CA2053177C - Intelligent scrolling - Google Patents

Abstract

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.

Description

BACK~ROLJND OF T9-IE INifEtel 1. Field of the Inyention The present invention relates to thg field' of user interfaces for computer systems. In particular, this invention relates to an improved user interface for scrolling a visible portion of a document within a window in a computer system.

2. ~e ription of the Rel~t~~i art A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by 1 5 any one of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
A user interface is the means by which a user interacts with a computer system. Known user interfaces utilize windows and icons in conjunction with a cursor control device. The cursor control device, commonly a mouse or trackball device is used to position a cursor on a display. The mouse or trackball typically includes a switch having at least two positions for generating signals to the computer to indicate a selection or other action by a user. The combination of the windows, ICONS, and a cursor control device allows a user to operate in a visual "point and click" fashion rather then through the typing of terse computer commands, "Point and click" operation refers to positioning a cursor on a display so it is over a desired icon, setting a switch 3 0 (usually a button) on the cursor control d~vice into a second position (usually by depressing the button) and immediately resetting th~ switch in a first position (usually by releasing the button). The "click" generally ref~rs to tactile and audible r ~~:3-3~.r~r~
feedback to the user on depressing and releasing the button. An example of such a user interface is the FinderTM interface of the Macintosh~ family of Computers available from Apple~
Computer Inc. of Cupertino, California. The Finder interface as implemented allows a user to locate, manage and organize data files and applications on the Macintosh Computer System.
Portions of this point and click interface, as well as a mouse, have been described in U.S. Patent No. 4,464,652.
The Macintosh system organizes files in a hierarchical fashion. Hierarchical files systems are well known in the art and have been utilized on numerous computer systems, e.g. the UAIIX~
(a registered trademark of AT&T) operating system. A directory in a hierarchical file system is comprised of items. These items include data files, executable code .files, and other directories (e.g. sub-directories) that are directly accessible. The Macintosh system uses the term folder to denote a directory or sub-directory.
As utilized by the Finder interface, a window displays the contents of a folder or a storage medium (e.g. a diskette). Known computer systems, including the Macintosh Computer, allow for the concurrent display of multiple windows. A desirable feature of the Finder interface is the ability to select an item or set of items in one window and move them to another window. This feature is described with reference to Figure 'ha "~1966 Apple 2 5 Computer, Incorporated" (17 U.S.C. 401 ). Figure 1 a illustrates a first window 1 and a second window 2, both open on display 3. To utilize this feature, the user moves the cursor (e.g. by moving the mouse) to position it over the item to be selected and then places the switch associated with th~ mouse in a predetermined position 34 (usually in the down position); this indicates to the computer system that the item has been selocted (typically for some further action to be specified by the user). In Figure 1a, the item _2_ C~ ~ r 4 has been selected. To move the selected item, the user keeps the switch in the predetermined position and the cursor over the item and then moves the cursor to another window(e.g. window 2 in Figure 1 a). With the Finder interface, an outline of the selected item will move with the cursor to the second window 2.
This is often called "dragging" the item. At this point, the user may release the switch associated with the mouse into an up position and the item 4 will appear in the second window 2. With the Finder interface, this has the effect of moving the selected items) from one folder (directory or sub-directory) to another folder (directory or sub-directory) or copying the items) from one storage medium, to another storage medium, e.g. a diskette to a fixed hard disk. If the movement of the item is characterized as a movement from one folder to a second folder, the item 4 would disappear from window 1, otherwise item 4 would remain in window 1 as well as be displayed in window 2. Additionally, the Finder interface allows items to b~ removed from a window and placed on the Finder desktop and further allows selected items to be copied to ICONs located on the Finder desktop, the 2 0 ICONS representing folders or a storage medium. These capabilities are well known to users of the IVtacintosh Computer System and have been described in numerous references.
A window (also called a visible display area) utilized by tho Finder interface is illustrated in Figure 1 b "~~h986 Apple Computer, Incorporated" (17 U.S.C. 401). A data display area i01 contains names and iCONs of items within that particular folder or storage medium, 102. The ICON repres~nts the type of item, i.e. a folder, data file or executable code file. The window is further comprised of window control means, including a zoombox 103, a title bar 104, a closebox 105, a title 106, a horizontal scroll box 107, a horizontal scroll bar 121, a left scroll arrow 108, a right scroll arrow 109, a size box 110, a vertical scroll -3_ box 112, a vertical scroll bar 122, an up scroll arrow 111, and a down scroll arrow 113. Use of the window control means identified in Figure 9 will be familiar to users of the Apple Macintosh computer.
When the data and/or document which is being displayed within the window is larger than the data display area 101 or the window, some of the data is "hidden". This "hidden" data can be brought into the data display area 101 through scrolling.
Scrolling refers to moving the data/document in a user defined direction in order to bring "hidden" portions within the data display area 101. Known window interfaces provide different methods for scrolling. One method is to provide predetermined scroll areas where scrolling can be invoked; e.g. scroll bars, scroll arrows or scroll boxes. Using this method, the user positions the cursor in the scroll area and a switch associated with the cursor control device is placed in a predetermined position or clicked. Scrolling will occur in a direction and manner associated with the particular scroll area. A second method is to initiate scrolling whenever the computer system 2 0 detects that a cursor is on or near the edge of the window and a switch associated with the cursor control device is in a predetermined position. Scrolling will then occur in a corresponding direction of the window edge detected. A third known method, primarily used in application 3roftware, allows a 2 5 user to select an icon from a function palette, to enable the cursor to control movement of the data within the window in a corresponding fashion. This action is analogous to moving a flat piece of paper around on a desk with one's hand.
The Finder interface, as shown in Figure 1 b, provides three 3 0 alternative means for scrolling, it should first be noted that the position of scroll boxes 112 and 107 within scroll bars 122 and 121 respectively, represent a relative position of the data being 1 v l °~
displayed, within the documeE~:. In a fiirst direct means to move the data display area 101 vertically, the cursor is moved into the vertical scroll box 112 and the switch associated with the cursor control device is placed and kept in a predetermined position while the cursor control devic~ is manipulated to cause the cursor to be moved vertically, which also causes the vertical scroll box 112 to be moved vertically within the vertical scroll bar 122, in a corresponding fashion. As long as the switch is kept in the predetermined position, the vertical position of the scroll 1 0 box 112 is determined by the vertical displacement of the cursor.
When the switch is taken out of the predetermined position, the vertical scroll box 112 is deposited at its current location and the data within the visible area 101 of the window shown in Figure 1 a will have scrolled according to the fiiaal position of the vertical scroll box 112 relative to the original position of the vertical scroll box 112. In this manner, some or all of the hidden data and/or document within the window will be scrolled into the data display area 101.
A second method for vertical scrolling is by positioning the cursor at a desired location within the scroll area 122 and clicking on the switch associated with the cursor control device.
It should be noted that the vertical scroll area 122 may be either atop and/or below the vertical scroll box 112. 13y positioning the cursor either above or below the vertical scrothbox 112 and clicking the switch on the cursor control device, the "next windowful" of data will be displayed. If the cursor is positioned above the vertical scroll box 112, the "next windowful" wil8 be above the data that is currently being displayed. Ifi the cursor is positioned below the verticaB scroll box 112, the "next 3 0 windowfiul" will be below the data that is currently being displayed. "Next windowfui" refers to data adjacent to that _5_ ~~-~ r w ~~:i:J~ .
which is currently being displayed, up to the amount allowable by the data display area 101.
A third means for vertical scrolling may be accomplished by manipulating the cursor control device to position the cursor over the directional arrows 111 or 113 and then placing the switch in a predetermined position; the data and/or document within the window will scroll in the appropriate direction (until the data and/or document has been scrolled completely to the particular vertical end) while the cursor is kept over the appropriate arrow 108 or 109 and the switch is kept in the predetermined position.
This is often called scrolling by line.
An example of the result of vertical scrolling is illustrated by comparing Figure 1b with Figure 1c "~1986 Apple Computer, Incorporated" (17 U.S.C. 401). To reveal more items which are hidden in the view shown in Figure 1 b, either the vertical scroll box 112 is moved downward or the cursor is placed over the down scroll arrow 113 and the switch is placed in the predetermined position. The results of such scrolling is illustrated in Figure 1 b.
Referring to Figure 1 b, items 114, 115, and 116 represent the 2 0 three topmost items listed. After a vertical scroll, the display is as illustrated in Figure 1c. The items 114, 115, and 116 have been scrolled off of the screen. Item 117, which was the fourth listed item in Figure 1b, is now the first item in Figure 1c.
Additionally, more items, i.e. items 918, 119, ahd 120 are now visible in the display. Farther, the vertical scroll box 112 has been vertically displaced to reflect a vertical scrolling and a relative position of the items displayed.
Horizontal scrolling is accomplished in a similar fashion with the horizontal scroll box 107, the horizontal scroll area 121 3 0 or the horizontal scroll arrows 108 and 109. In the Finder interface, horizontal scrolling is disabled when the items are being viewed "by Name". 'Viewing by nam~ refers to a disk display y6_ of the items with certain characteristic information included (e.g. size, kind, and last modified). Alternatively, the items may be viewed as ICONs. When viewed as ICONs, horizontal scrolling is enabled.
As noted above, it is a desirable feature of the Finder interface to be able to select and move or copy items to arid from open windows. For known window interfaces, this feature is mutually exclusive with the scrolling method where the cursor is detected in a predetermined area (e.g. the scroll bars or the scroll arrows) and the switch associated with the cursor control device is in a predetermined position. The reason for this is to avoid undesired results. For example, unintended scrolling may occur if selected items are being "dragged" from one window to another.
This occurs because the switch associated with the cursor control device will be in the position to invoke scrolling and in order to position the cursor to another window, a window edge and a scroll area will usually be entered and detection in the scroll area will cause scrolling to occur.
In the instance where selected itam(s) are being moved to a folder that is "hidden" in the window, prior methods of accomplishing this task are cumbersome and unproductive. Such methods include selecting the items, "dragging" and depositing the items) on the Finder desktop, scrolling to the desired folder, re-selecting the items) from the Finder desktbp and "dragging"
the items for deposit into the desired folder. A second method would be to open the desired folder as a second window, scrolling and selecting the desired item(s), "dragging" the selected items) across the windows depositing the items) in the second window, and closing the window representing the desired folder. In each 3 0 of these methods the desired items. are selected and dragged, but require additional operations to accomplish the task. Moreover, each of these methods is premised on the featur~ that an item _7_ 2~~~~'~~
may be "dragged° and deposited outside of the window in which it was selected. Thus. it is d9sirahh tn nrn~irle fnr cnrnllinn in .~
window when items) have been selected and are being "dragged"
to a folder within the same window.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for scrolling; where it is possible to select an items) within a window, drag the items) and invo>te scrolling of data within the window when the cursor is detected in a predetermined area of the window for a predetermined period of time.
_g.

A method and apparatus for a computer controlled display system which provides for context sensitive scrolling is disclosed. 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 items) to within a 1 0 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.
The present invention detects that one or more items in a 1 5 region, such as a window have been selected, and that a switch associated with a cursor control device is in a second (usually down) position. Upon movement of the cursor, the selected items) are "dragged" or moved to another portion of the window or potentially to a second open window. The present invention 2 0 then detects if a cursor on the display has been in a predetermined scroll area for a predetermined period of time when items are being "dragged". If the predetermined area that is detected is near the tap edge of the window, the viewable portion will scroll down (i.e. the data and/or documer~ within the window 25 will scroll down so that the hidden data above the previously visible data will become viewable). if the predetermined area detected is near the bottom edge of the window, the viewable portion will scroll up ( i.~. the data and/or document within the window will scroll up so that th~ hidden data below the 3 0 previously visible data will become visible). Similarly, if the predetermined area that is det~cted is near th~a left edge of the window the viewable portion wdll scroll t~ th~ right (i.e. the data _g_ andlor document within the window will scroll to the right so that the hidden data to the left of the previously visible data will become visible), and if the predetermined area that is detected is near the right edge of the window, the viewable portion will scroll to the left (i.e. the data and/or document within the window will scroll to the left so that the hidden data to the right of the previously visible data will become visible).
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention relates to a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a plurality of regions may be displayed including at least a first region, said first region having at least a first item within a visible display area of said first region and said first region having at least one item, including a second item, which is not within the visible display area of said first region, a method for scrolling the contents of said first region to display said second item comprising: selecting at least said first item within said first region by positioning a cursor over said first item and by placing a switch means in a predetermined position so that said first item is associated with said cursor for further operation or manipulation;
positioning said cursor over a predetermined scrolling area; determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed while the cursor has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area; and scrolling the contents of said first region in a direction corresponding to said predetermined scrolling area to display said second item while said first item remains selected and associated with said cursor.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a file management system for a computer system having a display, a processor and a memory for storing files managed by said file management system, comprising: a first region displayed on said display having a data display area; a cursor displayed on said display;

