Intelligent scrolling

Claim 2

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.

Claim 3

The file management system as described in claim 1, 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.

Claim 4

The file management system as described in claim 1, 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.

Claim 5

The file management system as described in claim 1, 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.

Claim 6

The file management system as described in claim 4 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.

Claim 7

A file management system as in claim 1 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.

Claim 8

A file management system as in claim 1 wherein said first region is a window.

Claim 9

A file management system as in claim 7 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.

Claim 10

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.

Claim 11

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.

Claim 12

The computer readable medium as described in claim 9 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.

Claim 13

The computer readable medium as described in claim 10 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.

Claim 14

The computer readable medium as in claim 11 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.

Claim 15

The computer readable medium as described in claim 9 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.

Claim 16

The computer readable medium as described in claim 13 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.

Claim 17

The computer readable medium as in claim 9 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.

Claim 18

A computer readable medium as in claim 9 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.

Claim 19

A computer readable medium as in claim 9 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.

Claim 20

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.

Claim 21

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.

Claim 22

The computer readable medium as described in claim 18 wherein when in said first user operation context said first scroll area scrolls said contents along an up/down direction.

Claim 23

The computer readable medium as described in claim 18 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.

Claim 24

The computer readable medium as in claim 20 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.

Claim 25

A computer readable medium as in claim 21 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.

Claim 26

The computer readable medium as described in claim 18 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.

Claim 27

The computer readable medium as described in claim 23 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.

Claim 28

The computer readable medium as in claim 24, 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.

Claim 29

A computer readable medium as in claim 18 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.

Claim 30

A computer readable medium as in claim 18 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.

Claim 31

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.

Claim 32

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.

Claim 33

The computer readable medium as described in claim 28 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.

Claim 34

The computer readable medium as described in claim 29 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.

Claim 35

The computer readable medium as described in claim 28 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.

Claim 36

The computer readable medium as described in claim 31 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.

Claim 37

A computer readable medium as in claim 28 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.

Claim 38

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.

Claim 39

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.

Claim 40

The computer system as in claim 34 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.

Claim 41

The computer system as in claim 35 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.

Claim 42

The computer system as in claim 34 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.

Claim 43

The computer system as in claim 37 further comprising: means for depositing said first item into said second item disposed in said second portion.

Claim 44

A computer system as in claim 34 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.