Method and data processing device for controlling a variable scroll speed

The invention relates to a method for controlling a variable scroll speed used while scrolling through a dataset and a corresponding data processing device. US 2015/0253875 Al discloses a variable speed autoscroll system comprising a user controlled device having a control member. The control member is adapted to enable a user to select a scrolling speed that determines the rate at which scrolling occurs within a document. Specifically the control member is adapted to allow a user to select the scrolling speed based on a degree of displacement of the control member, wherein an increase in the degree of displacement results in a nonlinear increase in a resulting scrolling speed. Thus the scrolling rates are actively controlled by the user and allow for quickly scrolling through large documents with reduced chance of repetitive motion injuries.

It is an objective of the present invention to allow a user to quickly, easily and efficiently scroll through large amounts of data without missing important details thereof.

This objective is achieved by a method having the features of patent claim 1 and a device having the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims as well as in the following description and the drawings.

A method according to the present invention is concerned with controlling a variable scroll speed used while scrolling through a dataset that is being - directly or indirectly - output to a user by a data processing device. To allow for quick, easy and efficient scrolling through the dataset even if it contains a large amount of data at least one point of interest in the dataset is identified. The scroll speed is then automatically varied by the data processing device during the scrolling depending on a distance between a current scrolling position in the dataset and the at least one point of interest.

In terms of the present invention scrolling is to be understood as a process of outputting data via a physical or logical interface, particularly a user interface. This refers in particular to a continuous sliding or moving data, in particular different parts of a dataset, on a screen or monitor but may also include other ways of outputting data. These may include audio output, wherein scrolling in one direction corresponds to fast-forwarding and scrolling in another direction corresponds to rewinding. Especially when the data is displayed on a screen the scrolling may occur in different directions such as vertical and/or horizontal.

Scrolling may occur continuously or in incremental steps. Scrolling in incrementally, stepwise or gradually may for example move or change a displayed portion of the dataset by a predefined number of lines, pixels, seconds, or bytes. In general, the dataset may include images, video, text, etc. Scrolling through the data or dataset does not change a lay ^¬ out of the images, text, etc. but moves a user's view or perception across what is apparently a larger image or set of images, a longer text, etc. that is not wholly seen at any particular point in time.

The scrolling may be started, initiated, and/or stopped by the user through respective commands or control actions. The data processing device could be set to scroll through the whole dataset or a predetermined portion of the dataset automatically, i.e. continuously or gradually output the dataset or part of the dataset automatically without further commands by the user.

The scroll speed is a speed, rate, or rate of change at which the scrolling occurs, e.g. the dataset appears to move across the screen or display. For example the dataset may comprise a plurality of images. During scrolling through the dataset one image or at least parts of two or more different images may be displayed at any one time while appearing to move towards and beyond an edge of the display. At a slower scroll speed it takes a great amount of time for a particular image to fully move across the display and be replaced by the follow ^¬ ing image or images than at a greater or faster scroll speed. The current scrolling position at any particular point in time refers to whatever part or portion of the dataset is output to the user at that point in time. For example, the current scrolling position may be or refer to a particular image or part of an image or page or line of text if that same image or part of an image or page or line of text is displayed at a certain position of the display or is

currently output to the user in another way at that

particular moment. The current scrolling position may be determined by the data processing device. The current scrolling position may be determined or tracked continuously or at predefined or spe ^¬ cified time intervals. A point of interest in the dataset may be or refer to any identifiable part, portion and/or feature of the dataset. For example, in a medical image such as an X-ray image or a CT- or MRI-image a point of interest could be a point of fracture of a bone, a possible tumor, a hematoma or the like. In a text a point of interest could for example be a beginning of a chapter or a particular word or phrase. In an audio file a point of interest could for example also be a beginning of a chapter, a particular spoken word or phrase or a particular sound or musical note.

There may be more than one point of interest in one dataset. There may also be more than one point of interest in a specific part of a dataset such as in one image or on one page of text, etc.

