Auto-Zoom Mark-Up Display System and Method

• US 20080118237A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agfa Healthcare Corporation (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Agfa Healthcare Corporation (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Inventors: Dennison, Donald K., Potwarka, John J., Mroz, Lukas, Wegenkittl, Rainer, Zeilinger, Gunter, Kanitsar, Armin
• Application Number:
  US11/562,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20080118237A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• 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: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting

Abstract

A system and method for allowing a user to selectively view an automatically zoomed region of a displayed initial viewable area. Typically, the automatically zoomed region is deployed by the user when placing mark-ups in the viewable area.. The automatically zoomed region may be displayed by itself, or it may be displayed simultaneously with an un-zoomed portion of the initial viewable area. After the user places a mark-up in the viewable area, the automatically zoomed region is closed, and the initial viewable area is returned to the displayed viewable area.

Claims

1. A method for automatically zooming a region of an initial viewable area according to a zoom factor after a mark-up entity has been activated and then displaying the automatically zoomed region within a viewable area, said method comprising:

(a) determining whether the mark-up entity has been activated;

(b) if (a) is true, then determining whether to automatically zoom the region of the initial viewable area;

(c) if (b) is true, then determining and applying the zoom factor to the region of the initial viewable area; and

(d) displaying the automatically zoomed region within the viewable area.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) defining an un-zoomed viewable area as the portion of the initial viewable area that falls within the viewable area but outside the automatically zoomed region; and

(f) displaying the un-zoomed viewable area.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a picture in picture window within the viewable area.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising placement of the mark-up in the viewable area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a manner of displaying the automatically zoomed region in the viewable area is determined based a characteristic an image study.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a manner of displaying the automatically zoomed region in the viewable area is determined based on a diagnostic interface layout.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the zoom factor is provided by a user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the zoom factor is determined based on a feature of the initial viewable area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the zoom factor is determined based on a feature of a diagnostic interface.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) ceasing display of the automatically zoomed region;

(h) displaying the initial viewable area; and

(i) placement of a mark-up in the viewable area.

11. A computer-readable medium upon which a plurality of instructions are stored, the instructions for performing the steps of the method as claimed in claim 1.

12. A system for displaying an automatically zoomed region of a viewable area on a diagnostic interface having a viewing tool interface with a mark-up entity, said system comprising:

(a) a memory for storing an initial viewable area, an automatically zoomed region, and a zoom factor associating said initial viewable area and said automatically zoomed region;

(b) a processor coupled to the memory, said processor configured for;

i. determining whether the mark-up entity has been activated;

ii. if (i) is true, then determining whether to automatically zoom a region of the viewable area;

iii. if (ii) is true, then determining and applying the zoom factor to the region of the initial viewable area; and

iv. displaying the automatically zoomed region within the viewable area.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured for:

(c) defining an un-zoomed viewable area as the portion of the initial viewable area that falls within the viewable area but outside the automatically zoomed region; and

(d) displaying the un-zoomed viewable area;

wherein the memory stores the un-zoomed viewable area.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein a manner of displaying the automatically zoomed region in the viewable area is determined based a characteristic an image study.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein a manner of displaying the automatically zoomed region in the viewable area is determined based on a diagnostic interface layout.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the zoom factor is input by a user.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the zoom factor is determined based on a feature of the initial viewable area.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the zoom factor is determined based on a feature of the diagnostic interface

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured for displaying a picture in picture window.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured for:

(e) closing the automatically zoomed region;

(f) displaying the initial viewable area;

(g) placing a mark-up.