Systems and methods for mimicking an image forming or capture device control panel control element

• US 6,512,530 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Rouhana, Joseph G., Pretino, John M., Perry, Thomas J., Rzepkowski, Kristinn R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US09/487,268
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/764, 345/771, 345/773, 345/784, 345/786, 345/787, 345/833, 345/846
• US Class Current: 715/833
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A graphical user interface widget includes a vertically-oriented slider portion. The slider portion includes a slider pointer that indicates a current value of the slider and a slider bar that indicates the default value of the slider. The bottom and top edges of the slider portion are labeled with the extreme values of the range for the variable associated with the slider portion. The slider pointer divides the slider portion into two subportions. An appearance of a bottom subportion of the slider portion is altered to reflect the value currently indicated by the slider pointer relative to the extreme values of the range represented by the slider. A numerical portion can be provided along with the slider portion. The numeral portion includes a value display portion and a pair of buttons that are used to increase or decrease the numerical value in the value display portion. When the value display portion is provided, the number in the value display portion is linked to the slider pointer, such that changing the slider pointer causes the number displayed in the value display portion to change accordingly. Similarly, changing the number in the value display portion causes a corresponding change in the position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion.

Claims

1. A widget of a graphical user interface, the widget allowing a user to control an associated control function, the widget comprising:

a slider portion, a range of values of the associated control function associated with a vertical dimension of the slider portion;

a pair of numerical indicators, a first one of the pair of numerical indicators associated with a minimal value of the range of values and positioned relative to a bottom of the slider portion, a second one of the pair of numerical indicators associated with a maximal value of the range of values and positioned relative to a top of the slider portion;

a slider bar extending across the slider portion perpendicularly to the vertical dimension of the slider portion, the slider bar positioned along the vertical dimension of the slider portion based on a default value of the associated control function and the range of values;

a selectable slider pointer positioned adjacent to the slider portion, the slider pointer positioned along the vertical dimension of the slider portion based on a current value of the associated control function and the range of values, the slider pointer dividing the slider portion into a top subportion extending between a current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion and the top of the slider portion and a bottom subportion extending between a current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion and the bottom of the slider portion;

wherein an appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion is determined based on the current value of the associated control function and the range of values.

2. The widget of claim 1, wherein the current value of the control function can be altered by selecting the selectable slider pointer and altering the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion.

3. The widget of claim 2, wherein the appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion changes when the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion is altered.

4. The widget of claim 1, further comprising:

a numerical value display portion that displays a numerical value corresponding to the current value of the associated control function and the range of values;

an increase value button that increases the current value of the associated control function; and

a decrease value button that decreases the current value of the associated control function.

5. The widget of claim 4, wherein:

the current value of the control function can be altered by selecting the selectable slider pointer and altering the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion; and

the numerical value displayed in the numerical value display portion changes when the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion is altered.

6. The widget of claim 4, wherein:

the current value of the control function can be altered and the numerical value displayed in the numerical value display portion can be changed by selecting one of the increase and decrease buttons; and

the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion changes when the numerical value displayed in the numerical value display portion is changed.

7. The widget of claim 1, wherein the pair of numerical indicators indicate actual minimal and maximal values of the range of values.

8. The widget of claim 1, wherein the pair of numerical indicators indicate percentage values of the range of value relative to the minimal value of the range of values.

9. A graphical user interface comprising at least one of the widgets of claim 1.

10. The widget of claim 1, wherein the appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion is uniform within the bottom subportion and visually contrastable from the top subportion of the slider portion.

11. The widget of claim 1, wherein the appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion is a shading contrast from the top subportion of the slider portion.

12. A widget of a graphical user interface, the widget allowing a user to control an associated control function, the widget comprising:

a slider portion, a range of values of the associated control function associated with a vertical dimension of the slider portion;

a slider bar extending across the slider portion perpendicularly to the vertical dimension of the slider portion, the slider bar positioned along the vertical dimension of the slider portion based on a default value of the associated control function and the range of values;

a selectable slider pointer positioned adjacent to the slider portion, the slider pointer positioned along the vertical dimension of the slider portion based on a current value of the associated control function and the range of values, the slider pointer dividing the slider portion into a top subportion extending between a current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion and the top of the slider portion and a bottom subportion extending between a current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion and the bottom of the slider portion;

wherein an appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion is determined based on the current value of the associated control function and the range of values.

13. The widget of claim 12, wherein the current value of the control function can be altered by selecting the selectable slider pointer and altering the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion.

14. The widget of claim 13, wherein the appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion changes when the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion is altered.

15. The widget of claim 12, further comprising:

a numerical value display portion that displays a numerical value corresponding to the current value of the associated control function and the range of values;

an increase value button that increases the current value of the associated control function; and

a decrease value button that decreases the current value of the associated control function.

16. The widget of claim 15, wherein:

the current value of the control function can be altered by selecting the selectable slider pointer and altering the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion; and

the numerical value displayed in the numerical value display portion changes when the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion is altered.

17. The widget of claim 15, wherein:

the current value of the control function can be altered and the numerical value displayed in the numerical value display portion can be changed by selecting one of the increase and decrease buttons; and

the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion changes when the numerical value displayed in the numerical value display portion is changed.