The distance between the current scrolling position and a point of interest may refer to a duration needed to scroll from the current scrolling position to the point of interest at a predefined or given scroll speed. Alternatively the distance may refer to an amount of data stored between data being displayed at the current scrolling position and data identified as the point of interest or comprising the point of interest. This may be especially applicable if the dataset is stored or encoded in a linear or sequential way or format. The distance may also refer to an amount of data being output to the user while scrolling from the current scrolling posi- tion to the point of interest. This may include empty or blank portions of the dataset such as for example blank images or pages or empty lines or white spaces in a document. There may also be other equally viable ways of defining the above mentioned distance. The distance may be zero if the current scrolling position matches the location of the point of interest, i.e. if the point of interest is currently dis ^¬ play or output at the current scrolling position. A positive distance may indicate that the point of interest can be reached by scrolling forward or downward from the current scrolling position while a negative distance or distance value may indicate that the point of interest can be reached by scrolling backwards or upwards from the current scrolling position. The above remarks regarding the distance between the current scrolling position and a point of interest may also be pursuant to a distance between two different points of interest.

The distance may be determined and/or tracked by the data processing device continuously or at predetermined time intervals. This may for example occur similar to determining the current scrolling position. The data processing device may be configured to determine and/or track the distance from the current scrolling position to a closest point of interest and/or a next point of interest in the current scrolling direction. The data processing device may also be configured to determine and/or track the distances between the current scrolling position and multiple or all points of interest of the dataset.

The identification of the at least one point of interest may be carried out by the user, by another user, the data pro ^¬ cessing device, another data processing device, or a combi- nation thereof. Preferably the at least one point of interest is identified before the user or data processing device begins scrolling through the dataset. The identification of the at least one point of interest may comprise storing data regarding the respective point or points of interest such as for example its position, size, and/or type in the dataset and/or in another file. The data processing device may refer to these stored data to determine the respective scroll speed at each scrolling position. The identification of the at least one point of interest may also comprise marking the respective point or points of interest in the dataset. Such a marking could for example be a frame around the point of interest, an arrow pointing towards the point of interest, an accentuation or highlighting of the point of interest or a corresponding area.

The automatic variation of the scroll speed while scrolling through the dataset means that for example a greater or faster scroll speed can be used to scroll through parts or portions of the dataset that do not contain any points of interest (POIs) . Correspondingly, a smaller or slower scroll speed can be used as the current position approaches or reaches the point of interest (POI) . This advantageously allows the user scroll through uninteresting or unimportant parts or portions of the dataset relatively quickly. Due to the automatic slowing down of the scroll speed at or around the POI however, the user has enough time to recognize the POI and study it in detail. The slower scroll speed gives the user enough time to react, for example to stop the scrolling process to further study the POI, without scrolling past the POI and thus having to backtrack or reverse the scrolling direction. Thus the present invention can help the user to faster reach interesting or important parts, portions or sections of the dataset without missing any of them. Thus the present invention can increase productivity without sacrifi ^¬ cing work quality. It is especially advantageous that the user can find any POIs in the dataset even without any prior knowledge of the dataset or its content, since inadvertent scrolling past a POI is reliably prevented. It is also a benefit of the present invention that the user does not need to modify his or her behaviour, learn or use special commands or pay extra attention to any markings indication points of interest. The user may, in other words, use a single scroll- ling command, action, or gesture and nevertheless benefits from different, context-sensitive scroll speeds, since the scroll speed is automatically varied or adjusted by the data processing device without any special input by the user regarding scroll speed.

To give a command to prompt the data processing device to start or stop scrolling the user may for example use a com ^¬ puter mouse or trackball device, in particular a correspond- ding scroll wheel or scroll ball respectively, a swiping gesture on a touchpad or trackpad, a gesture recognised by a gesture recognition system, or a respective gesture or action recognised by an augmented or virtual reality device. In particular, the user may use the same command or action to scroll regardless of the current scrolling position, since the scroll speed is varied or adjusted automatically by the data processing device.

A scroll command given by the user may correspond to a standard scroll speed. To vary the scroll speed, the data processing device may dynamically alter the standard scroll speed or select a scroll speed that differs from the standard scroll speed. The data processing device may vary the scroll speed corresponding to a predefined functional relation bet- ween the distance from the current scrolling position to the at least one POI . This functional relation may for example be of a linear, quadratic, or exponential type. It may also be defined sectionally, i.e. different section may be described by different mathematical relations. Advantageously, the scroll speed may be constant within a predetermined distance from or around the at least on POI .

