# US 2013/0159922 A1 · Scroll focus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0159922 A1 - Document ID: US20130159922A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/693,564 - Filed: 2012-12-04 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Pawel J. Borkowski; Michal Klak; Maksymilian J. Kowalik; Bartlomiej T. Malecki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130159922A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning - G06F 3/048: Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] - G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance - G06F 3/04855: Interaction with scrollbars - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Nesting information indicative of a nested arrangement of a set of scrollable areas within an environment is obtained. Focus information indicative of which of the set of scrollable areas is in focus within the environment is obtained. For at least one of the set of scrollable areas, at least one display property of the respective scrollable area is altered based upon the nesting information and the focus information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: obtaining nesting information indicative of a nested arrangement of a plurality of scrollable areas within an environment; obtaining focus information indicative of which of the plurality of scrollable areas is in focus within the environment; and altering, for at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas, at least one display property of the respective scrollable area based upon the nesting information and the focus information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where altering, for the at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas, the at least one display property of the respective scrollable area based upon the nesting information and the focus information comprises applying a visualization scheme to the at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas representative of the nested arrangement relative to the scrollable area in focus as indicated by the focus information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, where the visualization scheme comprises: a first visualization sub-scheme representative of parent-child relationships within the nested arrangement relative to the scrollable area in focus; and a second visualization sub-scheme representative of sibling relationships within the nested arrangement relative to the scrollable area in focus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, where the first visualization sub-scheme differs from the second visualization sub-scheme. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a change-of-focus instruction; and altering which of the plurality of scrollable areas is in focus based upon at least one of the nesting information and the change-of-focus instruction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining, in response to a change in focus, updated focus information indicative of which of the plurality of scrollable areas is currently in focus as a result of the change of focus; and altering, for the at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas, the at least one display property of the respective scrollable area based upon the nesting information and the updated focus information. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the at least one display property comprises at least one of: a shading property of a scrollbar elevator; a color property of a scrollbar elevator; a shading property of a scrollbar track; and a color property of a scrollbar track. ### Claim 8 A system, comprising: a display; and a processor programmed to: obtain nesting information indicative of a nested arrangement of a plurality of scrollable areas within an environment; obtain focus information indicative of which of the plurality of scrollable areas is in focus within the environment; and alter, for at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas, at least one display property on the display of the respective scrollable area based upon the nesting information and the focus information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, where, in being programmed to alter, for the at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas, the at least one display property on the display of the respective scrollable area based upon the nesting information and the focus information, the processor is programmed to apply a visualization scheme to the at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas representative of the nested arrangement relative to the scrollable area in focus as indicated by the focus information. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, where the visualization scheme comprises: a first visualization sub-scheme representative of parent-child relationships within the nested arrangement relative to the scrollable area in focus; and a second visualization sub-scheme representative of sibling relationships within the nested arrangement relative to the scrollable area in focus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, where the first visualization sub-scheme differs from the second visualization sub-scheme. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, where the processor is further programmed to: receive a change-of-focus instruction; and alter which of the plurality of scrollable areas is in focus based upon at least one of the nesting information and the change-of-focus instruction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, where the processor is further programmed to: obtain, in response to a change in focus, updated focus information indicative of which of the plurality of scrollable areas is currently in focus as a result of the change of focus; and alter, for the at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas, the at least one display property on the display of the respective scrollable area based upon the nesting information and the updated focus information. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, where the at least one display property comprises at least one of: a shading property of a scrollbar elevator; a color property of a scrollbar elevator; a shading property of a scrollbar track; and a color property of a scrollbar track. ### Claim 15 A computer program product, comprising: a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, where the computer readable program code when executed on a computer causes the computer to: obtain nesting information indicative of a nested arrangement of a plurality of scrollable areas within an environment; obtain focus information indicative of which of the plurality of scrollable areas is in focus within the environment; and alter, for at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas, at least one display property of the respective scrollable area based upon the nesting information and the focus information. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, where, in causing the computer to alter, for the at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas, the at least one display property of the respective scrollable area based upon the nesting information and the focus information, the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to apply a visualization scheme to the at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas representative of the nested arrangement relative to the scrollable area in focus as indicated by the focus information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer program product of claim 16, where the visualization scheme comprises: a first visualization sub-scheme representative of parent-child relationships within the nested arrangement relative to the scrollable area in focus; and a second visualization sub-scheme representative of sibling relationships within the nested arrangement relative to the scrollable area in focus. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer program product of claim 17, where the first visualization sub-scheme differs from the second visualization sub-scheme. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to: receive a change-of-focus instruction; and alter which of the plurality of scrollable areas is in focus based upon at least one of the nesting information and the change-of-focus instruction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15, where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to: obtain, in response to a change in focus, updated focus information indicative of which of the plurality of scrollable areas is currently in focus as a result of the change of focus; and alter, for the at least one of the plurality of scrollable areas, the at least one display property of the respective scrollable area based upon the nesting information and the updated focus information.