Positional scrolling

• US 20020118168A1
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bathiche, Steven N., Hinckley, Kenneth P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,071,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A method and system for electronically scrolling a document with a data processing apparatus uses an input device, e.g., a mouse, to permit position based scrolling without first accessing a scroll bar or other scrolling functionality element. In a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode useful for scrolling short distances, a displayed document is scrolled one pixel per one pixel of motion of the mouse. In a second mode (document positional scrolling—DPS), the document is scrolled a distance per pixel of mouse movement corresponding to the ratio of the document length (or width) to the page length (or width). In a further embodiment (smoothed document positional scrolling—SDPS), as the mouse is moved away from a starting position the system begins scrolling in PPS, transitions smoothly from PPS to DPS, and then continues to scroll in DPS.

Claims

1. A scrolling control system for use with a data processing device having a display, comprising:

an input device for providing, in response to user actuations of the device, control of a cursor position on said display;

at least one user actuated switch; and

control means responsive to a user actuation of said switch to enter a view scrolling mode wherein view scrolling of a document is controlled such that a scroll amount is based upon a position value determined by a user actuation of the input device, independent of a position of said cursor in relation to any scroll functionality elements appearing on said display.

2. A scrolling control system according to claim 1, wherein in said scrolling mode a fixed linear relationship exists between a displacement represented by said position value and the scroll amount.

3. A scrolling control system according to claim 1, said scrolling mode comprising a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode wherein a one-to-one relationship exists between a displacement represented by said position value and a scroll amount.

4. A scrolling control system according to claim 1, said scrolling mode comprising a document positional scrolling (DPS) mode wherein a unit amount of displacement represented by said position value results in a scroll amount corresponding to one of:

a ratio of document length to page length; and

a ratio of document width to page width.

5. A scrolling control system according to claim 3, said scrolling mode further comprising a document positional scrolling mode wherein a unit amount of displacement represented by said position value results in a scroll amount corresponding to one of:

a ratio of document length to page length; and

a ratio of document width to page width.

6. A scrolling control system according to claim 5, said scrolling mode further comprising a transitional scrolling mode providing a scroll amount that varies between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode.

7. A scrolling control system according to claim 6, wherein the scroll amount varies smoothly between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode, as a function of a displacement represented by said position value.

8. A scrolling control system according to claim 7, wherein the function is f(m,n) such that:

if (m/n)<

C₁, then f(m,n)=((C₂−

1)/D) (m/n)²;

if (mn/n)>

C₂, then f(m,n)=(1/D) ((mn/n)−

2(mn/n)+1)+1; and

otherwise, f(m,n)=M(m/n)−

(C₁ M/2);

where C₁ and C₂ are internal function boundaries, D is a function of C₁ and C₂, M is a function of D and C₂, m is a displacement value, and n is a measure of a displacement region.

9. A scrolling control system according to claim 1, wherein said scrolling mode is maintained by maintaining said user actuated switch in a closed condition, and is exited by releasing said switch.

10. A scrolling control system according to claim 1, wherein the control means inhibits display of said cursor during said scrolling mode.

11. A scrolling control system according to claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a movable member, and said user actuation of the device comprises a movement of the moveable member.

12. A scrolling control system according to claim 11, wherein in said scrolling mode a fixed linear relationship exists between a displacement of the movable member in a predetermined direction, and the scroll amount.

13. A scrolling control system according to claim 11, said scrolling mode comprising a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode wherein a one-to-one relationship exists between a displacement of the movable member in a predetermined direction, and the scroll amount.

14. A scrolling control system according to claim 11, said scrolling mode comprising a document positional scrolling (DPS) mode wherein a unit amount of displacement of the moveable member in a predetermined direction results in a scroll amount corresponding to one of:

a ratio of document length to page length; and

a ratio of document width to page width.

