Patent ID: 6583795
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
A display control method used by a display control apparatus, which includes a display device and an input device, that displays an obtained message, in the display area of a window with a scroll bar, said display control method comprising the steps of:(a) storing scroll option information in response to a scroll option change operation performed by an operator; (b) detecting the reception of a new message; (c) referring to said stored scroll option information to determine whether an automatic scroll mode is thereby specified; (d) removing from said display area, when it is ascertained at said step (c) that said automatic scroll mode is specified by said scroll option information, at least one portion of a message that is currently displayed, and displaying in said display area at least one portion of said new message; and (e) adding said new message to a virtual display area, when it is ascertained at said step (c) that said automatic scroll mode is not specified by said scroll option information, and setting a state wherein said operator can use said scroll bar to refer to a desired message included in said virtual display area.