Graphical user interface scroll bar that provides varied levels of access granularity
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorSteven William Roth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The scroll box processor of the present invention provides increased access capabilities by providing four different access modes. Each mode involves a different level of access (i.e., coarse to fine). The fine access mode provides unit by unit access (line by line in the case of a document) by allowing the user to accomplish fine access through the scroll box itself. The remaining access modes are provided by combining conventional left mouse button/scroll box interaction with user mode selection.
Claims21
An apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- memory connected to said processor;
- and
- a program for portraying a viewable object to a user, said program being stored in said memory for execution on said processor, said program comprising a scroll bar to aid said user, said scroll bar comprising a scroll box, said scroll box being used to access said viewable object via more than one discrete access mode.
An apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- memory connected to said processor;
- and
- a program for portraying a viewable object to a user, said program being stored in said memory for execution on said processor, said program comprising a scroll bar to aid said user, said scroll bar comprising a scroll box, said scroll box being used to access said viewable object through a first access mode and through a second access mode, said first access mode being initiated by said user via a first input operation and said second access mode being initiated by said user via a second input operation.
A program product, said program product comprising:
- signal bearing media;
- and
- a mechanism recorded on said signal bearing media, said mechanism being used to portray a viewable object to a user, said mechanism comprising a scroll bar to aid said user, said scroll bar comprising a scroll box, said scroll box being used to access said viewable object via more than one discrete access mode.
A program product, said program product comprising:
- signal bearing media;
- and
- a mechanism recorded on said signal bearing media, said mechanism being used to portray a viewable object to a user, said mechanism comprising a scroll bar to aid said user, said scroll bar comprising a scroll box, said scroll box being used to access said viewable object through a first access mode and through a second access mode, said first access mode being initiated by said user via a first input operation and said second access mode being initiated by said user via a second input operation.
A computer-implemented method, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first request from a user to move a scroll box on a scroll bar to access a viewable object that is associated with said scroll bar;
- moving said scroll box in response to said first request using a first access mode;
- receiving a second request from said user to move said scroll box on said scroll bar to access said viewable object;
- and
- moving said scroll box in response to said second request using a second access mode.
A computer-implemented method, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first input from a user to access a viewable object using a scroll box in a first access mode;
- and
- receiving a second input from said user to access said viewable object using said scroll box in a second access mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.