US6300967B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing feedback while scrolling
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
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Filing: 2000-04-25
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Granted: 2001-10-09
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Expires: 2020-04-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention comprises a method for providing feedback to the user of a graphical user interface using visual and operational clues. In an embodiment of the invention, the user is provided visual clues that inform the user in what direction the display area can be scrolled. The display area may contain a list, a text box, a pop-up menu or any kind of data. Operational clues help the user determine what actions move the list and what actions do not move the list. The invention can be implemented in the form of a list. A list is comprised of one or more fields. At the top of the list and at the bottom of the list is a blank space that functions as one of the visual clues. The purpose of the blank space is to inform the user they are at the top of the list and cannot scroll any further up or that they are at the bottom of the list and cannot scroll any further down. Another form of visual clue is provided through the use of partially visible fields. Partially visible fields help the user know in which direction the list can be scrolled by indicating to the user that additional fields are present beyond the partially visible one.
Inventors
- 👤 Annette Wagner
- 👤 Osana Tishkova
- 👤 Michael Arent
- 👤 Richard Berlin
- 👤 Fazeel Mufti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0485; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/973
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
424 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for configuring a computer, said computer program product comprising: computer readable code configured to cause a computer to define a display region; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display at least one field of a list of n fields, where n is an integer; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a first blank region at a top end of said display region when a beginning of a first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a second blank region at a bottom end of said display region when an end of a last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a field k, from said list of n fields, where said field k is a first complete field at said top of said display region, where k is any integer between 2 and n; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a portion of a preceding field, k−1, from said list of n fields above said field k; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a field m, from said list of n fields, where said field m is a last complete field at said bottom of said display region, where m is any integer between 1 and n−1; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a portion of a subsequent field, m+1, from said list of n fields, below said field m; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a first button associated with said first blank region; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a second button associated with said second blank region; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to displace said fields within said display region a distance in a first direction when said first button is clicked, and a distance in the opposite direction when a second button is clicked; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to disable said first button when said first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; and computer readable code configured to cause a computer to disable said second button when said last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
424 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for configuring a computer, said computer program product comprising: computer readable code configured to cause a computer to define a display region; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display at least one field of a list of n fields, where n is an integer; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a first blank region at a top end of said display region when a beginning of a first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a second blank region at a bottom end of said display region when an end of a last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a field k, from said list of n fields, where said field k is a first complete field at said top of said display region, where k is any integer between 2 and n; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a portion of a preceding field, k−1, from said list of n fields above said field k; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a field m, from said list of n fields, where said field m is a last complete field at said bottom of said display region, where m is any integer between 1 and n−1; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a portion of a subsequent field, m+1, from said list of n fields, below said field m; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a first button associated with said first blank region; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to display a second button associated with said second blank region; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to displace said fields within said display region a distance in a first direction when said first button is clicked, and a distance in the opposite direction when a second button is clicked; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to disable said first button when said first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; and computer readable code configured to cause a computer to disable said second button when said last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer product of claim 1 , wherein the display region is comprised of a text box having editable fields.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer product of claim 1 , wherein the display region is comprised of a popup-menu having selectable choice fields.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
343 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for configuring a computer, said computer program product comprising computer readable code configured to cause a computer to: define a display region; display at least one field of a list of n fields, where n is an integer; display a first blank region at a top end of said display region when a beginning of a first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; display a first portion of a middle visible field from said list of n fields adjacent to a bottom edge of said display area; display at least one middle field, in said display region, of said list of n fields; display a second portion of a preceding field from said list of n fields, above said at least one middle portion; display a third portion of a subsequent field from said list of n fields, below said at least one middle portion; display a second blank region at a bottom end of said display region when an end of a last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; display a fourth portion of a middle visible field from said list of n fields adjacent to a top edge of said display region; wherein h represents a height associated with each field in said list of n fields where said first, second, third and fourth portions are less than h; display a first button associated with said first blank region; display a second button associated with said second blank region; displace said fields within said display region a distance in a first direction when said first button is clicked, and a distance in the opposite direction when a second button is clicked; disable said first button when said first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; and disable said second button when said last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
343 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for configuring a computer, said computer program product comprising computer readable code configured to cause a computer to: define a display region; display at least one field of a list of n fields, where n is an integer; display a first blank region at a top end of said display region when a beginning of a first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; display a first portion of a middle visible field from said list of n fields adjacent to a bottom edge of said display area; display at least one middle field, in said display region, of said list of n fields; display a second portion of a preceding field from said list of n fields, above said at least one middle portion; display a third portion of a subsequent field from said list of n fields, below said at least one middle portion; display a second blank region at a bottom end of said display region when an end of a last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; display a fourth portion of a middle visible field from said list of n fields adjacent to a top edge of said display region; wherein h represents a height associated with each field in said list of n fields where said first, second, third and fourth portions are less than h; display a first button associated with said first blank region; display a second button associated with said second blank region; displace said fields within said display region a distance in a first direction when said first button is clicked, and a distance in the opposite direction when a second button is clicked; disable said first button when said first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; and disable said second button when said last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer product of claim 4 , wherein the display region is comprised of a text box having editable fields.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer product of claim 4 , wherein the display region is comprised of a popup-menu having selectable choice fields.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
325 words
A method of configuring a computer to define a display region comprising the steps of: defining a display region; displaying at least one field of a list of n fields, where n is an integer; display a first blank region at a top end of said display region when a beginning of a first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; displaying a first portion of a middle visible field from said list of n fields adjacent to a bottom edge of said display region; displaying at least one middle field, in said display region, of said list of n fields; displaying a second portion of a preceding field from said list of n fields, above said at least one middle portion; displaying a third portion of a subsequent field from said list of n fields, below said at least one middle portion; displaying a second blank region at a bottom end of said display region when an end of a last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; displaying a fourth portion of a middle visible field from said list of n fields adjacent to a top edge of said display area, wherein h represents a height associated with each field in said list of n fields where said first, second, third and fourth portions are less than h; displaying a first button associated with said first blank region; displaying a second button associated with said second blank region; displacing said fields within said display region a distance in a first direction when said first button is clicked, and a distance in the opposite direction when a second button is clicked; disabling said first button when said first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; and disabling said second button when said last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
325 words
A method of configuring a computer to define a display region comprising the steps of: defining a display region; displaying at least one field of a list of n fields, where n is an integer; display a first blank region at a top end of said display region when a beginning of a first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; displaying a first portion of a middle visible field from said list of n fields adjacent to a bottom edge of said display region; displaying at least one middle field, in said display region, of said list of n fields; displaying a second portion of a preceding field from said list of n fields, above said at least one middle portion; displaying a third portion of a subsequent field from said list of n fields, below said at least one middle portion; displaying a second blank region at a bottom end of said display region when an end of a last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; displaying a fourth portion of a middle visible field from said list of n fields adjacent to a top edge of said display area, wherein h represents a height associated with each field in said list of n fields where said first, second, third and fourth portions are less than h; displaying a first button associated with said first blank region; displaying a second button associated with said second blank region; displacing said fields within said display region a distance in a first direction when said first button is clicked, and a distance in the opposite direction when a second button is clicked; disabling said first button when said first field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region; and disabling said second button when said last field of said list of n fields is displayed within said display region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the display region is comprised of a text box having editable fields.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the display region is comprised of a popup-menu having selectable choice fields.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-10-08 | 2005-04-09 | 2005-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-08 | 2009-04-09 | 2009-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-08 | 2013-04-09 | 2013-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |