System and method for viewing digital visual content on a device

• US 20060123183A1
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Popescu, Andrei, Grassel, Guido, Koivisto, Antti, Roto, Virpi, Geisler, Roland, Makela, Mikko K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,071,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits

Abstract

A system and method for viewing material displayed on an electronic device. When a user desires to view a document, only a portion of which is viewable on a display at a given moment, the portion is displayed on the display as a primary image. A secondary image is then generated, with the secondary image including the portion and additional material of the document not part of the primary image. The secondary image is superimposed over the primary image on the display when a user scrolls through the document such that both the secondary image and the primary image are visible to the user.

Claims

1. A method of viewing material displayed on an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

providing a document, only a portion of which is viewable on a display at a given moment;

displaying the portion on the display as a primary image;

generating a secondary image, the secondary image including the portion and additional material of the document not part of the primary image; and

simultaneously displaying the secondary image and the primary image on the display when a user scrolls through the document such that both the secondary image and the primary image are visible to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary image is transparent such that material in the primary image positioned below the secondary image is at least partially visible to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary image is not transparent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary image is smaller in size than the primary image.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the position of the secondary image on the display.

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

altering the primary image such that material on the document, previously not part of the primary image, is visible to the user on the primary image; and

automatically adjusting the secondary image to the material visible in the altered primary image.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of automatically noting material in the secondary image that was previously but is no longer viewable in the altered primary image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary image includes the entire document.

9. A computer program product for viewing material displayed on an electronic device, comprising:

computer code for providing a document, only a portion of which is viewable on a display at a given moment;

computer code for displaying the portion on the display as a primary image;

computer code for generating a secondary image, the secondary image including the portion and additional material of the document not part of the primary image; and

computer code for simultaneously displaying the secondary image and the primary image on the display when a user scrolls through the document such that both the secondary image and the primary image are visible to the user.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the secondary image is transparent such that material in the primary image positioned below the secondary image is at least partially visible to the user.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the secondary image is not transparent.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the secondary image is smaller in size than the primary image.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising computer code for adjusting the position of the secondary image on the display.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising computer code for:

altering the primary image such that material on the document, previously not part of the primary image, is visible to the user on the primary image; and

automatically adjusting the secondary image to the material visible in the altered primary image.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising computer code for automatically noting material in the secondary image, that was previously, but is no longer viewable in the altered primary image.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the secondary image includes the entire document.

17. An electronic device, comprising:

a memory unit;

a processor operatively connected to the memory unit; and

a display unit,

wherein the memory unit includes a computer program product comprising;

computer code for providing a document, only a portion of which is viewable on the display at a given moment;

computer code for displaying the portion on the display as a primary image;

computer code for generating a secondary image, the secondary image including the portion and additional material of the document not part of the primary image; and

computer code for simultaneously displaying the secondary image and the primary image on the display when a user scrolls through the document such that both the secondary image and the primary image are visible to the user.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the secondary image is transparent such that material in the primary image, positioned below the secondary image, is at least partially visible to the user.

19. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the secondary image is not transparent.

20. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the secondary image is smaller in size than the primary image.

21. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer code for adjusting the position of the secondary image on the display.

22. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer code for:

altering the primary image such that material on the document, previously not part of the primary image, is visible to the user on the primary image; and

automatically adjusting the secondary image to the material visible in the altered primary image.

23. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer code for automatically noting material in the secondary image that was previously, but is no longer, viewable in the altered primary image.

24. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the secondary image includes the entire document.

25. A module, comprising:

a memory unit; and

a processor operatively connected to the memory unit,

wherein the memory unit includes a computer program product comprising;

computer code for providing a document, only a portion of which is viewable, on a display at a given moment;

computer code for displaying the portion on the display as a primary image;

computer code for generating a secondary image, the secondary image including the portion and additional material of the document, not part of the primary image; and

computer code for simultaneously displaying the secondary image and the primary image on the display when a user scrolls through the document such that both the secondary image and the primary image are visible to the user.

26. The module of claim 25, wherein the secondary image is transparent such that material in the primary image, positioned below the secondary image, is at least partially visible to the user.

27. The module of claim 25, wherein the secondary image is not transparent.

28. The module of claim 25, wherein the secondary image is smaller in size than the primary image.

29. The module of claim 25, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer code for adjusting the position of the secondary image on the display.

30. The module of claim 25, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer code for:

altering the primary image such that material on the document, previously not part of the primary image, is visible to the user on the primary image; and

automatically adjusting the secondary image to the material visible in the altered primary image.

31. The module of claim 30, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer code for automatically noting material in the secondary image that was previously but is no longer viewable in the altered primary image.

32. The module of claim 25, wherein the secondary image includes the entire document.