Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-04
2001-01-30
Powell, Mark R. (Department: 2779)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
C345S182000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S950000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181316
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The growth in acceptance of computers has resulted in increased numbers on non-programmers using computers every day. Computers are a part of life in the workplace, in the schools and in the homes and the reduced experience levels of computer users has imposed a requirement for enhanced user interfaces. Graphical user interfaces are designed to make human interactions with computers more intuitive. They convey information to users by way of a monitor or display device by various combinations of graphical items. Examples of graphical user interfaces (or GUIs) are those provided with operating systems such as IBM's OS/2®
1
and Microsoft's Windows 95®
2
. These operating systems rely on a ‘window-based’ workspace for displaying application programs, operating system information and program groupings.
1
OS/2 is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
2
Windows 95 is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Current window-based workspaces utilize vertical scroll controls having a sliding scroll control tab to move the contents of a window into view as is shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 1
depicts a window
101
containing a list of related items having three tiers
103
utilizing the currently known window based workspace scroll controls. On the right hand side of the window
101
is a sliding scroll control
111
having an up arrow
113
which can be selected to scroll the related information upward, a down arrow
115
which can be selected to scroll the related information downward, and a bar
117
which indicates the proportion of the information currently displayed on the screen and allows the user to select the bar
117
and drag it for expedited traversal of the related information. This sliding scroll control tab adds to the overall visual clutter of the desktop and, with present implementations, consumes a fixed amount of space and remains on screen throughout the existence of the window. An additional disadvantage of the sliding scroll control tab is that its operation requires frequent pointer repositioning. It also requires a separate window frame for the scrolling mechanisms and these mechanisms (the up and down controls and the scroll slider) are physically separate such that significant movement of the pointer is required to fine-tune a scroll operation.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to create an inline method of scrolling through associated elements.
It is a further object that this inline scroll control be minimally invasive and utilize minimal screen space.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide continuous feedback to the user of the progress of the traversal through the related objects.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to reduce the required pointer movement so that use on a notebook computer using pointers such as a track point become easier.
These and other objects of the present invention are provided by the inline scroll control described herein. The inline scroll control provides a method, apparatus and program product for incorporating scroll control directly into a list of related objects such as desktop folders or directories. It does not rely on the window-based paradigm of prior scrolling methods and provides less clutter on the desktop for the user of the GUI.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4831556 (1989-05-01), Oono
patent: 5054774 (1991-10-01), Belsito
patent: 5204947 (1993-04-01), Bernstein et al.
patent: 5655094 (1997-08-01), Cline et al.
patent: 5673401 (1997-09-01), Volk et al.
First Mouse+ Data Sheet from Logitech, Inc.; Copyright 1997 [retrieved on Sep. 7, 1999]. Retrieved from the Internet:<URL: http://www.logitech.com/us/mice/mc13_125.html>, 2 sheets.
First Mouse+ Review by NewWorld.com, Inc.; Published Jan. 11, 1998 [retrieved on Sep. 7, 1999]. Retrieved from the Internet:<URL: http://www.avault.com/hardware/firstmouseplus.asp> and <URL: http://www.avault.com/hardware/firstmouseplus-b.asp>, 3 sheets.
Little Alex Dudley
Martinez Anthony Edward
Cunningham G. F.
International Business Machines - Corporation
O'Sullivan Timothy J.
Powell Mark R.
Ray-Yarletts Jeanine S.
LandOfFree
Graphical user interface inline scroll control does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Graphical user interface inline scroll control, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Graphical user interface inline scroll control will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2459387