Page bar control

• US 20040085364A1
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Switzer, David, Keely, Leroy B., Swanson, Shawna, Stephas, Tamara, Paulson, Kevin P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,100,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/804
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Graphical user interfaces for computer display devices include a page bar control element that allows a user to easily and quickly navigate among the pages of a multiple page electronic document and/or among the pages of a plurality of electronic documents. In some examples, the page bar control element displayed on the computer system provides a visual representation of a multiple pages of the document(s), wherein the visual representation includes several tabs or markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document(s). In some examples, the markers are rendered in colors that enable quick identification of the current page and/or the page being viewed as well as pages viewed in a riffling action. The page bar control element also may include a visual “flag” that helps users quickly located text that they have previously flagged or that the system has automatically flagged for them.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

rendering a content display including at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages; and

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document, wherein a background of the marker corresponding to the current page corresponds to a background of the current page on the content display and wherein backgrounds of the markers not corresponding to the current page differ from the background of the current page.

2. A method comprising:

rendering a content display including at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages;

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document; and

rendering at least a portion of a new page of the document when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page, wherein the user provides input indicating the desire to view the new page by hovering a user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element corresponding to the new page.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

changing the current page to the new page if the user selects the new page.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein, as the user moves the user input device proximate different markers of the page bar control element, the rendered new page portion changes to correspond to the page represented by the marker where the user input device is located.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein when the user discontinues hovering the user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element without selecting a new page, the content display displays the current page.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page includes rendering a thumbnail view of the new page while the current page remains at least partially displayed.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page completely replaces the rendering of the current page.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page at least partially replaces the rendering of the current page.

9. A method comprising:

opening a plurality of electronic documents;

rendering a content display including at least a portion of a current page of one of the plurality of documents; and

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of the plurality of documents, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, wherein;

(a) each of the plurality of documents is represented by at least one marker, (b) each marker represents one or more pages of the document in which it is located, and (c) each document including a plurality of pages is represented on the page bar control element by plural markers.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

rendering at least a portion of a new page of one of the plurality of documents when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page includes identification of a title of the document in which the new page is located.

12. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

changing the content display to display the new page if the user selects the new page.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the user provides input indicating the desire to view the new page by hovering a user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element corresponding to the new page.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein, as the user moves the user input device to different markers on the page bar control element, the rendered new page changes to correspond to the page corresponding to the marker where the user input device is located.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein when the user discontinues hovering the user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element without selecting a new page, the content display displays the current page.

16. A method according to claim 10, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page includes rendering a thumbnail view of the new page while the current page also remains at least partially displayed.

17. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

rendering information regarding a new page of one of the plurality of documents when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to receive information.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the rendering of information regarding the new page includes identification of a title of the document in which the new page is located.

19. A method comprising:

rendering a content display including at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages; and

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document, wherein the marker corresponding to the current page is rendered larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the marker corresponding to a page immediately preceding the current page and the marker corresponding to a page immediately after the current page is rendered larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

21. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

rendering at least a portion of a new page of the document when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page.

22. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

rendering information regarding a new page of one of the plurality of documents when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to receive information.

23. A method comprising:

opening at least one electronic document including a plurality of pages;

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of at least some of the plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document;

receiving input indicating a desire to view a new page or a desire to view information relating to the new page; and

rendering the marker corresponding to the new page larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the marker corresponding to a page immediately preceding the new page and the marker corresponding to a page immediately after the new page is rendered larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

25. A method comprising:

rendering a content display including at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages;

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document; and

providing a flag on each marker that corresponds to a page on which a user has set a flag or on which a flag has automatically been set.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising:

rendering at least a portion of a new page of the document when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page, wherein the user provides input indicating the desire to view the new page by hovering a user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element corresponding to the new page.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein, as the user moves the user input device proximate different markers of the page bar control element, the rendered new page portion changes to correspond to the page corresponding to the marker where the user input device is located.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein when the user discontinues hovering the user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element without selecting a new page, the content display displays the current page.

29. A method according to claim 26, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page includes rendering a thumbnail view of the new page while the current page remains at least partially displayed.

30. A method according to claim 26, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page completely replaces the rendering of the current page.

31. A method according to claim 26, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page at least partially replaces the rendering of the current page.

32. A system comprising:

a display device that displays at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages; and

a processor that renders a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document, wherein a background of the marker corresponding to the current page corresponds to a background of the current page on the display device and wherein backgrounds of the markers not corresponding to the current page differ from the background of the current page.

33. A system comprising:

a display device that displays at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages;

a processor that;

(a) renders a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document, and (b) renders at least a portion of a new page of the document when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page, wherein the user provides input indicating the desire to view the new page by hovering a user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element corresponding to the new page.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein the processor further changes the current page to the new page if the user selects the new page.

