Scrolling interface control for computer display

1 . A method for controlling scrolling of graphical content by a computer responsive to a user input device comprising at least one of a touchscreen or touchpad, the method comprising:

displaying, while in a page mode, a plurality of panels together on the user input device;

in response to registering a user input on at least one of the touchscreen or the touchpad, transitioning to a panel mode of display wherein a first panel of the plurality of panels is exclusively displayed and occupies an entirety of a panel display area of the user input device;

sensing, by the computer while in the panel mode of display, a finger touch on the at least one of the touchscreen or the touchpad and a direction and length of continuous cursor movement along a first axis and a second axis of the user input device caused by movement of a finger while in continuous contact with the at least one of the touchscreen or the touchpad beginning with the finger touch;

triggering, responsive to determining that the length of continuous cursor movement along only the first axis exceeds a first threshold within a predetermined time threshold, a transition to a second panel adjacent to the second panel, wherein the transition comprises:

zooming out from the first panel to a state displaying at least a portion of the second panel; and

zooming in on the second panel to display the second panel exclusively and fully occupy the panel display area of the user input device;

completing, responsive to determining that the length of continuous cursor movement exceeds a second threshold within the predetermined time threshold, the transition to the second panel;

sensing additional cursor movement caused by additional movement by the finger in the continuous contact with the at least one of the touchscreen or the touchpad along the first axis and the second axis of the user input device;

triggering, responsive to determining that the length of the additional cursor movement along only the first axis exceeds the first threshold within the predetermined time threshold, a transition to a third panel adjacent to the second panel;

completing, responsive to determining that the length of additional cursor movement exceeds the second threshold within the predetermined time threshold, the transition to the third panel; and

resetting the cursor based on sensing interrupted finger contact with the at least one of the touchscreen or the touchpad.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising panning display of the graphical content along a second axis of the user input device perpendicular to the first axis, based on a direction and length of continuous cursor movement along the second axis.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer determines the cursor based on the finger touch registered by the user input device.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the user input device comprises a touchscreen on which the graphical content is displayed and the first axis is aligned with a lower touchscreen edge.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the user input device comprises a touchpad adjacent to a screen on which the graphical content is displayed and the first axis is aligned with an edge of the touchpad corresponding to a lower edge of the screen.

6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising selecting one of the plurality of panels for initial display in the panel mode based on correspondence with a location on the user input device where the finger touch is first detected while in the page mode.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing a mode of response to the user input device between the page mode and the panel mode in response to receiving the user input indicating a mode transition.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting the second threshold in response to user input.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising toggling the directions of movement for forward and reverse progress through the plurality of panels in response to changes in direction of the movement of the at least one finger.

10 . An apparatus for controlling scrolling of graphical content by a computer responsive to a user input device, comprising:

a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a user input device comprising at least one of a touchscreen or touchpad coupled to the processor, wherein the memory holds instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform: displaying, while in a page mode, a plurality of panels together;

in response to registering a user input on at least one of the touchscreen or touchpad, transitioning to a panel mode of display wherein a first panel of the plurality of panels is exclusively displayed and occupies an entirety of a panel display area of the user input device;

sensing, by the computer while in the panel mode of display, a finger touch on the at least one of the touchscreen or the touchpad and a direction and length of continuous cursor movement along a first axis and a second axis of the user input device caused by movement of a finger while in continuous contact with the at least one of the touchscreen or the touchpad beginning with the finger touch;

triggering, responsive to determining that the length of continuous cursor movement along only the first axis exceeds a first threshold within a predetermined time threshold, a transition to a second panel adjacent to the second panel, wherein the transition comprises:

zooming out from the first panel to a state displaying at least a portion of the second panel; and

zooming in on the second panel to display it exclusively and fully occupy the panel display area of the user input device;

completing, responsive to determining that the length of continuous cursor movement exceeds a second threshold within the predetermined time threshold, the transition to the second panel;

sensing additional cursor movement caused by additional movement by the finger in the continuous contact with the at least one of the touchscreen or the touchpad along the first axis and the second axis of the user input device;

triggering, responsive to determining that the length of the additional cursor movement along only the first axis exceeds the first threshold within the predetermined time threshold, a transition to a third panel adjacent to the second panel;

completing, responsive to determining that the length of additional cursor movement exceeds the second threshold within the predetermined time threshold, the transition to the third panel; and

resetting the cursor based on sensing interrupted finger contact with the at least one of the touchscreen or the touchpad.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for panning display of the graphical content along a second axis of the user input device perpendicular to the first axis, based on a direction and length of continuous cursor movement along the second axis.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for determining the cursor based on the finger touch registered by the user input device.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the user input device comprises a touchscreen on which the graphical content is displayed, and the first axis is aligned with a lower touchscreen edge.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for selecting one of the plurality of panels for initial display in the panel mode based on correspondence with a location on the user input device where the finger touch is first detected while in the page mode.

15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for changing a mode of response to the user input device between the page mode and the panel mode in response to receiving a user input indicating a mode transition.

16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for setting the second threshold in response to user input.

17 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for toggling the directions of movement for forward and reverse progress through the plurality of panels in response to user input.