User Interface Widget For Selecting A Point Or Range

• US 20100306704A1
• Filed: 07/15/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen Cotterill
• Original Assignee: Stephen Cotterill
• Inventors: Cotterill, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,560,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/833
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A technique for selecting and/or displaying an exact point or a range is provided wherein a slider widget comprising a thumb with a left edge and a right edge lying in proximity to the left and right edges of the thumb is provided such that a user may utilize the widget to display an exact point or a range.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing a slider tool to be displayed on a track corresponding to a fixed range, the slider tool comprising a thumb element, a first edge element, and a second edge element, the first edge element disposed at a first distance along the track from the thumb element, the second edge element disposed at a second distance along the track from the thumb element; and

in response to input that moves the thumb element from a first position on the track to a second position on the track, causing positions of the first and second edge elements to be adjusted on the track to maintain the first and second distances;

wherein the method is performed by one or more processors.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining selection of a sub-range of said fixed range corresponding to positions of the first and second edge elements.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input comprises a click on the thumb element at the first position, a drag of the thumb element from the first position to the second position, and a release of the thumb element at the second position.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second edge elements are on opposite sides of said thumb element.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first distance is substantially equal to said second distance.

11. A machine-readable volatile or non-volatile medium storing processor-executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 1.

12. A machine-readable volatile or non-volatile medium storing processor-executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 2.

13. A machine-readable volatile or non-volatile medium storing processor-executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 3.

14. A machine-readable volatile or non-volatile medium storing processor-executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 4.

15. A machine-readable volatile or non-volatile medium storing processor-executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 5.

6. A method comprising:

causing a slider tool to be displayed on a track corresponding to a fixed range, the slider tool comprising a thumb element, a first edge element, and a second edge element, the first edge element disposed at a first distance along the track from the thumb element, the second edge element disposed at a second distance along the track from the thumb element; and

in response to input that moves the first edge element from a first position on the track to a second position on the track, causing a position of the thumb element to be adjusted along the track so that the second distance is substantially equal to the first distance;

wherein the method is performed by one or more processors.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the adjusting occurs as the first edge element is being moved.

16. A machine-readable volatile or non-volatile medium storing processor-executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 6.

17. A machine-readable volatile or non-volatile medium storing processor-executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 7.

8. A method comprising:

causing a slider tool to be displayed on a track corresponding to a fixed range, the slider tool comprising a thumb element, a first edge element, and a second edge element, the first edge element disposed at a first distance along the track from the thumb element, the second edge element disposed at a second distance along the track from the thumb element; and

in response to input that moves the first edge element from a first position on the track to a second position on the track, causing a position of the second edge element to be adjusted along the track so that the second distance is substantially equal to the first distance;

wherein the method is performed by one or more processors.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the adjusting occurs as the first edge element is being moved.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

obtaining selection of a sub-range of said fixed range corresponding to the positions of the first and second edge elements when the first edge element is at the second position; and

causing visual feedback to be provided to a user indicating the selected sub-range.

18. A machine-readable volatile or non-volatile medium storing processor-executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 8.

19. A machine-readable volatile or non-volatile medium storing processor-executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 9.

20. A machine-readable volatile or non-volatile medium storing processor-executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 10.