Intelligent scrolling
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for intelligent scrolling. In a computer system that has a user interface which allows for the movement of items from a first open window to a second open window or to a second region, such as a desktop, the present invention allows a user to select one or more items in the first window, move the selected item(s) to within a predetermined distance from an edge of the first window for a predetermined period of time and cause the viewable portion of the data and/or document within the first window to scroll in a corresponding direction.
1. A machine-readable storage medium having stored instructions to cause a machine to perform a machine-implemented method for controlling a display, the method comprising:
receiving a user selection of an object displayed within a first region on said display;
receiving an input indicating a user positioning of said selected object at a predetermined scrolling area which is near an edge of the first region, wherein the predetermined scrolling area does not include selectable user inputs for scrolling said display in a first direction; and
scrolling in a first direction, in response to said input, displayed items within said first region,
wherein said first region is a directory, wherein the selected object is an item within the directory; and determining that said selected object is no longer in said predetermined scrolling area; and terminating said scrolling of said displayed items within said first region.
2. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said first region is within a hierarchy of regions.
3. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed while said selected object has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area.
4. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 3 , wherein said predetermined period of time is one-sixth of a second.
5. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said directory is within a hierarchical file system.
6. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said object includes text.
7. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said object is displayed within a list of items of said first region.
8. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein said list of items comprises items listed in a predetermined order.
9. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein said predetermined order is alphabetical.
10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein a rate of scrolling of said displayed items within said first region is determined based on a location of said object within said predetermined scrolling area.
11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of a data file, an executable code file, an icon, and a directory.
12. A machine-readable storage medium having stored instructions to cause a machine to perform a method controlling a display, the method comprising:
receiving a user selection of an object displayed within a first region on said display;
receiving an input indicating a user positioning of said selected object at a predetermined scrolling area which is near an edge of the first region, wherein the predetermined scrolling area does not include selectable user inputs for scrolling said display;
and scrolling in a first direction, in response to said input, displayed items within said first region, wherein said first region is a list of items, wherein the selected object is an item in the list of items; and determining that said selected object is no longer in said predetermined scrolling area; and terminating said scrolling of said displayed items within said first region.
13. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein said first region is within a hierarchy of regions.
14. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed while said selected object has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area.
15. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein said predetermined period of time is one-sixth of a second.
16. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein said list is within a directory a hierarchical file system.
17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein said object includes text.
18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein a rate of scrolling of said displayed items within said first region is determined based on a location of said object within said predetermined scrolling area.
19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of a data file, an executable code file, an icon, and a directory.
20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein said list of items comprises items listed in a predetermined order.
21. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 20 , wherein said predetermined order is alphabetical.
22. A computer-readable storage medium having stored instructions to cause a computer to perform a computer-implemented method for controlling a display, the method comprising:
receiving a user selection of an object displayed within a first region on said display;
receiving an input indicating a user positioning of said selected object at a predetermined scrolling area which is near an edge of the first region, wherein the predetermined scrolling area does not include selectable user inputs for scrolling said display; and
scrolling in a first direction, in response to said input, displayed items within said first region,
wherein said first region is a directory, wherein the selected object is an item within the directory; and determining that said selected object is no longer in said predetermined scrolling area; and terminating said scrolling of said displayed items within said first region.
23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein said first region is within a hierarchy of regions.
24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed while said selected object has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area.
25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 24 , wherein said predetermined period of time is one-sixth of a second.
26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein said directory is within a hierarchical file system.
27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein said object includes text.
28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein said object is displayed within a list of items of said first region.
29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 , wherein said list of items comprises items listed in a predetermined order.
30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein said predetermined order is alphabetical.
31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein a rate of scrolling of said displayed items within said first region is determined based on a location of said object within said predetermined scrolling area.
32. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of a data file, an executable code file, an icon, and a directory.
33. A computer-readable storage medium having stored instructions to cause a computer to perform a method controlling a display, the method comprising:
receiving a user selection of an object displayed within a first region on said display;
receiving an input indicating a user positioning of said selected object at a predetermined scrolling area which is near an edge of the first region wherein the predetermined scrolling area does not include selectable user inputs for scrolling said display; and scrolling in a first direction, in response to said input, displayed items within said first region,
wherein said first region is a list of items, wherein the selected object is an item in the list of items; and determining that said selected object is no longer in said predetermined scrolling area; and terminating said scrolling of said displayed items within said first region.
34. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein said first region is within a hierarchy of regions.
35. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein the method further comprises determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed while said selected object has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area.
36. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 35 , wherein said predetermined period of time is one-sixth of a second.
37. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein said list is within a directory a hierarchical file system.
38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein said object includes text.
39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein a rate of scrolling of said displayed items within said first region is determined based on a location of said object within said predetermined scrolling area.
40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of a data file, an executable code file, an icon, and a directory.
41. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein said list of items comprises items listed in a predetermined order.
42. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41 , wherein said predetermined order is alphabetical.