Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-25
2001-10-09
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06300967
ABSTRACT:
Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Solaris, “Write Once, Run Anywhere”, Java, JavaOS, JavaStation, HotJava Views and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing visual and operational feedback to a user of displayed data.
One use of computers is to allow a user to interact with data displayed on a computer display screen. The user may interact with the displayed data using a keyboard, a pointing device such as a “mouse”, or by actually touching portions or regions of the display itself (via a touch screen). Unfortunately, the use or manipulation of data can be confusing or difficult to users that do not have experience with computer systems. Current display paradigms lack adequate cues and feedback to provide a satisfactory computing experience to the novice or infrequent user. As a result, a user may become frustrated and/or unable to interact with displayed data in a desired manner. Problems and disadvantages of interacting with display data can be understood by reviewing current approaches to the display and manipulation of data.
The means by which a computer user communicates with a computer is referred to as a “user interface.” A user interface typically consists of a computer display screen and one or more input devices (keyboard, mouse, or touch screen, for example), as well as the computer software that interprets input and provides images displayed on the computer display. Commonly, data and information is displayed in one or more “windows” on a display, where a window is a rectangular region.
Sometimes the data to be displayed to the user, for example a graphic representation of a list or a text document, is too large to be shown on the display area in its entirety. When this occurs the display area can often be “scrolled” or “panned” to a new position relative to the displayed list or text such that the display area now shows portions the user was previously unable to see (and correspondingly, previously displayed portions may now no longer be displayed). The term scrolling is used herein to refer to both scrolling and panning. A problem with existing scrolling mechanisms is that people unfamiliar with computer interfaces often have trouble understanding how to operate them.
FIG. 1
illustrates an example of a prior art window with scroll bars. Window
100
shown in
FIG. 1
is an interface for a word processing program. Window
100
features a vertical scroll bar
120
and a horizontal scroll bar
130
that allows the user to scroll the data of document displayed in document display region
110
. The vertical scroll bar
120
allows the user to move the contents of document display region
110
up or down and the horizontal scroll bar
130
allows the user to move the contents of document display region
110
left or right.
There are several way to begin moving the contents of document display region
110
. For example, the user can scroll the document in display region
110
up by activating the up arrow
121
with the mouse button. Activating the down arrow
122
scrolls the document display region
110
down. If the user clicks on the double down arrow
124
or the double up arrow
125
one time the document display region
110
moves all the way to the top or bottom. The double down arrow and double up arrow provide a way to jump immediately to the start or end of a document regardless of what portion of the document the user is currently viewing.
The user can also use a mouse to drag the square box
123
up or down. This box is sometimes referred to as an “elevator” or “thumb”. Moving square box
123
is another way to move the document display region. When the user moves square box
123
the page number corresponding to the relative position of the square box in scroll bar
120
is displayed at the bottom left of interface
100
and the contents of that page are shown in the document display region
110
. If the user moves square box
133
the document display region moves either left or right. What direction the document display region
110
moves is dependent upon which direction the user moves square box
133
or square box
123
.
If the user places the mouse cursor anywhere over scroll bar
120
or scroll bar
130
and clicks the mouse button, the document display region also moves. What direction the document display region moves depends upon where the user clicks the mouse cursor. If the mouse cursor is placed below square box
123
, the document display region moves down when the mouse button is clicked. If the mouse cursor is placed above the square box
123
, the document display region moves up when the mouse button is clicked. If the user places the mouse button on scroll bar
130
, the document display region moves either left or right when the mouse button is clicked. The amount the document display region moves is proportionate to the distance the mouse cursor is from the square box
123
.
Operating such a scrolling mechanism is complex for people who are unfamiliar with computer interfaces. Therefore, such users are in need of a scrolling mechanism that consistently provides instructional feedback. The present invention provides the user with visual clues in a manner that allows for efficient scrolling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a method for providing feedback to the user of a graphical user interface using visual and operational clues. In an embodiment of the invention, the user is provided visual clues that inform the user in what direction the display area can be scrolled. The display area may contain a list, a text box, a pop-up menu or any kind of data. Operational clues help the user determine what actions move the list and what actions do not move the list. Examples of visual clues and operational clues are provided.
In one embodiment the invention is implemented in the form of a list. A list has one or more fields. Each field is assigned a width and a height. At the top of the list and at the bottom of the list is a blank space that functions as one of the visual clues. The purpose of the blank space is to inform the user they are seeing the top of the list and cannot scroll any further up or that they are seeing the bottom of the list and cannot scroll any further down.
The user is also provided feedback by the control buttons that accompany the list and are used to move the list up or down. The up button moves the list up and the down button moves the list down. When the list is scrolled to the top the up button is disabled and when the list is scrolled to the bottom the down button is disabled. If the list is scrolled anywhere in between the top and the bottom then both the up button and the down button are enabled. When a control button is disabled it does not respond to input from the user. The disabled buttons are drawn differently, to distinguish them from active buttons. Disabling buttons that cannot be used and enabling buttons that can be used is another way of using visual feedback to inform the user whether the list can be scrolled.
If the user tries to use a disabled control button the list does not scroll. Preventing the list from scrolling when a control button is disabled is a form of operational feedback.
Another form of visual clue is provided through the use of partially visible fields. Partially visible fields help the user know in which direction the list can be scrolled. Partially visible fields indicate to the user that additional fields are present beyond the partially visible one.
In a second embodiment of the invention the list is con
Arent Michael
Berlin Richard
Mufti Fazeel
Tishkova Osana
Wagner Annette
Bayerl Raymond J.
Hailu Tadesse
Sun Microsystems Inc.
The Hecker Law Group
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for providing feedback while scrolling does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for providing feedback while scrolling, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for providing feedback while scrolling will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2596829