Method and apparatus for navigating multiple independent windowed images

• US 5,680,152 A
• Filed: 04/04/1996
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Web.Com Holding Company, Inc. (Web.com Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Martin Sorette
• Inventors: Bricklin, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIANG, REGINA
• Application Number:
  US08/627,650
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 345/123, 345/118, 345/119, 345/120, 345/121, 345/124, 345/125, 345/115, 345/127, 345/145, 395/144, 395/145, 395/146, 395/147, 395/156, 395/157, 395/158, 395/159
• US Class Current: 345/419
• 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: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A method and apparatus for navigating multiple independent windowed images on a computer display screen of a computer system is presented. The images may be of arbitrary size and shape, although a rectangular shape is typically used. A relationship is defined between the coordinates of points in one image and the coordinates of points in each of the other images. All or a portion of an image is shown in a window for each image. An indicator in one window determines the portion of an image shown in another window. Each image is an independent entity, although its content may be thematically related to the content of other windows. Each image is typically a bitmap. A cursor may be used to control the position of the indicator. Graphic objects and items may optionally be "drag-and-dropped" into any window.

Claims

1. A system for displaying images on a display means comprising:

a first window displaying a portion of a first image on said display means, said first image comprising a non-blank image containing image data;

a first indicator displayed at a first position with respect to said first window, said first indicator being movable in two dimensions with respect to said first window;

a first indicator control means for moving said first indicator from said first position with respect to said first window to a second position with respect to said first window;

a second window displaying a portion of a second image on said display means, said second window having dimensions independent of dimensions of said first window, said second image comprising a non-blank image comprising image data that is independent of said image data of said first image, said portion of said second image comprising less than a whole of said second image, said portion of said second image being determined by movement of said first indicator from said first position to said second position with respect to said first window such that a first portion of said second image is displayed in said second window when said first indicator is located at said first position with respect to said first window, a second portion of said second image is displayed in said second window when said first indicator is located at said second position with respect to said first window, and intermediate portions of said second image are displayed sequentially in said second window after said first portion is displayed in said second window and before said second portion is displayed in said second window.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said portion of said first image displayed in said first window comprises a whole of said first image.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said portion of said first image displayed in said first window comprises less than a whole of said first image.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein a content of said first image is thematically related to a content of said second image.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said display means comprises a computer display.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said first indicator comprises a highlighted region.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said first indicator comprises an outline.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said first indicator comprises an indicator having dimensions relative to said first image that correspond to dimensions of said second window relative to said second image.

9. A method for navigating images displayed on a display means comprising the steps of:

displaying in a first window on a display means a portion of a first image, said first image comprising a non-blank image containing image data;

displaying a first indicator at a first position with respect to said first window, said first indicator being movable in two dimensions with respect to said first window;

displaying in a second window on said display means a first portion of a second image based on said first position of said first indicator with respect to said first window, said first portion of said second image comprising less than a whole of said second image, said second image comprising a non-blank image comprising image data that is independent of said image data of said first image, said second window having dimensions independent of dimensions of said first window,

moving by means of a first indicator control means said first indicator from said first position with respect to said first window to a second position with respect to said first window;

displaying a second portion of said second image in said second window based on said second position of said first indicator with respect to said first window after displaying intermediate portions of said second image in said second window between said first portion and said second portion of said second image.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein a content of said first image is thematically related to a content of said second image.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said display means comprises a computer display.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said first indicator comprises a highlighted region.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said first indicator comprises an outline.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said first indicator comprises an indicator having dimensions relative to said first image that correspond to dimensions of said second window relative to said second image.