and a first scroll area associated with said first region, said file management system allowing scrolling of contents displayed in said data display area of said first region in a first direction when said cursor has selected an item which represents a file managed by said file management system and said cursor has been moved with said item to said first scroll area and said cursor is disposed in said first scroll area and wherein said first scroll area scrolls said contents along only said first direction when in a first context, said file management system allowing said item to be dragged outside of said first region, and said file management system determining whether to scroll said contents displayed in said first region or to allow said item to be dragged outside of said first region.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a computer readable medium storing sequences of instructions for a file management system which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: determining if a first item within a data display area of a first region of a display has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over said first item so that said first item is associated with said cursor for further operation or manipulation, said first item representing a file managed by said file management system;
determining if said cursor has been moved with said first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area associated with said first region; determining whether to scroll said contents of said first region or to allow said one of items to be dragged outside of said first region; and scrolling the contents of said data display area of said first region while said cursor is positioned over said predetermined scrolling area and while said first item is associated with said cursor, to display a second Item and wherein said predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.
-10a-In a further aspect, the~present invention provides a computer system having a file management system which comprises: means for determining if a first item within a data display area of a first region of a display has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over said first item so that said first item is associated with said cursor for further operation or manipulation, said first item representing a file managed by said file management system; means for determining if said cursor has been moved with said first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area; means for determining whether to scroll the contents of said first region or to allow said first item to be dragged outside of said first region; and means for scrolling the contents of said data display area of said first region while said cursor is positioned over said predetermined scrolling area and while said first item is associated with said cursor, to display a second item and wherein said predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.
In a still further aspect, the present invention relates to a computer readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of interacting with a display capable of displaying a plurality of regions, the method comprising: determining if a first item within a data display area of a first region of the display has been selected by a user so that the first item may be further manipulated or operated on; determining if the first item has been moved and thereby positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of the first region;
determining whether to scroll the contents of the first region or to allow the first item to be moved from the first region to a second region; and scrolling the contents of the data display area of the first region while the first item is positioned over the predetermined scrolling area and the -10b-first item is selected, and wherein the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides, in a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a plurality of regions may be displayed including at least a first region, the first region having at least a first item within a visible display area of the first region, a method for moving the first item, the method comprising: determining if the first item within the first region has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over the first item so that the first item is associated the cursor for further operation or manipulation; determining if the cursor has been moved with the first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of the first region; determining whether to scroll the contents of the first region or to allow the first item to be moved from the first region to a second region, the second region overlaying the first region; and scrolling the contents of the first region while the cursor is positioned over the predetermined scrolling area and while the first item is associated with the cursor, and wherein the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.
In a still further aspect, the present invention relates to a computer system having a program which comprises: means for determining if a first item within a data display area of a first region of a display has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over said firs item so that said first item is associated with said cursor for further 25 operation or manipulation; means for determining if said cursor has been moved with said first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of said first region; means for determining whether to scroll said contents of said first region or to allow said first item to be moved from said first region to a second region; and means for scrolling -10c-the contents of said data display area of said first region while said cursor is positioned over said predetermined scrolling area and while said first item is associated with said cursor, to display a second item and wherein said predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of interacting with a display capable of displaying a plurality of regions comprising: determining if a first item within a data display area of a first region of a display has been selected by a user so that the first item may be further manipulated or operated on; determining if the first item has been moved and thereby positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of the first region; determining whether to scroll the contents of the first region or to allow the first item to be moved from the first region to a second region; and scrolling the contents of the data display area of the first region while the first item is positioned over the predetermined scrolling area and the first item is selected, and wherein the .
predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a computer readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising: determining if a first item within a first data display area of a first region has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over the first item so that the first item is associated with the cursor for further operation or manipulation; determining if the cursor has been moved with the first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of the first region; determining whether to scroll the contents of the first region or to allow the first item to be moved from the first region to a second region; and scrolling the contents of the first -10d-region while the cursor is positioned over the predetermined scrolling area and while the first item is associated with the cursor, and wherein the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.
-1 Oe-Figure 1 a illustrates a screen display, displaying two windows.
Figure t b illustrates a prior art screen display as utilized by the Finder Interface.
Figure is illustrates a prior art screen display as illustrated in Figure 1 b after scrolling has been invoked.
10 Figure 2 illustrates a computer system as may be utilized by the present invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a document's viewable display area and corresponding window (visible display area) as may be utilized by the present invention.
1 5 Figure 4 illustrates in detail a visible display area as may be utilized by the present invention.
Figure 5a illustrates a rectangular box outlining a cursor as may be utilized by the present invention.
Figure 5b illustrates the before scrolling contents of the 2 0 rectangular box as may be utilized by the present invention.
Figure 5c illustrates the after scrolling contents of the rectangular box as may be utilized by the present invention.
Figure 6 is a flowchart outlining the steps a user would undertake to perform a specific task in utilizi?rg the present 25 invention.
Figures 7a-7e are flowcharts outlining the process and steps a computer system would undertake in utilizing the present invention.
_11_ 2~e~~~_ !'~
A method for display of information in a computer system is described. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth such as pixel widths and wait times, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known control 1 0 structures and coding techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
The computer system of the preferred embodiment is described with reference to Figure 2. The present invention may be implemented on a general purpose microcomputer, such as one of the members of the Apple~ Macintosh~ family, one of the 2 0 members of the IBM Personal Computer family, or one of several work-station or graphics. computer devices which are presently commercially available. ~f course, the present invention may also be implemented on a multi-user system while encountering all of the cost, speed and function advantages and disadvantages available with these machines. It is advantag ous in the selection of any computer for implementation of the present invention that the computer is capable of supporting relatively high resolution graphics devices.
In any event, a computer system as may be utilised by the 3 0 preferr~d embodiment generally comprises a bus or oth~r communication means 201 ~ for communicating information, a processing means 202 coupl~d with said bus 209 for processing information, a random access m~mory (RAMS or other storage _12_ P Y~
1..
z ~ e.J "~.
device 204 (commonly referred to as a main memory) coupled with said bus 201 fior storing information and instructions for said processor 202, a read only memory (ROM) or other static storage device 206 coupled with said bus 201 for storing static information and instructions for said processor 202, a data storage device 207, such as a magnetic disk and disk drive, coupled with said bus 201 for storing information and instructions, a display device 222, such as a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display, etc, coupled to said bus 201 for displaying information to the computer user, an alphanumeric input device 225 including alphanumeric and other keys coupled to said bus 201 for communicating information and command selections to said processor 202, and a cursor control device 227, such as a mouse, track-ball, cursor control keys, etc, coupled to said bus 201 for communicating information and command selections to said processor 202 and for controlling cursor movement. It should be noted that the cursor control device of the preferred embodiment will be coupled with at least one switch capable of being detected in at least two positions. Finally, it is useful if the system includes a hardcopy device 229, such as a printer, for providing permanent copies of information. The hardcopy device 229 is coupled with the processor 202, main memory 204, static memory 206 and mass storage device 207 through bus 201.
Th~ preferred embodiment of the preset invention is implemented in the Finder Interface on a Macintosh computer available from Apple Computer, lnc. of Cupertino, California.
~escription of a Window in-the Preferred Embodiment .
Windowing systems provide the capability of displaying data in user-definable regions, which ar~ usually r~ctangutar portions of a display scr~~n. Controls are typically provided to _~ 3_ re-size and movo windows within the confines of the physical display boundaries. Additional controls provide for scrolling data andlor a document through a data display area associated with the window. It is a feature of window systems to provide for multiple viewable windows within the confines of the physical display boundaries. The window system of the preferred embodiment further provides a feature whereby selectod items from a first window may be moved to a second window.
A window as may be utilized by the preferred embodiment is illustrated in Figure 3 "~1986 Apple Computer, Incorporated"
(17 U.~.C. 401). A viewable display area 301 is represented by the rectangular area within the dashed lines 302. The viewable display area 301 represents, in concept, the area on which data is contained for a particular window or the entirety of a document.
A window or visible display area 303 is also illustrated. The terms window and visible display area are used interchahgeably to describe what a user would see of the data or document and window control means, on a display screen. The visible display area 303 is comprised of a data display area 304 and a plurality 2 0 of window control areas (described in more detail below). The data display area 304 contains the currently visible data. In the preferred embodiment, visible data consists of the contents of a folder or the contents of a storage medium but alternatively may be a graphics document or other type of docur~tent. Thd contents 2 5 in the preferred embodiment are singularly called items and include data files, executable code files, and other folders. It should be noted that if visible data does not exist, the corresponding folder or storage medium is empty.
The window control areas provide a means by which a 3 0 window can be closed, re-sized or means by which the viewable display area 301 can be moved through the data display area 304 (i.e. scrolling). It is obvious that, in many instances, the _14_ __,~
~~~a~~_~'~p~
viewable display area 301 can be wholly contained within the data display area 304. This often occurs when the viewable display area 301 is small or if the visible display area 303 is large enough to cover all viewabla data and/or the entire document.
Referring now to Figure 4 "~1986 Apple Computer, Incorporated" (17 U.S.C. 401), a visible display area 303 is shown in more detail. As described above, the visible display area 303 is comprised of a data display area 304 and a plurality of window control areas. In the preferred embodiment, these areas include a horizontal scroll bar area 402, a horizontal scroll box 414, a left scroll arrow 412, a right scroll arrow 413, a vertical scroll bar area 401, vertical scroll box 415, an up scroll arrow 410, a down scroll arrow 411, a window drag area 403 (to move the entire .
window), a window zoom area 404, a window re-size area 405, a close window area 406, and a header area 408. Also illustrated in Figure 4 but not visible to the user in the preferred embodiment is a. line 407. The line 407 represents a distance "d", measured in pixels, from the left edge of the window, which would invoke the scrolling of the preferred embodiment when the computer system detects a particular sequence of events is occurring. It should be noted that the screen display of the present invention is substantially similar to that in Figure 1 b.
Orienting from the viewer's perspective,'~in the preferred 2 5 embodiment, the distance "d" extends 20 pixels from the left edge of the window or visible display area 303. Use of an alternative distance "d" would not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the distance "d" remains constant, independent of the size of the 3 0 visible display area 303. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art to vary the size of the distance "d" to be associated with the size of the visible display area 303. In any event, th~ distance "d"

~~~a~,~~~.~
extends from the left edge of the visible display area 303 creating scroll area 409.
In the pref~rred embodiment left to right scrolling is invoked in scroll area 409 when items) are selected and being dragged. Selection of items and dragging of selected items are discussed in greater detail below. Left to right scrolling refers to a change in the viewed data where data located towards the right of the visible display area is removed from the visible display area, data located towards the left is moved to the right, and new data is displayed from the left side of the display area.
The scroll area 409 has no visible display boundaries and is defined within the the data display area 304. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art to define scroll area 409 so that it is not part of the data display area 304 but as a predefined scroll area.
On the bottom edge of the window 303, horizontal scrolling means are defined, i.e. horizontal scroll bar area 402, horizontal scroll box 414, left scroll arrow 412 and right scroll arrow 413.
Further defined is the window re-size area 405. In the preferred embodiment, bottom to top(vertical) scrolling can be invoked 2 0 when the cursor is in one of the areas 402, 405, 412, 413 or 414, when items) are selected and are being dragged. Bottom to top scrolling refers to a change in the viewed data where data located towards the top of the visible display area is removed from the visible display area, data located tov~ards the bottom is moved up, and new data is displayed from the bottom of the display area. This differs from the prior art in that the aforementioned areas 402, 412, 413 and 414 not only provides for horizontal scrolling when an item is selected and not being dragged but also provides for vertical scrolling when an item is 3 0 selected and is being dragged.
On the right edge of the window 303, the vertical scroll bar area 401, vertical scroll box 415, up scroll arrow 410, down _1 ~.

scroll arrow 411 are defined. In the preferred embodiment, right to left (horizontal) scrolling can be invoked when the cursor is positioned in one of the areas 401, 410, 411 or 415 when items) are selected and are being draggod. Right to left scrolling refers to a change in the viewed data where data located towards the left of the visible display area is removed from the visible display area, data located towards the right is moved to the left, and new data is displayed from the right side of the display area.
This differs from the prior art in that the aforementioned areas 1 0 401, 410, 411 and 415 not only provide for vertical scrolling when an item is selected and not being dragged but also provides for horizontal scrolling when an item is selected and is being dragged.
The header area 408 is defined adjacent to and below the 1 5 drag area 403. The header area 408 provides information concerning the data being displayed. 1n the preferred embodiment top to bottom scrolling is invoked in header area 408 when items) are selected and being dragged. Top to bottom scrolling refers to a change in the viewed data where data located towards 20 the bottom of the visible display area is removed from the visible display area, data located towards the top is moved down, and new data is displayed from the top of the display area.
It would be obvious to one skilled in the art to create the scroll areas of the preferred embodiment so tPrat they did not 2 5 exactly match those as described above for areas 401, 402, 405, 408, 410, 411, 412, 413; 414 and 415 Further, the scrolling of the preferred embodiment is on a line by line basis for vertical scrolling, and on a column by column basis for horizontal scrolling. it would be obvious to one skilled in the art to scroll 3 0 by other means, e.g. by the windowful. Such deviations would not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
' -1?-~~~c~ _r~Y~
a J :) c7 It Should be noted that the corner intersections of each of the scroll areas may define scrolling in a diagonal direction when an item is selected and being dragged. Ths corner 415 will invoke scrolling in a top to bottom and left to right direction. The corner 419 will invoke scrolling in a top to bottom and right to left direction. The corner 405 (also the window re-size area) will invoke scrolling in a bottom to top and right to left direction. Finally, the corner 412 (also the left scroll arrow) will invoke scrolling in a bottom to top and left to right direction.
It is also notable that the corners 405 and 412 perform alternative functions depending on the task being performed. This differs from the prior art where the corners 405 and 412 provided not function when itern(s) were selected and being dragged.
The scroll directions corresponding to each of the scroll areas in the preferred embodiment represent movement of the data in a direction that is intuitively natural to the user. For example, when the user wishes to view data below the currently displayed data, it is natural to look downwards. Thus, movement of the cursor towards the bottom of the window, to invoke bottom to top scrolling is intuitively correct.
The schema by which scrolling occurs in the preferred embodiment is explained with reference to Figures 5a-5c "~1986 Apple Computer, Incorporated" (17 U.~.C. 401 ). deferring to Figure 5a, a cursor 520 is surrounded by a rectangular area 521 3 0 (which is not visible to the user). In the preferred embodiment, the rectangular area 521 is a square whose width is 32 pixels (approximately 2 times that of a scroll bar e.g. vertical scroll bar _1 ~_ 401 ). However, it would be obvious to have a rectangular area with different widths or one that was not defined as a square.
When the cursor 520 is detected in one of the scroll areas so that scrolling is invoked (described in greater detail below), the data is scrolled so that the contents of the whole rectangle 521, is visible within the window. This is best illustrated by comparing Figure 5b with Figure 5c. In Figure 5b a cursor 523 is in a scroll area 522 before scrolling has occurred. It should be noted that the contents of a rectangular area 524 are not completely visible within the data display area 301. Referring now to Figure 5c, after scrolling, the contents of the rectangular area 524 are now completely visible within the data display area 304. The above described process repeats, for as long as the cursor is in the scroll area and there is data remaining to be viewed in the direction being scrolled.
The means by which the portion of the rectangular area that needs to be made visible is calculated and displayed, is known in the art. Such means are often embodied as window control macros within a user interface system. Such window control macros exist in the Finder interface. Thus, in the preferred embodiment the rectangular box information is passed to window control macros, which in turn causes the new data to be displayed, i.e. scrolled.
The scheme of the preferred embodimen~has two implications. The first is that when the cursor is positioned in a corner intersection of two scroll areas, the scrolling necessary to make the rectangular area completely visible must be in a diagonal direction. Second, the position of the cursor relative to the edges of a scroll area determines the amount of data to be scrolled in order to make the, rectangular area completely visible.
The closer to an outside edge of the window, the more data that will need to be scrolled for an individual step. Thus, th~ closer to _1 ~_ an outside edge of the scroll area, the faster the scrolling of data will appear to the user.
Th~ manner in which scrolling is typically invoked will be described in the context of a task. The task here is the selection of one or more items in a window, scrolling the window to locate a desired destination folder and depositing the selected items in that folder. However, other tasks may utilize the present invention e.g. scrolling to select another item while keeping the originally selected item still selected, with equal benefit. It 1 0 should be noted that the present invention operates in a windowing interface where a plurality of windows may be open and items may be moved from one window to another.
To enable the scrolling of the preferred embodiment, a user would typically foBlow the steps outlined in Figure 6. The first step 601 would be for th~ user to open the desired window.
Opening of the window may be accomplished by "double clicking"
on a folder in a currently displayed window or "double clicking" on an ICOiV representing a storage medium or. folder. It should be noted that the users of the Macintosh Computer system are familiar with the terms "clicking", "double clicking" and opening windows. "Clicking" refers to depressing a button on the cursor control device and immediately releasing it. "Double clicking"
refers to rapidly depressing/and releasing the button twice This creates a signal to the computer system to perform a pre-defined task, in this case opening a folder or directory of a storage medium.
Next, the user would select the desired item, step 602 within the opened window. In the preferred ~mbodiment, this would involve moving the cursor to the desired item and placing 3 0 the switch associated with the cursor control device in a predetermined position (typically by depressing the button associated with the cursor control d~vice). Alternatively, an .2p_ ~~~~,~.~~~
item may be selected by "clicking" the button associated with the cursor control device when it is positioned on an item. Selection of an item may be verified to the user by displaying the selected item in a highlighted fashion, e.g. by reverse video manner or by simply darkening the icon. Display in a reverse video manner simply refers to inverting the display signals of the item verifying the selection of an item; displaying in a reverse video manner is well-know. This causes tho item to be displayed with a dark background and a light foreground rather then a light 1 0 background and dark foreground. Darkening the icon refers to displaying the item in a darker manner. The preferred embodiment allows also multiple items to be selected, by using a shift-click selection technique. Using the shift-click technique, the user depresses a shift key on the keyboard while "clicking" on the desired item. This will result in multiple items being highlighted. Another technique of selecting multiple items is allowed when the items are being displayed as ICOIVs. With this technique, a point on the display is chosen for the creation of a selection rectangle. A switch associated with the cursor control 2 0 device will be placed in a second position and the cursor moved to a diagonal point of the selection rectangle. An outline of the selection rectangle will be created as the cursor is moved across the display. When the switch associated with the cursor control device is placed in the first position, the iteri~ within the selection rectangle will be "selected" and highlighted.
To deposit in the desired folder, the user would then drag the selected items to the desired folder, step 603. Dragging is accomplished by positioning the cursor on a selected item and placing the switch associated with the cursor control device in a 3 0 second position. It should be noted that in some instances the switch associated with the cursor control device is already in thg second position, typically when only one item is selected. While t ;~ s~ r v~
the switch is in the second position, the cursor can tae moved and an outline of the selected items) will follow the cursor, Dragging of items in this manner is known in the art. The user must then determine if the desired destination folder is visible in the data display area 304 (illustrated in Figure 3), step 604. If the desired folder is visible in the data display area 304, then the cursor is placed on that folder, step 605, and the switch associated with the cursor control device is placed into the first position, step 606. This results in the items being placed within that folder (i.e. moved to the desired directory), thus completing the tasks.
If the desired folder is not displayed in the data display area 304, scrolling of the window may be required to locate the desired folder. While the items are being dragged (and the switch is kept in the second position), scrolling is enabled by placing the cursor in one of the above described scroll areas of the visible display area 303 (illustrated in Figure 3), step 607. Generally, the sequence of the items will follow some logical organization, e.g. by alphabetical order or by size. Thus, the direction of the scrolling can be determined in a logical, manner. The cursor is placed in the scroll area for a predetermined period of time, step 608. (n the preferred embodiment, the cursor is kept in the scroll area for a minimum of one-sixth of a second. It would be obvious to vary this amount of time without departing~from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The user must than determine when scrolling is complete, step 609. As long as the desired destination folder is not in the data display area 304, the user would choose to continue scrolling, step 610 after which the user would then determine if scrolling is complete (i.e. repeat step 3 0 609). When the user maves the cursor out of the scroll area, scrolling is completed. The flow of user steps would then re-start at step 604.

