US 5,686,937 A · User interface system and method for creating and removing a scrolling icon from a display based upon user past and present interaction with the icon

Abstract

In response to user input from a computer pointing device such as a track ball, activation of an icon causes at least one pair of adjacent opposing scroll icons such as arrows to be dynamically created on opposing ends of a display screen. Subsequent selection of either of the arrows causes scrolling of contents of a window in a corresponding respective one of a pair of opposing directions. Required conventional pointing device movement is minimized when alternate scrolling in opposing directions is desired due to the dynamically created arrows being adjacent, whereby conventional traversal of a cursor over large display screen distances between opposing non-adjacent arrows is thereby avoided. In an alternate embodiment, space-apart scroll icons point in opposing directions, whereby activating either arrow dynamically creates an adjacent opposing arrow, thereby completing the arrow pair necessary to scroll in either direction.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for improving user interactions with a computerized visual display having at least a first icon and a corresponding user actuatable first function, comprising

monitoring and storing a history of at least two different said user interactions comprising a criteria;
selecting said first icon;
automatically creating a second icon on said display adjacent said first icon in response to said selecting said first icon having a corresponding user-actuatable second function related to said first function, wherein said first and second functions correspond to a scrolling of data or graphics in a corresponding first and opposing second direction on said display, respectively, and wherein said first and second icons are indicators of said first and second direction, respectively;
monitoring said user interactions after said automatically creating said second icon;
detecting when use of said first and second functions will not be required by comparing said criteria with said user interactions monitored after said automatically creating said second icon;
and
automatically removing said second icon from said display in response to said detecting.

4 more elements

Apparatus for improving user interactions with a computerized visual display having at least a first icon and a corresponding user actuatable first function, comprising

means for monitoring and storing a history of at least two different said user interactions comprising a criteria;
means for selecting said first icon;
means for automatically creating a second icon on said display adjacent said first icon in response to said selecting said first icon having a corresponding user-actuatable second function related to said first function, wherein said first and second functions correspond to a scrolling of data or graphics in a corresponding first and opposing second direction on said display, respectively, and wherein said first and second icons are indicators of said first and second directions, respectively;
means for monitoring said user interactions after said automatically creating said second icon;
means for detecting when use of said first and second functions will not be required by comparing said monitored and stored history of said user interactions with said user interactions monitored after said automatically creating said second icon;
and
means for automatically removing said second icon from said display in response to said detecting.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

User interface system and method for creating and removing a scrolling icon from a display based upon user past and present interaction with the icon

Life of this patent

User interface system and method for creating and removing a scrolling icon from a display based upon user past and present interaction with the icon

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12