Advantageously, the scroll speed can be set to one of at least two different constant values depending on whether the distance is greater or smaller than at least one predefined threshold. The data processing device can, in other words, vary or change the scroll speed between at least two differ- rent constant values. Therein the scroll speed can be set to a smaller or lower value if the distance between the current scrolling position and the at least one POI is smaller than the threshold. Correspondingly, the scroll speed can be set to a greater or higher value if the distance between the current scrolling position and the at least one POI is grea- ter or larger than the threshold. This functionality max specifically refer to a distance in the direction of the current scrolling direction. Therefore, the threshold dis ^¬ tance may then extend from each POI in one direction only. It is, however, preferable that the threshold distance extends from the POI in all or at least two opposite directions.

Setting the scroll speed to constant values and thus limiting it has several advantages. A constant scroll speed allows the data processing device to consistently output, in particular display, the data. This in turn allows the user to recognise or absorb the data even at relatively high scroll speeds without losing a context or sense of where the current scrollling position is located with regards to the total extent of the dataset. A constant scroll speed close to the POI allows for consistent, time efficient output of data, making it easy for a user to study the POI and/or surrounding parts of the dataset in close detail. It is particular advantage of a constant scroll speed in proximity to the POI that inadvertent scrolling past the POI is made less likely and a precise, purposeful, and intuitive positioning of the current scrolling position relative to the POI is facilita ^¬ ted . It is especially advantageous if the threshold distance extends in all or both scrolling directions from the POI. This allows for easy and detailed studying of portions of the dataset immediately surrounding the POI while preventing inadvertent scrolling far past the POI. It also allows the user to easily and precisely scroll forwards and backwards past the POI within the threshold distance without losing a sense of distance between the respective current scrolling position and the POI. Advantageously, the scroll speed is changed in a continuous acceleration phase before and/or after the distance between the current scrolling position and the at least one POI reaches or passes the at least one threshold. The accelera ^¬ tion of the scroll speed may be positive or negative corres- ponding to a change to a higher or lower scroll speed res ^¬ pectively. The scroll speed is, in other words, not instantly switched between different constant values. Instead, there is a continuous or gradual adjustment of the scroll speed so that the scroll speed takes on at least one, preferably a plurality, of different values while going from one of the constant values to another. The scroll speed may, in other words, be ramped up or down when the distance reaches or passes the at least one threshold. The ramping may be pro ^¬ vided from one of the constant values all the way to the other. Alternatively, the ramping may only be provided for a part of the difference between the two constant values, thereby lowering a magnitude of a discontinuous or discrete change or jump in scroll speed. The acceleration phase or ramping of the scroll speed may for example follow or be described by a linear, quadratic, exponential, or sectionally defined mathematical relation. The above mentioned

acceleration phase advantageously allows for an especially smooth, consistent and easily comprehensible transition between two different constant scroll speed values. This prevents the user from being surprised by a sudden switch between different scroll speeds and thus ensures that the user can more easily keep a sense of context within the data- set surrounding the current scrolling position and/or the

POI . Providing an acceleration phase for the transition between different scroll speeds may also prevent flickering of a screen or display, especially when scrolling past multiple POIs located in close proximity to one another.

Advantageously, multiple points of interest may be identified within the dataset. The scroll speed may then be set depen ^¬ ding on the distance between the current scrolling position on the one hand and the next and previous points of interest with respect to the current scrolling position on the other hand. It is, in other words, not only considered or taken into account how far away the next POI in the current scroll- ling direction is located but also how far past the previous POI the current scrolling position is located. This can mean that the scroll speed is in fact kept at its current value even though the distance to the next POI is greater than a predefined threshold for increasing the scroll speed, in case the distance between the current scrolling position and the previous POI is smaller than the or another predefined threshold. This advantageously prevents the scrolling from speeding up immediately or too soon after passing, i.e.

