Patent US6657639B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6657639B2
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US
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Apparatus and method for improved scrolling
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 2001-09-20
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Granted: 2003-12-02
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Expires: 2021-09-20
Abstract
Abstract An improved apparatus and method for scrolling through text contained in windows on a graphical user interface is disclosed. The invention determines whether the user is holding down a command button while the mouse pointer is either placed over the slider on a scroll bar or over one of the directional buttons. If the pointer is on the vertical slider, the invention ignores left and right mouse movements. If the pointer is on the horizontal slider, the invention ignores up and down mouse movements. If the pointer is on one of the four directional arrows, the invention ignores all mouse movements. The invention will continue along these guidelines until the command button is released. By performing these tasks, the invention eliminates the possibility that a user will inadvertently move the pointer off of the scroll bar or off of the directional buttons. In an alternate embodiment, the invention uses two buttons, a freeze button and the command button, where upon a clicking of the freeze button, the command button may be used repeatedly to activate a directional button until the freeze button is clicked a second time.
Inventors
- 👤 Seong Ryol Yu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/0216; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0485; G06F3/04855
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for improving the action of scrolling on a graphical user interface comprising: positioning a pointer on an object; receiving a movement command for the pointer from a user input device; ignoring the movement command for the pointer from a user input device while a command button is depressed; and obeying the movement command for the pointer from the user input device once the command button has been released.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for improving the action of scrolling on a graphical user interface comprising: positioning a pointer on an object; receiving a movement command for the pointer from a user input device; ignoring the movement command for the pointer from a user input device while a command button is depressed; and obeying the movement command for the pointer from the user input device once the command button has been released.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method in claim 1 where the object is a horizontal slider.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 2 where the movement command is a vertical movement command.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method in claim 1 where the object is a vertical slider.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 1 where the movement command is a horizontal movement command.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method in claim 1 where the object is a horizontal track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 6 where the movement command is a vertical movement command.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method in claim 1 where the object is a vertical track.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 8 where the movement command is a horizontal movement command.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method in claim 1 where the object is a directional button.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in claim 10 where the movement command comprises vertical and horizontal movement commands.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
A programmable apparatus for improving the action of scrolling on a graphical user interface comprising: a processor; a memory; a program in the memory; the programmable hardware being directed by the program to; position a pointer on an object; receive a movement command for the pointer from a user input device; ignore the movement command for the pointer from a user input device while a command button is depressed; and obey the movement command for the pointer from the user input device once the command button has been released.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
A programmable apparatus for improving the action of scrolling on a graphical user interface comprising: a processor; a memory; a program in the memory; the programmable hardware being directed by the program to; position a pointer on an object; receive a movement command for the pointer from a user input device; ignore the movement command for the pointer from a user input device while a command button is depressed; and obey the movement command for the pointer from the user input device once the command button has been released.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The programmable apparatus of claim 12 where the object is a horizontal slider.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The programmable apparatus of claim 13 where the movement command is a vertical movement command.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The programmable apparatus of claim 12 where the object is a vertical slider.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The programmable apparatus of claim 15 where the movement command is a horizontal movement command.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The programmable apparatus of claim 12 where the object is a horizontal track.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The programmable apparatus of claim 17 where the movement command is a vertical movement command.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The programmable apparatus of claim 12 where the object is a vertical track.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The programmable apparatus of claim 19 where the movement command is a horizontal movement command.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The programmable apparatus of claim 12 where the object is a directional button.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The programmable apparatus of claim 21 where the movement command comprises vertical and horizontal movement commands.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer readable memory for causing a computer to improve the action of scrolling on a graphical user interface comprising: a computer readable storage medium; a computer program stored in the storage medium; wherein the storage medium, so configured by said computer program, causes the computer to: position a pointer on an object; receive a movement command for the pointer from a user input device; ignore the movement command for the pointer from a user input device while a command button is depressed; and obey the movement command for the pointer from the user input device once the command button has been released.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer readable memory for causing a computer to improve the action of scrolling on a graphical user interface comprising: a computer readable storage medium; a computer program stored in the storage medium; wherein the storage medium, so configured by said computer program, causes the computer to: position a pointer on an object; receive a movement command for the pointer from a user input device; ignore the movement command for the pointer from a user input device while a command button is depressed; and obey the movement command for the pointer from the user input device once the command button has been released.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer readable memory of claim 23 where the object is a horizontal slider.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer readable memory of claim 24 where the movement command is a vertical movement command.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer readable memory of claim 23 where the object is a vertical slider.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer readable memory of claim 26 where the movement command is a horizontal movement command.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer readable memory of claim 23 where the object is a horizontal track.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer readable memory of claim 28 where the movement command is a vertical movement command.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer readable memory of claim 23 where the object is a vertical track.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer readable memory of claim 30 where the movement command is a horizontal movement command.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer readable memory of claim 23 where the object is a directional button.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer readable memory of claim 32 where the movement command comprises vertical and horizontal movement commands.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
54 words
A method comprising: positioning a pointer on a directional button; ignoring a movement command for the pointer from a user input device when a first command button has been clicked; and obeying the movement command for the pointer from the user input dovice when the first command button has been clicked a second time.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
54 words
A method comprising: positioning a pointer on a directional button; ignoring a movement command for the pointer from a user input device when a first command button has been clicked; and obeying the movement command for the pointer from the user input dovice when the first command button has been clicked a second time.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 34 further comprising: receiving the movement command for the pointer from the user input device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 34 further comprising: pressing a second command button and activating the directional button.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the first command button is a right mouse button and the second command button is a left mouse button.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the first command button is a left mouse button and the second command button is a right mouse button.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the movement command comprises vertical and horizontal movement commands.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
79 words
A program product operable on a computer, the program product comprising: a computer-usable medium; wherein the computer usable medium comprises instructions comprising: instructions for positioning a pointer on a directional button; instructions for ignoring a movement command for the pointer from a user input device when a first command button has been clicked; and instructions for obeying the movement command for the pointer from the user input device when the first command button has been pressed a second time.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
79 words
A program product operable on a computer, the program product comprising: a computer-usable medium; wherein the computer usable medium comprises instructions comprising: instructions for positioning a pointer on a directional button; instructions for ignoring a movement command for the pointer from a user input device when a first command button has been clicked; and instructions for obeying the movement command for the pointer from the user input device when the first command button has been pressed a second time.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The program product of claim 40 further comprising: instructions for receiving the movement command for the pointer from the user input device.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The program product of claim 40 further comprising: instructions for pressing a second command button and activating the directional button.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
The program product of claim 42 wherein the first command button is a right mouse button and the second command button is a left mouse button.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
The program product of claim 42 wherein the first command button is a left mouse button and the second command button is a right mouse button.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
16 words
The program product of claim 40 wherein the movement command comprises vertical and horizontal movement commands.
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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) | 2006-12-01 | 2007-06-02 | 2007-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-01 | 2011-06-02 | 2011-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-01 | 2015-06-02 | 2015-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |