Inertial scrolling method and apparatus

An apparatus, comprising at least

• a processor;
• and
• a scrolling input device;
• and
• a display, adapted to display at least a window adapted to displaying at least a document;
• and
• a memory storage storing computer-executable instructions;
• wherein said display, said processor, said memory storage, and said computer-executable instructions being adapted to perform the following
• displaying a first portion of said document in said display window;
• and
• detecting an inertial scrolling user action, which detecting comprises at least detecting a direction of an inertial scrolling caused by said inertial scrolling user action and detecting an “initial window location”, said “initial window location” being an area of said display window pointed at by a user when breaking contact with said scrolling input device;
• and
• performing an inertial scrolling of said document to a second portion of said document;
• a distance of said document scrolling being limited to substantially a distance between said “initial window location” and a border of said display window in the direction of said inertial scrolling.

A method for assisting a user of an electronic device in viewing information on said electronic device, said electronic device having at least a processor, a memory storage storing computer-executable instructions, a display having an at least a window displaying a document, and a scrolling input device, said method comprising the method steps of

• displaying a first portion of a document in the display window;
• detecting a scrolling user action initiated by establishing contact of an input object with said scrolling input device,
• detecting one or more parameters of said scrolling user action, said one or more parameters selected from a group comprising at least a window location, contacted or pointed at by a user at a moment when said contact is established, a direction of a movement of said input object while keeping contact with said input device, speed of said movement of said input object while keeping contact with said input device, and duration of contact of said input object with said input device;
• recording a document area displayed at a window location, contacted or pointed at by a user at a moment when said contact is established;
• detecting a break contact of said input object from said input device;
• determining whether an inertial scrolling has occurred after said break-contact;
• and if an inertial scrolling is determined to have occurred, designating said document area as an “initial pointed document area”;
• and
• performing inertial scrolling of the document to a second portion, while limiting a distance of the scrolling to substantially a distance between the window location of said “initial pointed document area” at a break contact moment and a border of the display window in the direction of said inertial scrolling.