Systems and methods for resolution consistent semantic zooming

• US 20040252119A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Incorporated (CEVA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wroblewski, Frank J., Moshiri, Negar, Napier, William J., Simpkins, Daniel S., Hunleth, Frank A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,046,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour

Abstract

Systems and methods according to the present invention provide a control framework for organizing, selecting and launching media items including graphical user interfaces coupled with an optional free space control device for collection of the basic control primitives of point, click, scroll, hover and zoom which permit for easy and rapid selection of media items, e.g., movies, songs etc., from large or small collections. The remote control maps natural hand movements and gestures into relevant commands while the graphical display uses images, zooming for increased/decreased levels of detail and continuity of GUI objects to provide easy organization, selection and navigation among the media items by a user.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an interface object on a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising the steps of:

displaying said interface object at one of a plurality of magnification levels;

hiding at least one detail of said interface object at said one of said plurality of magnification levels;

displaying said interface object at another of said plurality of magnification levels; and

revealing said at least one detail of said interface object at said a predetermined another of said plurality of magnification levels, regardless of a resolution at which said interface object is displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one detail is a segment of text which is clipped from said interface object when displayed at said one of said plurality of magnification levels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one detail is a hyperlink.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one detail is another interface object.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a data structure which contains information associated with a local coordinate system for said interface object;

transforming said local coordinate system using a transform matrix to generate a resolution independent data set for said interface object; and

mapping said resolution independent data set to pixels associated with a currently displayed portion of said GUI.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of revealing further comprises the step of:

revealing said at least one detail of said interface object if a number of said pixels in a predetermined dimension exceeds a threshold number of pixels.

7. A graphical user interface (GUI) comprising:

a first plurality of graphical user interface objects, each representing a media item, displayed at a first zoom level;

means for receiving a selection indication associated with one of said first plurality of graphical user interface objects; and

means for zooming in on, and panning toward, said one of said first plurality of graphical user interface objects to display at least said one of said first plurality of graphical user interface objects at a second zoom level,

wherein said at said second zoom level said one of said first plurality of graphical user interface objects includes different content than said one of said first plurality of graphical user interface objects at said first zoom level.

8. The graphical user interface of claim 7, wherein said second zoom level exceeds a semantic zoom threshold.

9. The GUI of claim 7, wherein said different content is additional text information which was not visible at said first zoom level.

10. The GUI of claim 7, wherein said different content includes at least one GUI control object which was not visible at said first zoom level.

11. The GUI of claim 10, wherein said at least one GUI control object is a hyperlink which provides a link to a different media item.

12. The GUI of claim 10, wherein said at least one GUI control object is a control object which, when actuated, causes said GUI to play said media item.

13. The GUI of claim 7 further comprising:

means for maintaining a data structure which contains information associated with a local coordinate system for said interface object;

means for transforming said local coordinate system using a transform matrix to generate a resolution independent data set for said interface object; and

means for mapping said resolution independent data set to pixels associated with a currently displayed portion of said GUI.

14. The GUI of claim 7, wherein said media item is one of a movie, a song and a television channel.

15. A method for media item selection in a media system comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of media items as images on a display screen of said media system;

receiving user input to said media system;

zooming in on said plurality of media items based on said user input until at least one control object is visible on said display screen; and

operating, by said user, one of said control objects to select a corresponding media item.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of zooming further comprises the step of:

zooming in steps between predetermined magnification levels, wherein each step is associated with a corresponding user input.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein one of said predetermined magnification levels represents a semantic zooming threshold and wherein said at least one control object becomes visible on said display screen when said semantic zooming threshold is reached.

18. The method of claim 19, wherein said semantic zooming threshold is independent of a resolution of said display screen.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said plurality of media items represent at least one of movies, songs and television channels.

20. A media controller comprising:

a processor for displaying a plurality of media items as images on a display screen;

an input port for receiving input;

means for zooming in on said plurality of media items based on a first input until at least one control object is visible on said display screen; and

means for playing a media item associated with said at least one control object in response to a second input.

21. The media controller of claim 20, wherein said means for zooming further comprises:

means for zooming in steps between predetermined magnification levels, wherein each step is performed in response to a received input.

22. The media controller of claim 21, wherein one of said predetermined magnification levels represents a semantic zooming threshold and wherein said at least one control object becomes visible on said display screen when said semantic zooming threshold is reached.

23. The media controller of claim 22, wherein said semantic zooming threshold is independent of a resolution of said display screen.

24. The media controller of claim 20, wherein said plurality of media items represent at least one of movies, songs and television channels.