two frozen columns moves towards the other of the two frozen columns or one of the two frozen rows moves towards the other one of the two frozen rows to displace at least some of the respective columns or rows therebetween to accommodate the at least one additional column or at least one additional row.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising one or more input devices for receiving input and wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to:

provide an option to freeze the display of selected columns including non-adjacent columns or selected rows including non-adjacent rows; and

receive first input selecting at least one row or column for freezing.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to:

receive second input to scroll the display of the table; and

ensure the display of the selected at least one row or column when scrolling the display of the table.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to:

determine additional columns or rows to display with the columns or rows selected for freezing; and

display the additional columns or rows and the columns or rows selected for freezing.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to freeze a border row or border column of the table when scrolling the display of the table.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to provide a UI control for displaying a table as a portion of a document being displayed on the display screen, said document navigable by moving a focus to scroll the document;

and wherein the display of the table is invoked by scrolling to bring the UI control onto the display screen.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to:

receive user input scrolling the UI control on to the display at an edge of the display screen, aligning a respective edge portion of the table to be scrolled onto the display with the edge of the display screen; and

display the border row or border column.

16. A computer program product comprising a memory storing computer readable code embodied therein, for execution by a processor for configuring a computer to display tabular information in a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display screen, said computer program product comprising instructions and data for configuring a processor of the computer system to:

freeze the display of a first column or a first row of a table displayed in the GUI;

scroll the table to bring at least one other column or at least one other row into the GUI for display;

freeze the display of a second column from said at least one other column or a second row from said at least one other row; and

scroll between the two frozen columns or the two frozen rows in the GUI, whereby the respective columns or rows therebetween scroll in the table.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to:

scroll outside the columns or rows bounded by the two frozen columns or two frozen rows to bring at least one additional column or at least one additional row available for display into the GUI, such that one of the two frozen columns moves towards the other of the two frozen columns or one of the two frozen rows moves towards the other one of the two frozen rows to displace at least some of the respective columns or rows therebetween to accommodate the at least one additional column or at least one additional row.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to:

provide an option to freeze the display of selected columns including non-adjacent columns or selected rows including non-adjacent rows; and

receive first input selecting at least one row or column for freezing.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to:

receive second input to scroll the display of the table; and

ensure the display of the selected at least one row or column when scrolling the display of the table.

20. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to freeze a border row or border column of the table when scrolling the display of the table.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the instructions and data configure the execution of the processor to provide a UI control for displaying the table as a portion of a document being displayed on the display screen, said document navigable by moving a focus to scroll the document;

and wherein the display of the table is invoked by scrolling to bring the UI control onto the display screen.