Zooming controller

• US 6,778,195 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Venolia, Daniel Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIER, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US10/082,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 345/184, 345/661, 345/667, 345/676, 345/684, 345/719, 345/720, 345/723, 345/730, 345/731, 345/856
• 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 for accessing a data field in a data processing system, the method comprising:

when the data processing system is in a first mode;

positioning a cursor to locations on a display screen in response to movement of an input device;

receiving a signal to enter into a second mode;

when the data processing system is in the second mode;

remapping control of the input device to control both a scale and a position, the scale and the position specifying a portion of the data field for access;

adjusting the scale according to movement of the input device along a first axis; and

adjusting the position according to movement of the input device along a second axis.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein in the second mode:

the scale is increased when the input device moves in an upward motion; and

the scale is decreased when the input device moves in a downward motion.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein in the second mode:

a later portion of the data field is selected when the input device moves to the right; and

an earlier portion of the data field is selected when the input device moves to the left.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein, to enter into the second mode, the signal is received when the cursor is over an icon and when a switch is activated.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein the input device includes one of:

a) a mouse;

b) a track ball;

c) a touch tablet; and

d) a joystick.

6. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving input of moving simultaneously the input device in the first and second axes to simultaneously adjust the scale and the position when in the second mode.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein the input device is comprised of a mouse and the scale is controlled by moving the mouse in the first axis and the position is controlled by moving the mouse in the second axis.

8. A method as in claim 6 wherein the input device is comprised of a track ball and the scale is controlled by moving the track ball in the first axis and the position is controlled by moving the track ball in the second axis.

9. A machine readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method for accessing a data field in the data processing system, the method comprising:

when the data processing system is in a first mode;

positioning a cursor to locations on a display screen in response to movement of an input device;

receiving a signal to enter into a second mode;

when the data processing system is in the second mode;

remapping control of the input device to control both a scale and a position, the scale and the position specifying a portion of the data field for access;

adjusting the scale according to movement of the input device along a first axis; and

adjusting the position according to movement of the input device along a second axis.

10. A medium as in claim 9 wherein in the second mode:

the scale is increased when the input device moves in an upward motion; and

the scale is decreased when the input device moves in a downward motion.

11. A medium as in claim 10 wherein in the second mode:

a later portion of the data field is selected when the input device moves to the right; and

an earlier portion of the data field is selected when the input device moves to the left.

12. A medium as in claim 11 wherein, to enter into the second mode, the signal is received when the cursor is over an icon and when a switch is activated.

13. A medium as in claim 12 wherein the input device includes one of:

a) a mouse;

b) a track ball;

c) a touch tablet; and

d) a joystick.

14. A medium as in claim 9 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving input of moving simultaneously the input device in the first and second axes to simultaneously adjust the scale and the position when in the second mode.

15. A medium as in claim 14 wherein the input device is comprised of a mouse and the scale is controlled by moving the mouse in the first axis and the position is controlled by moving the mouse in the second axis.

16. A medium as in claim 14 wherein the input device is comprised of a track ball and the scale is controlled by moving the track ball in the first axis and the position is controlled by moving the track ball in the second axis.

17. A data processing system to control access to a data field, the system comprising:

means for positioning a cursor to locations on a display screen in response to movement of an input device when the data processing system is in a first mode;

means for receiving a signal to enter into a second mode;

means for remapping control of the input device to control both a scale and a position when the data processing system is in the second mode, the scale and the position specifying a portion of the data field for access;

means for adjusting the scale according to movement of the input device along a first axis when in the second mode; and

means for adjusting the position according to movement of the input device along a second axis when in the second mode.

18. A processing system as in claim 17 wherein in the second mode:

the scale is increased when the input device moves in an upward motion; and

the scale is decreased when the input device moves in a downward motion.

19. A processing system as in claim 18 wherein in the second mode:

a later portion of the data field is selected when the input device moves to the right; and

an earlier portion of the data field is selected when the input device moves to the left.

20. A processing system as in claim 19 wherein, to enter into the second mode, the signal is received when the cursor is over an icon and when a switch is activated.

21. A processing system as in claim 20 wherein the input device includes one of:

a) a mouse;

b) a track ball;

c) a touch tablet; and

d) a joystick.

22. A processing system as in claim 17 further comprising:

means for receiving input of moving simultaneously the input device in the first and second axes to simultaneously adjust the scale and the position when in the second mode.

23. A processing system as in claim 22 wherein the input device is comprised of a mouse and the scale is controlled by moving the mouse in the first axis and the position is controlled by moving the mouse in the second axis.

24. A processing system as in claim 22 wherein the input device is comprised of a track ball and the scale is controlled by moving the track ball in the first axis and the position is controlled by moving the track ball in the second axis.