Navigation within a large computer file

• US 20050179705A1
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ubillos, Randy, Perrodin, Laurent, Waylonis, Daniel, Mages, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/777,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179705A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/671
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2016 Rotation, translation, scaling

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and graphical user interface (GUI) for navigating within the contents of a computer file, and specifically within a large non-paginated graphical file. A first portion of the file is displayed at a first magnification. Thereafter, an option is selected to display a second portion of the contents of the file (preferably the entire file) at a second lower magnification. An area is defined within the displayed second portion that highlights the first portion. This area is moveable, preferably by clicking and dragging the area using a mouse pointer, to a new (third location) on the file. Thereafter, the method allows the third portion to be automatically or manually magnified as was the first portion.

Claims

1. A method using a display coupled to a computer for navigating the contents of a file accessible by the computer, comprising:

displaying a first portion of the contents on a region of the display at a first magnification;

selecting a first option to display a second portion of the contents of the file on the display within the region at a second magnification, wherein the second magnification is lower that the first magnification;

defining an area within the displayed second portion by highlighting the first portion;

moving the area to a new location on the displayed second portion to encompass a third portion; and

displaying the third portion on the display within the region at a third magnification, wherein the third magnification is higher than the second magnification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contents of the file constitutes a single graphical file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the contents of the file are non-paginated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the third portion is displayed automatically after the area is moved.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the third portion is displayed after the area is moved and after selecting a second option on the display.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first option causes a gradual transition between the displayed first portion and the displayed second portion.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the third portion causes a gradual transition between the displayed second portion and the displayed third portion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein highlighting the first portion within the displayed second portion comprises prominently displaying the first portion relative to other areas of the displayed second portion.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein highlighting the first portion within the displayed second portion comprises displaying the first portion with a darker grey scale than other areas of the displayed second portion.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein highlighting the first portion within the displayed second portion comprises displaying the first portion with a different color than other areas of the displayed second portion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein highlighting the first portion within the displayed second portion comprises displaying a border around the first portion.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises the entirety of the contents of the file.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and third portions are of equal size.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and third magnifications are the same.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the area comprises manipulation of a mouse coupled to the computer.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the area comprises selecting an option on the display.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein before displaying the third portion the highlighted area is changed in size, and wherein the third magnification is different from the first magnification.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a first option comprises depressing a key or button.

19. A computer-readable medium containing a program for performing a method using a display coupled to a computer for allowing a user to navigate the contents of a file accessible by the computer, the method comprising:

displaying a first portion of the contents on a region of the display at a first magnification;

allowing a user to select a first option to display a second portion of the contents of the file on the display within the region at a second magnification, wherein the second magnification is lower that the first magnification;

defining an area within the displayed second portion by highlighting the first portion;

allowing a user to move the area to a new location on the displayed second portion to encompass a third portion; and

displaying the third portion on the display within the region at a third magnification, wherein the third magnification is higher than the second magnification.

20. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the contents of the file constitutes a single graphical file.

21. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the third portion is displayed automatically after the area is moved.

22. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the third portion is displayed after the area is moved and after selecting a second option on the display.

23. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein selecting the first option causes a gradual transition between the displayed first portion and the displayed second portion.

24. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein displaying the third portion causes a gradual transition between the displayed second portion and the displayed third portion.

25. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein highlighting the first portion within the displayed second portion comprises prominently displaying the first portion relative to other areas of the displayed second portion.

26. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the second portion comprises the entirety of the contents of the file.

27. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the first and third magnifications are the same.

28. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein moving the area comprises manipulation of a mouse coupled to the computer.

29. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein before displaying the third portion the highlighted area is changed in size, and wherein the third magnification is different from the first magnification.

30. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein selecting a first option comprises depressing a key or button.

31. A computer system, comprising:

a computer having access to a file;

a display for displaying portion of the contents of a file within a region of the display;

a program accessible by the computer for displaying the contents of the file within the region of the display, the program allowing the user to;

display a first portion of the contents on a region of the display at a first magnification;

select a first option to display a second portion of the contents of the file on the display within the region at a second magnification, wherein the second magnification is lower that the first magnification, thereby defining an area within the displayed second portion by highlighting the first portion;

move the area to a new location on the displayed second portion to encompass a third portion; and

display the third portion on the display within the region at a third magnification, wherein the third magnification is higher than the second magnification.

32. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the third portion is displayed automatically after the area is moved.

33. The computer system of claim 31, wherein selecting the first option causes a gradual transition between the displayed first portion and the displayed second portion, and/or wherein displaying the third portion causes a gradual transition between the displayed second portion and the displayed third portion.

34. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the second portion comprises the entirety of the contents of the file.

35. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the first and third magnifications are the same.

36. The computer system of claim 31, wherein before displaying the third portion the highlighted area is changed in size, and wherein the third magnification is different from the first magnification.

37. A computer program accessible by a computer for displaying the contents of the file within the region of a display, the program allowing a user to:

display a first portion of the contents on a region of the display at a first magnification;

select a first option to display a second portion of the contents of the file on the display within the region at a second magnification, wherein the second magnification is lower that the first magnification, thereby defining an area within the displayed second portion by highlighting the first portion;

move the area to a new location on the displayed second portion to encompass a third portion; and

display the third portion on the display within the region at a third magnification, wherein the third magnification is higher than the second magnification.

38. The computer program of claim 37, wherein the third portion is displayed automatically after the area is moved.

39. The computer program of claim 37, wherein selecting the first option causes a gradual transition between the displayed first portion and the displayed second portion, and/or wherein displaying the third portion causes a gradual transition between the displayed second portion and the displayed third portion.

40. The computer program of claim 37, wherein the second portion comprises the entirety of the contents of the file.

41. The computer program of claim 37, wherein the first and third magnifications are the same.

42. The computer program of claim 37, wherein before displaying the third portion the highlighted area is changed in size, and wherein the third magnification is different from the first magnification.

43. A computer using a display coupled to a computer for navigating the contents of a file within the computer, wherein a first portion of the contents are displayed on a region of the display at a first magnification, comprising:

means for selecting a first option to display a second portion of the contents of the file on the display within the region at a second magnification, wherein the second magnification is lower that the first magnification;

means for defining an area within the displayed second portion by highlighting the first portion;

means for moving the area to a new location on the displayed second portion to encompass a third portion; and

means for displaying the third portion on the display within the region at a third magnification, wherein the third magnification is higher than the second magnification.