scrolling past or by, a POI. Therefore the user may scroll back and forth past a POI to examine the vicinity of the POI in a precise manner with relatively low scroll speed without having to be mindful of an increase in scroll speed. This behaviour of the scrolling process and the data processing device can also lead to higher efficiency in taking in or analysing the dataset. If in one direction from the current scrolling position the dataset contains no POI, only the distance between the current scrolling position and the POI closest to it may be considered or taken into account, i.e. used in determining and/or setting the intended the scroll speed . Advantageously, the at least one point of interest is automa ^¬ tically identified by a computing device before the scrolling according to a predefined or user-specified ruleset. This means that the dataset is automatically analysed by a machine to identify any and all POIs contained therein. Which

features are considered POIs may be specified by the ruleset. The ruleset however may be created and/or selected by the user or a user. Automating the identification of POIs can further increase the efficiency and productivity with regard to analysing, reading, or, in general terms, process the dataset. To identify the POIs of the dataset, computer ana ^¬ lytics algorithms may be used in a pre-processing step taking place after originally acquiring or generating the dataset but before the dataset is output to the user. The computing device may be identical to the data processing device or it may be a different and/or separate device.

It can also be possible to manually identify one or more POIs in the dataset.

The automatic and or manual identification of POIs can take place immediately before the user starts to scroll through the dataset. It is, however, also possible to identify the at least one POI in advance. This means for example that the present invention can very effectively be used to scroll through a dataset previously reviewed by another user. The previous user could have identified or marked one or more POIs to which the current user can now very quickly and easily scroll. Thus the present invention allows to very quickly and efficiently obtain a second opinion concerning the dataset or parts thereof.

Advantageously, the dataset comprises a set of medical images obtained by means of a medical imaging procedure. These images might for example be X-ray-, MRI-, CT-, PET-, SPECT-, or ultrasound-images. The present invention is especially advantageous in this context since these types of images are often generated in large numbers each representing a thin slice of an imaged object, wherein only a relatively small number of images in a group of images of the object actually show certain interesting or relevant features. At the same time it can be beneficial for an examiner who is studying a group or set of such medical images to quickly scroll through the entire dataset of images to gain an overview without needing to closely study every individual image in detail.

Advantageously, multiple different points of interest can be identified in the single dataset and these POIs can be clas ^¬ sified into different classes. The scroll speed can then be varied by the data processing device depending on a distance between the current scrolling position and one or more class members selected through a predefined criterion. This means that the scroll speed may not be slowed or reduced while scrolling towards and past a POI if that POI does not match or fit the criterion, i.e. is not selected. This advan ^¬ tageously allows the user to quickly and easily locate and access specific POIs interesting to him in each case.

Especially advantageously the criterion may be specified and/or changed by the user at any time. This allows the user to refine or tailor the scrolling behaviour according to his needs. To specify and/or change the criterion a user inter ^¬ face, menu structure, or equivalent means may be provided. It is to be noted that one or more POIs, i.e. class members, may be selected from each class. It is also possible to select one or more whole classes. Advantageously, the criterion is a user defined selection or intersection of classes or parts of classes. The selection is, in other words, neither limited to members of a single class nor to whole classes. Advantageously, complex crite- rions, conditions, constraints may be formulated. These could for example be constructed or specified using search-strings, regular expressions, logical operator, and/or similar means. Through the use of a criterion the user may control or instruct the data processing device to automatically vary the scroll speed only depending on the distance between the current scrolling position and one or more POIs matching the specified criterion, i.e. selected according to the crite ^¬ rion. As an example, the dataset may comprise a set or group of MRI-images or slices, wherein multiple types and instances of medical symptoms and/or conditions are shown. The user may then specify as POIs only images containing or showing for example a nodule and a hematoma but not a scar.

A data processing device according to the present invention comprises a user interface and is configured to output a dataset to a user via the user interface with a variable scroll speed. To allow a user to quickly, easily and effi ^¬ ciently scroll through large amounts of data without missing important details thereof it is provided that the data pro ^¬ cessing device is configured to automatically vary the scroll speed used in outputting the dataset to the user depending on a distance between a current scrolling position and at least one predetermined point of interest in the dataset.

The data processing device may comprise a processing unit (CPU), a memory device, and an I/O-system. In particular, the data processing device may comprise a monitor or display device for displaying data such as for example images, video, and/or text contained in the dataset. Alternatively or in addition the data processing device may comprise a loudspea ^¬ ker for outputting sound or audio data.

In particular, the data processing device according to the present invention may be configured to carry out or conduct a method according to the present invention. For this purpose the data processing device may comprise one or more micro ^¬ processors and/or one or more microcontrollers. Further, the data processing device may comprise program code that is designed to perform one or more embodiments of the method according to the present invention when executed by the data processing device, specifically by the processing unit. The program code may be stored in a data storage of the data processing device. A storage medium on which the above mentioned code is stored is another aspect of the present invention . The respective embodiments of the method according to the present invention as well the respective advantages may be applied to the data processing device and/or the program code according to the present invention as applicable. Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embody- ments of the present invention as well as from the drawings pertaining to the present invention. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figure alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

In the drawings depicts a simplified schematic flow chart of a method according to the present invention; depicts a schematic diagram illustrating a variation of a scroll speed according to the present invention; depicts a schematic diagram illustrating three datasets of medical images with different recon ^¬ struction directions to all of which the method according to the present invention is applicable; FIG 4 partly depicts schematically a fourth dataset

multiple indicated points of interest; and FIG 5 depicts schematically a part of a selection inter ^¬ face for selecting points of interest in a dataset.

FIG 1 depicts an example of a schematic flow chart 1 illus- trating a process or method for controlling a variable scroll speed used while scrolling through a dataset. In a step 2 the method is started. This step may include providing the pre ^¬ viously gathered or generated dataset to a data processing device .

In a following step 3 the dataset is processed by the data processing device to identify any points of interest (POIs) in that dataset. POIs may be certain characteristics, fea ^¬ tures, spots, or parts of the dataset that match a predefined criterion or ruleset. This process of identifying the POIs in the dataset can be done automatically and autonomously by the data processing device.

In a subsequent step 4 the dataset is output to a user via a user interface of the data processing device. For the present example the dataset is presumed to consist of or comprise a set or group of medical images such as MRI-images showing slices of an object. Also for the present example it is pre ^¬ sumed that the user interface comprises a screen or display. Thus in step 4 a first one of the images may be displayed on the screen.

In a subsequent step 5 the user issues a scroll command to the data processing device thereby instructing it to begin scrolling through the dataset. By scrolling through the dataset consecutive images of the dataset are moved across the screen. Parts of several different images may be shown on the screen at the same time. As indicated by a dashed arrow the user may give additional scroll commands or commands to stop scrolling or to scroll in a different direction at any point. Prior to actually executing the scroll command and begin scrolling, in a step 6 the data processing device determines a current scroll position. This step may be exe- cuted continuously or for example at predefined time inter ^¬ vals so that the current scrolling position is available to the data processing device as a variable for use in further steps .

In a subsequent step 7 the data processing device compares the current scrolling position to the respective positions of the POIs. Data indicating the positions of the POIs may for example be stored in a separate file or a metadata section of the dataset available to the data processing device. The data processing device may check the current scrolling position against the respective positions of the next and previous POIs from the current scrolling position. In case the dataset is scrolled to an endpoint, i.e. the top most part of the first image or the bottom most part of the last image is shown, there may be no previous or next POI respectively. Then the current scrolling position may for example be compared only to the position of the POI nearest to the current scrolling position. Also in step 7, the data processing de- vice determines the distance from the current scrolling position to the nearest POI of - in case both exist - to the previous and next POIs as seen from the current scrolling position . In step 8, the data processing device sets the scroll speed that it uses for the scroll command given by the user in step 5. It is to be understood that the scroll command may specify a scrolling direction and that this direction may be taken into account in setting the scroll speed. To set or select the scroll speed, the data processing device checks the distance or distances determined in step 7 against at least one predefined threshold. The scroll speed to be used is selected depending on whether the distance or distances are greater or smaller than the threshold. For this purpose a characteristic map or field or a mathematical relation speci ^¬ fying the dependence between the scroll speed and the dis ^¬ tance or threshold may be provided. The selection process is further illustrated in connection with FIG 2 and FIG 4. In step 9 the scroll command is then executed using the set scroll speed.

