Non-uniform scrolling

• US 8,365,091 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Young, Anthony, Carlson, Erika, Margolis, Jeffrey N., Vong, William, Downing, Joseph Michael, Van Dongen, Niels
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Alvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yi, Rinna
• Application Number:
  US12/349,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20100175027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 715/784, 715/830
• US Class Current: 715/784
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Embodiments related to the non-uniform scrolling of a scrollable list displayed on a computing device display are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of operating a display comprising displaying a scrollable list of items that includes a first pair of list positions separated by a first spacing on the display, and a second pair of list positions separated by a second spacing that is different than the first spacing. The method further comprises detecting a movement of a manipulator from a first location to a second location, and in response, scrolling a first list item on the display between the first pair of list positions at a first scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence, and scrolling a second list item between the second pair of list positions at a second scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computing device display, the method comprising:

displaying a scrollable list of items on the computing device display, the scrollable list of items comprising a first pair of list positions separated by a first spacing on the display, and a second pair of list positions separated by a second spacing, such that the first spacing on the display is different from the second spacing on the computing device display;

detecting an input that comprises a movement of a manipulator from a first location to a second location to cause scrolling of the scrollable list;

in response to the input, scrolling a first list item on the computing device display between the first pair of list positions at a first scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence, and scrolling a second list item between the second pair of list positions at a second scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence that is different from the first scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence is 1/1, and wherein the second scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence is greater than 1/1.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence is equal to a ratio of the second spacing over the first spacing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the scrolling direction is vertical.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pair of list positions are unhighlighted list positions, and wherein the second pair of list positions includes a highlighted list position in which additional information regarding a list item is displayed.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the second list item in a direction normal to scrolling direction and along a scrolling direction when scrolling between the second pair of list positions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a distance of the movement of the manipulator on the computing device display is equal to the first spacing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the scrollable list of items is a wrapped list of items, and wherein the method further comprises receiving an inertial input requesting an inertial scrolling of the scrollable list such that scrolling continues in an inertial manner after cessation of the inertial input;

in response, performing the inertial scrolling of the scrollable list;

upon reaching a boundary between a beginning of the scrollable list and an end of the scrollable list during the inertial scrolling, stopping the inertial scrolling at the boundary;

receiving a dragging input requesting scrolling of the scrollable list past the boundary; and

scrolling the scrollable list past the boundary if the scrollable list reaches the boundary during performance of the dragging input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an input comprises detecting a touch input on a touch-sensitive display.

10. A computing device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a processor; and

memory comprising instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processor to;

display a scrollable list of items on the touch-sensitive display, the scrollable list of items comprising a plurality of unhighlighted list positions each separated by a first spacing on the touch-sensitive display and a highlighted list position separated from an adjacent unhighlighted list position by a second spacing that is larger than the first spacing;

detect a touch input that comprises a movement of a touch on the touch-sensitive display a first location to a second location on the touch-sensitive display along a scrolling direction;

in response to detecting the touch input, scroll a first list item between adjacent unhighlighted list positions at a 1/1 scroll distance/touch movement distance correspondence to the touch input along the scrolling direction of the scrollable list, and scrolling a second list item into the highlighted list position at a scroll distance/touch movement distance correspondence other than 1/1.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the scroll distance/touch movement distance correspondence other than 1/1 is greater than 1/1.

12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the scroll distance/touch movement distance correspondence other than 1/1 comprises a ratio of the second spacing/first spacing.

13. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable to move a list item in a direction normal to the scrolling direction and in a direction along the scrolling direction when moving to the highlighted list position from the adjacent unhighlighted list position.

14. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the scrolling direction is a vertical direction on the touch-sensitive display.

15. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the scrollable list of items is a wrapped list of items, and wherein the instructions are further executable to receive an inertial touch input requesting an inertial scrolling of the scrollable list such that scrolling continues in an inertial manner after cessation of the inertial touch input;

in response, display an inertial scrolling of the scrollable list;

upon reaching a boundary between a beginning of the scrollable list and an end of the scrollable list during the inertial scrolling, stop the inertial scrolling at the boundary;

receive a dragging touch input requesting scrolling of the scrollable list past the boundary; and

scroll the scrollable list past the boundary if the scrollable list reaches the boundary during performance of the dragging touch input.

16. A computing device, comprising:

a display;

a processor; and

memory comprising instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processor to;

display a wrapped scrollable list of items on the display, the wrapped scrollable list comprising a first adjacent pair of list positions separated by a first spacing on the display, and a second pair of adjacent list positions separated by a second spacing that is different than the first spacing;

receive a first touch input requesting an inertial scrolling of the list such that scrolling continues in an inertial manner after cessation of the first touch input;

in response to receiving the first touch input, perform an inertial scrolling of the list;

upon reaching a boundary between a beginning of the wrapped scrollable list and an end of the wrapped scrollable list during the inertial scrolling, stop the inertial scrolling at the boundary;

receive a second touch input requesting scrolling of the wrapped scrollable list past the boundary; and

scroll the wrapped scrollable list past the boundary if the wrapped scrollable list reaches the boundary while maintaining touch contact during performance of the second touch input.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the instructions are further executable to animate a bouncing of the wrapped scrollable list upon reaching the boundary during inertial scrolling.

18. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

in response to the first touch input and second touch input, scroll a first list item on the display between the first pair of list positions at a first scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence, and scroll a second list item between the second pair of list positions at a second scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence that is different from the first scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the first scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence is 1/1, and wherein the second scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence is greater than 1/1.

20. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the second scroll distance/manipulator movement distance correspondence is equal to the ratio of the second spacing over the first spacing.