Customizable user interface background sizes

• US 20050041045A1
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AI-CORE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Honeywood Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Plut, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,274,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

This invention provides systems and methods that allow a user to change the size of a background used with a graphics-based user interface. This enables tailored background sizes based on user preference and allowable conditions, which are particularly useful with display devices having a large display area. By custom sizing a background to current conditions, a user may navigate an image among obstacles at a receiving surface and obstacles along a projection path between a projection lens and receiving surface. In addition, a user may customize the background size on a large LCD screen according to more suitable dimensions for an image used in the background or to a personal preference, thereby creating a personalized look and feel for the graphics-based user interface. One embodiment of the present invention defines a usable area for a graphics-based user interface according to the current size of the background. Changing the background size in this case also then changes the usable area for the graphics-based user interface.

Claims

1. A background for use with a graphics-based user interface and for display using a display device, the background comprising:

background video information for display according to orthogonal image coordinates;

a background size that is less than a maximum image size allowed by the display device when the background video information is for display without substantial keystone distortion; and

a perimeter that bounds the background video information, borders the background size, and defines a usable area for the graphics-based user interface.

2. The background of claim 1 further comprising a reference point that allows the graphics-based user interface to position one of an icon, a control bar, a clock, and a program toggle.

3. The background of claim 1 wherein the background size is less than about 80 percent of the maximum image size.

4. The background of claim 1 wherein the background size is less than about 50 percent of the maximum image size.

5. The background of claim 1 wherein the display device is a projector.

6. The background of claim 5 wherein the background video information is for display without substantial keystone distortion by a projector designed or configured to mechanically or digitally reduce keystone distortion.

7. The background of claim 1 wherein:

the maximum image size is characterized by maximum image size dimensions in first and second image directions;

the background size is characterized by background dimensions in the first and second image directions; and

a background dimension in one of the first and second image directions is less than a maximum image size dimension in said one of the first and second image directions.

8. The background of claim 1 wherein the background size limits dimensions for a graphics component associated with a program run on the graphics-based user interface.

9. The background of claim 8 wherein the graphics component comprises one of:

a word processing video output, an Internet Browser interface, and a video game video output.

10. The background of claim 1 wherein a geometric center for the background is offset from a geometric center of the maximum image size.

11. A background for use with a graphics-based user interface and for display using a display device, the display device having a maximum image size when video information included in the background is for display without substantial keystone distortion, the maximum image size characterized by maximum image size dimensions in first and second image directions, the background comprising video information for display according to orthogonal image coordinates;

a perimeter that bounds the background video information and defines a usable area for the graphics-based user interface; and

comprising a background size characterized by background dimensions in the first and second image directions, wherein a background dimension in one of the first and second image directions is less than a corresponding maximum image size dimension in said one of the first and second image directions.

12. The background of claim 11 further comprising a reference point that allows the graphics-based user interface to position one of an icon, a control bar, a clock, and a program toggle.

13. The background of claim 11 wherein the background is about rectangular.

14. The background of claim 11 wherein the background video information is for display without substantial keystone distortion by a projector designed or configured to mechanically or digitally reduce keystone distortion.

15. A graphics-based user interface for display using a display device, the graphics-based user interface comprising:

a background having an adaptable size and including background video information for display according to orthogonal image coordinates, the background video information for output by a display device having a maximum image size when the background video information is for display without substantial keystone distortion; and

a graphics control that allows a user to change the background size to a background size less than the maximum image size.

16. The graphics-based user interface of claim 15 wherein the background defines a usable area for the graphics-based user interface.

17. The graphics-based user interface of claim 16 wherein the background size limits dimensions for a graphics component associated with a program run on the graphics-based user interface.

18. The graphics-based user interface of claim 15 wherein the graphics control comprises at least one background control tool that quantifies the background size.

19. The graphics-based user interface of claim 15 wherein the at least one background control tool allows the user to select a predetermined background size from a set of preset background sizes.

20. The graphics-based user interface of claim 15 wherein the graphics control comprises at least one background control tool that allows the user to position the background within the maximum image size.