Fractal computer user centerface with zooming capability
First Claim
1. A method of visually displaying, on a display area, items of information stored in computer memory, by displaying representation objects, which represent the items of information, on a reference surface, each of which representation objects has a predetermined size and position on such reference surface and is comprised of groups of pixels, comprising:
- storing a data object, in the computer memory, for each of the representation objects having a predetermined size and position on such reference surface, each of which data objects comprises a sequence of image representations of such representation object, which sequence includes reduced copies of such representation object, and an address of such representation object on the reference surface;
deriving and storing a plurality of reduced copies of the representation objects by successively representing the information in the pixel groups forming such representation object by smaller pixel groups, so as to provide the sequence of image representations of successively smaller representation objects;
displaying at least a portion of the reference surface on such display area;
displaying a different portion of the reference surface in response to control signals to display different representation objects; and
substituting representation objects of different size for displayed representation objects in order to effectively enlarge or reduce the magnification of the information displayed on the display area.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer user interface that represents information stored in a computer as reprentation objects located on at least one reference surface is disclosed. A user can magnify or reduce the displayed information by "zooming" in or out. The magnification operation displays a smaller portion of a particular surface, but each object that remains in view is displayed in greater size and/or detail. Similarly, the reduction operation displays a larger portion of a given surface, but each object within such surface is displayed in a smaller size and/or less detail. In order to view one part of the surface from another part of the surface or from another surface, a special type of an object, called a representation portal object, is provided. A graphical description of each object is physically stored in computer memory essentially as a sequence of compressed image representations. The first image in the sequence is a bit-mapped representation of an object as it was created, and each subsequent image is a reduced copy of the first image.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method of visually displaying, on a display area, items of information stored in computer memory, by displaying representation objects, which represent the items of information, on a reference surface, each of which representation objects has a predetermined size and position on such reference surface and is comprised of groups of pixels, comprising:
-
storing a data object, in the computer memory, for each of the representation objects having a predetermined size and position on such reference surface, each of which data objects comprises a sequence of image representations of such representation object, which sequence includes reduced copies of such representation object, and an address of such representation object on the reference surface; deriving and storing a plurality of reduced copies of the representation objects by successively representing the information in the pixel groups forming such representation object by smaller pixel groups, so as to provide the sequence of image representations of successively smaller representation objects; displaying at least a portion of the reference surface on such display area; displaying a different portion of the reference surface in response to control signals to display different representation objects; and substituting representation objects of different size for displayed representation objects in order to effectively enlarge or reduce the magnification of the information displayed on the display area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of visually displaying, on a display area, items of information stored in computer memory, by displaying representation objects, which represent the items of information, on a reference surface, each of which representation objects has a predetermined size and position on such reference surface and is comprised of groups of pixels, comprising:
-
storing a data object for each of the representation objects having a predetermined size, shape and position on such reference surface; storing at least one portal data object defining a portion of the reference surface and a portal scale at which the portion of the reference surface is to be displayed and for providing a portal representation object at a predetermined size, shape and position on the reference surface; displaying at least one portal representation object in the display area, whereby the portion of the reference surface defined by such portal data object is displayed in the display area; and varying at least one of (1) the portion of the reference surface displayed in such portal representation object in response to control signals to display different representation objects therein, and (2) the portal scale in response to control signals to display the representation objects at a different scale. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An apparatus for visually displaying items of information stored in computer memory, by displaying representation objects, which represent the items of information, on a reference surface, each of which representation objects has a predetermined size and position on such reference surface and is comprised of groups of pixels, comprising:
-
a computer having a display area; means for storing a data object for each of the representation objects having a predetermined size and position on such reference surface, each of which data objects comprises a sequence of image representations of such representation object, which sequence includes reduced copies of such representation object, and an address of such representation object on the reference surface; means for deriving and storing a plurality of reduced copies of representation objects by successively representing the information in the pixel groups forming such representation object by smaller pixel groups, so as to provide the sequence of image representations of successively smaller representation objects; means for displaying at least a portion of the reference surface on such display area; means for displaying a different portion of the reference surface in response to control signals to display different representation objects; and means for substituting representation objects of different size for displayed representation objects in order to effectively enlarge or reduce the magnification of the information displayed n the display area. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. An apparatus for visually displaying items of information stored in computer memory, by displaying representation objects, which represent the items of information, on a reference surface, each of which representation objects has a predetermined size and position on such reference surface and is comprised of groups of pixels, comprising:
-
a computer having a display area; means for storing a data object for each of the representation objects having a predetermined size, shape and position on such reference surface; means for storing at least one portal data object defining a portion of the reference surface and a portal scale at which the portion of the reference surface is to be displayed and for providing a portal representation object at a predetermined size, shape and position on the reference surface; means for displaying at least one portal representation object in the display area, whereby the portion of the reference surface defined by such portal data object is displayed in the display area; and means for varying at least one of (1) the portion of the reference surface displayed in such portal representation object in response to control signals to display different representation objects therein, and (2) the portal scale in response to control signals to display the representation objects at a different scale. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification