Scrollbar enhancement for browsing data

• US 20050210403A1
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Satanek, Brandon Lynn
• Granted Patent: US 7,328,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/786
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A graphical user interface for browsing information displayed to a user. The information displayed includes zero or more elements and may be displayed in a display window. The display window has a perimeter and a scrollbar is positioned along the perimeter. The scrollbar may have a first end and a second end and a slider located between the ends. The slider may be configured such that movement of the slider causes information in the display area to be scrolled. In one embodiment, the size of the slider is based on the size of the one more elements of information displayed in the display window. A data-line may be positioned adjacent the scrollbar and may have a plurality of tick marks. A graphical element, which may be displayed in phantom, may be used to associate the slider to the data-line.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface for browsing information displayed to a user, the information including one or more elements, the graphical user interface comprising:

a display window;

a scrollbar positioned within the display window, the scrollbar having a first end and a second end;

a slider located between the first end and the second end of the scrollbar and configured such that movement of the slider causes information in the display area to be scrolled, the slider having a size that is based on the size of the one more elements of information;

a data-line positioned adjacent the scrollbar, the data-line having a plurality of tick marks; and

a graphical element associating the slider to the data-line.

2. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a separator presented in the display area between a first group of elements of information and a second group of elements of information.

3. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first arrow button located at the first end of the scrollbar; and

a second arrow button located at the second end of the scrollbar.

4. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slider is configured to be moved by a cursor device.

5. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data-line is configured to indicate chunks of data.

6. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 5, wherein the data-line is configured to display a pop-up display associated with a chunk of data.

7. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pop-up display includes information regarding data in the chunk of data.

8. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data-line is arranged temporally.

9. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data-line is arranged alphabetically.

10. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display area is rectangularly-shaped and has a vertical edge and a horizontal edge.

11. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scrollbar is positioned adjacent next to one of the group consisting of the vertical edge and the horizontal edge.

12. A method of organizing data in a graphical user interface, the method comprising:

providing a display window with a perimeter in the graphical user interface;

displaying a set of data in the display window, the set of data having zero or more elements;

providing a scrollbar along the perimeter of the display window, the scrollbar having a first end and a second end;

associating a slider with the scrollbar and configuring the slider such that movement of the slider causes information in the display area to be scrolled; and

positioning a data-line adjacent the scrollbar, the data-line having a plurality of tick marks.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising providing a separator in the display area between a first group of elements of information and a second group of elements of information.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

providing a first arrow button located at the first end of the scrollbar; and

providing a second arrow button located at the second end of the scrollbar.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising configuring the slider to be moved by a cursor device.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising configuring the data-line to indicate chunks of data.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising configuring the data-line to display a pop-up display associated with a chunk of data.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising configuring the pop-up display to include information regarding data in the chunk of data.

19. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising configuring the data-line so that it is arranged temporally.

20. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising configuring the data-line so that it is arranged alphabetically.

21. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising arranging the display area so that it is rectangularly-shaped.

22. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising configuring the scrollbar to have a first and second end and positioning the slider between the first and second ends.

23. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising sizing the slider based on the size of the one or more elements of information.

24. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising associating the slider to the data-line with a graphical element.

25. A graphical user interface for browsing a set of data displayed to a user, the graphical user interface comprising:

a display window;

a scrollbar positioned next to the display window;

a slider associated with the scrollbar and configured such that movement of the slider causes data in the display area to be scrolled;

a data-line positioned adjacent the scrollbar, the data-line having a plurality indicia that define chunks of data; and

a marker associating the slider to the data-line.

26. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a separator presented in the display area between a first group of elements of information and a second group of elements of information.

27. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 26, wherein the display window includes a display area and a separator is configured to be anchored at a point in the display area.

28. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 25, wherein the data-line includes a plurality of tick marks.

29. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:

a first arrow button located at the first end of the scrollbar; and

a second arrow button located at the second end of the scrollbar.

30. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 25, wherein the slider is configured to be moved by a cursor device.

31. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 25, wherein the data-line is configured to display a pop-up display associated with at least one of the chunks of data.

32. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 25, wherein the data-line is arranged temporally.

33. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 25, wherein the data-line is arranged alphabetically.