System and method for data processing enhanced ergonomic scrolling

• US 5,805,161 A
• Filed: 09/26/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech, Inc. (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Tiphane, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matthew M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/721,253
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 345/341, 345/340, 345/342, 345/339, 345/326, 345/347, 345/973, 345/974, 345/975, 345/121, 345/123, 345/124, 345/125, 345/352, 345/354
• US Class Current: 715/786
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/973 Scroll tool, e.g. window scroll bar

Abstract

A system to jump a pointer to a scroll box and lock the pointer to an elevator of the scroll box comprises a pointing device subsystem, a menu subsystem, a jump subsystem, and a lock subsystem. The pointing device subsystem is coupled to each of the menu subsystem, the jump subsystem, and the lock subsystem. In addition, the jump subsystem is coupled to the menu subsystem and the lock subsystem. The pointing device subsystem uses its pointer to select a button for horizontal or vertical scrolling from a pop-up box menu displayed by the menu subsystem. After the button is selected, the jump subsystem jumps the pointer from the button to an elevator bar of the selected scroll box. The lock subsystem locks the pointer to the elevator bar of the scroll box. The pointer may now be moved along the directions permitted by the scroll box so that the screens of the computer application scroll in such a direction. When a desired screen location is found through the scrolling function, the pointer is unlocked by the lock subsystem from the elevator bar. The present invention includes an ergonomic system for scrolling by automating the jump and lock of a pointer to an elevator bar in a scroll box. Further, the present invention includes a method for jumping and locking a pointer to an elevator bar in a scroll box.

Claims

1. A system for scrolling a computer application display having a scroll box with an elevator bar, comprising:

a pointing device subsystem for controlling a pointer on the computer application display, the pointing device subsystem including a selection mechanism for receiving a selection input in response to selection by a user;

a menu subsystem, disposed to receive signals from the selection mechanism of the pointing device, for displaying a menu in response to the selection input, the menu including a scroll box selection;

a jump subsystem, disposed to receive a signal from the menu subsystem, for jumping the pointer from the scroll box selection to the elevator of the scroll box in response to de-selection of the selection mechanism by the user; and

a lock subsystem, coupled to the elevator of the scroll box, for coupling the pointer to the elevator of the scroll box, the coupled elevator and pointer scrollable without further selection of the selection mechanism.

2. The system in claim 1, wherein the pointing device subsystem further comprises a mouse having a pointing device selection button.

3. The system in claim 2, wherein the selection mechanism is the pointing device selection button on the mouse and triggers the menu subsystem.

4. The system in claim 1, wherein the menu subsystem displays a pop-up box menu.

5. The system in claim 1, wherein the menu subsystem displays an augmented application environment menu.

6. The system in claim 1, wherein the pointing device comprises a pointer mechanism having a rocker switch, the rocker switch comprising the menu subsystem for selecting the scroll box in response to receiving a selection from a user.

7. A method for scrolling a computer application display having a scroll box with an elevator bar, comprising:

displaying a menu having the scroll box selection in response to depressing a selection mechanism of a selection device, the selection mechanism associated with a pointer;

detecting a call for the scroll box in response to placing the pointer over the scroll box selection and releasing the selection mechanism;

jumping the pointer from the scroll box selection to the elevator bar;

locking the pointer to the elevator bar; and

directing the elevator bar to move in a specific direction in response to the pointer moving in the specific direction.

8. The method in claim 7, wherein the detecting step further comprises selecting the scroll box selection from the menu.

9. The method in claim 7, wherein the detecting step further comprises selecting a first button on a pointing device to call a menu having a scroll box selection.

10. The method in claim 7, further comprising unlocking the pointer from the elevator bar.

11. The method in claim 10, wherein the unlocking step further comprises selecting and releasing the selection mechanism.

12. A system for increasing comfort and minimizing fine motor movements for a user of a pointing device of a data processing system including a computer application display having a scroll box with an elevator bar, comprising:

a pointing device having a pointer and a selection mechanism;

a menu subsystem having a menu including a scroll box selection, the menu subsystem disposed to receive signals from the pointing device, the menu being displayed in response to a user depressing the selection mechanism, the pointer being aligned with the scroll box selection, the scroll box selection being selected by the user releasing the selection mechanism;

a jump subsystem, coupled to the menu subsystem and the pointing device, the jump subsystem for moving the pointer from the scroll box selection to the elevator bar of the scroll box in response to the user releasing the selection mechanism without the user moving the pointing device; and

a lock subsystem, coupled to the jump subsystem and the pointing device, the lock subsystem for locking the pointer to the elevator bar of the scroll bar without the user depressing the selection mechanism while the pointer is aligned with the elevator bar.