RESOLUTION INDEPENDENT VECTOR DISPLAY OF INTERNET CONTENT

• US 20070198917A1
• Filed: 04/15/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SoftView LLC
• Original Assignee: SoftView LLC
• Inventors: Sherman, Scott, Rohrabaugh, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/986 Document structures and storage, e.g. HTML extensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/1048 Scalability
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/24 Generation of individual character patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 : specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 : Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561

Abstract

Apparatus, methods and software for creating resolution-independent vector display of Internet (Web) content to allow Web pages to be scaled (zoomed) and panned for better viewing and/or to fit any resolution or screen size. According to one aspect, novel client-side processing of markup language-based Web content is provided that translates original page layout information into scalable vector-based page layout information. The scalable vector-based page layout information is then employed to enable the Web content to be rapidly rendered, zoomed, and panned. According to another aspect, vector-based display lists are generated to provide further enhancements in rendering speed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in response to a request to access a Web page made via a client,

retrieving markup language-based Web content associated with the Web page defining an original page layout of content on the Web page;

translating, via the client, the markup language-based Web content to produce scalable vector-based page layout information; and

employing the scalable vector-based page layout information and/or data derived thereform to,

render at least a portion of the Web page on a display using a first scale factor; and

re-render the Web page in response to associated user inputs to enable a user to iteratively zoom in and out a display of the Web page.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein re-rendering the display of the Web page is performed in real-time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the client comprises a browser.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the browser is configured to run on at least one of a desktop computer, workstation, and laptop computer.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the browser is configured to run on a wireless handheld device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the client comprises a mobile device having a display on which the Web page is displayed when rendered.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the markup language-based Web content includes at least one hyperlink, the method further comprising:

enabling the user to select the hyperlink; and

, in response thereto,

retrieving and translating the markup language-based Web content associated with the hyperlink to produce additional scalable vector-based page layout information; and

employing the additional scalable vector-based page layout information and/or data derived therefrom to render the display.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

parsing markup language code to determine the original page layout of display content within the Web page, wherein the original page layout defines a layout location for a plurality of objects, including text objects, graphic layout objects, graphic objects and/or image objects included in the Web page;

defining a primary datum corresponding to the original page layout; and

,

for each object,

defining an object datum corresponding to the layout location for the object;

generating a vector from the primary datum to the object datum for the object; and

creating a reference that links the object to its corresponding vector.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising translating at least one graphic or image object from an original format into a scalable format.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing attribute information pertaining to each text object, said attribute information including a color and typefont for each text object.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the markup language-based Web content comprises a Web page including content that is stored on at least one Internet site in one or more markup language documents that include markup language code defining the original page layout and attributes of the Web page.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the Web content to be displayed at different resolutions by scaling the scalable vector-based layout information to determine appropriate locations for the Web content within a scaled Web page.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling a user of the client to select an area of the display to zoom in on by defining a bounding box over the area via the client; and

in response thereto,

re-rendering the display such that content in the bounding box is scaled to be rendered substantially across at least one of a width and a height of the display.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scaling the scalable vector-based layout information and/or data derived therefrom using applicable scale factors to re-render the Web content in response to associated user inputs to enable the user to iteratively zoom in and out a display of the Web page.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a user to pan a display of the Web content in response to a corresponding user input.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising enabling the display of the Web content to be panned in real-time.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the page layout of the Web page is defined to have an original aspect ratio, and wherein the scalable vector-based page layout information or data derived thereform is scaled to render a display having a different aspect ratio.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a user to view a column of the Web content at a higher resolution than a current resolution via an associated user input, wherein in response to the user input, the display is re-rendered such that content corresponding to the selected column is displayed across the display.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the user input comprises tapping the column.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the content of the column is reformatted to fit characteristics of the display when the display is re-rendered.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the Web content includes at least one image, the method further comprising enabling a user to view an image at a higher resolution than a current resolution via an associated user input, wherein in response to the user input, the display is re-rendered such that the image is displayed substantially across at least one of a width and height of the display.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the user input comprises tapping the image.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a user to view a paragraph of the Web content at a higher resolution than a current resolution via an associated user input, wherein in response to the user input, the display is re-rendered such that content corresponding to the selected paragraph is displayed substantially across the display.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user input comprises tapping the paragraph.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the content of the paragraph is reformatted to fit characteristics of the display when the display is re-rendered.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the Web page includes text, layout attributes, and images, the method further comprising:

