BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to the field of graphical user interfaces, and more particularly to pagination of electronic content displayed via graphical user interfaces.

A graphical user interface (GUI) is a form of user interface through which a user interacts with an electronic device, such as a computer, hand-held mobile device, or smart appliance through various icons, menus, and other visual indicators (i.e., graphical elements). Typically, user actions in a GUI are performed through direct manipulation of the graphical elements. Upon manipulating a graphical element, a corresponding action supported by the graphical element is performed. For example, selection of a graphical element results in a web browser loading a particular web page associated with the graphical element.

Electronic pagination, also known as “electronic paging,” is the process of dividing or splitting the contents of an electronic dataset, such as a website, into discrete electronic pages. Pagination is oftentimes used in web applications to allow direct access to divided contents across a number of different pages. For example, pagination can be used to display a limited number of results on a search engine results page, or show a limited number of posts when viewing a forum thread. Access to divided contents is provided in the form of a user interface pattern (i.e., “pagination pattern” or “pagination design pattern”), which is to say a set of machine logic rules that specify how the contents are divided up (for example, first 5,000 words on first page, second 5,000 words on second page, . . . residual, leftover words on last page). These machine logic rules dictate how the contents are divided into separate pages, and therefore dictate how the user accesses the information (for example, dictate how many times a user has to hit a NEXT PAGE button to see a 5001stpost on a discussion thread at a web site).

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for a user interface pagination operation is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes generating a pagination design pattern rendered on a web page as a plurality of virtual buttons displayed on a display screen of a device, wherein each virtual button of the plurality of virtual buttons is respectively mapped to a plurality of actions related to graphical elements of the pagination design pattern. The computer-implemented method further includes locating the display of the plurality of virtual buttons to positions within a periphery of the display screen of the device. The computer-implemented method further includes, subsequent to locating the display of the plurality of virtual buttons to positions within the periphery of the display screen of the device, receiving user input specifying selection of a first virtual button of the plurality of virtual buttons. The computer-implemented further includes, responsive to receipt of the user input: performing the action mapped to the first virtual button.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer program product for a user interface pagination operation is disclosed. The computer program product includes one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media. The program instructions include instructions to generate a pagination design pattern rendered on a web page as a plurality of virtual buttons displayed on a display screen of a device, wherein each virtual button of the plurality of virtual buttons is respectively mapped to a plurality of actions related to graphical elements of the pagination design pattern. The program instructions further include instructions to locate the display of the plurality of virtual buttons to positions within a periphery of the display screen of the device. The program instructions further include instructions, subsequent to locating the display of the plurality of virtual buttons to positions within the periphery of the display screen of the device, to receive user input specifying selection of a first virtual button of the plurality of virtual buttons. The program instructions further include instructions, responsive to receipt of the user input, to perform the action mapped to the first virtual button.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer system for a user interface pagination operation is disclosed. The computer system includes one or more computer system includes one or more computer processors, one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors. The program instructions include instructions to generate a pagination design pattern rendered on a web page as a plurality of virtual buttons displayed on a display screen of a device, wherein each virtual button of the plurality of virtual buttons is respectively mapped to a plurality of actions related to graphical elements of the pagination design pattern. The program instructions further include instructions to locate the display of the plurality of virtual buttons to positions within a periphery of the display screen of the device. The program instructions further include instructions, subsequent to locating the display of the plurality of virtual buttons to positions within the periphery of the display screen of the device, to receive user input specifying selection of a first virtual button of the plurality of virtual buttons. The program instructions further include instructions, responsive to receipt of the user input, to perform the action mapped to the first virtual button.

