# US 2010/0169822 A1 · Indication to assist a user in predicting a change in a scroll rate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0169822 A1 - Document ID: US20100169822A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/095,573 - Filed: 2006-11-28 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-01 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Inventors: Gerrit Hollemans - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100169822A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A user interface of a device is provided for displaying an environment that is visually larger than a display area. The user interface includes a scroll function that positions selected portions of the environment within the display area. A scroll rate of the user interface changes as the scroll function is continued. The user interface produces an indication to alert a user that a change in scroll rate is imminent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A user interface of a device for displaying an environment that is visually larger than a display area, the user interface comprising: a scroll function configured to position selected portions of the environment within the display area, wherein a scroll rate changes as the scroll function is continued; and an indication configured to alert a user that a change in scroll rate is imminent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The user interface of claim 1, wherein the indication is a first indication and the alert is a first alert, the user interface comprising a second indication that is configured to produce a second alert to the user at a rate that is proportional to the scroll rate, and wherein when the change in scroll rate is imminent, the second alert is replaced by the first alert. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The user interface of claim 2, wherein the first alert is produced at a rate that is proportional to the scroll rate that is produced if a change in scroll rate occurs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The user interface of claim 1, wherein the alert is produced a predetermined time before the change in scroll rate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The user interface of claim 1, wherein the alert is at least one of a tactile alert, an auditory alert, and a visual alert. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The user interface of claim 1, wherein the alert is a vibration alert. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The user interface of claim 6, wherein the user interface is configured to generate a signal for a piezoelectric device to initiate the vibration alert. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The user interface of claim 1, wherein the alert is a clicking alert and the user interface is configured to generate a signal for an auditory device to initiate the clicking alert. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The user interface of claim 1, wherein the scroll function is configured to be initiated by a first scroll actuation and is configured to not change the rate of scroll if a second scroll actuation occurs within a predetermined interval of time after the first scroll actuation is stopped. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The user interface of claim 1, wherein the scroll function is configured to be initiated by a first scroll actuation and is configured to return to a predetermined rate of scroll if a second scroll actuation occurs within a predetermined interval of time after the first scroll actuation is stopped. ### Claim 11 An application embodied on a computer readable medium (420) configured to produce a user interface to manipulate a visual environment that is visually larger than a display area, the application comprising: a portion configured to visually scroll portions of the environment within the display area, wherein a scroll rate changes as the scroll function is continued; and a portion configured to produce an indication to alert a user that a change in scroll rate is imminent. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The application of claim 11, wherein the indication is a first indication and the alert is a first alert, the application comprising a portion configured to produce a second indication to the user at a rate that is proportional to the scroll rate and when the change in scroll rate is imminent, to replace the second alert by the first alert. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The application of claim 12, wherein the application is configured to produce the first alert at a rate that is proportional to the scroll rate that is produced if the change in scroll rate occurs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The application of claim 11, wherein the application is configured to produce an output for generating the alert that is at least one of a tactile alert, an auditory alert, and a visual alert. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The application of claim 11, wherein the portion configured to visually scroll is configured to be initiated by a first scroll actuation and is configured to not change the rate of scroll if a second scroll actuation occurs within a predetermined interval of time after the first scroll actuation is stopped. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The application of claim 11, wherein the portion configured to visually scroll is configured to be initiated by a first scroll actuation and is configured to return to a predetermined rate of scroll if a second scroll actuation occurs within a predetermined interval of time after the first scroll actuation is stopped. ### Claim 17 A device having a user interface to manipulate a visual environment that is visually larger than a display area, the device comprising: a means for visually scrolling portions of the environment within the display area, wherein a scroll rate changes as the scroll function is continued; and a means for producing an indication to alert a user that a change in scroll rate is imminent. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the indication is a first indication and the alert is a first alert, the device comprising a means for producing a second indication to the user at a rate that is proportional to the scroll rate and when the change in scroll rate is imminent, to replace the second alert by the first alert. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the device comprises a means to produce an output for generating the alert that is at least one of a tactile alert, an auditory alert, and a visual alert. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the means for visually scrolling is configured to be initiated by a first scroll actuation and is configured to not change the rate of scroll if a second scroll actuation occurs within a predetermined interval of time after the first scroll actuation is stopped, or is configured to return to a predetermined rate of scroll if a second scroll actuation occurs within the predetermined interval of time after the first scroll actuation is stopped.