System and method for efficient transmission and display of image details by re-usage of compressed data

• US 20020021758A1
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zoran Corporation (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zoran Corporation (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chui, Charles K.
• Application Number:
  US09/808,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20020021758A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/00 Image coding bandwidth or redundancy reduction for static pictures H04N1/41; coding or decoding of static colour picture signals H04N1/64; methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas

Abstract

A method and apparatus for displaying images. In one embodiment, the method comprises displaying a first image at a first resolution level, identifying a location in the first image, and generating a second image for display at a second resolution level different than the first resolution level in response to user input via a user input mechanism. The second image represents a portion of the first image at a different resolution level, which is dependent on the number of times the user input mechanism is utilized or activated (e.g., the number of mouse clicks made with a mouse). The data reuse may also be used for panning images in display windows.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a first image at a first resolution level;

identifying a location in the first image; and

generating a second image for display at a second resolution level different than the first resolution level in response to user input via a user input mechanism, wherein generating the second image comprises combining data from the first image with additional image data, and further wherein the second resolution level is dependant on a number of utilizations of the user input mechanism.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein identifying the location comprises positioning a cursor over the location.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises a mouse click.

4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein the second resolution level increases with an increase in the number of mouse clicks.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises depressing a key on a keyboard.

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises pressing a button.

7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises touching a display screen.

8. The method defined claim 1 where the first image is a thumbnail image.

9. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising accessing the additional image data over a network via a network connection.

10. The method defined in claim 9 further comprising decompressing the additional image data.

11. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying the first and second images in a viewing window.

12. The method defined in claim 11 wherein the viewing window comprises a browser window.

14. The article of manufacture defined in claim 13 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises a mouse click.

15. The article of manufacture defined in claim 14 wherein the second resolution level increases with an increase in the number of mouse clicks.

16. The article of manufacture defined in claim 13 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises depressing a key on a keyboard.

17. The article of manufacture defined in claim 13 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises pressing a button.

18. The article of manufacture defined in claim 13 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises touching a display screen.

19. The article of manufacture defined claim 13 where the first image is a thumbnail image.

20. The article of manufacture defined in claim 13 wherein the second image is generated by combining data from the first image with additional image data.

21. The article of manufacture defined in claim 20 wherein the executable instructions further comprises instructions, when executed by the machine, to access the additional image data over a network via a network connection.

22. The article of manufacture defined in claim 21 wherein the executable instructions further comprises instructions, when executed by the machine, to decompress the additional image data.

23. The article of manufacture defined in claim 13 wherein the executable instructions further comprises instructions, when executed by the machine, to display the first and second images in a viewing window.

24. The article of manufacture defined in claim 23 wherein the viewing window comprises a browser window.

26. The apparatus defined in claim 25 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises a mouse click.

27. The apparatus defined in claim 26 wherein the second resolution level increases with an increase in the number of mouse clicks.

28. The apparatus defined in claim 25 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises depressing a key on a keyboard.

29. The apparatus defined in claim 25 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises pressing a button.

30. The apparatus defined in claim 25 wherein each utilization of the user input mechanism comprises touching a display screen.

31. The apparatus defined in claim 25 wherein the means for generating the second image comprises means for combining data from the first image with additional image data.

32. The apparatus defined in claim 31 further comprising means for accessing the additional image data over a network via a network connection.

13. An article of manufacture comprising at least one recordable medium having executable instructions stored therein which, when executed by a system, cause the system to:

display a first image at a first resolution level;

identify a location in the first image; and

generate a second image for display at a second resolution level different than the first resolution level in response to user input via a user input mechanism, wherein generating the second image comprises combining data from the first image with additional image data, and further wherein the second resolution level is dependant on a number of utilizations of the user input mechanism.

25. An apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a first image at a first resolution level;

means for identifying a location in the first image; and

means for generating a second image for display at a second resolution level different than the first resolution level in response to user input via a user input mechanism, wherein generating the second image comprises combining data from the first image with additional image data, and further wherein the second resolution level is dependant on a number of utilizations of the user input mechanism.

33. A method for panning images comprising:

displaying a first image at a first resolution level in a display window;

identifying a panning direction in the first image;

moving the image data in the display window in a direction opposite to the panning direction, including creating an area in the display window to display of another portion of the first image; and

generating image data for display in the area of the display window, wherein generating the image data comprises combining data from the first image with additional image data.

34. The method defined in claim 33 wherein identifying the location comprises moving a cursor in the panning direction.

36. The apparatus defined in claim 35 wherein the means for identifying the location comprises means for moving a cursor in the panning direction.

35. An apparatus for panning images comprising:

means for displaying a first image at a first resolution level in a display window;

means for identifying a panning direction in the first image;

means for moving the image data in the display window in a direction opposite to the panning direction, including means for creating an area in the display window to display of another portion of the first image; and

means for generating image data for display in the area of the display window, wherein the means for generating the image data comprises means for combining data from the first image with additional image data.