Video magnifier for a display of data

• US 6,515,678 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1999
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boger, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US09/442,686
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 345/660, 345/666, 345/667, 345/668-671, 345/471-472, 345/698, 345/699, 345/3--
• US Class Current: 345/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4092 Image resolution transcoding, e.g. by using client-server architectures

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for magnifying a display of video data. In an exemplary embodiment, a system for magnifying a display of data includes a receiver for receiving a first set of video data including video data formatted for display in a first resolution. A translator is also included for translating the first set of video data formatted for display in the first resolution to a second set of video data formatted for display in a second resolution, the second resolution being a lower resolution than the first resolution. A magnifier is also included for magnifying a display of video data by formatting the first set of video into a third set of video data. The third set of video data is capable of display on a display device capable of displaying video data in the second resolution and incapable of displaying video data in the first resolution. The third set of video data is in an enlarged format with respect to the second set of video data.

Claims

1. A system for magnifying a display of data, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a first set of video data formatted for display in a first resolution;

a translator for translating the first set of video to a second set of video data formatted for display in a second resolution, the second resolution being a lower resolution than the first resolution; and

a magnifier for magnifying a display of video data by formatting the first set of video data into a third set of video data so that the third set of video data is suitable for display on a display device capable of displaying video data in the second resolution and incapable of displaying video data in the first resolution;

wherein the third set of video data is in an enlarged format with respect to the second set of video data.

2. The system as described in claim 1, further comprising a display device capable of displaying the second set of video data formatted for display in the second resolution and incapable of displaying data formatted for display in the first resolution.

3. The system as described in claim 2, wherein the second set of video data and the third set of video data are displayed simultaneously on the display device.

4. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the third set of video data is formatted for display in the second resolution.

5. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data in a ratio of at least one to one.

6. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data in a user-defined ratio.

7. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data so as to enable a user to view details contained in the first set of video data as the third set of video data is displayed on the display device.

8. The system as described in claim 1, further comprising

a selector for selecting a portion of the second set of video data displayed on the display device to magnify; and

a retriever for retrieving a corresponding portion of the second set of video data from the first set of video data wherein the corresponding portion taken from the first set of video data is magnified.

9. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the third set of video data is displayed in a user-defined area on the display device.

10. The system as described in claim 9, wherein the user-defined area is capable of being manipulated by a user so as to allow the user to select a portion of the second set of video data displayed on the display device to appear magnified by retrieving a corresponding portion of the first set of video data and magnifying the corresponding portion of the first set of video data.

11. The system as described in claim 10, wherein the user-defined area is capable of being manipulated by a cursor control device.

12. A method for magnifying a display of data, wherein a first set of video data formatted for display in a first resolution is translated to a second set of video data formatted for display in a second resolution, the second resolution being a lower resolution than the first resolution, and wherein the second set of video data is capable of being displayed on a display device capable of displaying data in the second resolution and incapable of displaying data in the first resolution, comprising:

magnifying the display of video data by formatting the first set of video into a third set of video data so that the third set of video data is capable of display on the display device;

wherein the third set of video data is in an enlarged format with respect to the second set of video data.

13. The method as described in claim 12, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data so as to enable a user to view details contained in the first set of video data as the third set of video data is displayed on the display device, the details being illegible to the user in the display of the second set of video data.

14. The method as described in claim 12, wherein the second set of video data and the third set of video data are displayed simultaneously on the display device.

15. The method as described in claim 12, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data in a ratio of at least one to one.

16. The method as described in claim 12, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data in a user-defined ratio.

17. The method as described in claim 12, further comprising

selecting a portion of the second set of video data displayed on the display device to magnify; and

retrieving a corresponding portion of the second set of video data from the first set of video data wherein the corresponding portion taken from the first set of video data is magnified.

18. The method as described in claim 12, wherein the third set of video data is displayed in a user-defined area on the display device.

19. The method as described in claim 18, wherein the user-defined area is capable of being manipulated by a user so as to allow the user to select a portion of the second set of video data displayed on the display device to appear magnified by retrieving a corresponding portion of the first set of video data and magnifying the corresponding portion of the first set of video data.

20. A program of instructions storable on a medium readable by a digital information appliance for causing the digital information appliance to execute steps for video magnification, the steps comprising:

receiving a first set of video data formatted for display in a first resolution;

translating the first set of video data to a second set of video data formatted for display in a second resolution, the second resolution being a lower resolution than the first resolution;

displaying the second set of video data on a display device capable of displaying data formatted for display in the second resolution and incapable of displaying data formatted for display in the first resolution; and

magnifying the display of video data by formatting the first set of video into a third set of video data so that the third set of video data is capable of display on the display device;

wherein the third set of video data is in an enlarged format with respect to the second set of video data.

