Zooming controller

• US 6,366,303 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Venolia, Daniel Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIER, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US09/551,411
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 345/127, 345/131, 345/184, 345/339, 345/341, 345/856, 345/661, 345/667, 345/676, 345/684
• US Class Current: 715/856
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A method and device for accessing a broad data field having a fine resolution. The user selects a scale which can be varied. The scale controls a range within the data field. By moving the range to encompass different portions of the data field, the user can scan that portion of the data field. The present invention allows the user to simultaneously select the scale while moving the range over different portions of the data field. Thus, the user can “zoom in” and “zoom out” of different portions of the data field.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a particular piece of data within the broad data field can be accessed. First, the scale is selectively varied, thereby controlling a range within the data field. Then, the range is moved to encompass portions of the data field in which the piece of data resides. Next, the scale is successively decreased while, simultaneously, points successively closer to the location are kept with the range. The scale is decreased (i.e., increasing the range'"'"'s resolution) and the range is moved in this manner until the piece of data is actually accessed.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a single input device for controlling movement of a cursor displayed on a data processing system and for controlling access of a particular piece of data within a data field displayed by the data processing system, said method comprising:

positioning a moveable cursor to a location on a display screen in response to movement with said input device when a signal supplied by said input device is in a first state;

when said signal is in a second state, remapping control of said input device, wherein movement with said input device controls both a resolution and a range of said data field for display on said display screen;

selectively varying said resolution at which said data field is displayed responsive to movement with said input device in a first axis, wherein movement with said input device in said first axis changes said resolution;

controlling said range of the data field for display in response to movement with the input device in a second axis, wherein movement in the second axis causes different ranges of the data field to be displayed;

moving the input device in the first and second axes to simultaneously vary said resolution and said range of display, until the particular piece of data is accessed.

2. A method as defined by claim 1 wherein said input device is comprised of a mouse and the resolution is controlled by moving said mouse in the first axis and the range is controlled by moving the mouse in the second axis.

3. A method as defined by claim 1 wherein said input device is comprised of a trackball and the resolution is controlled by moving said trackball in the first axis and the range is controlled by moving the trackball in the second axis.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said resolution represents a scale such that a change in resolution corresponds to a change in scale of data in said data field.

5. A machine readable medium which stores executable program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method of implementing a single input device for controlling movement of a cursor displayed by the digital processing system and for controlling access of a particular piece of data within a data field displayed by the digital processing system, said method comprising:

positioning a moveable cursor to a location on a display screen in response to movement with said input device when a signal supplied by said input device is in a first state;

when said signal is in a second state, remapping control of said input device, wherein movement with said input device controls both a resolution and a range of said data field for display on said display screen;

selectively varying said resolution at which said data field is displayed responsive to movement with said input device in a first axis, wherein movement with said input device in said first axis changes said resolution;

controlling said range of the data field for display in response to movement with the input device in a second axis, wherein movement in the second axis causes different ranges of the data field to be displayed;

moving the input device in the first and second axes to simultaneously vary said resolution and said range of display, until the particular piece of data is accessed.

6. A machine readable medium as in claim 5 wherein said input device is comprised of a mouse and the resolution is controlled by moving said mouse in the first axis and the range is controlled by moving the mouse in the second axis.

7. A machine readable medium as in claim 5 wherein said input device is comprised of a trackball and the resolution is controlled by moving said trackball in the first axis and the range is controlled by moving the trackball in the second axis.

8. A machine readable medium as in claim 5 wherein said resolution represents a scale such that a change in resolution corresponds to a change in scale of data in said data field.