Method of interacting with a scrollable area on a portable electronic device

Abstract

A method of interacting with a scrollable area on a portable electronic device is described. In accordance with one embodiment, the method comprises: displaying on a touch-sensitive display a transparent scrollbar which overlays elements of a user interface screen; decreasing a transparency level of the transparent scrollbar when a touch event is detected in a scrollable area of the user interface screen to increase visibility of the transparent scrollbar, wherein the transparency level of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased from a default level over a duration of the touch event; and hiding the transparent scrollbar when the touch event ends.

1 . A method, comprising:
 displaying on a touch-sensitive display a transparent scrollbar which overlays elements of a user interface screen;   decreasing a transparency level of the transparent scrollbar when a touch event is detected in a scrollable area of the user interface screen to increase visibility of the transparent scrollbar, wherein the transparency level of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased from a default level over a duration of the touch event; and   hiding the transparent scrollbar when the touch event ends.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transparency level of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased up to a limit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transparency level of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased until the duration of the touch event is greater than or equal to a threshold duration. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 highlighting the transparent scrollbar when the duration of the touch event is greater than or equal to a threshold duration.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the highlighting comprises changing a color of the transparent scrollbar. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the highlighting comprises changing an appearance of the transparent scrollbar from a first visual state to a second visual state different from the first visual state. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 performing an action associated with the transparent scrollbar when selection input is detected while the transparent scrollbar is highlighted.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the action is context-sensitive in dependence on one or both of content of the scrollable area or an item in the scrollable area beneath the transparent scrollbar. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 scrolling content of the scrollable area at a first rate when the transparent scrollbar is not highlighted; and   scrolling content of the scrollable area at a second rate when the transparent scrollbar is highlighted.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the threshold duration represents a touch and hold gesture. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the threshold duration is 400 milliseconds. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 increasing a width of the transparent scrollbar concurrently with the transparency level over the duration of the touch event.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the width of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased up to a limit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the width of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased until the duration of the touch event is greater than or equal to a threshold duration. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent scrollbar is displayed adjacent to a location of the touch event. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent scrollbar overlays at least part of the scrollable area. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent scrollbar is displayed concurrently with the user interface screen when the user interface screen is displayed. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 displaying on a touch-sensitive display a transparent scrollbar which overlays elements of a user interface screen;   decreasing a width of the transparent scrollbar when a touch event is detected in a scrollable area of the user interface screen to increase visibility of the transparent scrollbar, wherein the width of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased from a default level over a duration of the touch event; and   hiding the transparent scrollbar when the touch event ends.   
     
     
         20 . A portable electronic device, comprising:
 a processor;   a touch-sensitive display having a touch-sensitive overlay coupled to the processor;   wherein the processor is configured for: displaying on a touch-sensitive display a transparent scrollbar which overlays elements of a user interface screen; decreasing a transparency level of the transparent scrollbar when a touch event is detected in a scrollable area of the user interface screen to increase visibility of the transparent scrollbar, wherein the transparency level of the transparent scrollbar is progressively decreased from a default level over a duration of the touch event; and hiding the transparent scrollbar when the touch event ends.