18. The widget of claim 12, further comprising:

a pair of numerical indicators, a first one of the pair of numerical indicators associated with a minimal value of the range of values and positioned relative to a bottom of the slider portion, a second one of the pair of numerical indicators associated with a maximal value of the range of values and positioned relative to a top of the slider portion.

19. The widget of claim 18, wherein the pair of numerical indicators indicate actual minimal and maximal values of the range of values.

20. The widget of claim 18, wherein the pair of numerical indicators indicate percentage values of the range of value relative to the minimal value of the range of values.

21. A graphical user interface comprising at least one of the widgets of claim 12.

22. The widget of claim 12, wherein the appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion is uniform within the bottom subportion and visually contrastable from the top subportion of the slider portion.

23. The widget of claim 12, wherein the appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion is a shading contrast from the top subportion of the slider portion.

24. A method for displaying a widget of a graphical user interface, the widget associated with a control function having a range of values, the method comprising:

determining the range of values of the control function;

determining a current value and a default value of the control function;

determine relationships between the current value and of the default value to the determined range of values;

displaying a slider portion of the widget;

displaying a slider bar of the widget at a position relative to the slider portion based on the determined relationship between the default value and the determined range of values;

displaying a slider pointer of the widget at a position relative to the slider portion based on the determined relationship between the current value and the determined range of values;

determining an appearance value based on the determined relationship between the current value and the determined range of values; and

altering an appearance of a subportion of the slider portion based on the determined appearance value.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising altering the current value of the control function, comprising;

selecting the slider pointer; and

altering the position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising altering the determined appearance value as the position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion is altered.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising displaying a numerical value display portion that includes a numerical value corresponding to the current value of the associated control function and the range of values, an increase value button usable to increase the current value of the associated control function, and a decrease value button usable to decrease the current value of the associated control function.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

altering the current value of the control function, comprising;

selecting the selectable slider pointer, and

altering the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion; and

altering the numerical value displayed in the numerical value display portion when the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion is altered.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

altering the current value of the control function and the numerical value displayed in the numerical value display portion by selecting one of the increase and decrease buttons; and

altering the position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion changes when the numerical value displayed in the numerical value display portion is altered.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising displaying a pair of numerical indicators, a first one of the pair of numerical indicators associated with a minimal value of the range of values and positioned relative to a first end of the slider portion, a second one of the pair of numerical indicators associated with a maximal value of the range of values and positioned relative to a second end of the slider portion.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein altering an appearance of a subportion of the slider portion is displaying a shade uniformly within the subportion, wherein the shade contrasts visibly with a remainder subportion of the slider portion.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein altering an appearance of a subportion of the slider portion is shading the subportion to contrast visibly with a remainder subportion of the slider portion.

33. A widget of a graphical user interface, the widget allowing a user to control an associated control function, the widget comprising:

a slider portion, a range of values of the associated control function associated with a first dimension of the slider portion;

a pair of numerical indicators, a first one of the pair of numerical indicators associated with a minimal value of the range of values and positioned relative to a first end of the slider portion, a second one of the pair of numerical indicators associated with a maximal value of the range of values and positioned relative to a second end of the slider portion;

a slider bar extending across the slider portion perpendicularly to the first dimension of the slider portion, the slider bar positioned along the first dimension of the slider portion based on a default value of the associated control function and the range of values; and

a selectable slider pointer positioned adjacent to the slider portion, the slider pointer positioned along the first dimension of the slider portion based on a current value of the associated control function and the range of values, the slider pointer dividing the slider portion into a first subportion extending between a current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion and the second end of the slider portion and a second subportion extending between a current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion and the first end of the slider portion;

wherein an appearance of the second subportion of the slider portion is determined based on the current value of the associated control function and the range of values.

34. The widget of claim 33, wherein the current value of the control function can be altered by selecting the selectable slider pointer and altering the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion.

35. The widget of claim 34, wherein the appearance of the second subportion of the slider portion changes when the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion is altered.

36. The widget of claim 33, wherein the appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion is uniform within the bottom subportion and visually contrastable from the top subportion of the slider portion.

37. The widget of claim 33, wherein the appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion is a shading contrast from the top subportion of the slider portion.

38. A widget of a graphical user interface, the widget allowing a user to control an associated control function, the widget comprising:

a slider portion, a range of values of the associated control function associated with a first dimension of the slider portion;

a slider bar extending across the slider portion perpendicularly to the first dimension of the slider portion, the slider bar positioned along the first dimension of the slider portion based on a default value of the associated control function and the range of values; and

a selectable slider pointer positioned adjacent to the slider portion, the slider pointer positioned along the first dimension of the slider portion based on a current value of the associated control function and the range of values, the slider pointer dividing the slider portion into a first subportion extending between a current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion and the second end of the slider portion and a second subportion extending between a current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion and the first end of the slider portion;

wherein an appearance of the second subportion of the slider portion is determined based on the current value of the associated control function and the range of values.

39. The widget of claim 38, wherein the current value of the control function can be altered by selecting the selectable slider pointer and altering the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion.

40. The widget of claim 39, wherein the appearance of the second subportion of the slider portion changes when the current position of the slider pointer relative to the slider portion is altered.

41. The widget of claim 38, wherein the appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion is uniform within the bottom subportion and visually contrastable from the top subportion of the slider portion.

42. The widget of claim 38, wherein the appearance of the bottom subportion of the slider portion is a shading contrast from the top subportion of the slider portion.