Graphical user interface including zoom control box representing image and magnification of displayed image

• US 6,803,931 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1999
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kendyl A. Roman
• Inventors: Roman, Kendyl A., Raposo, R. Paul, Waidhofer, Ben, Sprague, Todd K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/433,978
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 345/784, 345/785, 345/786, 345/787, 345/800-801, 345/660-661, 345/670, 345/671, 382/246, 382/247, 382/248, 382/298-299
• US Class Current: 715/800
• 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

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) graphically corresponds to an image display window through which a single image or a stream of images or video frames are displayed. The GUI includes a zoom control box having an inner region positioned within an outer region. The size of the inner region relative to the outer region represents the magnification of the portion of the image being displayed within the image display window. The magnification of the image being displayed is increased by using a cursor control device to position a cursor within the inner region and clicking the cursor control device. The magnification of the image being displayed is decreased by using the cursor control device to position the cursor outside of the inner region but inside of the outer region and clicking the cursor control device. As the magnification is increased or decreased, the size of the inner region relative to the outer region is changed accordingly. A magnification factor is also displayed within the inner region to display a numeric representation of the current magnification. The position of the inner region within the outer region represents the portion of the entire image being displayed within the image display window. The portion of the image being displayed within the image display window is changed by clicking and dragging the inner region to the desired position within the outer region using the cursor control device.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface for controlling a magnification of, and a portion of, an original image displayed within an image display window comprising:

a. an outer region representing the original image; and

b. an inner region positioned within the outer region,

wherein a size of the inner region relative to the outer region represents the magnification of the original image being displayed within the image display window,

wherein a position of the inner region within the outer region represents the portion of the original image being displayed within the image display window,

wherein the size and position of the inner region relative to the outer region is changed in response to input commands, and

wherein the size of the inner region is decreased when an input command is entered selecting the inner region.

2. The graphical user interface as claimed in claim 1 wherein the size of the inner region is increased when an input command is entered selecting the outer region.

3. The graphical user interface as claimed in claim 2 wherein the graphical user interface is displayed on a computer system having a display, a memory and an input device.

4. The graphical user interface as claimed in claim 3 wherein the input commands are entered using the input device and the inner and outer regions are selected by positioning a cursor within an appropriate region and clicking the input device.

5. The graphical user interface as claimed in claim 4 wherein the input device is a mouse.

17. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the inner region is rectangular.

18. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the outer region is rectangular.

19. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the device is a mouse.

21. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the original image is received from an image source.

6. A method of controlling a magnification of, and a portion of, an original image displayed within an image display window comprising the steps of:

a. displaying a zoom control box including an inner region positioned within an outer region, wherein a size of the inner region relative to the outer region represents the magnification of the original image being displayed within the image display window and further wherein a position of the inner region within the outer region represents the portion of the original image being displayed within the image display window; and

b. changing the size and position of the inner region in response to input commands;

wherein the size of the inner region is decreased when an input command is entered selecting the inner region.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the size of the inner region is increased when an input command is entered selecting the outer region.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the input commands are entered using a cursor control device and the inner and outer regions are selected by positioning a cursor within an appropriate region and clicking the cursor control device.

14. The method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising the step of receiving the original image from an image source.

15. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the original image is a still image.

16. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the original image is a frame within a video stream.

20. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

c. receiving the original image from an image source.

9. In a computer system having a display, a memory and an input device, a graphical user interface for controlling a magnification of, and a portion of, an original image displayed within an image display window comprising:

a. an outer region representing the original image; and

b. an inner region positioned within the outer region;

wherein a size of the inner region relative to the outer region represents the magnification of the original image being displayed within the image display window,

wherein a position of the inner region within the outer region represents the portion of the original image being displayed within the image display window,

wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a magnification factor displayed within the inner region which numerically represents the magnification of the original image being displayed within the image display window, and

wherein the size of the inner region is decreased and the magnification factor is increased when an input command is entered selecting the inner region and further wherein the size of the inner is increased and the magnification factor is decreased when an input command is entered selecting the outer region.

10. The computer system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the inner and outer regions are selected by positioning a cursor within an appropriate region and clicking the input device.

11. The computer system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the input device is a mouse.

12. The computer system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the computer system is further configured to receive the original image from an image source.

13. The computer system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the original image is a selective one of a still image and a frame within a video stream.