VARIABLE SCREEN MAGNIFIER USER INTERFACE

• US 20100083192A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gomez, Harold S., Zaman, Nazia
• Granted Patent: US 8,887,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/866
• 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

Abstract

The magnifier interface system determines a level of user activity with a screen magnifier user interface and determines a current user interface mode. If the system is currently in the full mode and the level of user activity indicates user interaction with the screen magnifier user interface below a threshold, then the system transitions from the full mode to the watermark mode based on the lack of determined user activity. If the system is currently in the watermark mode and the level of user activity indicates user interaction with the screen magnifier user interface, then the system transitions from the watermark mode to the full mode based on the determined user activity. Thus, the magnifier interface system presents a full user interface that transitions into a smaller watermark interface when not in use to take up less screen real restate yet remain available to users.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for transitioning between a watermark and full user interface for a screen magnifier, the method comprising:

determining a level of user activity with a currently displayed user interface;

determining a current user interface mode;

if the determined current user interface mode is a watermark mode and the level of user activity indicates user interaction with the currently displayed user interface, transitioning from the watermark mode to the full mode based on the determined user activity;

if the determined current user interface mode is a full mode and the level of user activity indicates user interaction with the currently displayed user interface below a threshold, transitioning from the full mode to the watermark mode based on the lack of determined user activity; and

displaying a user interface based on the user interface mode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the level of user activity comprises determining whether a threshold amount of time has passed since the user last clicked on the currently displayed user interface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein user interaction with the currently displayed user interface comprises a user clicking on the watermark user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein user interaction with the currently displayed user interface below a threshold comprises detecting no user activity within a predetermined amount of time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a user interface comprises displaying the user interface at a same location within a magnified view as contents of the magnified view change.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein transitioning from the full mode to the watermark mode comprises fading out the full user interface and fading in the watermark user interface at the same time.

7. A computer system for providing a variable user interface for a screen magnifier, the system comprising:

an input device configured to receive input from a user and communicate the input to an operating system;

an input detection component configured to convert the received input into coordinates of a displayed cursor, wherein when a user moves the input device, the input detection component moves the displayed cursor;

a location identification component configured to identify one or more user interface elements present at a current location of the displayed cursor;

a mode selection component configured to select between a watermark user interface and a full user interface based on user interaction with either user interface;

a watermark user interface component configured to render the watermark user interface;

a full user interface component configured to render the full user interface;

a display configured to display a magnified view of one or more applications and one of the full user interface and the graphical user interface; and

a magnification component configured to generate the magnified view from a selected area of the graphical representation.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein identifying one or more user interface elements present at a current location of the displayed cursor comprises determining if the current location of the displayed cursor is near the watermark user interface.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the mode selection component includes a timer and is further configured to store a last time the user interacted with the full user interface.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the watermark user interface component renders the watermark user interface translucent so that the user can at least partially see other user interface elements through the watermark user interface.

11. The system of claim 7 further comprising a configuration component configured to receive configuration information from the user that modifies behavior of the system.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of a stylus, a digital pen, a mouse, and a touch screen.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the display device displays the magnified view as a window that appears on a desktop provided by the operating system.

14. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for controlling a computer system to magnify at least a portion of a desktop of the computer system, by a method comprising:

detecting an update event that indicates a time for updating the contents and position of a magnified view;

retrieving a current position of a displayed cursor;

determining whether a user has selected a location associated with a watermark user interface, wherein the watermark user interface is smaller than a full user interface; and

if the user has selected a location associated with a watermark user interface, displaying the full user interface for modifying magnification behavior,

such that the computer system displays the watermark user interface that takes up less of the magnified view unless the user requests the full user interface by selecting the watermark user interface.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 further comprising setting an update timer and wherein detecting an update event comprises receiving a notification that the timer has fired.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein detecting an update event comprises detecting a user action that makes the view out of date with a state of the system.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the watermark user interface and full user interface are displayed within the magnified view.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the view is displayed full screen on a display such that only a portion of the computer screen is visible on the display at a time.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the watermark user interface includes an indication of a current magnification factor.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 further comprising highlighting the watermark user interface when the use hovers near it with the displayed cursor.