15. A scrolling control system according to claim 11, said scrolling mode further comprising a document positional scrolling (DPS) mode wherein a unit amount of displacement of the moveable member in a predetermined direction results in a scroll amount corresponding to one of:

a ratio of document length to page length; and

a ratio of document width to page width.

16. A scrolling control system according to claim 15, said scrolling mode further comprising a transitional scrolling mode providing a scroll amount that varies between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode.

17. A scrolling control system according to claim 18, wherein the scroll amount varies smoothly between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode, as a function of a displacement of the moveable member in a predetermined direction.

18. A scrolling control system according to claim 17, wherein the function is f(m,n) such that:

if (m/n)<

C₁, then f(m,n)=((C₂−

1)/D) (m/n)²;

if (M/n)>

C₂, then f(m,n)=(1/D) ((m/n)−

2(m/n)+1)+1; and

otherwise, f(m,n)=M(m/n)−

(C₁ M/2);

where C₁ and C₂ are internal function boundaries, D is a function of C₁ and C₂, M is a function of D and C₂, m is a displacement value, and n is a measure of a displacement region.

19. A scrolling control system according to claim 16, wherein said control means records a home position of the moveable member when the system enters the scrolling mode, monitors an offset of the moveable member from the home position while the system is in the scrolling mode, implements the PPS mode when the offset of the moveable member is within a first range, implements the transitional scrolling mode when the offset of the moveable member is within a second range above said first range, and implement the DPS mode when the offset of the moveable member is within a third range above said second range.

20. A scrolling control system according to claim 19, wherein the control means resets the home position of the moveable member to a current position of the moveable member on the occurrence of at least one of the following events:

the moveable member is moved at a rate slower than a predetermined threshold rate;

the direction of movement of the moveable member changes; and

the moveable member is not moved for a predetermined amount of time.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the predetermined amount of time is approximately 150 milliseconds.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the threshold rate is between 75 and 200 pixels per second.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the threshold rate is approximately 120 pixels per second.

24. A scrolling system according to claim 11, wherein said user actuated switch is provided on said input device.

25. A scrolling control system according to claim 24, wherein said scrolling mode is maintained by maintaining said user actuated switch in a closed condition, and is exited by releasing said switch.

26. A scrolling control system according to claim 11, wherein the control means inhibits display of said cursor during said scrolling mode.

27. A scrolling control system according to claim 11, wherein said user input device comprises a computer mouse which itself constitutes said movable member.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein in said scrolling mode a fixed linear relationship exists between a displacement represented by said position value and the scroll amount.

30. A method according to claim 28, said scrolling mode comprising a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode wherein a one-to-one relationship exists between a displacement represented by said position value, and a scroll amount.

31. A method according to claim 28, said scrolling mode comprising a document positional scrolling (DPS) mode wherein a unit amount of change in a displacement represented by said position value results in a scroll amount corresponding to one of:

a ratio of document length to page length; and

a ratio of document width to page width.

32. A method according to claim 30, said scrolling mode further comprising a document positional scrolling (DPS) mode wherein a unit amount of change in said displacement results in a scroll amount corresponding to one of:

a ratio of document length to page length; and

a ratio of document width to page width.

33. A method according to claim 32, said scrolling mode further comprising a transitional scrolling mode providing a scroll amount that varies between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the scroll amount varies smoothly between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode, as a function of said displacement.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the function is f(m,n) such that:

If (mn/n)<

C₁, then f(m,n)=((C₂−

1)/D)(m/n)²;

If (m/n)>

C₂, then f(m,n)=(1/D)((mn/n)−

2(m/n)+1)+1; and

Otherwise, f(m,n)=M(m/n)−

(C₁ M/2);

where C₁ and C₂ are internal function boundaries, D is a function of C₁ and C₂, M is a function of D and C₂, m is a displacement value, and n is a measure of a displacement region.

36. A method according to claim 28, further comprising:

maintaining the scrolling mode while said user actuated switch is maintained in a closed condition; and

exiting the scrolling mode when the switch is released.