It should b~ noted that the completion of scrolling may be signaled by another event; the exhaustion of viewable data in the direction being scrolled. When this occurs, the user may invoke scrolling in the above described manner, in a different direction.
Figures 7a-7e outline the computer system operation with respect to the user steps of Figure 6. Referring to Figure 7a, the system responds to the user request for a window by displaying a window, step 701. The system then determines if the user has selected an item in the window, step 702. !f the system detects that an item has been selected, the system highlights the item , step 703. The system then detects whether or not the user is selecting another item, step 704. This will occur in the preferred embodiment by a detection of the shift key signal while a selection is being made, step 704. If multiple items are being selected they will be highlighted per step 703. The system will then determine if the user has de-selected previously selected items. De-selection may occur if another item is selected without the depressing of the shift key. De-selection may also occur if the cursor is placed outside of the visible display area 303 and the switch associated with the cursor control device is set in the second position or "clicked". If de-selection occurs, the system will unhighlight the item, step 705x.
At this point, the system will detect whether the items are being dragged by monitoring cursor movement~and the position of the switch associated with the cursor control device, step 706.
As long as the user is not dragging the selected items, it will check to see if the user has selected another item, step 704.
When the items are being dragged, (the cursor is positioned over a selected item while the switch is set to the second position and 3 0 movement of the cursor is initiated) an outline of the selected items) is displayed, step 707. The outline follows the cursor as it moves across the display.
_~3_ ~~~'~~.'~~
Th~ system will then ~nter a state where it is detecting cursor movement and position, step 708. The system will first determine whether or not the cursor is in a scroll area, step 708a. In essence, it is trying to determine whether the user is attempting to scroll the data display area 304, or whether it is trying to move the selected items into another window. F3eferring to Figure 7b, assuming that the cursor has been detected in a scroll area, the next step is to determine if the cursor has been in the scroll area for a predetermined period of time, step 709. As described above, in the preferred embodiment the predetermined period of is time on~-sixth of a second. If the cursor was not in a scroll area for the predetermined period of time, the system returns to the state where it is detecting cursor movement and position, step 708. Otherwise, the system will detect which scroll area the cursor is in.
Referring to Figure 7c, assuming the cursor is detected on the left edge (i.e. the left to right scroll area), step 710a, the system will then calculate the scroll amount, step 710b. The system calculates the scroll amount by determining the amount 2 0 of data that needs to be displayed in order to bring the rectangular area surrounding the cursor completely into the visible display area (in the manner described above). As described above, the closer to an outside edge to a scroll area, the greater the amount of data that will need ~ be moved into the visible display area. Once this is done, the scrolling i.e. bringing the rectangular area into the visible display area occurs, step 710c. As described above, the steps 710b-710c are performed by a window control macro, which receives as input, information concerning the rectangle. It should be noted that as long as the 3 0 cursor remains in the scroll area, or some other event has not caused termination of scrolling (d~scribed in more detail below), the aforementioned steps 710b and 710c are repeated. .
_2,~_ i ca ~. ~ ~~
The steps 710d-7~ Ox are repetitive of the steps taken as described above, for each of the scroll areas. it is notable that steps 710m, 710p, and 710s {step 710v assumes the cursor is in the right/left edge corner) detect the cursor at an intersection of two scroll areas, i.e. a corner. In these instances, the corresponding scroll amount calculations, steps 710n, 710q, 710t, and 710x, must determine vertical and horizontal scrolling amounts in order to bring the rectangular scroll area into the visible display area. Again, these determinations are made by a window control macro.
When the rectangular area is in the viewable display area, i.e. a scroll has occurred, the system will check if an event has occurred to terminate scrolling, step 710y. Referring back to Figure 7b, the system will first detect the position of the switch associated with the cursor control device, step 711. If the switch has been placed in the first position, scrolling will stop, step 7i 2a and the system will return to the start state, step 716.
Assuming the switch is still in the second position, the position of the cursor is checked to determine if it was moved out of the scroll area, step 712. If the cursor is moved out of the scroll area, scrolling is stopped, step 712b. The system will then return to the state where it is detecting cursor movement and position, step 708. if the end of viewable data is reached in the direction of the scrolling, step 713, scrolling 1~ stopped, step 712b. The system will then return to the state where it is detecting cursor movement and position, step 708.
If none of the aforementioned events occur, scrolling continues for another rectangular area, step 714 and the system will then again check for events that will stop scrolling.
3 0 Referring to Figure 7d, assuming that the cursor is not in a scroll area, the cursor may b~ in either the existing window or another Finder window. The processing that occurs if the cursor _25_ is in either an existing window or another Finder window, is the same. Assuming that the cursor is in either another Finder window or the same window, it must be determined where the cursor is painting, step 717. First, it is determined whether or not the cursor is on an item, step 718. If the cursor is on an item, the system causes the item to be highlighted, step 719.
Assuming it is on an item, it is then determined whether or not the item is a folder, step 720. If the item is a folder and the switch associated with the cursor control device is detected in 1 0 the first position, step 721, the selected items are deposited in the folder, step 722, and the system goes back to its start state, step 723. !f the switch associated with the cursor control device is in the second position, the system must detect if the cursor is still on the item, step 726a. If the cursor is off the item, the item is unhighlighted, step 726b, and the system returns to the state where it is detecting cursor movement and position, step 708. If the cursor is still on the item, it again checks the position of the switch associated with the cursor control device, step 721.
2 0 If the cursor is not on an item or if the item is not a folder, the system must again determine the position of the switch associated with the cursor, step 724. If the cursor switch is in the first position, the system reverts to its start state, step 725 and deposits the files in the window where they were last located. If the switch is still in the second position, the system returns to the state where it is detecting cursor movement and position, step 708.
Referring now to Figure 7e, and assuming that the cursor is .
not detected in a window, the system checks to see if the cursor 3 0 may either be on an IC~IN representing a folder or some media, , step 727. If the cursor is detected on an IC~N, the I~OIV is highlighted, step 728. 'The syst~m then looks to detect whether -2s-or not the switch associated with the cursor control device is in the first or second position, step 729. If the switch is in the first position, the selected files are deposited into the folder or storage medium represented by the ICON, step '~30, and the system reverts back to its start state, step 731. If the switch is detected in the second position, the system returns to the state where it is detecting cursor movement and position, step 708.
If it is detected that the cursor is not on a folder or a media ICON, it is assumed that the cursor is on the Finder "desktop". in 1 0 the preferred embodiment, the Finder "desktop" refers to a base display area which spans the physical display and is the base of operations for organizing applications, folders, and other items.
Users of the (vlacintosh Computer System will be familiar with the Finder "desktop". The position of the switch associated with 1 5 the cursor control device is then checked, step 733. If the switch associated with the cursor control device is in the first position, the system deposits the selected items on the Finder "desktop", step 734, and the system reverts to its start state, step 735. If the switch associated with the cursor control device is in the 20 second position, the system returns to the state where it is detecting cursor movement and position, step 708.
Thus, a method and apparatus intelligent scrolling has been described. By defining predetermined scroll areas within the 25 boundaries of a window display, and utilizing processor means by which the processor determines the context the user is in, the position of the cursor within the display, and the time the cursor has been in the designated position, scrolling can be enabled while maintaining the selection of items within the window being 30 scrolled.
_27.

