Orthogonal magnifier within a computer system display
First Claim
1. A method for selectively magnifying a region within a computer display without obscuring proximate regions in the computer display, comprising:
- receiving positioning information from a user of a computer system;
wherein the positioning information determines a position of a magnifier within the computer display;
wherein the magnifier covers a target region to be magnified and proximate regions immediately surrounding the target region;
positioning the magnifier over the target region and the proximate regions in the computer display;
displaying the target region within the magnifier in magnified form;
displaying the proximate regions within the magnifier in reduced and/or partially magnified form, so that features within the proximate regions are not obscured by the magnifier; and
displaying regions within the computer display not covered by the magnifier in unmodified form.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that selectively magnifies a region within a computer display without obscuring proximate regions in the computer display. The system operates by receiving positioning information from a user of a computer system, wherein the positioning information determines a position of a magnifier within the computer display. Next, the system positions the magnifier over the target region and over proximate regions in the computer display. The system then displays the target region within the magnifier in magnified form, and displays the proximate regions within the magnifier in reduced and/or partially magnified form, so that features within the proximate regions are visible within the magnifier and are not obscured by the magnifier. The system also displays regions within the computer display not covered by the magnifier in unmodified form.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for selectively magnifying a region within a computer display without obscuring proximate regions in the computer display, comprising:
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receiving positioning information from a user of a computer system;
wherein the positioning information determines a position of a magnifier within the computer display;
wherein the magnifier covers a target region to be magnified and proximate regions immediately surrounding the target region;
positioning the magnifier over the target region and the proximate regions in the computer display;
displaying the target region within the magnifier in magnified form;
displaying the proximate regions within the magnifier in reduced and/or partially magnified form, so that features within the proximate regions are not obscured by the magnifier; and
displaying regions within the computer display not covered by the magnifier in unmodified form. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to perform a method for selectively magnifying a region within a computer display without obscuring proximate regions in the computer display, the method comprising:
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receiving positioning information from a user of the computer system;
wherein the positioning information determines a position of a magnifier within the computer display;
wherein the magnifier covers a target region to be magnified and proximate regions immediately surrounding the target region;
positioning the magnifier over the target region and the proximate regions in the computer display;
displaying the target region within the magnifier in magnified form;
displaying the proximate regions within the magnifier in reduced and/or partially magnified form, so that features within the proximate regions are not obscured by the magnifier; and
displaying regions within the computer display not covered by the magnifier in unmodified form. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus that selectively magnifies a region within a computer display without obscuring proximate regions in the computer display, comprising:
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the computer display within a computer system;
a magnifier within the computer display;
an input device that is configured to receive positioning information from a user of the computer system;
wherein the positioning information determines a position of the magnifier within the computer display;
wherein the magnifier covers a target region to be magnified and proximate regions immediately surrounding the target region;
a positioning mechanism that is configured to position the magnifier over the target region and the proximate regions in the computer display; and
a display generation mechanism that is configured to, display the target region within the magnifier in magnified form, display the proximate regions within the magnifier in reduced and/or partially magnified form, so that features within the proximate regions are not obscured by the magnifier, and to display regions within the computer display not covered by the magnifier in unmodified form. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for selectively magnifying a region within a computer display without obscuring proximate regions in the computer display, comprising:
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receiving positioning information from a user of a computer system;
wherein the positioning information determines a position of a magnifier within the computer display;
wherein the magnifier covers a target region to be magnified and proximate regions immediately surrounding the target region;
positioning the magnifier over the target region and the proximate regions in the computer display; and
displaying the target region within the magnifier so that every point in the target region is mapped to a point within the magnifier, and at least one portion of the target region is magnified.
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32. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to perform a method for selectively magnifying a region within a computer display without obscuring proximate regions in the computer display, the method comprising:
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receiving positioning information from a user of the computer system;
wherein the positioning information determines a position of a magnifier within the computer display;
wherein the magnifier covers a target region to be magnified and proximate regions immediately surrounding the target region;
positioning the magnifier over the target region and the proximate regions in the computer display; and
displaying the target region within the magnifier so that every point in the target region is mapped to a point within the magnifier, and at least one portion of the target region is magnified.
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33. An apparatus that selectively magnifies a region within a computer display without obscuring proximate regions in the computer display, comprising:
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the computer display within a computer system;
a magnifier within the computer display;
an input device that is configured to receive positioning information from a user of the computer system;
wherein the positioning information determines a position of the magnifier within the computer display;
wherein the magnifier covers a target region to be magnified and proximate regions immediately surrounding the target region;
a positioning mechanism that is configured to position the magnifier over the target region and the proximate regions in the computer display; and
a display generation mechanism that is configured to, display the target region within the magnifier so that every point in the target region is mapped to a point within the magnifier, and at least one portion of the target region is magnified.
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Specification