GRAPHICS ITEMS THAT EXTEND OUTSIDE A BACKGROUND PERIMETER

• US 20080012880A1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AI-CORE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Transpacific Image LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Plut, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,928,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/660
• 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 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3179 Video signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3185 Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3188 Scale or resolution adjustment scaling in general G06T3/40; resolution modifying circuits for displays in general G09G5/391

Abstract

Described herein are methods and systems that allow a user to reposition or size a graphics item or background such that a portion of the graphics item resides outside the background. This permits tailored operating spaces based on user preference and allowable conditions, which are particularly useful with display devices having a large display area.

Claims

1. A method of customizing an operating space for a graphics-based user interface, the method comprising:

displaying a background and a graphics item within the background;

displaying a graphics tool configured to permit a user to reposition or resize the graphics item or the background such that a portion of the graphics item resides outside the background;

receiving input from the user that indicates a change in the graphics item or a change in the background such that the portion of the graphics item resides outside the background; and

displaying the graphics item with the portion of the graphics item residing outside the background.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphics item includes an anchor that is not permitted to be positioned outside a perimeter of the background.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the anchor includes a point location shared by the graphics item and the background.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the anchor includes a point location in the graphics item nearest to a geometric center of the background.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphics tool is configured to permit the person to manually resize the graphics item within a maximum image size for a display device such that the portion of the graphics item resides outside the background.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphics tool is configured to permit the person to manually drag and reposition the graphics item within a maximum image size for a display device such that the portion of the graphics item resides outside the background.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphics tool is configured to permit the person to manually resize the graphics item within a maximum image size for the display device and at least partially outside the background perimeter.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one background control tool includes an arrow for display at the edge of the graphics item that allows the person to manually move an edge of the graphics item to resize the graphics item.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising resizing the background to a size that is less than a maximum image size permitted by the display device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the display device is a projection-type display device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the graphics item is sized or positioned to avoid an obstacle at a receiving surface of a projected output for the projection-type display device or to avoid an obstacle along a projection path between the projection-type display device and the receiving surface.

12. A method of customizing an operating space for a graphics-based user interface, the method comprising:

displaying a background and a graphics item within the background;

displaying a graphics tool configured to permit a user to reposition or resize the graphics item or the background such that a portion of the graphics item resides outside the background,

wherein the graphics item includes an anchor that is not permitted to be positioned outside a perimeter of the background;

receiving input from the user that indicates a change in the graphics item or a change in the background such that the portion of the graphics item resides outside the background; and

displaying the graphics item with the portion of the graphics item residing outside the background.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the anchor includes a point location shared by the graphics item and the background.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the anchor includes a point location in the graphics item nearest to a geometric center of the background.

15. A computer readable medium including instructions for customizing an operating space for a graphics-based user interface, the instructions comprising:

instructions for displaying a background and a graphics item within the background;

instructions for displaying a graphics tool configured to permit a user to reposition or resize the graphics item or the background such that a portion of the graphics item resides outside the background;

instructions for receiving input from the user that indicates a change in the graphics item or a change in the background such that the portion of the graphics item resides outside the background; and

instructions for displaying the graphics item with the portion of the graphics item residing outside the background.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for an anchor that is not permitted to be positioned outside a perimeter of the background.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the anchor includes a point location shared by the graphics item and the background.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the anchor includes a point location in the graphics item nearest to a geometric center of the background.