SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING AN INTERACTIVE ZOOM FRAME INTERFACE

• US 20110197156A1
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dynavox Systems LLC A Delaware Limited Liability Company
• Original Assignee: Tobii Dynavox LLC (Tobii Technology AB)
• Inventors: Sweeney, Dan, McCullough, Jason, Strait, John
• Application Number:
  US12/702,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20110197156A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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

Systems and methods for generating an interactive zoom interface for an electronic device include electronically displaying a first graphical user interface area to a user. Input is then received from a user indicating a desire to initiate a magnified or zoomed display state. Upon receipt of such electronic input, a second user interface area is displayed to a user. The second user interface area (i.e., a zoom frame) corresponds to a magnified view of some or all of the first user interface area, which may be displayed in place of or overlaid on some or all of the first user interface area. The second user interface area may include at least one zoom toolbar portion including selectable controls such as but not limited to one or more of a zoom in, zoom out, zoom amount, pan directions, scroll directions, cancel/dismiss, contrast and display options, zoom frame toolbar position options, etc.

Claims

1. A method of generating an interactive zoom interface for an electronic device, comprising:

electronically displaying a first graphical user interface area to a user;

receiving an electronic zoom actuation signal indicating a desire to initiate a magnified display state; and

displaying a second user interface area to a user upon receipt of the electronic zoom actuation signal;

wherein said second user interface area comprises a magnified view of at least one portion of said first user interface area, and wherein the magnification level of the second user interface is continuously adjustable while being displayed to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second user interface area is displayed over the substantial entirety of the first user interface area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second user interface area is displayed over a selected portion of the first user interface area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said second user interface area comprises a zoom toolbar portion having one or more selectable controls.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said one or more selectable controls comprise one or more of a zoom in control, a zoom out control, a zoom amount control, pan direction controls, scroll direction controls, a cancel/dismiss control, contrast and display options controls, and zoom frame toolbar control, size color and position options controls.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said zoom toolbar portion is configured in a location substantially surrounding the periphery of the second user interface area or along a portion of one, two or more edges of the second user interface area.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said one or more selectable controls enable a user to continuously adjust the magnification level of the second user interface area relative to the first user interface area as well as the relative user location within the second user interface area.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of electronically verifying that the electronic device is operating in one of a plurality of given modes in which zoom frame features are available for presentation to a user.

9. A computer readable medium comprising computer readable and executable instructions configured to control a processing device to:

electronically display a first graphical user interface area to a user;

receive an electronic zoom actuation signal indicating a desire to initiate a magnified display state; and

display a second user interface area to a user upon receipt of the electronic zoom actuation signal;

wherein said second user interface area comprises a magnified view of at least one portion of said first user interface area, and wherein said second user interface area comprises a zoom toolbar portion having one or more selectable controls that enable a user to continuously adjust the magnification level of the second user interface area relative to the first user interface area as well as the relative user location within the second user interface area.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein said second user interface area is displayed over the substantial entirety of the first user interface area.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein said second user interface area is displayed over a selected portion of the first user interface area.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein said one or more selectable controls comprise one or more of a zoom in control, a zoom out control, a zoom amount control, pan direction controls, scroll direction controls, a cancel/dismiss control, contrast and display options controls, and zoom frame toolbar control, size color and position options controls.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein said zoom toolbar portion is configured in a location substantially surrounding the periphery of the second user interface area or along a portion of one, two or more edges of the second user interface area.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein said executable instructions are further configured to control a processing device to electronically verify that the electronic device is operating in one of a plurality of given modes in which zoom frame features are available for presentation to a user.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

at least one electronic output device configured to display a first user interface area as visual output to a user;

at least one electronic input device configured to receive electronic input from a user corresponding to a zoom actuation signal indicating a desire to initiate a magnified display state;

at least one processing device;

at least one memory comprising computer-readable instructions for execution by said at least one processing device, wherein said at least one processing device is configured to receive the zoom actuation signal and initiate display of a second user interface area, wherein the second user interface area comprises an adjustably magnified view of at least one portion of said first user interface area.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said electronic device comprises a speech generation device that comprises at least one speaker for providing audio output.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said processing device is further configured to display the second user interface area over some or all of the first user interface area.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said processing device is further configured to incorporate a zoom toolbar portion having one or more selectable controls into a portion of the second user interface area.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein said one or more selectable controls comprise one or more of a zoom in control, a zoom out control, a zoom amount control, pan direction controls, scroll direction controls, a cancel/dismiss control, contrast and display options controls, and zoom frame toolbar control, size color and position options controls.

20. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein said one or more selectable controls enable a user to continuously adjust the magnification level of the second user interface area relative to the first user interface area as well as the relative user location within the second user interface area.