Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-11
2001-06-26
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S950000, C345S950000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252594
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to display of information on computer systems and more particularly to a method and system for aiding a user in browsing through a multiple-page document. The method and system notify the user that the document contains multiple pages based on the window size and that scrolling may be needed to view the content not currently displayed. The system and method further include providing mechanisms for customization and more convenient scrolling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of documents contain multiple pages of information of interest to users. For example, hypertext markup language (html) documents residing on a server in the Internet or other online service contain content that can be viewed using a browser. Documents created using spreadsheets, word processing programs or other software can also contain information or other multimedia content of interest to a user.
Documents are typically displayed in windows. Each window typically contains a status bar at its lower edge, a vertical scroll bar at its right edge, and may have a horizontal scroll bar near the status bar. For a multiple page document, only a portion of the document is displayed by the window at a given instant. The vertical and horizontal scroll bars indicate that part of the document is not currently displayed and allow a user to scroll vertically and horizontally, respectively, through the document to view all of the information contained in the document.
Although scroll bars are useful, a user may ignore the scroll bar or may forget about the scroll bar because the scroll bar is an insignificant portion of the window. This is particularly true of an inexperienced user of a computer system. As a result, a user may fail to scroll through portions of a document which may be of interest.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for drawing a user's attention to the fact that the document contains additional information that can be scrolled through. The present invention addresses such a need. The present invention also includes a method and system for customizing scrolling or making scrolling more convenient. For example, the present invention includes mechanisms for accounting for left-handed users or users having a small display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system and method for aiding a user in browsing and scrolling through a multiple-page document on a computer system including devices for audio and visual output, such as a display. The document is displayed through a graphical user interface including a window. The window may display a portion of the document at a time. The system and method comprise alerting a user that a portion of the document is not currently displayed. The method and system may also allow customization of and more convenient scrolling. A scroll bar and the components of the scroll bar allow a user to scroll through the document. In one aspect, the scroll bar briefly appears in the middle of the window and moves to a particular edge of the window. Preferably, the scroll bar is translucent while at the center of the window, but gradually becomes solid when at the edge of the window. In this aspect, the scroll bar may also be docked by the user at a desired position. In a second aspect, the method and system comprise providing a voice cue that indicates the total number of pages in the document when the document is first accessed by a user and optionally indicates the current page number when the user accesses a new page. In a third aspect, components of the scroll bar may be located at a status bar of the window. Thus, the user may keep a scroll shaft and scroll box at an edge of the window or dock the scroll shaft and scroll box to the status bar.
According to the system and method disclosed herein, the present invention draws the user's attention to additional portions of the document not currently displayed and provides customization for more convenient scrolling.
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Bailey John Hudson
Xia Chenhong
Bayerl Raymond J.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Johnson Prentiss W.
May Michael K.
Sawyer Law Group LLP
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