Application Programming Interfaces for Scrolling Operations

• US 20080168384A1
• Filed: 01/07/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Platzer, Andrew, Herz, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/784
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

At least certain embodiments of the present disclosure include an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application. A method for operating through an application programming interface (API) in this environment includes transferring a set bounce call. The method further includes setting at least one of maximum and minimum bounce values. The set bounce call causes a bounce of a scrolled region in an opposite direction of a scroll based on a region past an edge of the scrolled region being visible in a display region at the end of the scroll.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method for scrolling on a display of a device comprising:

receiving a user input;

creating an event object in response to the user input;

determining whether the event object invokes a scroll or gesture operation;

issuing at least one scroll or gesture call based on invoking the scroll or gesture operation;

responding to at least one scroll call, if issued, by scrolling a window having a view associated with the event object based on an amount of a scroll with the scroll stopped at a predetermined position in relation to the user input; and

responding to at least one gesture call, if issued, by scaling the view associated with the event object based on receiving a plurality of input points in the form of the user input.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

rubberbanding a scrolling region displayed within the window by a predetermined maximum displacement when the scrolling region exceeds a window edge based on the scroll.

3. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

attaching scroll indicators to a content edge of the window.

4. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

attaching scroll indicators to the window edge.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein determining whether the event object invokes a scroll or gesture operation is based on receiving a drag user input for a certain time period.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

responding to at least one gesture call, if issued, by rotating a view associated with the event object based on receiving a plurality of input points in the form of the user input.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the device is one of a data processing device, a portable device, a portable data processing device, a multi touch device, a multi touch portable device, a wireless device, and a cell phone.

8. A machine readable medium storing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

receiving a user input;

creating an event object in response to the user input;

determining whether the event object invokes a scroll or gesture operation;

issuing at least one scroll or gesture call based on invoking the scroll or gesture operation;

responding to at least one scroll call, if issued, by scrolling a window having a view associated with the event object based on an amount of a scroll with the scroll stopped at a predetermined position in relation to the user input; and

responding to at least one gesture call, if issued, by scaling the view associated with the event object based on receiving a plurality of input points in the form of the user input.

9. The medium as in claim 8, further comprising:

rubberbanding a scrolling region displayed within the window by a predetermined maximum displacement when the scrolled region exceeds a window edge based on the scroll.

10. The medium as in claim 8, further comprising:

attaching scroll indicators to a content edge of the view.

11. The medium as in claim 8, further comprising:

attaching scroll indicators to a window edge of the view.

12. The medium as in claim 8, wherein determining whether the event object invokes a scroll or gesture operation is based on receiving a drag user input for a certain time period.

13. The medium as in claim 8, further comprising:

responding to at least one gesture call, if issued, by rotating a view associated with the event object based on receiving a plurality of input points in the form of the user input.

14. The medium as in claim 8, wherein the data processing system is one of:

a data processing device, a portable device, a portable data processing device, a multi touch device, a multi touch portable device, a wireless device, and a cell phone.

15. In an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application, a method for operating through an application programming interface (API), comprising:

transferring a set bounce call.

16. The method as in claim 15, further comprises:

setting at least one of maximum and minimum bounce values.

17. The method as in claim 15, wherein transferring the set bounce call causes a bounce of a scrolled region in an opposite direction of a scroll based on a region past an edge of the scrolled region being visible in a display region of a device at the end of the scroll.

18. The method as in claim 15, wherein transferring the set bounce call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the set bounce call.

19. The method as in claim 15, wherein the device is one of:

a data processing device, a portable device, a portable data processing device, a multi touch device, a multi touch portable device, a wireless device, and a cell phone.

20. A machine readable medium storing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

transferring a set bounce call.

21. The medium as in claim 20, further comprises:

setting at least one of maximum and minimum bounce values.

22. The medium as in claim 20, wherein transferring the set bounce call causes a bounce of a scrolled region in an opposite direction of a scroll based on a region past an edge of the scrolled region being visible in a display region of a device at the end of the scroll.

23. The medium as in claim 20, wherein transferring the set bounce call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the set bounce call.

24. The medium as in claim 20, wherein the device is one of:

a data processing device, a portable device, a portable data processing device, a multi touch device, a multi touch portable device, a wireless device, and a cell phone.

25. In an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application, an apparatus, comprising:

means for transferring a set bounce call.

26. In an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application, a method for operating through an application programming interface (API), comprising:

receiving a set bounce call.

27. The method as in claim 26, further comprises:

setting at least one of maximum and minimum bounce values.

