Method and apparatus for virtual oversized display using a small panel display as a movable user interface

• US 20020158921A1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Silverstein, D. Amnon
• Application Number:
  US09/843,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158921A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/864
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is directed to providing an improved user interface for enhancing the manner by which information is entered into a database and later accessed from the database. Exemplary embodiments are directed to the use of an overlay, in the form of a flat digital display, that can be moved about a surface. The position of the movable display is tracked, so that digital content presented on the display is related to a particular position of the display over the document. This capability can be exploited to, for example, permit a much larger image to be viewed using a relatively small, portable display that can be navigated about the larger image. The larger image can optionally include information that, when accessed on the movable display, can be used to link to other information and/or can be used to access executable3 code for performing a desired function.

Claims

1. A movable display comprising:

means for detecting movement of the movable display relative to a first surface; and

means for correlating movement of the movable display to information representing a portion of a first image stored in a database, and for presenting the information on the movable display.

2. Movable display according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means is a transducer included within the movable display.

3. Movable display according to claim 2, wherein the transducer is used to correlate movement of the movable display to a change in position on a stored image.

4. Movable display according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means is configured to detect orientation of the movable display.

5. Movable display according to claim 1, wherein the correlating means includes:

a processor and associated memory.

6. Movable display according to claim 5, wherein the database is stored in a memory on board the movable display.

7. Movable display according to claim 5, wherein the information is stored in a database remote from the movable display.

8. Movable display according to claim 7, wherein the information stored remote to the movable display is accessed via a wired link.

9. Movable display according to claim 7, wherein the information stored remote to the movable display is accessed via a wireless link.

10. Method for displaying information related to a physical document, comprising:

detecting movement of a movable display relative to a first surface;

correlating movement of the movable display to information representing a portion of a first image stored in a database; and

presenting the information on the movable display.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein a transducer is used to detect changes in orientation of the movable display.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the database is stored in a memory on board the movable display.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the information is stored in a database remote from the movable display.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the information is stored remote to the movable display and accessed via a wired link.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the information is stored remote to the movable display and accessed via a wireless link.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first image is an image of a keyboard that can be operated using the moveable display.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein a first portion of the first image is displayed at a first resolution and a second portion of the first image is displayed with a reduced resolution relative to the first resolution.