WO2010010489A2 - A method and apparatus for highlighting an item - Google Patents
A method and apparatus for highlighting an item Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2010010489A2 WO2010010489A2 PCT/IB2009/053081 IB2009053081W WO2010010489A2 WO 2010010489 A2 WO2010010489 A2 WO 2010010489A2 IB 2009053081 W IB2009053081 W IB 2009053081W WO 2010010489 A2 WO2010010489 A2 WO 2010010489A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- items
- item
- selected item
- location
- selecting
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- G06F3/0484—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
- G06F3/0485—Scrolling or panning
Abstract
A plurality of items (201_1 to 201_100) are listed where the display can show 11 items (201_1 to 201_11). The user selects an item (201_1). The location for display of the selected item (201_1) is determined at the top of the display. The selected item 201_1 is displayed at that location and highlighted. Sequential items (201_2 to 201_11) are selected and displayed.
Description
A method and apparatus for highlighting an item
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for highlighting an item. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to a method and apparatus for highlighting an item selected from a scrolled plurality of items.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Typically, items which can be selected by a user are displayed on an interface such as a display, which allows interaction with a user input device to enable selection of an item as a plurality of items are scrolled. The items may be displayed in a variety of formats, for example, the items may be displayed in a list in a predetermined order. If it is not possible to display all of the items simultaneously within the available screen area of a display unit, i.e. a predetermined display area, a scrollbar element is added to indicate the relative position of the visible items in respect of all of the items.
These scrollbar elements are part of the predetermined display area. Invariably, the scrollbar elements comprise a first scrollbar element extending down the height of the display area on one side, usually located at the right hand edge of the predetermined display area and a second scrollbar element extending across the width of the predetermined display area located at the bottom of the predetermined display area.
All the items that can be scrolled, some of which may be visible and some which may not be visible are scrolled by moving a scroll box along a scroll track of the scrollbar element. As each scroll box moves outside the range of the visible items, those items not shown in the predetermined display area become visible.
Displaying the scrollbar elements within the predetermined display area takes up a portion of the display area which can be significant, in particular, when the predetermined display area is small, leaving little area for display of items etc.
This problem has been partly met in the device of US 2006/0199616 in which items are ordered and displayed in the form of a list on the display area of a mobile communication device. The items shown in the display area are highlighted as they are
scrolled. The highlight is moved automatically as a function of time. As a result the user has no control over how the items are highlighted and displayed as they are scrolled.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide a technique of selection, highlight and display a plurality of items which avoids the use of scrollbars.
This is achieved, according to one aspect of the present invention, by a method of highlighting an item selected from a plurality of items, the plurality of items being arranged in a predetermined order, the method comprising the steps of: selecting an item from a plurality of items based on a user input; determining a location for displaying the selected item based on the position of the selected item relative to the position of the plurality of items within the predetermined order; selecting a plurality of sequential items to be displayed based on the selected item and the determined location, the selected plurality of sequential items including the selected item; displaying the plurality of sequential items in the predetermined order, including displaying the selected item at the determined location; and highlighting the selected item.
This is also achieved, according to a second aspect of the present invention, by apparatus for highlighting an item selected from a plurality of items, the plurality of items being arranged in a predetermined order, the apparatus comprising: a user input device for selecting an item from a plurality of items; a processor for determining a location for displaying the selected item based on the position of the selected item relative to the position of the plurality of items within the predetermined order and selecting a plurality of sequential items to be displayed based on the selected item and the determined location, the selected plurality of sequential items including the selected item; a display for displaying the plurality of sequential items in predetermined order, including displaying the selected item at the determined location; and a highlighter for highlighting the selected item.
In this way, a location for displaying a selected item is determined based on the position of the selected item relative to the other items being scrolled, displaying and highlighting the selected item at that location. As a result items can be scrolled without the need for separate scrollbar elements by using the position of the highlighted element within the display area to encode the relative 'scroll' position of the scroll box. As a result clutter in the display area is reduced and the user can scroll and display items by selecting and highlighting an item. Thus scrolling the items is simple to use, maintaining user control whilst providing effective scrolling of items.
The user may select an item by dragging an input device to scroll the plurality of items in the predetermined order; and selecting an item from the scrolled plurality of items. As a result existing user interface equipment such as a screen and mouse device can be used and the action of dragging the input device (mouse, stylus, infra red pointer etc) to scroll items is an action similar to using scrollbar elements and thus familiar to the user.
Alternatively or additionally, up/down and/or left/right keys can be used to scroll the plurality of items.
The location for displaying the selected item may be determined such that the location is in a vertical relative position of the plurality of items. Thus the items are arranged and displayed in the form of a list. Therefore, only vertical relative positions need to be taken into account to determine location, display and highlight items. Thus, the processing required is simplified.
