Automatic Magnification and Selection Confirmation

• US 20130219338A1
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Neal Robert Jr. Caliendo
• Inventors: VanBlon, Russell Speight, Caliendo, Neal Robert Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/815
• 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: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

According to one disclosed embodiment, an approach is provided in which a user input is detected at a first location on a display screen, such as a finger selection on a touch-enabled display screen. A number of visual controls that are proximate to the detected location are identified. A magnification interface is then displayed that includes a larger rendition of the visual controls.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method comprising:

detecting a first user input at a first location on a display screen;

identifying a plurality of visual controls proximate to the detected first location; and

displaying a magnification interface that includes a larger rendition of the plurality of visual controls.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the visual controls corresponds with a process, the method further comprising:

detecting a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determining that the second location corresponds with a control location of a selected one of the larger renditions of the visual controls;

invoking the process corresponding to the selected visual control.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

closing the magnification interface in response to detecting the second user input.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determining that the second location is outside the magnification interface; and

closing the magnification interface in response to the determination.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

setting a timer corresponding to the display of the magnification interface; and

closing the magnification interface in response to the timer elapsing before a second user input is received.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification of the plurality of visual controls that are proximate to the detected first location is based upon a user sensitivity setting, the method further comprising:

identifying one or more spatial distances between the plurality of visual controls.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

comparing the identified spatial distances with a user controlled threshold, wherein the magnification interface is triggered in response to the comparison.

8. An information handling system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory coupled to at least one of the processors;

a nonvolatile storage area accessible by at least one of the processors;

a display screen accessible by at least one of the processors; and

a set of computer program instructions stored in the memory and executed by at least one of the processors in order to perform actions of;

detecting a first user input at a first location on a display screen;

identifying a plurality of visual controls proximate to the detected first location; and

displaying a magnification interface that includes a larger rendition of the plurality of visual controls.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein each of the visual controls corresponds with a process, the information handling system further comprising:

detecting a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determining that the second location corresponds with a control location of a selected one of the larger renditions of the visual controls;

invoking the process corresponding to the selected visual control.

10. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

closing the magnification interface in response to detecting the second user input.

11. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

detecting a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determining that the second location is outside the magnification interface; and

closing the magnification interface in response to the determination.

12. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

setting a timer corresponding to the display of the magnification interface; and

closing the magnification interface in response to the timer elapsing before a second user input is received.

13. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the identification of the plurality of visual controls that are proximate to the detected first location is based upon a user sensitivity setting, and wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

identifying one or more spatial distances between the plurality of visual controls.

14. The information handling system of claim 13 wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

comparing the identified spatial distances with a user controlled threshold, wherein the magnification interface is triggered in response to the comparison.

15. A program product stored in a machine readable storage medium, comprising program code that, when executed by an information handling system, causes the information handling system to perform actions comprising:

detecting a first user input at a first location on a display screen;

identifying a plurality of visual controls proximate to the detected first location; and

displaying a magnification interface that includes a larger rendition of the plurality of visual controls.

16. The program product of claim 15 wherein each of the visual controls corresponds with a process, and wherein the actions further comprise:

detecting a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determining that the second location corresponds with a control location of a selected one of the larger renditions of the visual controls;

invoking the process corresponding to the selected visual control.

17. The program product of claim 16 wherein the actions further comprise:

closing the magnification interface in response to detecting the second user input.

18. The program product of claim 15 wherein the actions further comprise:

detecting a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determining that the second location is outside the magnification interface; and

closing the magnification interface in response to the determination.

19. The program product of claim 15 wherein the actions further comprise:

setting a timer corresponding to the display of the magnification interface; and

closing the magnification interface in response to the timer elapsing before a second user input is received.

20. The program product of claim 15 wherein the identification of the plurality of visual controls that are proximate to the detected first location is based upon a user sensitivity setting, and wherein the actions further comprise:

identifying one or more spatial distances between the plurality of visual controls; and

comparing the identified spatial distances with a user controlled threshold, wherein the magnification interface is triggered in response to the comparison.