Mode activated scrolling

Abstract

A computer implemented method for changing between a cursor control mode and a scroll control mode. The cursor control mode allowing a user to move a cursor on a graphical user interface (GUI) and the scroll control mode allowing a user to scroll on the GUI. The cursor and scroll movements are based on positional data supplied by an input device such as a mouse.

1 . A method for scrolling within a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that includes a window, the method comprising:
 in a cursor control mode, moving a cursor within the GUI in response to positional data received from a cursor control device;   receiving a clicking action from a button of the cursor control device in response to a user of the GUI clicking the button, the clicking action comprising a button press event and a button release event;   entering a scroll control mode in response to the received clicking action;   determining that a time period of inactivity has elapsed during which there was no activity by the cursor control device, such that no horizontal change and no vertical change in the received positional data and no clicking actions are received from the cursor control device during the inactive time period; and   returning to the cursor control mode from the scroll control mode in response to the determination that the time period of inactivity has elapsed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the scroll control mode allows a user to move a scroll tab of a scroll bar so as to scroll through the content of a window displayed on the GUI. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cursor control device comprises a mouse, and wherein the positional data received from the mouse corresponds with movements of the mouse in relation to a surface upon with the mouse is in contact, such that the mouse is not being moved when there is no change in the received positional data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the received clicking action is performed using a primary button of the mouse. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the primary button of the mouse is not dedicated to scrolling functionality. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cursor control device comprises a touch pad, and wherein the positional data received from the touch pad corresponds with movements of a finger or stylus over the surface of the touch pad, such that the finger or stylus is not being moved when there is no change in the received positional data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the window includes a field having a plurality of predetermined areas surrounded by a window frame separate from the field, the separate window frame including a vertical scroll bar having a vertical scroll tab and a horizontal scroll bar having a horizontal scroll tab. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said entering step is performed in response to determining that the clicking action was received when the cursor was positioned within one of the plurality of predetermined areas in the field. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein scrolling is based only on positional data received from the cursor control device, and wherein the contents of the window do not scroll when there is no change in the received positional data. 
     
     
         10 . A Graphical User Interface (GUI) comprising:
 a window adapted to display window contents;   a cursor control mode, during which a user can move a cursor within the GUI in response to positional data received from a cursor control device controlled by the user, wherein the movement of the cursor within the GUI is directly based on the positional data and the cursor does not move when the there is no change in the received positional data; and   a scroll control mode that is entered when the user performs a clicking action comprising a button press and a button release event with a button of the cursor control device, wherein in the scroll control mode, scrolling of the contents of the window is directly based only on positional data received from the cursor control device in the direction of entered scroll control mode, and the contents of the window do not scroll when there is no change in the received positional data; and   an inactivity timeout interval comprising a threshold time period, that if elapsed without any activity received from the cursor control device including horizontal change or vertical change in the received positional data and clicking actions, causes the GUI to return to the cursor control mode from the scroll control mode in response to the lapsing of the inactivity timeout interval.   
     
     
         11 . The GUI of  claim 10 , wherein the GUI includes a window frame surrounding the window, the window frame having a horizontal scroll bar and a vertical scroll bar positioned adjacent the window, the horizontal scroll bar being disposed below the window, and the vertical scroll bar being disposed to the side of the window, each of the scroll bars being configured to allow a user to scroll through the contents of the window. 
     
     
         12 . The GUI of  claim 10 , wherein the GUI is configured to change the appearance of the window contents in order to visually alert a user that a modal change has been implemented. 
     
     
         13 . The GUI of  claim 10 , wherein the cursor control device comprises a mouse, and wherein the positional data received from the mouse corresponds with movements of the mouse, such that the mouse is not being moved when there is no change in the received positional data. 
     
     
         14 . The GUI of  claim 13 , wherein the clicking action is performed using a primary button of the mouse, and wherein the primary button of the mouse is not dedicated to scrolling functionality. 
     
     
         15 . The GUI of  claim 13 , wherein the cursor control device comprises a touch pad, and wherein the positional data received from the touch pad corresponds with movements of a finger or stylus over the surface of the touch pad, such that the finger or stylus is not being moved when there is no change in the received positional data. 
     
     
         16 . A method of executing a modal change between a cursor control mode and a scroll control mode in a computer system having a display adapted to provide a graphical user interface and an input device adapted to supply positional data associated with controlling cursor and scroll movements on the graphical user interface, the cursor control mode allowing movements of a cursor to be controlled on the graphical user interface via the input device, and the scroll control mode allowing scrolling to be controlled on the graphical user interface via the input device, the method comprising:
 initiating a first computer implemented action when the input device is in a cursor control mode so as to place the input device in the scroll control mode, wherein the first computer implemented action is initiated in response to a user clicking a button, the clicking comprising a button press event and a button release event; and   performing a second computer implemented action when the input device is in the scroll control mode so as to place the input device back in the cursor control mode.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the input device comprises a mouse, and wherein the positional data received from the mouse corresponds with movements of the mouse, such that the mouse is not being moved when there is no change in the received positional data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the clicking action is performed using a primary button of the mouse, and wherein the primary button of the mouse is not dedicated to scrolling functionality. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the input device comprises a touch pad, and wherein the positional data received from the touch pad corresponds with movements of a finger or stylus over the surface of the touch pad, such that the finger or stylus is not being moved when there is no change in the received positional data. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second computer implemented action is initiated in response to a determination that a time period of inactivity has elapsed during which there was no activity by the input device, such that no horizontal change and no vertical change in the received positional data and no clicking actions are received from the input device during the inactive time period. 
     
     
         21 . A removable program medium having stored thereon data representing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 operating a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that includes a window;   moving a cursor within the GUI in response to positional data received from a cursor control device, wherein the movement of the cursor within the GUI is directly based on the positional data and the cursor does not move when the there is no change in the received positional data;   receiving a clicking action from a button of the cursor control device in response to a user of the GUI clicking the button, the clicking action comprising a button press even and a button release event;   entering a scroll control mode in response to the received clicking action;   determining that a time period of inactivity has elapsed during which there was no activity by the cursor control device; and   returning to the cursor control mode from the scroll control mode in response to the determination that the time period of inactivity has elapsed.   
     
     
         22 . The removable program medium of  claim 21 , wherein the input device comprises a mouse, and wherein the positional data received from the mouse corresponds with movements of the mouse, such that the mouse is not being moved when there is no change in the received positional data. 
     
     
         23 . The removable program medium of  claim 22 , wherein the clicking action is performed using a primary button of the mouse, and wherein the primary button of the mouse is not dedicated to scrolling functionality. 
     
     
         24 . The removable program medium of  claim 21 , wherein the input device comprises a touch pad, and wherein the positional data received from the touch pad corresponds with movements of a finger or stylus over the surface of the touch pad, such that the finger or stylus is not being moved when there is no change in the received positional data.