37. A method according to claim 28, further comprising:

inhibiting display of said cursor during said scrolling mode.

38. A method according to claim 28, wherein said input device comprises a movable member, and said user actuation of the input device comprises movement of the moveable member.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein in said scrolling mode a fixed linear relationship exists between a displacement of the movable member in a predetermined direction, and the scroll amount.

40. A method according to claim 38, said scrolling mode comprising a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode wherein a one-to-one relationship exists between a displacement of the movable member in a predetermined direction, and the scroll amount.

41. A method according to claim 38, said scrolling mode comprising a document positional scrolling (DPS) mode wherein a unit amount of displacement of the moveable member in a predetermined direction results in a scroll amount corresponding to one:

of a ratio of document length to page length; and

a ratio of document width to page width.

42. A method according to claim 40, said scrolling mode further comprising a document positional scrolling (DPS) mode wherein a unit amount of the displacement results in a scroll amount corresponding to one of:

a ratio of document length to page length; and

a ratio of document width to page width.

43. A method according to claim 42, said scrolling mode farther comprising a transitional scrolling mode providing a scroll amount that varies between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein the scroll amount varies smoothly between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode, as a function of said displacement.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein the function is f(m,n) such that:

if (m/n)<

C₁, then f(m,n)=((C₂−

1)/D)(m/n)²;

if (m/n)>

C₂, then f(m,n)=(1/D)((m/n)−

2(m/n)+1)+1; and

otherwise, f(m,n)=M(m/n)−

(C₁ M/2);

where C₁ and C₂ are internal function boundaries, D is a function of C₁ and C₂, M is a function of D and C₂, m is a displacement value, and n is a region length.

46. A method according to claim 43, further comprising:

recording a home position of the moveable member when the system enters the scrolling mode;

monitoring an offset of the moveable member from the home position while the system is in the scrolling mode;

implementing the PPS mode when the offset of the moveable member is within a first range;

implementing the transitional scrolling mode when the offset of the moveable member is within a second range above said first range; and

implementing the DPS mode when the offset of the moveable member is within a third range above said second range.

47. A method according to claim 46, further comprising:

resetting the home position of the moveable member to a current position of the moveable member on the occurrence of at least one of the following events;

the moveable member is moved at a rate slower than a predetermined threshold rate;

the direction of movement of the moveable member changes; and

the moveable member is not moved for a predetermined amount of time.

48. A method according to claim 47, wherein the predetermined amount of time is approximately 150 milliseconds.

49. A method according to claim 47, wherein the threshold rate is between 75 and 200 pixels per second.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein the threshold rate is approximately 120 pixels per second.

51. A method according to claim 38, wherein said user actuated switch is provided on said input device.

52. A method according to claim 51, further comprising:

maintaining said scrolling mode by maintaining said user actuated switch in a closed condition; and

exiting said scrolling mode by releasing said switch.

53. A method according to claim 38, further comprising:

inhibiting display of said cursor during said scrolling mode.

54. A method according to claim 38, wherein said user input device comprises a computer mouse which itself constitutes said movable member.

28. A method for controlling scrolling of a document in a data processing system having a display, a user actuated switch and an input device that provides positional control of a cursor on said display in response to a user actuation of said input device, comprising:

entering a view scrolling mode in response to a user actuation of said switch; and

controlling view scrolling such that a scroll amount is based on a position value determined by the user actuation of the input device, said control being independent of a position of said cursor in relation to any scroll functionality elements appearing on said display.

55. A scrolling control system for use with a data processing device having a display, comprising:

an input device for providing, in response to user actuations of the device, control of a cursor position on said display;

at least one user actuated switch; and

control means responsive to a user actuation of said switch to enter a scrolling mode wherein scrolling of a document is controlled such that a scroll amount is based upon a position value determined by a user actuation of the input device;

wherein said scrolling mode comprises;

a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode wherein a one-to-one relationship exists between a displacement represented by said position value and a scroll amount;

a document positional scrolling (DPS) mode wherein a unit amount of displacement represented by said position value results in a scroll amount corresponding to one of a ratio of document length to page length and a ratio of document width to page width; and

a transitional scrolling mode providing a scroll amount that varies between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode.

