Method of displaying information to a user in multiple windows

• US 6,564,186 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mindmaker, Inc.
• Inventors: Ridge, Peter M., Kiraly, Jozsef
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAWAN, VIJAY B
• Application Number:
  US10/021,357
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270-278, 704/260, 704/258, 379/214.01, 345/173, 345/729, 358/408
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information

Abstract

A method of providing language assistance to a computer user with dyslexia, reading disabilities or visual impairment by presenting text-based information via multiple channels is provided. This technique effectively provides multiple channels of information to a user. Moreover, this method is useful for displaying text-based information to users having disabilities such as dyslexia, or for increasing the entertainment value of viewing a text document. This technique may be used for assisting users in editing documents and in retrieving information from the World Wide Web.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information to a user, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of predefined words each predefined word associated with a corresponding visual data;

accessing a source of text-based data;

;

displaying a portion of said text-based data in a first window;

sequentially marking a section of said portion of said text-based data one section at a time and displaying said section of text-based data in a second window; and

if said marked section includes at least one particular predefined word, displaying said corresponding visual data associated with said particular predefined word in a third window.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first window displays said text-based data in a standard font size, and wherein said second window displays said text-based data in a magnified font size relative to said standard font size.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said size of said magnified font size is adjustable by said user via a graphical user interface (GUI).

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of marking includes:

underlining said section of said text-based data in said second window.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of marking includes:

highlighting said section of said text-based data in said second window.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of accessing includes:

receiving said text-based data from a clipboard.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of accessing includes:

receiving said text-based data from the World Wide Web.

8. A method of displaying information to a user, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of predefined words each predefined word associated with a corresponding audio data;

accessing a source of text-based data;

displaying a portion of said text-based data in a first window;

sequentially marking a section of said portion of said text-based data one section at a time and displaying said section of text-based data in a second window; and

if said marked section includes at least one particular predefined word, rendering said corresponding audio data associated with said particular predefined word.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said first window displays said text-based data in a standard font size, and wherein said second window displays said text-based data in a magnified font size relative to said standard font size.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said size of said magnified font size is adjustable by said user via a graphical user interface (GUI).

11. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of marking includes:

underlining said section of said text-based data in said second window.

12. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of marking includes:

highlighting said section of said text-based data in said second window.

13. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of accessing includes:

receiving said text-based data from a clipboard.

14. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of accessing includes:

receiving said text-based data from the World Wide Web.

15. A method of displaying information to a user, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of predefined words each predefined word associated with a corresponding audio-visual data;

accessing a source of text-based data;

displaying a portion of said text-based data in a first window;

sequentially marking a section of said portion of said text-based data one section at a time and displaying said section of text-based data in a second window; and

if said marked section includes at least one particular predefined word, displaying a visual portion of said corresponding audio-visual data associated with said particular predefined word in a third window and rendering an audio portion of said corresponding audio-visual data associated with said particular predefined word.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said first window displays said text-based data in a standard font size, and wherein said second window displays said text-based data in a magnified font size relative to said standard font size.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said size of said magnified font size is adjustable by said user via a graphical user interface (GUI).

18. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of marking includes:

underlining said section of said text-based data in said second window.

19. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of marking includes:

highlighting said section of said text-based data in said second window.

20. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of accessing includes:

receiving said text-based data from a clipboard.

21. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of accessing includes:

receiving said text-based data from the World Wide Web.