The plurality of sequential items may be selected based on the size of a predetermined display area. As a result items are displayed based upon the user's selection and the location of the selected item. If the location of the selected item is towards the top of the predetermined display area the items which follow the selected items are displayed in the remaining display area. If the location of the selected item is central, items preceding and following items can be displayed. As a result the user can control the selection and highlight of items whilst scrolling all items which are not visible, i.e. not displayed within the predetermined display area without the need of scrollbar elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
Figs. 2a to 2c are simplified schematic representations of a list of items being scrolled according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 1 comprises an input device 101, such as a dragging input device, for example a mouse device, a pointer device for pointing at a screen of a display unit and activating a point on the screen,
a touch sensitive screen where a stylus or finger in contact with the screen of the display unit activates the corresponding area of the screen or cursor control keys. The input device 101 is connected to the input of an input interface unit 103. The input interface unit 103 may be hard wired to the input device 101 or may connected wireless using infra red or the like. The output of the input interface unit 103 is connected to a processor 105.
The display unit 109 is also connected to the processor 105. The processor 105 is also connected to a storage device 107. The display unit 109 is also connected to the output of a highlighter 108. The highlighter 108 is connected to the processor 105.
Operation of the apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 2a to 2c.
Figures 2a to 2b show an example of a plurality of items 201 1 to 201 100, in this case 100 items of which only 11 are visible on the screen of the display unit 109 at any one time. The plurality of items 201 1 to 201 100 are stored in the storage means 107. For displaying purposes, the stored items 201 1 to 201 100 are retrieved from the storage device 107 and placed on the screen of the display unit 109 in a list in a predetermined order by the processor 105.
As shown in Figure 2a only items 201 1 to 201 11 are visible on the screen of the display unit 109 and, as shown, the first item 201 1 is selected by the user via the input device 101 and interface unit 103. Upon selection of the first item 201 1, a location for display of the selected item 201 1 is determined. As this item is the first item and its position relative to the position of the other items 201 2 to 201 100 is at the top of the list, the location for display of the selected item 201 1 is determined the top of the display area. The selected item 201 1 is highlighted by the highlighter 108 and displayed. Sequential items are then selected as determined by the predetermined order of the items based upon the item selected and the location of the selected item. Therefore, as the first item 201 1 has been selected and its location is at the top of the display area, items which follow after the selected item 201 1, namely items 201 2 to 201 11 are selected which, due to the size of the display area can be displayed below the first item 201 1 in vertical relative positions as shown in Figure 2a. The user, wishing to scroll through the items 201 1 to 201 100, uses the input device 101 to scroll down the list from the first item 201 1 as shown in Figure 2a. The user then selects item 201 50. The location for display of the selected item 201 50 is determined by the processor 105 and the selected item 201 50 is displayed at the determined location. The determined location is central to the display area. A plurality of sequential items 201 45
to 201 49 and 201 51 to 201 55 are selected by the processor 105 on the basis of the determined location and the selected item. As a result items 201 45 to 201 49 are displayed above and preceding the selected item 201 50 within the predetermined order of the items and items 201 51 to 201 55 are displayed below and following the selected item 201 50. The selected item 201 50 is highlighted by the highlighter 108 and the items are displayed as shown in Figure 2b.
As the user scrolls further down the list the last item 201 100 is selected by the user via the input device 101. A location for display of the selected item 201 100 is determined. As this is in the last position relative to the other items, the location for display of the selected item 201 100 is determined at the bottom of the display area. A plurality of items 201 90 to 201 99 are selected based on the determined location and selection of item 201 100. The items are displayed within their predetermined order above the location determined for the selected item 201 100 as shown in Figure 2c
As a result, the need for separate scrollbar elements is avoided by using the position of the highlighted element within the display area to encode the relative 'scroll' position of the scrollbar. As a result clutter in the display area is reduced and the user can manipulate the cursor to scroll the items in a similar way to using the scrollbar elements
The scrolling method above is equally applicable to lists containing textual items and visual content such as thumbnail images. The invention can be used, for example, in TVs, DVD and/or BluRay players, personal video recorders and portable media players.
Although embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous modifications without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.
'Means', as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, are meant to include any hardware (such as separate or integrated circuits or electronic elements) or software (such as programs or parts of programs) which reproduce in operation or are designed to reproduce a specified function, be it solely or in conjunction with other functions, be it in isolation or in co-operation with other elements. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the apparatus claim enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. 'Computer program product' is to be
understood to mean any software product stored on a computer-readable medium, such as a floppy disk, downloadable via a network, such as the Internet, or marketable in any other manner.
