User interface method and apparatus to navigate a document file

A visual interface method to select a region of a document for display in an electronic device display window comprising:

• displaying within the display window a first region of the document;
• displaying within the display window a context map superimposed with at least a portion of the first region;
• wherein the context map has dimensions that are substantially proportionate to dimensions of the document;
• displaying within the display window within the context map a position marker at a first position relative to the context map;
• wherein the first region of the document is disposed at a first position relative to the document that is substantially the same as the first position of the position marker relative to the context map;
• receiving user input to the device to indicate a search request for information within the document;
• displaying within the display window within the context map match markers that correspond to positions within the document that include information responsive to the search request;
• wherein each respective match marker is disposed at a position relative to the context map that is substantially the same as a respective corresponding position relative to the document at which information responsive to the search request is located within the document;
• and
• displaying within the display window a change in position of the position marker to a second position relative to the context map at which a match marker is displayed;
• and
• displaying within the display window in response to such change of the position marker to the second relative position, a second region of the document that is disposed at a second position relative to the document that is substantially the same as the second position of the position marker relative to the context map.

A user interface system to select a region of a document for display in an electronic device display window comprising:

• a context map displayed within the display window superimposed with at least a portion of a first region of the document is displayed within the display window;
• wherein the context map has dimensions that are substantially proportionate to dimensions of the document;
• a user operable position marker displayed within the display window within the context map at the first position relative to the context map;
• a first process encoded in computer readable media to cause the device to be responsive to a user input to change a position of the position marker displayed within the display window within the context map from the first position relative to the context map to a second position relative to the context map and to cause the device to change from a display of a first region of the document having a first position relative to the document to a display of a second region of the document having a second position relative to the document;
• wherein the first position relative to the context map is substantially the same as the first position relative to the document;
• and
• wherein the second position relative to the context map is substantially the same as the second position relative to the document.

An article of manufacture including a computer readable medium encoded with a process to cause an electronic device that includes a display screen to perform a process comprising:

• displaying within the display window a first region of the document;
• displaying within the display window a context map superimposed with at least a portion of the first region;
• wherein the context map has dimensions that are substantially proportionate to dimensions of the document;
• displaying within the display window within the context map a position marker at a first position relative to the context map;
• wherein the first region of the document is disposed at a first position relative to the document that is substantially the same as the first position of the position marker relative to the context map;
• displaying within the display window a change in position of the position marker to a second position relative to the context map;
• and
• displaying within the display window in response to such change of the position marker to the second relative position, a second region of the document that is disposed at a second position relative to the document that is substantially the same as the second position of the position marker relative to the context map.