35. A system according to claim 33, wherein, as the user moves the user input device proximate different markers of the page bar control element, the processor changes the rendered new page portion to correspond to the page represented by the marker where the user input device is located.

36. A system according to claim 33, wherein when the user discontinues hovering the user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element without selecting a new page, the processor displays at least a portion of the current page on the display device.

37. A system according to claim 33, wherein the at least a portion of the new page rendered by the processor includes a thumbnail view of the new page while the current page remains at least partially displayed.

38. A system according to claim 33, wherein the at least a portion of the new page rendered by the processor completely replaces the rendering of the current page.

39. A system according to claim 33, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page at least partially replaces the current page displayed on the display device.

40. A system comprising:

a processor for opening a plurality of electronic documents; and

a display device for displaying at least a portion of a current page of one of the plurality of documents;

wherein the processor renders a page bar control element on the display device, wherein the page bar control element provides a visual representation of the plurality of documents, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, wherein;

(a) each of the plurality of documents is represented by at least one marker, (b) each marker represents one or more pages of the document in which it is located, and (c) each document including a plurality of pages is represented on the page bar control element by plural markers.

41. A system according to claim 40, wherein the processor renders at least a portion of a new page of one of the plurality of documents when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page.

42. A system according to claim 41, wherein the processor renders an identification of a title of the document in which the new page is located along with at least a portion of the new page.

43. A system according to claim 41, wherein the processor further changes the display device to display the new page if the user selects the new page.

44. A system according to claim 41, wherein the processor receives the user input indicating the desire to view the new page when the user hovers a user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element corresponding to the new page.

45. A system according to claim 44, wherein the processor renders new pages corresponding to the marker where the user input device is located as the user moves the user input device to different markers on the page bar control element.

46. A system according to claim 44, wherein, when the user discontinues hovering the user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element without selecting a new page, the processor renders the current page on the display device.

47. A system according to claim 41, wherein, when rendering at least a portion of the new page, the processor renders a thumbnail view of the new page while the current page also remains at least partially displayed on the display device.

48. A system according to claim 40, wherein the processor renders information regarding a new page of one of the plurality of documents when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to receive information.

49. A system according to claim 48, wherein the rendering of information regarding the new page includes identification of a title of the document in which the new page is located.

50. A system comprising:

a display device that displays at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages; and

a processor that renders a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document, wherein the marker corresponding to the current page is rendered larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

51. A system according to claim 50, wherein the processor further renders at least one of the marker corresponding to a page immediately preceding the current page and the marker corresponding to a page immediately after the current page larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

52. A system according to claim 50, wherein the processor further renders at least a portion of a new page of the document when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page.

53. A system according to claim 50, wherein the processor further renders information regarding a new page of one of the plurality of documents when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to receive information.

54. A system comprising:

a processor that;

(a) opens at least one electronic document including a plurality of pages;

(b) renders a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of at least some of the plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document;

(c) receives input indicating a desire to view a new page or a desire to view information relating to the new page; and

(d) renders the marker corresponding to the new page larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

55. A system according to claim 54, wherein the processor further renders at least one of the marker corresponding to a page immediately preceding the new page and the marker corresponding to a page immediately after the new page larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

56. A system comprising:

a display device that displays at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages; and

a processor that;

(a) renders a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document; and

(b) renders a flag on each marker that corresponds to a page on which a user has set a flag or on which a flag has automatically been set.

57. A system according to claim 56, wherein the processor further renders at least a portion of a new page of the document when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page, wherein the user provides input indicating the desire to view the new page by hovering a user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element corresponding to the new page.

58. A system according to claim 57, wherein, as the user moves the user input device proximate different markers of the page bar control element, the processor renders new pages corresponding to the marker where the user input device is located as it is moved.

59. A system according to claim 57, wherein when the user discontinues hovering the user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element without selecting a new page, the processor renders the current page on the display device.

60. A system according to claim 57, wherein, when rendering at least a portion of the new page, the processor renders a thumbnail view of the new page while the current page remains at least partially displayed.

61. A system according to claim 57, wherein, when rendering at least a portion of the new page, the processor completely replaces the current page with the new page on the display device.

62. A system according to claim 57, wherein, when rendering at least a portion of the new page, the processor at least partially replaces the current page with the new page on the display device.

63. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable steps for performing a method comprising:

rendering a content display including at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages; and

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document, wherein a background of the marker corresponding to the current page corresponds to a background of the current page on the content display and wherein backgrounds of the markers not corresponding to the current page differ from the background of the current page.

64. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable steps for performing a method comprising:

rendering a content display including at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages;

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document; and

rendering at least a portion of a new page of the document when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page, wherein the user provides input indicating the desire to view the new page by hovering a user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element corresponding to the new page.