Claims
1. A method of highlighting an item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) selected from a plurality of items (201 1 to 201 100), said plurality of items (201 1 to 201 100) being arranged in a predetermined order, the method comprising the steps of: selecting an item (201 1 , 201 50, 201 100) from a plurality of items (201 1 to 201 100) based on a user input; determining a location for displaying said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) based on the position of said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) relative to the position of said plurality of items (201 1 to 201 100) within said predetermined order; selecting a plurality of sequential items (201 1 to 201 11, 201 45 to 201 55, 201 90 to 201 100) to be displayed based on said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) and said determined location, said selected plurality of sequential items (201 1 to 201 11, 201 45 to 201 55, 201 90 to 201 100) including said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100); displaying said plurality of sequential items (201 1 to 201 11, 201 45 to 201 55, 201 90 to 201 100) in said predetermined order, including displaying said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) at said determined location; and highlighting said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100).
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selecting an item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) from a plurality of items (201 1 to 201 100) comprises the step of: dragging an input device (100) to scroll said plurality of items (201 1 to 201 100) in said predetermined order; and selecting an item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) from said scrolled plurality of items (201 1 to 201 100).
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining a location for displaying said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) comprises the step of: determining a location for displaying said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) in a vertical relative position of said plurality of items (201 1 to 201 100).
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a plurality of sequential items (201 1 to 201 11, 201 45 to 201 55, 201 90 to 201 100) to be displayed comprises the step of: - selecting a plurality of sequential items (201 _ 1 to 201 _ 11 , 201 45 to 201 55 ,
201 90 to 201 100) based on the size of a predetermined display area.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a plurality of sequential items (201 1 to 201 11, 201 45 to 201 55, 201 90 to 201 100) to be displayed comprises the step of: selecting a plurality of sequential items (201 1 to 201 11, 201 45 to 201 55, 201 90 to 201 100) preceding and/or following said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) in said predetermined order.
6. A computer program product comprising a plurality of program code portions for carrying out the method according to any one of the preceding claims.
7. Apparatus for highlighting an item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) selected from a plurality of items (201 1 to 201 100), said plurality of items (201 1 to 201 100) being arranged in a predetermined order, the apparatus comprising: a user input device (101) for selecting an item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) from a plurality of items (201 1 to 201 100); a processor (105 for determining a location for displaying said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) based on the position of said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) relative to the position of said plurality of items (201 _ 1 to 201 _ 100) within said predetermined order and selecting a plurality of sequential items (201 1 to 201 11, 201 45 to 201 55, 201 90 to 201 100) to be displayed based on the selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) and said determined location, said selected plurality of sequential items (201 1 to 201 11, 201 45 to 201 55, 201 90 to 201 100) including said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100); a display (109) for displaying said plurality of sequential items (201 1 to 201 11, 201 45 to 201 55, 201 90 to 201 100) in said predetermined order, including displaying said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100) at said determined location; and a highlighter (108) for highlighting said selected item (201 1, 201 50, 201 100).
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said user input device (101) comprises a dragging input device for scrolling said plurality of items. (201 1 to 201 100)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP08160928 | 2008-07-23 | ||
| EP08160928.1 | 2008-07-23 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2010010489A2 true WO2010010489A2 (en) | 2010-01-28 |
| WO2010010489A3 WO2010010489A3 (en) | 2010-11-11 |
Family
ID=41570666
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2009/053081 WO2010010489A2 (en) | 2008-07-23 | 2009-07-16 | A method and apparatus for highlighting an item |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| TW (1) | TW201009686A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2010010489A2 (en) |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1699213A1 (en) * | 2005-03-03 | 2006-09-06 | Agere Systems, Inc. | Mobile communication device having automatic scrolling capability and method of operation thereof |
| US20080134078A1 (en) * | 2006-12-05 | 2008-06-05 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Scrolling method and apparatus |
| US20080168386A1 (en) * | 2007-01-04 | 2008-07-10 | Microsoft Corporation | Scrollable computing device display |
-
2009
- 2009-07-16 WO PCT/IB2009/053081 patent/WO2010010489A2/en active Application Filing
- 2009-07-20 TW TW98124447A patent/TW201009686A/en unknown
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1699213A1 (en) * | 2005-03-03 | 2006-09-06 | Agere Systems, Inc. | Mobile communication device having automatic scrolling capability and method of operation thereof |
| US20080134078A1 (en) * | 2006-12-05 | 2008-06-05 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Scrolling method and apparatus |
| US20080168386A1 (en) * | 2007-01-04 | 2008-07-10 | Microsoft Corporation | Scrollable computing device display |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2010010489A3 (en) | 2010-11-11 |
| TW201009686A (en) | 2010-03-01 |
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