Method and apparatus for enabling application program compatibility with display devices having improved pixel density

• US 20050190203A1
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Koch, Zeke, Chew, Chee H., Fuller, Jason W., Bentley, Keith C., Gery, Ron O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,180,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for enabling application program compatibility with display devices having an increased pixel density. According to one method, a call including one or more parameters is directed toward an application programming interface for performing a screen input or output function is received from an application program. In response to receiving the call, a determination is made as to whether the application program is configured for use with a display device having a lower pixel density or a display device having a higher pixel density. In response to determining that the application program is configured for use with a display device having a lower pixel density, the parameters are scaled for the higher pixel density display device and the application programming interface is called using the scaled parameters.

Claims

1. A method for enabling an application program configured for use with a display device having a lower pixel density to utilize a display device having a higher pixel density, the method comprising:

receiving from an application program a call directed toward an application programming interface for performing a screen input or output function, the call including one or more parameters;

in response to receiving the call, determining whether the application program is configured for use with the display device having the lower pixel density or the display device having a higher pixel density; and

in response to determining that the application program is configured for use with the display device having the lower pixel density, scaling the parameters for the higher pixel density display device and calling the application programming interface with the scaled parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising calling the application programming interface with the parameters in response to determining that the application program is configured for use with the display device having a higher pixel density.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the application program is configured for use with the display device having the lower pixel density or the display device having a higher pixel density comprises examining a property of the application program to determine a software development kit version number against which the application program was compiled and determining whether the application program is configured for use with the display device having the lower pixel density or the display device having a higher pixel density based on the version number.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising in response to determining that the application program is configured for use with the display device having the lower pixel density, receiving one or more return parameters from the application programming interface, scaling the return parameters for the lower pixel density display device, and returning the scaled return parameters to the application program.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the lower pixel density display device has a pixel density of 96 dots per inch.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the higher pixel density display device has a pixel density of 192 dots per inch.

7. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing the method of claim 1.

9. A computer system configured to enable an application program created for use with a display device having a lower pixel density to utilize a display device having a higher pixel density, the computer system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a display device having a higher pixel density; and

a memory operative to store

an operating system for execution on the central processing unit,

an application program for execution on the operating system and created for use with a display device having a lower pixel density,

an application programming interface for performing input and output operations to the display device, and

a translation layer for intercepting calls by the application program to the application programming interface, for scaling the calls to the display device, and for calling the application programming interface with the scaled parameters.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the translation layer is further operative to determine whether the application program is configured for use with the display device having a higher pixel density and to call the application programming interface without scaling the parameters in response to determining that the application program is configured for use with the display device having a higher pixel density.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the display device having a higher pixel density has a pixel density of 192 dpi and wherein the application program created for use with a display device having a lower pixel density is configured for use with a display device having a 96 dpi pixel density.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the translation layer is further operative to receive one or more return parameters from the application programming interface, to scale the return parameters for the lower pixel density display device, and to return the scaled return parameters to the application program created for use with a display device having a lower pixel density.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein determining whether the application program is configured for use with the display device having a higher pixel density comprises examining a property of the application program to determine a software development kit version number against which the application program was compiled and determining whether the application program is configured for use with the display device having the lower pixel density or the display device having a higher pixel density based on the version number.

14. A method for enabling an application program configured for use with a display device having a lower pixel density to utilize a display device having a higher pixel density, the method comprising:

receiving from an application program a call directed toward an application programming interface for performing a screen input or output function, the call including one or more parameters;

in response to receiving the call, determining whether the application program is configured for use with the display device having the lower pixel density or the display device having a higher pixel density by examining a property of the application program that specifies a software development kit version number against which the application program was compiled;

in response to determining that the application program is configured for use with the display device having the lower pixel density, scaling the parameters for the higher pixel density display device and calling the application programming interface with the scaled parameters; and

calling the application programming interface without scaling the parameters in response to determining that the application program is configured for use with the display device having a higher pixel density.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising in response to determining that the application program is configured for use with the display device having the lower pixel density, receiving one or more return parameters from the application programming interface, scaling the return parameters for the lower pixel density display device, and returning the scaled return parameters to the application program.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the lower pixel density display device has a pixel density of 96 dots per inch.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the higher pixel density display device has a pixel density of 192 dots per inch.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to perform the method of claim 14.

19. A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing the method of claim 14.