The scrolling may continue towards the next POI according to the scroll command or according to further scroll commands given by the user in the meantime. The above mentioned steps may be carried out for each new scroll command.

For the present example it is presumed that the scrolling continues until the distance between the current scrolling position and the next POI in the scrolling direction reaches or passes the threshold. Accordingly, the scroll speed has to be varied or modified. This takes place in step 10, where the scroll speed is reduced since the current scrolling position is now closer to the POI than the limit defined by the threshold .

For the present example it is further presumed that the scrolling continues past the POI at the reduced scroll speed or scrolling rate. At this point the POI is no longer the next POI in the current scrolling direction since it is now located behind the current scrolling position and thus has become the previous POI. If in step 11 the distance between this - now previous - POI and the current scrolling position becomes greater than the threshold or greater than a separate different threshold while the distance from the current scrolling position to the new next POI is still greater than the threshold, the scroll speed is then automatically set to its previous, greater value by the data processing device in step 12.

Thus the scroll speed takes on a different, preferably lower value at and near a POI than far from any POI. This allows the user to scroll from one POI to the next very quickly but still provides the opportunity to closely study each POI due to the reduced scroll speed in its vicinity. Step 13 schematically indicates that at least some of the above mentioned steps may be executed in a loop. It is, however, to be understood that the flow chart 1 poses only one illustrative example. It is obvious to any specialist in the field that different embodiment of the described method can be successfully implemented without leaving the scope of the present invention.

FIG 2 schematically depicts a diagram, wherein an ordinate 14 indicates the scroll speed s and an abscissa 15 indicates a proximity p of the current scrolling position to the next POI . Thus a curve 16 indicates a variation of the scroll speed s in dependence of the proximity p from the current scrolling position to the next POI. As long as the current scrolling position is relatively far away from the next POI the scroll speed s is set to a first constant value 17.

Specifically, the scroll speed is kept at this first constant value 17 while the proximity p is smaller than a first thres ^¬ hold 18, i.e. while the distance between the current scrol- ling position and the next POI in the direction of the res ^¬ pective current scrolling direction is greater than the first threshold 18.

As the current scrolling position passes the first threshold 18, the scroll speed s is reduced to a second constant value 21. Between the first constant value 17 and the second con ^¬ stant value 21 there is a deceleration phase indicated by a first ramp 19 in the curve 16. This first ramp 19 corresponds to a gradual or continuous slowing down of the scroll speed s, i.e. a negative acceleration. At the end of the first ramp 19 the scroll speed s is at the second constant value 21. The proximity p at which this should occur may be given by a second threshold 20. As the scrolling continues with the scroll speed s at the second constant value 21 the proximity p eventually reaches a third threshold 22. At this point the scroll speed s is again reduced as indicated by a second ramp 23. At the end of the second ramp 23 - corresponding to a fourth threshold 24 - the scroll speed s reaches a third constant value 25. In this manner the scroll speed s may be reduced stepwise as the current scrolling position gets closer the next POI. The third constant value 25 of the scroll speed s may for example be used while scrolling through an image or page containing the respective POI and the immediate previous and next images or pages. These images or pages immediately surrounding the image or page containing the respective POI might be called next neighbour images or pages.

As the current scrolling position passes the respective POI the curve 16 may be used in opposite direction to illustrate how the scroll speed s gets gradually increased as the pro- ximity between the current scrolling position and the res- pecttive passed POI increases. For example, the scroll speed s may be increased again to the second constant value 21 symmetrically to the second ramp 23 as soon as the increasing distance between the current scrolling position and the POI reaches or passes a value greater than the fourth threshold 24.

In other words, FIG 2 shows a possible example or version of a behaviour or configuration of the data processing device or a user input device with regards to handling or responding to or processing scroll commands.

The described behaviour of the data processing device may to some degree feel to a user as though there were a magnetic interaction between the current scrolling position and the POI .