21. The program of instructions as described in claim 20, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data so as to enable a user to view details contained in the first set of video data as the third set of video data is displayed on the display device, the details being illegible to the user in the display of the second set of video data.

22. The program of instructions as described in claim 20, wherein the second set of video data and the third set of video data are displayed simultaneously on the display device.

23. The program of instructions as described in claim 20, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data in a ratio of at least one to one.

24. The program of instructions as described in claim 20, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data in a user-defined ratio.

25. The program of instructions as described in claim 20, further comprising

selecting a portion of the second set of video data displayed on the display device to magnify; and

retrieving a corresponding portion of the second set of video data from the first set of video data wherein the corresponding portion taken from the first set of video data is magnified.

26. The program of instructions as described in claim 20, wherein the third set of video data is displayed in a user-defined area on the display device.

27. The program of instructions as described in claim 26, wherein the user-defined area is capable of being manipulated by a user so as to allow the user to select a portion of the second set of video data displayed on the display device to appear magnified by retrieving a corresponding portion of the first set of video data and magnifying the corresponding portion of the first set of video data.

28. A digital information appliance system, comprising:

a processor for executing a program of instructions on digital information appliance;

a memory coupled to the processor for storing the program of instructions executable by said processor;

a display device capable of displaying data formatted for display in a second resolution and incapable of displaying data formatted for display in a first resolution, the second resolution being a lower resolution than the first resolution; and

an input and output system coupled to the processor for coupling the digital information appliance to a network wherein the program of instructions configures the information handling system to

receive a first set of video data including video data formatted for display in the first resolution;

translate the first set of video data formatted for display in the first resolution to a second set of video data formatted for display in the second resolution;

display the second set of video data on the display; and

magnify the display of video data by formatting the first set of video into a third set of video data so that the third set of video data is capable of display on the display device;

wherein the third set of video data is in an enlarged format with respect to the second set of video data.

29. The digital information appliance as described in claim 28, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data so as to enable a user to view details contained in the first set of video data as the third set of video data is displayed on the display device, the details being illegible to the user in the display of the second set of video data.

30. The digital information appliance as described in claim 28, wherein the second set of video data and the third set of video data are displayed simultaneously on the display device.

31. The digital information appliance as described in claim 28, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data in a ratio of at least one to one.

32. The digital information appliance as described in claim 28, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data in a user-defined ratio.

33. The digital information appliance as described in claim 28, further comprising

select a portion of the second set of video data displayed on the display device to magnify; and

retrieve a corresponding portion of the second set of video data from the first set of video data wherein the corresponding portion taken from the first set of video data is magnified.

34. The digital information appliance as described in claim 28, wherein the third set of video data is displayed in a user-defined area on the display device.

35. The digital information appliance as described in claim 34, wherein the user-defined area is capable of being manipulated by a user so as to allow the user to select a portion of the second set of video data displayed on the display device to appear magnified by retrieving a corresponding portion of the first set of video data and magnifying the corresponding portion of the first set of video data.

36. A method for magnifying a display of data, comprising:

translating a first set of video data formatted for display in a first resolution to a second set of video data formatted for display in a second resolution, the second resolution being a lower resolution than the first resolution;

magnifying a display of video data by formatting the first set of video into a third set of video data so that the third set of video data is capable of display on the display device, wherein the third set of video data is in an enlarged format with respect to the second set of video data, and

displaying the third set of video data on a display device in conjunction with the second set of video data so that the third set of video data appears to be placed over at least a portion of the second set of video data.

37. The method as described in claim 36, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data so as to enable a user to view details contained in the first set of video data as the third set of video data is displayed on the display device, the details being illegible to the user in the display of the second set of video data.

38. The method as described in claim 36, wherein the third set of video data is magnified from the first set of video data as at least one of in a ratio of at least one to one and in a user-defined ratio.

39. The method as described in claim 36, wherein the second set of video data substantially fills a display of the display device with the third set of video data being displayed so as to appear placed over a portion of the second set of video data.

40. The method as described in claim 36, further comprising

selecting a portion of the second set of video data displayed on the display device to magnify; and

retrieving a corresponding portion of the second set of video data from the first set of video data wherein the corresponding portion taken from the first set of video data is magnified.

41. The method as described in claim 36, wherein the third set of video data is displayed in a user-defined area on the display device.

42. The method as described in claim 41, wherein the user-defined area is capable of being manipulated by a user so as to allow the user to select a portion of the second set of video data displayed on the display device to appear magnified by retrieving a corresponding portion of the first set of video data and magnifying the corresponding portion of the first set of video data.