Graphical user interface having an attached toolbar for drag and drop editing in detail-in-context lens presentations

• US 20040056898A1
• Filed: 07/16/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accessify, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Noregin Assets N.V. LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jetha, Zeenat, Carlisle, Andrew, Baar, David, Lantin, Maria
• Granted Patent: US 7,472,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/781
• 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 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: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method for positioning a selected object in a computer generated original image on a display, comprising the steps of: distorting the original image to produce a distorted region for the object; dragging the object and the distorted region to a desired position; and, dropping the object at the desired position, whereby the object is accurately positioned. The steps of dragging and dropping are preferably performed by moving a cursor on the display with a pointing device such as a mouse.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a selected object in a computer generated original image on a display, comprising the steps of:

distorting said original image to produce a distorted region for said object;

dragging said object and said distorted region to a desired position; and

,

dropping said object at said desired position, whereby said object is accurately positioned.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of distorting further includes the steps of:

creating a lens surface for said distorted region; and

,

transforming said original image by applying a distortion function defining said lens surface to said original image.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of creating further includes the step of displaying a graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) over said distorted region for adjusting said lens surface.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said lens surface includes a focal region and a base region and said GUI includes:

a slide bar icon for adjusting a magnification for said lens surface;

a slide bar icon for adjusting a degree of scooping for said lens surface;

a bounding rectangle icon with at least one handle icon for adjusting a size and a shape for said focal region;

a bounding rectangle icon with at least one handle icon for adjusting a size and a shape for said base region;

a move icon for adjusting a location for said lens surface within said original image;

a pickup icon for adjusting a location for said base region within said original image; and

, a fold icon for adjusting a location for said focal region relative to said base region.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said GUI further includes an attached toolbar.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said toolbar includes function selection icons.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said toolbar includes function status icons.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein said dragging, dropping, and adjusting are performed by moving a cursor on said display with a pointing device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said cursor is an icon.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said pointing device is a mouse.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said distorted region is on said object.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said distorted region overlaps said object.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said object is a selection from said original image.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said object is an icon.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said object is a text selection.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said object is a selection from an external source.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of dragging further includes the step of cutting said object from said original image.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of dropping further includes the step of pasting said object into said original image.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said display is a touchscreen display of a photograph processing workstation.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said workstation is a kiosk.

21. The method of claim 5 wherein said toolbar includes an icon representing said object.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein said external source is an image other than said original image.

23. The method of claim 5 wherein said toolbar is transparent, thereby allowing observation of said original image through said toolbar.

24. The method of claim 5 wherein said toolbar is translucent.

25. A method for manipulating a presentation of a region-of-interest within visual information on a display screen of a computer, said region-of-interest including a focal region and a base region, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a toolbar over said region-of-interest for selecting at least one parameter for transforming at least one of said region-of-interest, said focal region, and said base region;

selecting said at least one parameter from said toolbar with a pointing device;

transforming said visual information in accordance with a predetermined distortion function and said at least one parameter to produce transformed visual information; and

,

displaying said transformed visual information on said display screen.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said at least one parameter includes:

a magnification for said region-of-interest;

a size for said focal region;

a size for said base region;

a shape for said focal region;

a shape for said base region;

a location for said region-of-interest within said visual information;

a location for said base region within said visual information;

a location for said focal region relative to said base region; and

, a degree of scooping between said focal and base regions.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said toolbar includes at least one lens icon for selecting said at least one parameter.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said at least one lens icon represents said transformed visual information.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said at least one lens icon includes a pyramidal lens icon, a circular based lens icon, and a circular focused lens icon.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said toolbar includes:

a pointer icon for selecting points in said visual information;

a hand tool icon for selecting a view area in said visual information;

a zoom tool icon for zooming into or away from said region-of-interest;

a measuring tool icon for initiating a measurement function;

a help tool icon for initiating a user help function;

a continuation arrow icon for indicating and scrolling additional toolbar icons into view;

a delete icon for deleting said presentation from said transformed visual information;

a printer icon for selecting and indicating a status of a print function;

a floppy disk icon for selecting and indicating a status of a save function;

a redo icon for selecting a redo function;

an undo icon for selecting an undo function;

a resize base icon for selecting a predefined base region resizing function; and

, a resize focus icon for selecting a predefined focal region resizing function.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said toolbar is a horizontal toolbar.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein said toolbar is a vertical toolbar.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein said toolbar is distributed over boundaries of said base and focal regions.