FIG 3 schematically depicts a diagram illustrating a first dataset 26, a second dataset 27, and a third dataset 28. Each dataset 26, 27, 28 comprises multiple medical images. Raw medical data can be reconstructed to generate useful medical images or slices. Using methods well known in the correspond- ding field, this reconstruction process can be carried out using different reconstruction directions to, in simple terms, slice the measured object in different ways. These different reconstruction directions are illustrated or indicated by the three coordinate axis of the diagram. This is meant as an explicit note that the method for controlling, in particular for varying, the scroll speed as described herein is invariant to different reconstruction or slicing directions and thus applicable for all three datasets 26, 27, 28. The scrolling direction may in each case correspond to the reconstruction direction or slicing direction of the dataset 26, 27, 28.

FIG 4 schematically depicts a part of a fourth dataset 29 comprising a text file with multiple lines of text. The fourth dataset 29 contains multiple POIs 30 as indicated by multiple arrows. The POIs may for example be instances where a search term or phrase is matched by text of the fourth dataset 29. The POIs may, in other words, correspond to or indicate search results or findings. As can be clearly seen, there may be different distances between two neighbouring POIs 30. As such there may be cases where the distance between two individual neighbouring POIs 30 is smaller than for example the fourth threshold 24, i.e. the proximity p between those two neighbouring POIs 30 is greater than the fourth threshold 24. In such cases the scroll speed s remains at the third constant value 25 while the current scrolling position is located between the two neighbouring POIs 30.

FIG 5 schematically depicts a part of a selection interface 31 for selecting POIs in or of a dataset. This may pertain to the datasets 26, 27, 28, 29, and/or any other dataset not depicted herein. Presently, the selection interface 31 lists a first class 32, a second class 33, and a third class 34. These classes 32, 33, 34 may each contain one or more speci- fic POIs of a specific dataset or, in general, one or more different types of POIs. In the depicted case for example, the first class of POIs contains the types Al, A2, A3, and so forth up to An. These different types Al to An may for example in a medical context correspond to different types of primary skin lesions such as macules, patches, papules, nodules, tumors, cysts, etc. To facilitate a considered and well informed selection, each class 32, 33, 34 may contain additional data. The first class 32 may for example include data SI, S2, S3, up to Sn

concerning a typical size or size range for the respective type Al to An. Furthermore the first class 32 may for example include additional describing characteristics CAl, CA2, CA3, up to Can giving more detailed descriptions or explanations of the different corresponding types Al to An.

In a similar fashion, the second class 33 may contain dif- ferent types Bl, B2, etc. of secondary skin lesions and respective describing characteristics CB1, CB2, etc.

In a similar fashion, the third class 34 may contain differ- rent types CI, C2, C3, etc. of vascular skin lesions as well as corresponding additional data SCI, SC2, SC3, etc. about a typical size or range of sizes and describing characteristics CC1, CC2, CC3, etc. of the respective type CI, C2, C3, etc. of vascular skin lesion. The user may select one or more of the classes 32, 33, 34 and/or individual types Al to An, Bl, B2, etc., CI, C2, C3, etc. The user may carry out this selection manually or through specifying a selection criterion. As an example the user might select types Al, A3, and B2 as well as the whole third class 34. Preferably a single input device, tool, mem ^¬ ber, or interface can be used for this selection process as well as for giving the scroll command or commands in step 5 of FIG 1. This allow for a very fast and efficient operation of the data processing device. The selection made by the user through the selection interface 31 is taken into account by the data processing device in controlling or varying the scroll speed s. Only distances between the current scrolling position and POIs matching the selection are factored into setting the scroll speed s. This means that a dataset may contain POIs that are disregarded in the process of

controlling or setting the scroll speed s.

The user may also specify an intersection criterion for selecting POIs or parts of a dataset to be taken into account for setting the scroll speed s. For example, only points, images, pages, or parts of the dataset containing a POI of type Al and a POI of type C3 but no POIs of type CI might be factored in. This is, of course, just an example and arbi ^¬ trary logical combinations of different POIs, types of POIs, and/or classes or categories may be specified.

Summing up, the present invention enables fast and efficient dynamic high speed scrolling through a dataset with minimal requirements or strain on part of a user through varying a scroll speed depending on a distance between a current scrolling position in the dataset and at least one point of interest therein.