System and method for zooming an object through spiral interaction

• US 20060232611A1
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brooke, Timothy Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 7,456,849 B2
• 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: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/08 Cursor circuits

Abstract

A system and method for zooming an object through a spiral movement of a pointer. The method provides three-dimensional interaction with an object in response to a two-dimensional pointer input. The method includes monitoring pointer movements to determine whether a movement indicates a spiral movement. When a spiral movement is determined an object is zoomed. A clockwise spiral movement may zoom an object inwardly and a counterclockwise movement may zoom an object outwardly. A non-spiral movement may pan the object.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for interacting with an object through spiral interaction, comprising:

monitoring pointer movements;

determining when the pointer movements indicate a spiral input; and

zooming the object when the spiral input is indicated.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein zooming the object when the spiral input is indicated further includes zooming the object inwardly in response to a clockwise spiral input.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein zooming the object when the spiral input is indicated further includes zooming the object outwardly in response to a counterclockwise spiral input.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining when the pointer movements indicate a non-spiral input;

and panning the object in response to the non-spiral input.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the pointer movements further include sampling the pointer movements during a time period.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the pointer position is associated with at least one of:

a rectangular coordinate system and a polar coordinate system.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining when the pointer movements indicate a spiral input, further comprises:

determining pointer position points by sampling the pointer movements;

determining a line between consecutive position points;

determining an angular degree from a reference to each line; and

determining a spiral input from the change in angular degree.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein determining a spiral input from the change in angular degree further includes determining a change in angular degree that is greater than a threshold.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising determining a counterclockwise spiral input by determining a negative change in angular degree that is greater than the threshold and a clockwise spiral input by determining a positive change in angular degree that is greater than the threshold.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the threshold is associated with at least one of:

resolution, pixel characteristics, input speed capabilities, and sample rate.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

invoking a function to zoom the object inwardly when a clockwise spiral is indicated;

invoking a function to zoom the object outwardly when a counterclockwise spiral is indicated; and

invoking a function to pan the object when a non-spiral input is indicated.

12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing operations to provide three-dimensional interaction with a two-dimensional input, the operations comprising:

determining when a pointer movement indicates a spiral input; and

zooming an object associated with the pointer movement when the pointer movement indicates a spiral input.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein zooming the object further includes zooming the object inwardly in response to a clockwise spiral input.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein zooming the object further includes zooming an object outwardly in response to a counterclockwise spiral input.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

panning the object associated with the pointer movement when the pointer movement does not indicate a spiral input.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein determining when the pointer movement indicates the spiral input, further comprises:

determining pointer positions during a time period;

determining a line between consecutive positions;

determining an angular degree from a reference to each line; and

determining a spiral input from a change in angular degree between the consecutive positions.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein determining a spiral input from a change in angular degree between the consecutive positions further includes determining a change in angular degree that is greater than a threshold.

18. A computing apparatus for zooming an object through spiral interaction, comprising:

a monitor means for monitoring pointer movements;

an interpreter means for identifying a spiral movement from the pointer movements; and

a zooming means for zooming the object when the spiral movement is indicated.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a panning means for panning the object when a non-spiral movement is indicated.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the zooming means further comprises a clockwise zooming means for zooming an object inwardly when a clockwise spiral movement is indicated and a counterclockwise zooming means for zooming an object outwardly when a counterclockwise spiral movement is indicated.