Methods and systems for scrolling and pointing in user interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a structure for navigating in a GUI with a handheld device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, which incorporates buttons and a scroll wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for switching between a scrolling mode and a pointing mode in a user interface comprising the steps of:
 rotating a scroll wheel to enter said scrolling mode and move a cursor;   moving at least one of a cursor and a highlighting of an object in response to said rotation of said scroll wheel; and   disabling said pointing mode for a first predetermined time period after said rotation of said scroll wheel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first predetermined time period is less than one second. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first predetermined time period is 300 ms. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 after said first period of time has expired, entering a soft freeze state.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of:
 during said soft freeze state, entering said pointing mode if a user supplies greater than a predetermined amount of torque to a handheld pointing device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of entering said pointing mode during soft freeze state if a user moves a remote control device a predetermined distance within a predetermined second time period. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said predetermined distance within a predetermined second time period is 25 degrees/second. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said predetermined amount of torque is user-settable. 
     
     
         9 . A method for scrolling through objects comprising the steps of:
 rotating a scroll wheel at a first rotation rate;   selecting sequential objects in response to said first rotating step;   rotating said scroll wheel at second rotation rate; and   selecting non-sequential objects in response to said second rotating step.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of selecting non-sequential objects in response to said second rotating step further comprises wherein each non-sequential object is the next non-visible object. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said step of rotating said scroll wheel at second rotation rate further comprises rotating said scroll wheel such that a time between each scroll-wheel index is no more than 20 milliseconds. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of selecting non-sequential objects in response to said second rotating step further comprises the step of:
 skipping a number of objects between selections, wherein said number is selected based upon a number of objects on a GUI screen that is currently being displayed.   
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed on a computer, perform the steps of:
 detecting rotation of a scroll wheel;   entering a scrolling mode in response to said detecting step and moving at least one of a cursor and a highlighting of an object in response to said rotation of said scroll wheel; and   disabling a pointing mode for a first predetermined time period after said rotation of said scroll wheel.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein said first predetermined time period is less than one second. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein said first predetermined time period is 300 ms. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 after said first period of time has expired, entering a soft freeze state.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 during said soft freeze state, entering said pointing mode if a user supplies greater than a predetermined amount of torque to a handheld pointing device.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of entering said pointing mode during soft freeze state if a user moves a remote control device a predetermined distance within a predetermined second time period. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein said predetermined distance within a predetermined second time period is 25 degrees/second. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein said predetermined amount of torque is user-settable. 
     
     
         21 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed on a computer, perform the steps of:
 detecting rotation of a scroll wheel at a first rotation rate;   selecting sequential objects displayed on a user interface in response to said first rotating step;   detecting rotation of said scroll wheel at second rotation rate; and   selecting non-sequential objects displayed on said user interface in response to said second rotating step.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein said step of selecting non-sequential objects in response to said second rotating step further comprises wherein each non-sequential object is the next non-visible object. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein said step of rotating said scroll wheel at second rotation rate further comprises rotating said scroll wheel such that a time between each scroll-wheel index is no more than 20 milliseconds. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein said step of selecting non-sequential objects in response to said second rotating step further comprises the step of:
 skipping a number of objects between selections, wherein said number is selected based upon a number of objects on a GUI screen that is currently being displayed.