65. A computer-readable medium according to claim 64, wherein the method further comprises:

changing the current page to the new page if the user selects the new page.

66. A computer-readable medium according to claim 64, wherein, in the method, as the user moves the user input device proximate different markers of the page bar control element, the rendered new page portion changes to correspond to the page represented by the marker where the user input device is located.

67. A computer-readable medium according to claim 64, wherein, in the method, when the user discontinues hovering the user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element without selecting a new page, the content display displays the current page.

68. A computer-readable medium according to claim 64, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page includes rendering a thumbnail view of the new page while the current page remains at least partially displayed.

69. A computer-readable medium according to claim 64, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page completely replaces the rendering of the current page.

70. A computer-readable medium according to claim 64, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page at least partially replaces the rendering of the current page.

71. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable steps for performing a method comprising:

opening a plurality of electronic documents;

rendering a content display including at least a portion of a current page of one of the plurality of documents; and

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of the plurality of documents, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, wherein;

(a) each of the plurality of documents is represented by at least one marker, (b) each marker represents one or more pages of the document that it represents, and (c) each document including a plurality of pages is represented on the page bar control element by plural markers.

72. A computer-readable medium according to claim 71, wherein the method further includes rendering at least a portion of a new page of one of the plurality of documents when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page.

73. A computer-readable medium according to claim 72, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page includes identification of a title of the document in which the new page is located.

74. A computer-readable medium according to claim 72, wherein the method further comprises changing the content display to display the new page if the user selects the new page.

75. A computer-readable medium according to claim 72, wherein the method further comprises receiving input indicating the desire to view the new page when a user hovers a user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element corresponding to the new page.

76. A computer-readable medium according to claim 75, wherein, in the method, as the user moves the user input device to different markers on the page bar control element, the rendered new page changes to correspond to the page represented by the marker where the user input device is located.

77. A computer-readable medium according to claim 75, wherein, in the method, when the user discontinues hovering the user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element without selecting a new page, the content display displays the current page.

78. A computer-readable medium according to claim 72, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page includes rendering a thumbnail view of the new page while the current page also remains at least partially displayed.

79. A computer-readable medium according to claim 71, wherein the method further includes rendering information regarding a new page of one of the plurality of documents when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to receive information.

80. A computer-readable medium according to claim 79, wherein the rendering of information regarding the new page includes identification of a title of the document in which the new page is located.

81. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable steps for performing a method comprising:

rendering a content display including at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages; and

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document, wherein the marker corresponding to the current page is rendered larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

82. A computer-readable medium according to claim 81, wherein, in the method, at least one of the marker corresponding to a page immediately preceding the current page and the marker corresponding to a page immediately after the current page is rendered larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

83. A computer-readable medium according to claim 81, wherein the method further comprises rendering at least a portion of a new page of the document when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page.

84. A computer-readable medium according to claim 81, wherein the method further comprises rendering information regarding a new page of one of the plurality of documents when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to receive information.

85. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable steps for performing a method comprising:

opening at least one electronic document including a plurality of pages;

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of at least some of the plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document;

receiving input indicating a desire to view a new page or a desire to view information relating to the new page; and

rendering the marker corresponding to the new page larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

86. A computer-readable medium according to claim 85, wherein, in the method, at least one of the marker corresponding to a page immediately preceding the new page and the marker corresponding to a page immediately after the new page is rendered larger than at least some of the other markers on the page bar control element.

87. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable steps for performing a method comprising:

rendering a content display including at least a portion of a current page of a document that includes multiple pages;

rendering a page bar control element that provides a visual representation of a plurality of pages of the document, wherein the visual representation includes a plurality of markers, each marker representing one or more pages of the document; and

providing a flag on each marker that corresponds to a page on which a user has set a flag or on which a flag has automatically been set.

88. A computer-readable medium according to claim 87, wherein the method further comprises rendering at least a portion of a new page of the document when a user provides input through the page bar control element indicating a desire to view the new page, wherein the user provides input indicating the desire to view the new page by hovering a user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element corresponding to the new page.

89. A computer-readable medium according to claim 88, wherein, in the method, as the user moves the user input device proximate different markers of the page bar control element, the rendered new page portion changes to correspond to the page corresponding to the marker where the user input device is located.

90. A computer-readable medium according to claim 88, wherein, in the method, when the user discontinues hovering the user input device proximate a marker of the page bar control element without selecting a new page, the content display displays the current page.

91. A computer-readable medium according to claim 88, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page includes rendering a thumbnail view of the new page while the current page remains at least partially displayed.

92. A computer-readable medium according to claim 88, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page completely replaces the rendering of the current page.

93. A computer-readable medium according to claim 88, wherein the rendering of at least a portion of the new page at least partially replaces the rendering of the current page.