Method and apparatus for browsing information in a computer database
First Claim
1. In a computer system having a database containing a plurality of data, an apparatus for browsing through said data in said database, said apparatus comprising the elements of:
- a graphic display system;
display means for displaying a graphic representation of said data in said database on said graphic display system;
rendering means for rendering a moveable browsing tool on said graphic display system over said graphical representation of said data, said moveable browsing tool having a viewing area for viewing said graphic representation of said data, said viewing area having a magnification area disposed in said viewing area to selectively target a portion of said graphic representation of said data contained in said viewing area;
positioning means for an operator to position said moveable browsing tool on the graphic display system; and
enhancement means for enhancing said graphic representation of said data within said magnification area of the moveable browsing tool immediately after said operator ceases positioning said moveable browsing tool for a predetermined amount of time, said enhancement means rendering an enhanced graphic representation of the data within the viewing area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for browsing through a computer database on a computer system with a graphical user interface. The information to be browsed is displayed on a display screen. A browsing tool which resembles a magnifying glass is displayed on the display screen on top of the information. The browsing tool has a viewing lens with targeting crosshair and a "magnifying" reticle. When the browsing tool is moved about the screen, the information on the screen is shown in normal form. When the browsing tool comes to a rest, the information within the viewing lens of the browsing tool is modified depending on the current browsing tool mode. When the browsing tool is in magnification mode, the information within magnifying reticle is enhanced such that it fills the entire viewing lens of the browsing tool. When the browsing tool is in hierarchical browsing mode, the next lower level of the hierarchy is displayed within the viewing lens of the browsing tool. When the browsing tool is in data filtering mode, the information is displayed according to a preset filtering rule.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. In a computer system having a database containing a plurality of data, an apparatus for browsing through said data in said database, said apparatus comprising the elements of:
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a graphic display system; display means for displaying a graphic representation of said data in said database on said graphic display system; rendering means for rendering a moveable browsing tool on said graphic display system over said graphical representation of said data, said moveable browsing tool having a viewing area for viewing said graphic representation of said data, said viewing area having a magnification area disposed in said viewing area to selectively target a portion of said graphic representation of said data contained in said viewing area; positioning means for an operator to position said moveable browsing tool on the graphic display system; and enhancement means for enhancing said graphic representation of said data within said magnification area of the moveable browsing tool immediately after said operator ceases positioning said moveable browsing tool for a predetermined amount of time, said enhancement means rendering an enhanced graphic representation of the data within the viewing area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of browsing information stored in a computer database on a computer system with a graphics display screen, said method comprising the steps of:
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displaying said information from said computer database on said graphics display screen; rendering a moveable browsing tool having a viewing area with a magnification area disposed therein on said graphics display screen over said information from said computer database; positioning said moveable browsing tool on said graphics display screen in response to input signals from an operator, said information from said computer database visible in said viewing area allowing said operator to selectively target a portion of said information with said magnification area; and enhancing said information within said magnification area immediately after said operator ceases positioning said moveable browsing tool for a predetermined amount of time and displaying an enhanced image of said information in said viewing area of said moveable browsing tool. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer apparatus, said computer apparatus having a database containing a plurality of data, said apparatus comprising the elements of:
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a graphic display system; display means for displaying a graphic representation of said data from said database on said graphic display system; rendering means for rendering a movable browsing tool on said graphic display system over said graphic representation of data, said movable browsing tool having a viewing area for viewing said graphic representation of said data, said viewing area having a magnification area disposed in said viewing area to selectively target a portion of said graphic representation of said data contained in said viewing area; positioning means for an operator to position said movable browsing tool on the graphic display system; and enhancement means for enhancing the graphic representation of the data within the magnification area of the moveable browsing tool immediately after said operator ceases positioning said moveable browsing tool for a predetermined amount of time such that an enhanced graphic representation of the data from the database provides additional information in said viewing area. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification