VIRTUAL OBJECT NAVIGATION

• US 20090089705A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Panabaker, Ruston, DeMaio, Pasquale
• Application Number:
  US11/863,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20090089705A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/784
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A navigation manager is configured to navigate the display of an object that is larger than a computer'"'"'s display based on manipulation of the display screen itself. Sensing devices associated with the display detect movement of the device and/or interaction with the display. When the movement and/or the interaction with the display is sensed, the display of the object is updated accordingly. For example, moving the display to the left may scroll the display of the object to the left, whereas pressing down on the device may zoom in on the object.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing the display of an object that is larger than a display a computing device, comprising:

entering a navigation mode that uses sensed information to position the object within the display;

detecting a navigation event that is associated with the computing device;

wherein the navigation event relates to at least one of a physical movement of a display of the computing device and a change in a physical pressure that is applied to the computing device;

positioning the object within the display that is associated with the computing device based on the detected navigation event; and

displaying the positioned object within the display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the object within the display comprises zooming in on the object when the navigation event is a downward pressure that is applied to the computing device and zooming out on the object when the navigation event senses reduced pressure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the object within the display comprises moving the object within the display to the left when the navigation event indicates the device moves left;

moving the object within the display to the right when the navigation event indicates the device moves right;

moving the object within the display up when the navigation event indicates the device moves up; and

moving the object within the display down when the navigation event indicates the device moves down.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the object within the display comprises rotating the object within the display when the navigation event is a rotation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the object within the display comprises applying a predetermined multiplier to the navigation event such that the navigation of the object within the display is adjusted faster than the detected navigation event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the navigation mode comprises manually entering the navigation mode based on a user input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation event is detected by monitoring at least a pressure sensor and a camera that is coupled to the computing device.

8. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for managing display of objects on a computing device, comprising:

detecting a navigation event that is associated with the computing device;

wherein the navigation event relates to a physical interaction with the computing device;

wherein the physical interaction with the device is external from the display;

positioning an object within the display based on the detected navigation event; and

displaying the positioned object within the display.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein positioning the object within the display comprises determining a physical pressure that is applied to the computing device and positioning the object based on the physical pressure.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein positioning the object within the display comprises moving the object within the display based on a physical movement of the device.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein positioning the object within the display comprises determining an object to display from within a set of objects based on the navigation event.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein positioning the object within the display comprises applying a multiplier such that the navigation of the object within the display is adjusted faster than the detected navigation event.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein entering the navigation mode comprises manually entering a navigation mode based on a user input and automatically entering the navigation mode when physical interaction is detected while displaying the object.

14. A system for managing the display of an object, comprising:

a processor and a computer-readable medium;

a display;

an operating environment stored on the computer-readable medium and executing on the processor;

a sensing device that is configured to detect a navigation event that is related to a physical movement of the display; and

a navigation manager operating under the control of the operating environment; and

that is operative to;

receive motion information from the sensing device;

change a position of an object within a display based on the received motion; and

display the positioned object with the display.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensing device is at least two of:

a camera;

a pressure sensor;

a laser;

an accelerometer; and

a global positioning system device.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a frame that includes a pressure sensor that is configured to sense pressure;

and wherein the navigation manager is further configured to determine when a pressure is applied and in response to the pressure change a zooming factor associated with the object.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein changing the position of the object comprises determining an amount of movement sensed and positioning the object in the display based on the amount of movement.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein changing the position of the object comprises determining an object to display from within a set of objects based on the pressure.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein changing the position of the object comprises applying a multiplier such that the position of the object within the display is adjusted faster than the sensed motion.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising an actuator that is configured to enter a navigation mode automatically when motion is detected while displaying the object.