Claims (115)

1. A computer readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of interacting with a display capable of displaying a plurality of regions, the method comprising:
determining if a first item within a data display area of a first region of the display has been selected by a user so that the first item may be further manipulated or operated on;
determining if the first item has been moved and thereby positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of the first region;
determining whether to scroll the contents of the first region or to allow the first item to be moved from the first region to a second region;
and scrolling the contents of the data display area of the first region while the first item is positioned over the predetermined scrolling area and the first item is selected, and wherein the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.

2. The computer readable medium as described in claim 1 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the second region is a desktop.

3. The computer readable medium as described in claim 1 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the first region is a window.

4. The computer readable medium as described in claim 1 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:

the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a second direction when in a second context; and the method further comprising scrolling the contents of the data display area of the first region when no item is selected and when in a second context.

5. The computer readable medium as described in claim 4 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:

the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

6. The computer readable medium as described in claim 1 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
manipulating the first item comprises moving a representation of the first item.

7. The computer readable medium as described in claim 1 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the rate of scrolling of the contents of the data display area is determined based on the location of the first item within the predetermined scrolling area.

8. ~The computer readable medium as described in claim 1 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the first region overlays the second region.

9. ~In a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a plurality of regions may be displayed including at least a first region, the first region having at least a first item within a visible display area of the first region, a method for moving the first item, the method comprising:
determining if the first item within the first region has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over the first item so that the first item is associated the cursor for further operation or manipulation;
determining if the cursor has been moved with the first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of the first region;
determining whether to scroll the contents of the first region or to allow the first item to be moved from the first region to a second region, the second region overlaying the first region; and scrolling the contents of the first region while the cursor is positioned over the predetermined scrolling area and while the first item is associated with the cursor, and wherein the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:
the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a second direction when in a second context, the second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and the method further comprising scrolling the contents of the first region when in the second context of the predetermined scrolling area.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein:
manipulating the first item comprises moving a representation of the first item on the display.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein:
the first context of the predetermined scrolling area requires that an item be moved into the predetermined scrolling area; and the second context of the predetermined scrolling area requires that an item not be moved into the predetermined scrolling area.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein:
scrolling occurs at a rate determined by the location of the cursor within the predetermined scrolling area.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein:
the first context of the predetermined scrolling area requires that an item be moved into the predetermined scrolling area; and the second context of the predetermined scrolling area requires that the cursor not be associated with an item.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:
scrolling occurs at a rate determined by the location of the cursor within the predetermined scrolling area.

16. In a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a plurality of regions may be displayed including at least a first region, said first region having at least a first item within a visible display area of said first region and said first region having at least one item, including a second item, which is not within the visible display area of said first region, a method for scrolling the contents of said first region to display said second item comprising:
selecting at least said first item within said first region by positioning a cursor over said first item and by placing a switch means in a predetermined position so that said first item is associated with said cursor for further operation or manipulation;
positioning said cursor over a predetermined scrolling area;
determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed while the cursor has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area; and scrolling the contents of said first region in a direction corresponding to said predetermined scrolling area to display said second item while said first item remains selected and associated with said cursor.

17. A method as in claim 16 wherein said step of positioning said cursor over said predetermined scrolling area occurs while said switch means is kept in said predetermined position.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said first region comprises a window and wherein a second region comprises a desktop which cannot be scrolled.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said switch means is located on a cursor control device which positions said cursor on said display and said first region contains at least four predetermined scrolling areas comprising a scrolling area located near the top edge of said first region, a scrolling area near the bottom edge of said first region, a scrolling area near the left edge of said first region, and a scrolling area near the right edge of said first region.

20. The method recited in claim 16 wherein said step of scrolling the contents of said first region further includes scrolling said first region at a rate corresponding to the position of said cursor in said predetermined scrolling area.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said scrolling direction is a diagonal direction.

22. The method as recited in claim 16 is further comprised of the steps of:
positioning said cursor over a second predetermined scrolling area; and scrolling the contents of said first region in a direction corresponding to said second predetermined scrolling area.

23. A method as in claim 16 wherein said step of determining that a predetermining period of time has elapsed also determines whether scrolling is in a first and or a second context and wherein said predetermined scrolling area causes scrolling in a first direction in said first context and causes scrolling in a second direction in said second context.

24. A method as in claim 23 wherein said first direction is perpendicular to said second direction.

25. In a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a plurality of windows may be displayed, each of said plurality of windows being capable of displaying a plurality of items, said computer controlled display system allowing at least one selected item from a first window of said plurality of windows to be moved to a second of said plurality of windows, a method for scrolling a visible display area of said first window comprising the steps of:
positioning a cursor on a first item in said first window by manipulation of a cursor control device;
selecting said first item so that said first item is associated with said cursor for further operation or manipulation;
positioning said cursor in one of a plurality of predetermined scrolling areas associated with said first window;
determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed while the cursor has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area and while said first item remains selected; and scrolling said visible display area in a corresponding direction of said predetermined scrolling area, said corresponding direction determined by the location of said predetermined scrolling area relative to said first window while said first item remains associated with said cursor.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein said step of selecting said item is further comprised of placing a switch means associated with said cursor control device in a predetermined position.

27. A method as in claim 26 further comprising the steps of:
determining said switch associated with said cursor control device is not in said predetermined position; and terminate scrolling of said visible display area.

28. A method as in claim 27 further comprising the steps of:
determining that the cursor is no longer positioned in said predetermined scrolling area; and terminate scrolling of said visible display area.

29. A method as in claim 28 wherein said predetermined period of time has elapsed while the cursor has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area is one-sixth of a second.

30. A method as in claim 29 wherein a rate of scrolling is dependant on cursor position with respect to an outside edge of said predetermined scrolling areas, so that when said cursor is positioned closer to an outside edge of said predetermined scrolling areas, said scrolling rate is increased.

31. A method as in claim 30 wherein said cursor may be simultaneously positioned in more than one of said predetermined scrolling areas, so that scrolling is in two directions.

32. A method as in claim 25 wherein said first item is selected by positioning said cursor over said first item and by placing a switch means in a predetermined position and wherein the step of positioning said cursor in one of a plurality of predetermined scrolling areas occurs by moving a representation of said first item, while keeping said switch means in a predetermined position, over to said one of a plurality of predetermined scrolling areas.

33. In a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a plurality of regions may be displayed including at least a first region, said first region having at least one item, including a first item, within a visible display area of said first region and said first region having at least one item, including a second item, which is not within the visible display area, said second item being a directory, a method for scrolling the contents of said first region to display said second item and depositing at least said first item into said second item, comprising:
selecting at least said first item within said first region by positioning a cursor over said first item and by placing a switch means in a first predetermined position;
positioning said cursor over a predetermined scrolling area located within said first region;
determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed while the cursor has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area;
scrolling the contents of said first region in a direction corresponding to said predetermined scrolling area to display said second item while said first item remains selected, said direction determined by the location of said predetermined scrolling area relative to said first region; and depositing at least said first item into said second item by positioning the cursor over said second item and by placing said switch in a second predetermined position.

34. In a computer controlled display system having a display wherein a plurality of regions may be displayed including at least a first region, said first region having at least a first item within a visible display area of said first region and said first region having at least one item, including a second item, which is not within the visible display area of said first region, a method for scrolling the contents of said first region to display said second item comprising:
selecting at least said first item within said first region by positioning a cursor over said first item so that said first item is associated with said cursor for further operation or manipulation;
positioning said cursor over a predetermined scrolling area and dragging an image of said first item displayed adjacent said cursor;
determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed while the cursor has been positioned in said predetermined scrolling area; and scrolling the contents of said first region in a direction corresponding to said predetermined scrolling area to display said second item while said first item remains selected and its image remains displayed adjacent said cursor.

35. A file management system for a computer system having a display, a processor and a memory for storing files managed by said file management system, comprising:
a first region displayed on said display having a data display area;
a cursor displayed on said display; and a first scroll area associated with said first region, said file management system allowing scrolling of contents displayed in said data display area of said first region in a first direction when said cursor has selected an item which represents a file managed by said file management system and said cursor has been moved with said item to said first scroll area and said cursor is disposed in said first scroll area and wherein said first scroll area scrolls said contents along only said first direction when in a first context, said file management system allowing said item to be dragged outside of said first region, and said file management system determining whether to scroll said contents displayed in said first region or to allow said item to be dragged outside of said first region.