receiving content corresponding to the text and layout attributes via a first connection; and

receiving content corresponding to at least one image via a second connection.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a display list of vectors derived, at least in part, via use of the vector-based page layout information; and

employing the display list to re-render the display of the Web page.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

parsing markup language code corresponding to the received Web content to determine the original page layout of the content on the Web page;

logically grouping selected content into objects based on relative locations of the content in the original page layout;

defining a primary datum corresponding to the original page layout; and

,

for each object,

defining an object datum corresponding to a layout location datum for the object'"'"'s associated display content;

generating a vector from the primary datum to the object datum for the object; and

creating a reference that links the object to its corresponding vector.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

generating a vector-based object bounding box for each object, the object bounding box representing a portion of a rendered display page occupied by the object'"'"'s associated group of content.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

mapping the object vectors and associated vector-based bounding boxes to a virtual display in memory.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

determining a first scale factor and offset in response to one or more corresponding user inputs defining a user-selectable zoom level and pan corresponding to a rendered display of the Web content desired by a user;

determining a virtual display bounding box for the virtual display associated with the first scale factor and offset;

identifying object bounding boxes having at least a portion falling within the virtual display bounding box; and

,

for each of such object bounding boxes,

retrieving content associated with that object bounding box; and

applying an applicable scale factor to the content to render the display.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the virtual display has a much greater resolution than the display.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the virtual display is associated with a fixed reference frame, and the virtual display bounding box is maintained to have a size matching the resolution of the content display area defined for the display.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the content includes text content, the method further comprising scaling a scalable font to render the text content.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the content includes text content, the method further comprising:

determining an applicable font size based on an applicable scale factor; and

selecting a corresponding bitmapped font and employing the bitmapped font to render the text content.

36. The method of claim 1, further comprising reformatting a text object so as to fit the text object on the display when it is rendered.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the original format of the Web page defines a height and width for the Web page, the method further comprising:

determining an applicable scale factor to display at least one of the width and height of the Web page substantially across the display; and

employing the scale factor that is determined as the first scale factor.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the Web page includes one or more images, and in the rendered displays at least one image from among the one or more images is scaled.

39. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor,

communications means operatively coupled to the processor, to enable the device to be linked to a network via which Web content may be accessed;

a display; and

storage means, operatively coupled to the processor, in which a plurality of instructions are stored that when executed by the processor enable the apparatus to perform operations including,

in response to a request to access a Web page made via a user of the apparatus,

retrieving markup language-based Web content associated with the Web page defining an original page layout of content on the Web page;

translating, via the client, the markup language-based Web content to produce scalable vector-based page layout information; and

employing the scalable vector-based page layout information and/or data derived thereform to,

render at least a portion of the Web page on a display using a first scale factor; and

re-render the Web page in response to associated user inputs to enable a user to iteratively zoom in and out a display of the Web page.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein zooming the display of the Web content is enabled to be performed in real-time.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile device and the communication device supports wireless communication with the network.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a desktop computer, workstation, and laptop computer.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the markup language-based Web content includes at least one hyperlink, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

enabling the user to select the hyperlink; and

, in response thereto,

retrieving and translating the markup language-based Web content associated with the hyperlink to produce additional scalable vector-based page layout information; and

employing the additional scalable vector-based page layout information and/or data derived therefrom to render the display.

45. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

parsing markup language code to determine the original page layout of display content within the Web page, wherein the original page layout defines a layout location for a plurality of objects, including text objects, graphic layout objects, graphic objects and/or image objects included in the Web page;

defining a primary datum corresponding to the original page layout; and

,

for each object,

defining an object datum corresponding to the layout location for the object;

generating a vector from the primary datum to the object datum for the object; and

creating a reference that links the object to its corresponding vector.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising translating at least one graphic or image object from an original format into a scalable format.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising storing attribute information pertaining to each text object, said attribute information including a color and typefont for each text object.

48. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the markup language-based Web content comprises a Web page including content that is stored on at least one Internet site in a plurality of markup language documents that include markup language code defining the original page layout and attributes of the Web page.

49. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling the Web content to be displayed at different resolutions by scaling the scalable vector-based layout information to determine appropriate locations for the Web content within a scaled Web page.

50. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

enabling a user of the client to select an area of the display to zoom in on by defining a bounding box over the area via the client; and

in response thereto,

re-rendering the display such that content in the bounding box is scaled to be rendered substantially across at least one of a width and a height of the display.

51. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising scaling the scalable vector-based layout information and/or data derived therefrom using applicable scale factors to re-render the Web content in response to associated user inputs to enable the user to iteratively zoom in and out a display of the Web page.

52. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling a user to pan a display of the Web content in response to a corresponding user input.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling the display of the Web content to be panned in real-time.

54. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the page layout of the Web page is defined to have an original aspect ratio, and wherein the scalable vector-based page layout information or data derived thereform is scaled to render a display having a different aspect ratio.

55. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling a user to view a column of the Web content at a higher resolution than a current resolution via an associated user input, wherein in response to the user input, the display is re-rendered such that content corresponding to the selected column is displayed across the display.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the user input comprises tapping the column.

57. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the content of the column is reformatted to fit characteristics of the display when the display is re-rendered.

58. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the Web content includes at least one image, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling a user to view an image at a higher resolution than a current resolution via an associated user input, wherein in response to the user input, the display is re-rendered such that the image is displayed substantially across at least one of a width and height the display.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the user input comprises tapping the image.

60. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling a user to view a paragraph of the Web content at a higher resolution than a current resolution via an associated user input, wherein in response to the user input, the display is re-rendered such that content corresponding to the selected paragraph is displayed across the display.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the user input comprises tapping the paragraph.

62. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the content of the paragraph is reformatted to fit characteristics of the display when the display is re-rendered.

63. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the Web page includes text, layout attributes, and images, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

receiving content corresponding to the text and layout attributes via a first connection; and

receiving content corresponding to at least one image via a second connection.

64. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

generating a display list derived, at least in part, via use of the vector-based page layout information; and

employing the display list to re-render the display of the Web page.

65. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

parsing markup language code corresponding to the received Web content to determine the original page layout of the content on the Web page;

logically grouping selected content into objects based on relative locations of the content in the original page layout;

defining a primary datum corresponding to the original page layout; and

,

for each object,

defining an object datum corresponding to a layout location datum for the object'"'"'s associated display content;

generating a vector from the primary datum to the object datum for the object; and

creating a reference that links the object to its corresponding vector.

66. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

generating a vector-based object bounding box for each object, the bounding box representing a portion of a rendered display page occupied by the object'"'"'s associated group of content.

67. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

mapping the object vectors and associated vector-based object bounding boxes to a virtual display in memory.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

determining a first scale factor and offset in response to one or more corresponding user inputs defining a user-selectable zoom level and pan corresponding to a rendered display of the Web content desired by a user;

determining a virtual display bounding box for the virtual display associated with the first scale factor and offset;

identifying object bounding boxes having at least a portion falling within the virtual display bounding box; and

,

for each of such object bounding boxes,

retrieving content associated with that object bounding box; and

applying an applicable scale factor to the content to render the display.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the virtual display has a much greater resolution than the display.

70. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the virtual display is associated with a fixed reference frame, and the virtual display bounding box is maintained to have a size matching the resolution of the content display area defined for the display.

71. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the content includes text content, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising scaling a scalable font to render the text content.

72. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the content includes text content, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

determining an applicable font size based on an applicable scale factor; and

selecting a corresponding bitmapped font and employing the bitmapped font to render the text content.

73. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising reformatting a text object so as to fit the text object on the display when it is rendered.

74. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the original format of the Web page defines a height and width for the Web page, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

determining an applicable scale factor to display at least one of the width and height of the Web page substantially across the display; and

employing the scale factor that is determined as the first scale factor.

75. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the Web page includes text content and graphic layout objects, and in the rendered displays the text content and graphic layout objects are scaled.

76. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the Web page includes one or more images, and in the rendered displays at least one image from among the one or more images is scaled.

77. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the display comprises a touch-sensitive display via which user inputs may be received.

78. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the storage means comprises a non-volatile memory.

79. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions configured to be executed by a machine having a communications device to access Web content via a network and having a display, wherein execution of the instructions performs operations comprising:

in response to a request to access a Web page made via a user of the machine, retrieving markup language-based Web content associated with the Web page defining an original page layout of content on the Web page;

translating, via the client, the markup language-based Web content to produce scalable vector-based page layout information; and

employing the scalable vector-based page layout information and/or data derived thereform to,

render at least a portion of the Web page on a display using a first scale factor; and

re-render the Web page in response to associated user inputs to enable a user to iteratively zoom in and out a display of the Web page.

80. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein zooming the display of the Web content is enabled to be performed in real-time.

81. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the machine comprises a mobile device and the communication device supports wireless communication with the network.

82. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the machine comprises one of a desktop computer, workstation, and laptop computer.

83. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the markup language-based Web content includes at least one hyperlink, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

enabling the user to select the hyperlink; and

, in response thereto,

retrieving and translating the markup language-based Web content associated with the hyperlink to produce additional scalable vector-based page layout information; and

employing the additional scalable vector-based page layout information and/or data derived therefrom to render the display.

84. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

parsing markup language code to determine the original page layout of display content within the Web page, wherein the original page layout defines a layout location for a plurality of objects, including text objects, graphic layout objects, graphic objects and/or image objects included in the Web page;

defining a primary datum corresponding to the original page layout; and

,

for each object,

defining an object datum corresponding to the layout location for the object;

generating a vector from the primary datum to the object datum for the object; and

creating a reference that links the object to its corresponding vector.

85. The machine-readable medium of claim 84, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising at least one graphic or image object from an original format into a scalable format.

86. The machine-readable medium of claim 84, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising storing attribute information pertaining to each text object, said attribute information including a color and typefont for each text object.

87. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the markup language-based Web content comprises a Web page including content that is stored on at least one Internet site in a plurality of markup language documents that include markup language code defining the original page layout and attributes of the Web page.

88. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling the Web content to be displayed at different resolutions by scaling the scalable vector-based layout information to determine appropriate locations for the Web content within a scaled Web page.

89. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

enabling a user of the client to select an area of the display to zoom in on by defining a bounding box over the area via the client; and

in response thereto,

re-rendering the display such that content in the bounding box is scaled to be rendered substantially across at least one of a width and a height of the display.

90. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising scaling the scalable vector-based layout information and/or data derived therefrom using applicable scale factors to re-render the Web content in response to associated user inputs to enable the user to iteratively zoom in and out a display of the Web page.

91. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling a user to pan a display of the Web content in response to a corresponding user input.

92. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling the display of the Web content to be panned in real-time.

93. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the page layout of the Web page is defined to have an original aspect ratio, and wherein the scalable vector-based page layout information or data derived thereform is scaled to render a display having a different aspect ratio.

94. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling a user to view a column of the Web content at a higher resolution than a current resolution via an associated user input, wherein in response to the user input, the display is re-rendered such that content corresponding to the selected column is displayed across the display.

95. The machine-readable medium of claim 94, wherein the user input comprises tapping the column.

96. The machine-readable medium of claim 94, wherein the content of the column is reformatted to fit characteristics of the display when the display is re-rendered.

97. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the Web content includes at least one image, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling a user to view an image at a higher resolution than a current resolution via an associated user input, wherein in response to the user input, the display is re-rendered such that the image is displayed substantially across at least one of a width and height of the display.

98. The machine-readable medium of claim 97, wherein the user input comprises tapping the image.

99. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising enabling a user to view a paragraph of the Web content at a higher resolution than a current resolution via an associated user input, wherein in response to the user input, the display is re-rendered such that content corresponding to the selected paragraph is displayed across the display.

100. The machine-readable medium of claim 99, wherein the user input comprises tapping the paragraph.

101. The machine-readable medium of claim 99, wherein the content of the paragraph is reformatted to fit characteristics of the display when the display is re-rendered.

102. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the Web page includes text, layout attributes, and images, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

receiving content corresponding to the text and layout attributes via a first connection; and

receiving content corresponding to at least one image via a second connection.

103. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

generating a display list derived, at least in part, via use of the vector-based page layout information; and

employing the display list to re-render the display of the Web page.

104. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

parsing markup language code corresponding to the received Web content to determine the original page layout of the content on the Web page;

logically grouping selected content into objects based on relative locations of the content in the original page layout;

defining a primary datum corresponding to the original page layout; and

,

for each object,

defining an object datum corresponding to a layout location datum for the object'"'"'s associated display content;

generating a vector from the primary datum to the object datum for the object; and

creating a reference that links the object to its corresponding vector.

105. The machine-readable medium of claim 104 wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

generating a vector-based object bounding box for each object, the object bounding box representing a portion of a rendered display page occupied by the object'"'"'s associated group of content.

106. The machine-readable medium of claim 104, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

mapping the object vectors and associated object bounding boxes to a virtual display in memory.

107. The machine-readable medium of claim 106, wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

determining a first scale factor and offset in response to one or more corresponding user inputs defining a user-selectable zoom level and pan corresponding to a rendered display of the Web content desired by a user;

determining a virtual display bounding box for the virtual display associated with the first scale factor and offset;

identifying object bounding boxes having at least a portion falling within the virtual display bounding box; and

,

for each of such object bounding boxes,

retrieving content associated with that object bounding box; and

applying an applicable scale factor to the content to render the display.

108. The machine-readable medium of claim 107, wherein the virtual display has a much greater resolution than the display.

109. The machine-readable medium of claim 107, wherein the virtual display is associated with a fixed reference frame, and the virtual display bounding box is maintained to have a size matching the resolution of the content display area defined for the display.

110. The machine-readable medium of claim 107, wherein the content includes text content, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising scaling a scalable font to render the text content.

111. The machine-readable medium of claim 107, wherein the content includes text content, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

determining an applicable font size based on an applicable scale factor; and

selecting a corresponding bitmapped font and employing the bitmapped font to render the text content.

112. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein at least a portion of the instructions comprise Java-based instructions configured to be executed on a Java virtual machine.

113. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the plurality of instructions are embodied in a browser.

114. The machine-readable medium of claim 113, wherein the browser is configured to run on a machine comprising a mobile device.

115. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein at least a portion of the instructions are embodied as a browser plug-in.

116. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the original format of the Web page defines a height and width for the Web page, and wherein execution of the instructions performs further operations comprising:

determining an applicable scale factor to display at least one of the width and height of the Web page substantially across the display; and

employing the scale factor that is determined as the first scale factor.

117. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the Web page includes text content and graphic layout objects, and in the rendered displays the text content and graphic layout objects are scaled.

118. The machine-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the Web page includes one or more images, and in the rendered displays at least one image from among the one or more images is scaled.