56. A scrolling control system according to claim 55, wherein during the transitional scrolling mode the scroll amount varies smoothly between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode, as a function of said displacement represented by said position value.

57. A scrolling control system according to claim 56, wherein the function is f(m,n) such that:

if (mn/n)<

C₁, then f(m,n)=((C₂−

1)/D)(m/n)²;

if (m/n)>

C₂, then f(m,n)=(1/D)((mn/n)−

2(m/n)+1)+1; and

otherwise, f(m,n)=M(m/n)−

(C₁ M/2);

wherein C₁ and C₂ are internal function boundaries, D is a function of C₁ and C₂, M is a function of D and C₂, m is a displacement value, and n is a measure of a displacement region.

58. A scrolling control system according to claim 55, wherein said control means is operative on a system-wide level.

60. A method according to claim 59, wherein in the transitional scrolling mode the scroll amount varies smoothly between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode, as a function of said displacement represented by said position value.

61. A method according to claim 60, wherein the function is f(m,n) such that:

if (m/n)<

C₁, then f(m,n)=((C₂−

1)/D)(m/n)²;

if (m/n)>

C₂, then f(m,n)=(1/D)((m/n)−

2(m/n)+1)+1; and

otherwise, f(m,n)=M(m/n)−

(C₁ M/2);

wherein C₁ and C₂ are internal function boundaries, D is a function of C₁ and C₂, M is a function of D and C₂, in is a displacement value, and n is a measure of a displacement region.

62. A method according to claim 59, wherein the controlling scrolling step is carried out on a system-wide level.

59. A method for controlling scrolling of a document in a data processing system having a display, a user actuated switch and an input device that provides positional control of a cursor on said display in response to a user actuation of said input device, comprising the steps of:

entering a scrolling mode in response to a user actuation of said switch; and

controlling scrolling such that a scroll amount is based on a position value determined by the user actuation of the input device;

wherein said scrolling mode comprises;

a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode wherein a one-to-one relationship exists between a displacement represented by said position value and a scroll amount;

a document positional scrolling (DPS) mode wherein a unit amount of displacement represented by said position value results in a scroll amount corresponding to one of a ratio of document length to page length and a ratio of document width to page width; and

a transitional scrolling mode providing a scroll amount that varies between the scroll amount obtained in said PPS mode and the scroll amount obtained in said DPS mode.

63. A scrolling control system for use with a data processing device having a display, comprising:

an input device for providing, in response to user actuations of the device, control of a cursor position on said display;

at least one user actuated switch; and

control means responsive to a user actuation of said switch to enter a scrolling mode wherein scrolling of a document is controlled such that a scroll amount is based upon a position value determined by a user actuation of the input device, independent of a position of said cursor in relation to any scroll functionality elements appearing on said display;

wherein said scrolling mode comprises a document positional scrolling (DPS) mode wherein a unit amount of displacement represented by said position value results in a scroll amount corresponding to one of;

a ratio of document length to page length; and

a ratio of document width to page width.

64. A method for controlling scrolling of a document in a data processing system having a display, a user actuated switch and an input device that provides positional control of a cursor on said display in response to a user actuation of said input device, comprising:

entering a scrolling mode in response to a user actuation of said switch; and

controlling scrolling such that a scroll amount is based on a position value determined by the user actuation of the input device, said control being independent of a position of said cursor in relation to any scroll functionality elements appearing on said display;

wherein said scrolling mode comprising a document positional scrolling (DPS) mode wherein a unit amount of change in a displacement represented by said position value results in a scroll amount corresponding to one of;

a ratio of document length to page length; and

a ratio of document width to page width.