36. The file management system as described in claim 35, further comprising a second scroll area associated with said first region, said file management system scrolling contents displayed in said data display area in said first region in a second direction different from said first direction when said cursor has selected an item which represents a file managed by said file management system and is disposed in said second scroll area.

37. The file management system as described in claim 35, wherein said contents in said data display area of said first region do not scroll in said first direction when said cursor is disposed in said first scroll area and has not selected an item.

38. The file management system as described in claim 35, said file management system further having the capability to move said item from a first portion of said data display area of said first region to a second portion of said data display area of said first region, said first portion visible and said second non-visible prior to said scrolling.

39. The file management system as described in claim 38 further comprising a further item disposed in said second portion, said file management system further having the capability to deposit said item into said further item.

40. A file management system as in claim 35 wherein said file management system allows said item to be dragged outside of said data display area of said first region and wherein said file management system determines whether to scroll said contents displayed in said first region or to allow said item to be dragged outside of said first region.

41. A file management system as in claim 35 wherein said first region is a window.

42. A file management system as in claim 41 wherein said file management system determines whether to scroll or to allow said item to be dragged by determining whether said cursor is near said first scroll area for a predetermined period of time.

43. A computer readable medium storing sequences of instructions for a file management system which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
determining if a first item within a data display area of a first region of a display has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over said first item so that said first item is associated with said cursor for further operation or manipulation, said first item representing a file managed by said file management system;

determining if said cursor has been moved with said first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area associated with said first region;
determining whether to scroll said contents of said first region or to allow said one of items to be dragged outside of said first region; and scrolling the contents of said data display area of said first region while said cursor is positioned over said predetermined scrolling area and while said first item is associated with said cursor, to display a second item and wherein said predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.

44. The computer readable medium as described in claim 43 further storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the further steps of:
determining if a switch has been placed in a first predetermined position when said cursor is positioned over said first item;
determining if said switch remains in said first predetermined position when said cursor has been positioned over said predetermined scrolling area; and, scrolling the contents of said data display area of said first region while said cursor is positioned over said predetermined scrolling area while said switch remains in said first predetermined position.

45. The computer readable medium as described in claim 43 further storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the further steps of:
determining if said cursor has been positioned over said second item and if said switch has been positioned in a second predetermined position; and, depositing said first item into said second item if said cursor has been positioned over said second item and said switch has been placed in said second predetermined position.

46. The computer readable medium as in claim 45 wherein said second item is a folder which represents a sub-directory and wherein said first item is placed inside said folder by said depositing step.

47. The computer readable medium as described in claim 43 further storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the further step of:
moving said first item from a first data display area portion of said first region to a second data display area portion of said first region, said first portion visible and said second portion non-visible prior to said scrolling.

48. The computer readable medium as described in claim 47 further storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the further step of:
depositing said first item into said second item disposed in said second data display area portion.

49. The computer readable medium as in claim 43 further storing instructions which when executed cause the processor to perform steps comprising:
depositing said first item into said second item, said second item being a folder which represents a sub-directory and wherein said first item is placed inside said folder by said depositing step.

50. A computer readable medium as in claim 43 further storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the further steps of:
determining whether to scroll the contents of said first region or to allow said first item to be dragged outside of said first region.

51. A computer readable medium as in claim 43 wherein said first region comprises a first window and said first item is capable of being dragged from said first window to a second window.

52. A computer readable medium storing sequences of instructions for a file management system, which when executed by a processor of a computer system, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
determining if a cursor has been positioned near a first scroll area displayed on a display, said first scroll area associated with a first region displayed on said display, said first region having a data display area displaying a first plurality of items representing files managed by said file management system;
determining if said computer system is in a first user operation context or a second user operation context wherein said second user operation context is determined by whether one of said items has been selected and has been moved with said cursor;
determining whether to scroll said contents of said first region or to allow said one of said items to be dragged outside of said first region;
and scrolling contents of said data display area of said first region in a first direction to display a second plurality of items representing files managed by said file management system if said computer system is in said first user operation context while said cursor is positioned near any part of said first scroll area, and scrolling said contents in a second direction different from and perpendicular to said first direction if said computer system is in said second user operation context while said cursor is positioned near said first scroll area and wherein said first scroll area scrolls said contents along only said first direction when in said first user operation context.

53. The computer readable medium as described in claim 52 wherein when in said first user operation context said first scroll area scrolls said contents along an up/down direction.

54. The computer readable medium as described in claim 52 further storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
determining if said cursor has been positioned over a second scroll area associated with said first region;
determining if said computer system is in said first user operation context or said second user operation context; and, scrolling said contents of said data display area of said first region in said second direction if said computer system is in said first user operation context while said cursor is positioned over said second scroll area and scrolling said contents in said first direction if said computer system is in said second user operation context while said cursor is positioned over said second scroll area.

55. The computer readable medium as in claim 54 further storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform steps comprising:

moving a first item from a first portion of said data display area of said first region to a second portion of said data display area of said first region, said first portion being visible and said second portion being non-visible prior to said scrolling;
depositing said first item into a second item disposed in said second portion, said second item being a folder which represents a sub-directory.

56. A computer readable medium as in claim 55 further storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, allow a user to move said first item from said first region which is a first window to a second window.

57. The computer readable medium as described in claim 52 further storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the step of:
moving a first item from a first data display area portion of said first region to a second data display area portion of said first region, said first portion being visible and said second portion being non-visible prior to said scrolling.

58. The computer readable medium as described in claim 57 further storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the step of:
depositing said first item into a second item disposed in said second portion.

59. The computer readable medium as in claim 58, wherein said second item is a folder which represents a sub-directory and wherein said first item is placed inside said folder by said depositing step.

60. A computer readable medium as in claim 52 further storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method further comprising:
determining whether to scroll said contents of said data display area of said first region in said second direction or to allow said one of said items to be dragged outside of said first region.

61. A computer readable medium as in claim 52 wherein said first region comprises a first window and said one of said items is capable of being dragged from said first window to a second window.

62. A computer readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
determining if a first item within a data display area of a first window of a display has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over said first item so that said first item is associated with said cursor for further operation or manipulation;
determining if said cursor has been moved with said first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of said first window;
determining whether to scroll said contents of said first window or to allow said first item to be moved from said first window to said second window; and scrolling the contents of said data display area of said first window while said cursor is positioned over said predetermined scrolling area and while said first item is associated with said cursor, to display a second item and wherein said instructions also provide a capability of allowing a user to move said first item from said first window to a second window and wherein said predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.

63. The computer readable medium as described in claim 62 further storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform said method which further comprises:
determining if a switch has been placed in a first predetermined position when said cursor is positioned over said first item;
determining if said switch remains in said first predetermined position when said cursor has been positioned over said predetermined scrolling area; and scrolling the contents of said first window while said cursor is positioned over said predetermined scrolling area while said switch remains in said first predetermined position.

64. The computer readable medium as described in claim 63 further storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform said method which further comprises:
determining if said cursor has been positioned over said second item and if said switch has been positioned in a second predetermined position; and depositing said first item into said second item if said cursor has been positioned over said second item and said switch has been placed in said second predetermined position.

65. The computer readable medium as described in claim 62 further storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform said method which further comprises:
moving said first item from a first portion of said data display area of said first window to a second portion of said data display area of said first window, said first portion being visible and said second portion being non-visible prior to said scrolling.

66. The computer readable medium as described in claim 65 further storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform said method which further comprises:
depositing said first item into said second item disposed in said second portion.

67. A computer readable medium as in claim 62 further storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform said method which further comprises:
determining whether to scroll said contents of said data display area of said first window or to allow said first item to be moved from said first window to said second window.

68. A computer system having a file management system which comprises:
means for determining if a first item within a data display area of a first region of a display has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over said first item so that said first item is associated with said cursor for further operation or manipulation, said first item representing a file managed by said file management system;

means for determining if said cursor has been moved with said first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area;
means for determining whether to scroll the contents of said first region or to allow said first item to be dragged outside of said first region; and means for scrolling the contents of said data display area of said first region while said cursor is positioned over said predetermined scrolling area and while said first item is associated with said cursor, to display a second item and wherein said predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.

