Scalable scroll controller

• US 6,486,896 B1
• Filed: 04/07/1999
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Ubillos, Randall Hayes
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai, Cuong T.
• Application Number:
  US09/287,720
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 345/781, 345/784, 345/786, 345/787, 345/815, 345/830, 345/440.1, 345/660, 345/661, 345/663, 345/667
• US Class Current: 715/784
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A method for accessing a data field having fine resolution is disclosed. The method includes providing a scalable scroll controller with a scale controller to modify a scale for controlling a magnification for accessing data within the data field. The method also includes receiving a first user event to select the scale controller and receiving a second user event to modify a position of the scale controller. The scale is adjusted based on the position of the scale controller. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a data field having fine resolution comprising:

providing a scalable scroll controller including a scale controller to modify a scale for controlling a magnification for accessing data within the data field;

receiving a first user event to select the scale controller;

receiving a second user event to modify a position of the scale controller;

automatically adjusting the scalable scroll controller to maintain a center of the scalable scroll controller unchanged in response to receiving the second user event; and

adjusting the scale based on the position of the scale controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first user event includes receiving a signal from a cursor control device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second user event includes receiving a movement of a cursor control device along a first axis.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the scalable scroll controller has a width, and the scale is proportional to the width of the scalable scroll controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first user event includes receiving a signal from a voice command recognition unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second user event includes receiving a movement command from a voice command recognition unit.

7. An article comprising a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for accessing a data field having fine resolution, which when executed, causes:

provision of a scalable scroll controller including a scale controller to modify a scale for controlling a magnification for accessing data within the data field;

reception of a first user event to select the scale controller;

reception of a second user event to modify a position of the scale controller;

automatic adjustment of the scalable scroll controller to maintain a center of the scalable scroll controller unchanged in response to the reception of the second user event; and

adjustment of the scale based on the position of the scale controller.

8. The article of claim 7, wherein reception of the first user event includes reception of a signal from a cursor control device.

9. The article of claim 7, wherein reception of the second user event includes reception of a movement signal of a cursor control device along a first axis.

10. The article of claim 7, wherein the scalable scroll controller has a width and the computer readable medium further having instructions stored thereon, which when executed, causes:

adjustment of the scale to be proportional to the width of the scalable scroll controller.

11. The article of claim 7, wherein reception of the first user event includes reception of a signal from a voice command recognition unit.

12. The article of claim 7, wherein reception of. the second user event includes reception of a movement command from a voice command recognition unit.

13. An apparatus for accessing a data field having fine resolution comprising:

for providing a scalable scroll controller including a scale controller to modify a scale for controlling a magnification for accessing data within the data field;

means for receiving a first user event to select the scale controller;

means for receiving a second user event to modify a position of the scale controller;

means for automatically adjusting the scalable scroll controller to maintain a center of the scalable scroll controller unchanged in response to receiving the second user event; and

means for adjusting the scale based on the position of the scale controller.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for receiving the first user event includes means for receiving a signal from a cursor control device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for receiving the second user event is provided by means for receiving a movement of a cursor control device along a first axis.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scalable scroll controller has a width, and the scale is proportional to the width of the scalable scroll controller.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for receiving the first user event includes means for receiving a signal from a voice command recognition unit.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for receiving the second user event is provided by means for receiving a movement command from a voice command recognition unit.

19. An apparatus for accessing a data field having fine resolution comprising:

a scalable scroll controller including a scale controller configured to modify a scale for controlling a magnification for accessing data within the data field;

a user event detection unit configured to detect a first user event to select the scale controller and to detect a second user event to modify a position of the scale controller;

a scroll adjustment unit configured to automatically adjust the scalable scroll controller to maintain a center of the scalable scroll controller unchanged in response to the user event detection unit detecting the second user event; and

a scale adjustment unit configured to adjust the scale based on the position of the scale controller.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the user event detection unit is configured to receive a signal from a cursor control device.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the user event detection unit is configured to receive a-movement of a cursor control device along a first axis.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the scalable scroll controller has a width, and the scale is proportional to the width of the scalable scroll controller.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the user event detection unit is configured to receive a signal from a voice command recognition unit.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the user event detection unit is configured to receive a movement command from a voice command recognition unit.