Combined scroll and zoom method and apparatus

• US 6,407,749 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2000
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John H. Duke
• Original Assignee: John H. Duke
• Inventors: Duke, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US09/631,331
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 345/660, 345/661, 345/672, 345/684, 345/687
• US Class Current: 345/684
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

Method and apparatus for simultaneously scrolling and zooming graphic data in a display device in response to pointing device action by user. The system alternates between zooming in and zooming out at preset rates in response to successive user actuations of a unique button set on the pointing device. While the button set remains actuated the pointing device acts to pan the viewport.

Claims

1. A method for combining zoom and scroll functions on a data processing system, said data processing system including a central processing unit, an elapsed time measurement means, a pointing device, a button set, a memory containing a means to store graphic user data, a zoom in factor designating increase in scale per unit of time further contained in said memory, a zoom out factor designating decrease in scale per unit of time further contained in said memory, a zoom toggle further contained in said memory designating either a zoom in state or a zoom out state, a display device, and a viewport contained in said display device displaying a portion of said user data, the method forming a programmed display function and comprising the steps of:

determining if said button set is actuated;

determine state of said zoom toggle;

if said zoom toggle is in said zoom in state, calculate change of scale of said viewport using said zoom in factor and said measurement of elapsed time during actuation of said button set;

if said zoom toggle is in said zoom out state, calculate change of scale of said viewport using said zoom out factor and said measurement of elapsed time during actuation of said button set;

determine change of position of said pointing device during actuation of said button set;

calculate change of position of said viewport with respect to said graphic user data proportional to said change of position of said pointing device;

display said viewport using said viewport scale change and said viewport position change, and;

if said button set changes from being activated to being disactivated reverse the state of said zoom toggle.