69. The computer system as in claim 68 further comprising:
means for determining if a switch has been placed in a first predetermined position when said cursor is positioned over said first item;
means for determining if said switch remains in said first predetermined position when said cursor has been positioned over said predetermined scrolling area; and means for scrolling the contents of said data display area of said first region while said cursor is positioned over said predetermined scrolling area while said switch remains in said first predetermined position.

70. The computer system as in claim 69 further comprising:
means for determining if said cursor has been positioned over said second item and if said switch has been positioned in a second predetermined position; and means for depositing said first item into said second item if said cursor has been positioned over said second item and said switch has been placed in said second predetermined position.

71. The computer system as in claim 68 comprising:
means for moving said first item from a first data display area portion of said first region to a second data display area portion of said first region, said first portion being visible and said second portion being non-visible prior to said scrolling.

72. The computer system as in claim 71 further comprising:
means for depositing said first item into said second item disposed in said second portion.

73. A computer system as in claim 68 further comprising:
means for determining whether to scroll the contents of said data display area of said first region or to allow said first item to be dragged outside of said first region.

74. A computer system having a program which comprises:
means for determining if a first item within a data display area of a first region of a display has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over said first item so that said first item is associated with said cursor for further operation or manipulation;
means for determining if said cursor has been moved with said first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of said first region;

means for determining whether to scroll said contents of said first region or to allow said first item to be moved from said first region to a second region; and means for scrolling the contents of said data display area of said first region while said cursor is positioned over said predetermined scrolling area and while said first item is associated with said cursor, to display a second item and wherein said predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.

75. The computer system having a program as described in claim 74 wherein the program further comprises:
means for determining if a switch has been placed in a first predetermined position when said cursor is positioned over said first item;
means for determining if said switch remains in said first predetermined position when said cursor has been positioned over said predetermined scrolling area; and means for scrolling the contents of said first region while said cursor is positioned over said predetermined scrolling area while said switch remains in said first predetermined position.

76. The computer system having a program as described in claim 75 wherein the program further comprises:
means for determining if said cursor has been positioned over said second item and if said switch has been positioned in a second predetermined position; and means for depositing said first item into said second item if said cursor has been positioned over said second item and said switch has been placed in said second predetermined position.

77. The computer system having a program as described in claim 74 wherein the program further comprises:
means for moving said first item from a first portion of said data display area of said first region to a second portion of said data display area of said first region, said first portion being visible and said second portion being non-visible prior to said scrolling.

78. The computer system having a program as described in claim 77 wherein the program further comprises:
means for depositing said first item into said second item disposed in said second portion.

79. The computer system having a program as described in claim 74 wherein the program further comprises:
means for determining whether to scroll said contents of said data display area of said first region or to allow said first item to be moved from said first region to said second region.

80. A method of interacting with a display capable of displaying a plurality of regions comprising:
determining if a first item within a data display area of a first region of a display has been selected by a user so that the first item may be further manipulated or operated on;
determining if the first item has been moved and thereby positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of the first region;
determining whether to scroll the contents of the first region or to allow the first item to be moved from the first region to a second region;
and scrolling the contents of the data display area of the first region while the first item is positioned over the predetermined scrolling area and the first item is selected, and wherein the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein:
the second region is a desktop.

82. The method of claim 80 wherein:
the first region is a window.

83. The method of claim 80 wherein:
the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a second direction when in a second context; and scrolling the contents of the data display area of the first region when no item is selected and when in a second context.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein:
the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

85. The method of claim 80 wherein:
manipulating the first item comprises moving a representation of the first item.

86. The method of claim 80 wherein:
the rate of scrolling of the contents of the data display area is determined based on the location of the first item within the predetermined scrolling area.

87. The method of claim 80 wherein:
the first region overlays the second region.

88. A computer readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
determining if a first item within a first data display area of the display has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over the first item so that the first item is associated with the cursor for further operation or manipulation;
determining if the cursor has been moved with the first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of the first data display area;
determining whether to scroll the contents of the first data display area or to allow the first item to be moved from the first data display area to a second data display area; and scrolling the contents of the first data display area while the cursor is positioned over the predetermined scrolling area and while the first item is associated with the cursor, and wherein the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.

89. The computer readable medium as described in claim 88 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the second data display area displays the data associated with a desktop.

90. The computer readable medium as described in claim 89 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the first data display area displays the data associated with a window.

91. The computer readable medium as described in claim 88 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a second direction when in a second context.

92. The computer readable medium as described in claim 91 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:

the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

93. The computer readable medium as described in claim 88 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
manipulation of the first item comprises moving a representation of the first item.

94. The computer readable medium as described in claim 91 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:

the first context requires that an item be selected.

95. The computer readable medium as described in claim 88 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
scrolling the contents of the first data display area serves to display a second item, the second item in a portion of the data display area made visible after scrolling the data display area.

96. The computer readable medium as described in claim 95 further storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method further comprising:
depositing the first item into the second item.

97. The computer readable medium as described in claim 88 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the first data display area having four predetermined scrolling areas, each predetermined scrolling area scrolling the contents along only a first direction when in a first context, the intersection of two predetermined scrolling areas scrolling the contents along a diagonal direction when in a first context.

98. A computer readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
determining if a first item within a first data display area of a first region has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over the first item so that the first item is associated with the cursor for further operation or manipulation;

determining if the cursor has been moved with the first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of the first region;
determining whether to scroll the contents of the first region or to allow the first item to be moved from the first region to a second region;
and scrolling the contents of the first region white the cursor is positioned over the predetermined scrolling area and while the first item is associated with the cursor, and wherein the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.

99. The computer readable medium as described in claim 98 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the second region is a desktop.

100. The computer readable medium as described in claim 99 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the first region is a window.

101. The computer readable medium as described in claim 100 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the first region overlays the second region.

102. A computer system having a program which comprises:

means for determining if a first item within a data display area of a first region of a display has been selected by a user so that the first item may be further manipulated or operated on;
means for determining if the first item has been moved and thereby positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of the first region;
means for determining whether to scroll the contents of the first region or to allow the first item to be moved from the first region to a second region; and means for scrolling the contents of the data display area of the first region while the first item is positioned over the predetermined scrolling area and the first item is selected, and wherein the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.

103. The computer system of claim 102 wherein:
the second region is a desktop.

104. The computer system of claim 102 wherein:
the first region is a window.

105. The computer system of claim 102 wherein:
the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a second direction when in a second context; and means for scrolling the contents of the data display area of the first region when no item is selected and when in a second context.

106. The computer system of claim 105 wherein:
the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

107. The computer system of claim 102 wherein:
means for manipulating the first item comprises means for moving a representation of the first item.

108. The computer system of claim 102 wherein:
the rate of scrolling of the contents of the data display area is determined based on the location of the first item within the predetermined scrolling area.

109. The computer system of claim 102 wherein:
the first region overlays the second region.

110. A computer readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
determining if a first item within a first region has been selected by a user by positioning a cursor over the first item so that the first item is associated with the cursor for further operation or manipulation;
determining if the cursor has been moved with the first item and positioned over a predetermined scrolling area of the first region;
determining whether to scroll the contents of the first region or to allow the first item to be moved from the first region to a second region, the second region overlaying the first region; and scrolling the contents of the first region while the cursor is positioned over the predetermined scrolling area and while the first item is associated with the cursor, and wherein the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a first direction when in a first context.

111. The computer readable medium as described in claim 110 further storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the predetermined scrolling area scrolls the contents along only a second direction when in a second context; and the method further comprising scrolling the contents of the first region when in a second context.

112. The computer readable medium as described in claim 111 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

113. The computer readable medium as described in claim 110 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:
manipulating the first item comprises moving a representation of the first item on the display.

114. The computer readable medium as described in claim 110 further storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method comprising:
depositing the first item in a second item.

115. The computer readable medium as described in claim 110 storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method wherein:

scrolling the contents of the first region occurs at a rate based on the location of the cursor within the predetermined scrolling area.