28. The method as in claim 26, wherein receiving the set bounce call causes a bounce of a scrolled region in an opposite direction of a scroll based on a region past an edge of the scrolled region being visible in a display region at the end of the scroll.

29. A machine readable medium storing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

receiving a set bounce call.

30. The medium as in claim 29, further comprises:

setting at least one of maximum and minimum bounce values.

31. The medium as in claim 29, wherein receiving a set bounce call causes a bounce of a scrolled region in an opposite direction of a scroll based on a region past an edge of the scrolled region being visible in a display region at the end of the scroll.

32. In an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application, an apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a set bounce call.

33. In an environment with user interface kit interacting with a software application, a method for operating through an application programming interface (API), comprising:

transferring a rubberband call to cause rubberbanding a scrolled region displayed within a display region of a device.

34. The method as in claim 33, wherein rubberbanding a scrolled region occurs by a predetermined maximum displacement when the scrolled region exceeds a display edge based on the scroll.

35. The method as in claim 33, further comprising:

transferring an edge rubberband call to set displacement values for at least one display edge.

36. The method as in claim 33, wherein at the end of the scroll, the scrolled region associated with content returns within the display region.

37. The method as in claim 33, wherein transferring the rubberband call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the rubberband call.

38. The method as in claim 33, wherein the device is one of a data processing device, a portable device, a portable data processing device, a multi touch device, a multi touch portable device, a wireless device, and a cell phone.

39. A machine readable medium storing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

transferring a rubberband call to cause rubberbanding a scrolled region displayed within a display region of a device.

40. The medium as in claim 39, wherein rubberbanding a scrolled region occurs by a predetermined maximum displacement when the scrolled region exceeds a window edge of the view based on the scroll.

41. The medium as in claim 39, further comprising:

transferring an edge rubberband call to set displacement values for at least one display edge.

42. The medium as in claim 39, wherein transferring the rubberband call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the rubberband call.

43. The method as in claim 39, wherein the device is one of:

a data processing device, a portable device, a portable data processing device, a multi touch device, a multi touch portable device, a wireless device, and a cell phone.

44. In an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application, an apparatus, comprising:

means for transferring a rubberband call to cause rubberbanding a scrolled region displayed within a view.

45. In an environment with user interface kit interacting with a software application, a method for operating through an application programming interface (API), comprising:

receiving a rubberband call to cause rubberbanding a scrolled region displayed within a view.

46. The method as in claim 45, wherein rubberbanding a scrolled region occurs by a predetermined maximum displacement when the scrolled region exceeds a window edge of the view based on the scroll.

47. The method as in claim 45, further comprising:

receiving an edge rubberband call to set displacement values for at least one display edge.

48. A machine readable medium storing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

receiving a rubberband call to cause rubberbanding a scrolled region displayed within a view.

49. The medium as in claim 48, wherein rubberbanding a scrolled region occurs by a predetermined maximum displacement when the scrolled region exceeds a window edge of the view based on the scroll.

50. The medium as in claim 48, further comprising:

receiving an edge rubberband call to set displacement values for at least one display edge.

51. In an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application, an apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a rubberband call to cause rubberbanding a scrolled region displayed within a view.

52. In an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application and a user input contacting a view of a display of a device, a method for operating through an application programming interface (API), comprising:

transferring a directional scroll call to determine if directional scrolling is enabled.

53. The method as in claim 52, further comprising:

transferring a directional scroll angle call to set a scroll angle for locking the scrolling in at least one of a vertical or a horizontal direction.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein a drag user input forming an angle with a horizontal direction that is less than or equal to a first scroll angle locks the scrolling in the horizontal direction.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein a drag user input forming an angle with a vertical direction that is less than or equal to a second scroll angle locks the scrolling in the vertical direction.

56. The method as in claim 52, wherein transferring the directional scroll angle call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the directional scroll angle call.

57. The method as in claim 52, wherein the device is one of:

a data processing device, a portable device, a portable data processing device, a multi touch device, a multi touch portable device, a wireless device, and a cell phone.

58. A machine readable medium storing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

transferring a directional scroll call to determine if directional scrolling is enabled.

59. The medium as in claim 58, further comprising:

transferring a directional scroll angle call to set a scroll angle for locking the scrolling in at least one of a vertical or a horizontal direction.

60. The medium of claim 58, wherein a drag user input forming an angle with a horizontal direction that is less than or equal to a first scroll angle locks the scrolling in the horizontal direction.

61. The medium of claim 58, wherein a drag user input forming an angle with a vertical direction that is less than or equal to a second scroll angle locks the scrolling in the vertical direction.

62. The medium as in claim 58, wherein transferring the directional scroll angle call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the directional scroll angle call.

63. The method as in claim 58, wherein the data processing system is one of:

a data processing device, a portable device, a portable data processing device, a multi touch device, a multi touch portable device, a wireless device, and a cell phone.

64. In an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application an apparatus, comprising:

means for transferring a directional scroll call to determine if directional scrolling is enabled.

65. In an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application and a user input contacting a view of a display of a device, a method for operating through an application programming interface (API), comprising:

receiving a directional scroll call to determine if directional scrolling is enabled.

66. The method as in claim 65, further comprising:

receiving a directional scroll angle call to set a scroll angle for locking the scrolling in at least one of a vertical or a horizontal direction.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein a drag user input forming an angle with a horizontal direction that is less than or equal to a first scroll angle locks the scrolling in the horizontal direction.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein a drag user input forming an angle with a vertical direction that is less than or equal to a second scroll angle locks the scrolling in the vertical direction.

69. A machine readable medium storing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

receiving a directional scroll call to determine if directional scrolling is enabled.

70. The medium as in claim 69, further comprising:

receiving a directional scroll angle call to set a scroll angle for locking the scrolling in at least one of a vertical or a horizontal direction.

71. The medium of claim 69, wherein a drag user input forming an angle with a horizontal direction that is less than or equal to a first scroll angle locks the scrolling in the horizontal direction.

72. The medium of claim 69, wherein a drag user input forming an angle with a vertical direction that is less than or equal to a second scroll angle locks the scrolling in the vertical direction.

73. In an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application, an apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a directional scroll call to determine if directional scrolling is enabled.

74. A computer read medium containing executable instructions, comprising:

program code configured, when executed, to transfer a bounce call through an application programming interface to cause a bounce of a scrolled region in an opposite direction of a scroll based on a region past an edge of the scrolled region being visible in a display region at the end of the scroll.

75. The medium as in claim 74, wherein transferring the bounce call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the bounce call.

76. A computer read medium containing executable instructions, comprising:

program code configured, when executed, to transfer a rubberband call through an application programming interface to cause a rubberband effect on a scrolled region by a predetermined maximum displacement when the scrolled region exceeds a display edge based on a scroll.

77. The medium as in claim 76, wherein transferring the rubberband call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the rubberband call.

78. A computer read medium containing executable instructions, comprising:

program code configured, when executed, to transfer a directional scroll call through an application programming interface to set a scroll angle for locking the scrolling in at least one of a vertical or horizontal direction.

79. The medium as in claim 78, wherein transferring the directional scroll call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the directional scroll call.

80. A platform for performing scrolling operations, comprising:

a processing unit coupled to an input panel,

a memory coupled to the processor; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processing unit, the programs including;

instructions for transferring a bounce call through an application programming interface to cause a bounce of a scrolled region in an opposite direction of a scroll based on a region past an edge of the scrolled region being visible in a display region at the end of the scroll.

81. The platform of claim 80, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for transferring a rubberband call through an application programming interface that has a rubberband effect on a scrolled region by a predetermined maximum displacement when the scrolled region exceeds a display edge based on a scroll.

82. The platform of claim 80, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for transferring a directional scroll call through an application programming interface to set a scroll angle for locking the scrolling in at least one of a vertical or a horizontal direction.

83. The platform as in claim 80, wherein transferring the bounce call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the bounce call.

84. The platform as in claim 81, wherein transferring the rubberband call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the rubberband call.

85. The platform as in claim 82, wherein transferring the directional scroll call is either one of issuing, initiating, invoking or receiving the directional scroll call.

86. A framework for performing scrolling operations, comprising:

a directory for storing one or more programs and associated resources, wherein the programs contain instructions that when executed provide an application programming interface to specify a bounce operation to cause a bounce of a scrolled region in an opposite direction of a scroll based on a region past an edge of the scrolled region being visible in a display region at the end of the scroll.

87. The framework of claim 86, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions that when executed provide an application programming interface to specify a rubberband operation that has a rubberband effect on a scrolled region by a predetermined maximum displacement when the scrolled region exceeds a display edge based on a scroll.

88. The framework of claim 86, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions that when executed provide an application programming interface to specify a directional scroll operation to set a scroll angle for locking the scrolling in at least one of a vertical or a horizontal direction.