Elastic presentation space

• US 7,256,801 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2004
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CDN Innovations, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: IDELIX Software Inc. (Lat49 Media Inc.)
• Inventors: Baar, David J. P., Komar, Robert, Cowperthwaite, David J., Tigges, Mark, Bauer, Jerome F., Carpendale, M. Sheelagh T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung; Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Caschera; Antonio A
• Application Number:
  US10/856,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20040217979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 345/585, 345/661, 345/662, 345/689, 345/428, 345/619, 345/660, 345646-647, 345/901, 715/788
• US Class Current: 345/647
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• 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 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/053 Detail-in-context presentations fisheye or wide-angle transformations G06T3/047
• 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 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

A method for displaying visual information on a display screen of a computer, comprising the steps of scaling the visual information to produce a scaled representation to fit on the display screen the scaled representation containing the entire content of the visual information; selecting a region of interest within the scaled representation; applying a transformation to the scaled representation to improve the visual detail in the region of interest; and, displaying the transformed presentation on the display screen.

Claims

1. A system for displaying a region of interest within visual information on a display screen, said system having memory and an input device, comprising:

a processor coupled to said memory, display screen, and input device and adapted for;

applying a transformation to said visual information to improve visual detail in said region of interest by;

creating a lens surface having a predetermined lens surface shape for said region of interest; and

, creating a presentation by overlaying said visual information on said lens surface and projecting said lens surface with said information onto a plane;

said lens surface shape causing overwriting of at least a portion of said visual information adjacent to said region of interest and tapering of at least a portion of said lens surface into at least one undistorted area of said visual information; and

,

displaying said presentation on said display screen.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said lens surface shape preserves spatial orientation of said portion of said visual information adjacent to said region of interest.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said lens surface shape provides sufficient space for said lens surface in said presentation.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor is further adapted for scaling said visual information to fit on said display screen.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said lens surface is comprised of a plurality of polygonal surfaces constructed from a plurality of points sampled from said lens surface shape.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said applying a transformation includes selecting parameters for said polygonal surfaces including size, shape, number, density, and pattern.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said parameters for said polygonal surfaces are selected to optimize computation time for said presentation.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said density of said polygonal surfaces is increased in regions surrounding said region of interest.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein said density of said polygonal surfaces is increased in regions where said lens surface shape has a slope that exceeds a predetermined value.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein said lens surface shape has a slope and said density of said polygonal surfaces is proportional to said slope.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein said polygonal surfaces are triangles.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein said polygonal surfaces each have a height above a basal plane, said height selected to provide a proportional magnification for at least a portion of said region of interest.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein said polygonal surfaces are selected to provide a uniformly magnified area for at least a portion of said region of interest.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said region of interest, said lens surface, and said lens surface shape include a plurality of regions of interest, a plurality of lens surfaces, and a plurality of lens surface shapes, respectively.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said region of interest has a shape and at least a portion of said lens surface shape corresponds to said shape.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said lens surface shape distorts at least a portion of said region of interest.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said portion of said region of interest is magnified.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said portion of said region of interest includes magnified text and increased font size text.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said lens surface shape has at least one continuous tapered transition from said portion of said region of interest to at least one undistorted area of said visual information.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said visual information is a page, said page including a newspaper page, a magazine page, a telephone directory page, a map page, and a web page.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said region of interest includes a headline, a column, an article, a graphic, and an advertisement appearing on said page.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein said display screen is contained in a handheld device.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor is further adapted for moving said lens surface about said visual information over time to provide a dynamic presentation.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein said region of interest is selected based on data provided by an external data source.

25. The system of claim 24 where said external source includes a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular telephone network.

26. A computer program product having a computer readable medium tangibly embodying computer executable code for displaying a region of interest within visual information on a display screen of a computer, comprising:

code for applying a transformation to said visual information to improve visual detail in said region of interest by;

creating a lens surface having a predetermined lens surface shape for said region of interest; and

, creating a presentation by overlaying said visual information on said lens surface and projecting said lens surface with said visual information onto a plane;

said lens surface shape causing overwriting of at least a portion of said visual information adjacent to said region of interest and tapering of at least a portion of said lens surface into at least one undistorted area of said visual information; and

,

code for displaying said presentation on said display screen.

27. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein said lens surface shape preserves spatial orientation of said portion of said visual information adjacent to said region of interest.

28. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein said lens surface shape provides sufficient space for said lens surface in said presentation.

29. The computer program product of claim 26 and further comprising code for scaling said visual information to fit on said display screen.

30. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein said lens surface is comprised of a plurality of polygonal surfaces constructed from a plurality of points sampled from said lens surface shape.

31. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said applying a transformation includes selecting parameters for said polygonal surfaces including size, shape, number, density, and pattern.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein said parameters for said polygonal surfaces are selected to optimize computation time for said presentation.

33. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein said density of said polygonal surfaces is increased in regions surrounding said region of interest.

34. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein said density of said polygonal surfaces is increased in regions where said lens surface shape has a slope that exceeds a predetermined value.

35. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein said lens surface shape has a slope and said density of said polygonal surfaces is proportional to said slope.

36. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein said polygonal surfaces are triangles.

37. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein said polygonal surfaces each have a height above a basal plane, said height selected to provide a proportional magnification for at least a portion of said region of interest.

38. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein said polygonal surfaces are selected to provide a uniformly magnified area for at least a portion of said region of interest.

39. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein said region of interest, said lens surface, and said lens surface shape include a plurality of regions of interest, a plurality of lens surfaces, and a plurality of lens surface shapes, respectively.

40. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein said region of interest has a shape and at least a portion of said lens surface shape corresponds to said shape.

41. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein said lens surface shape distorts at least a portion of said region of interest.

42. The computer program product of claim 41 wherein said portion of said region of interest is magnified.

43. The computer program product of claim 41 wherein said portion of said region of interest includes magnified text and increased font size text.

44. The computer program product of claim 41 wherein said lens surface shape has at least one continuous tapered transition from said portion of said region of interest to at least one undistorted area of said visual information.

45. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein said visual information is a page, said page including a newspaper page, a magazine page, a telephone directory page, a map page, and a web page.

46. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein said region of interest includes a headline, a column, an article, a graphic, and an advertisement appearing on said page.

47. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein said display screen is contained in a handheld device.

48. The computer program product of claim 26 and further comprising code for moving said lens surface about said visual information over time to provide a dynamic presentation.

49. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein said region of interest is selected based on data provided by an external data source.

50. The computer program product of claim 49 where said external source includes a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular telephone network.

51. A method for displaying a region of interest within visual information on a display screen, comprising:

applying a transformation to said visual information to improve visual detail in said region of interest by;

creating a lens surface having a predetermined lens surface shape for said region of interest; and

, creating a presentation by overlaying said visual information on said lens surface and projecting said lens surface with said visual information onto a plane;

said lens surface shape providing overwriting of at least a portion of said visual information adjacent to said region of interest and blending of at least a portion of said lens surface into at least one undistorted area of said visual information; and

,

displaying said presentation on said display screen.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said lens surface shape preserves spatial orientation of said portion of said visual information adjacent to said region of interest.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein said lens surface shape provides sufficient space for said lens surface in said presentation.

54. The method of claim 51 and further comprising scaling said visual information to fit on said display screen.

55. The method of claim 51 wherein said lens surface is comprised of a plurality of polygonal surfaces constructed from a plurality of points sampled from said lens surface shape.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said applying a transformation includes selecting parameters for said polygonal surfaces including size, shape, number, density, and pattern.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein said parameters for said polygonal surfaces are selected to optimize computation time for said presentation.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein said density of said polygonal surfaces is increased in regions surrounding said region of interest.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein said density of said polygonal surfaces is increased in regions where said lens surface shape has a slope that exceeds a predetermined value.

60. The method of claim 56 wherein said lens surface shape has a slope and said density of said polygonal surfaces is proportional to said slope.

61. The method of claim 56 wherein said polygonal surfaces are triangles.

62. The method of claim 56 wherein said polygonal surfaces each have a height above a basal plane, said height selected to provide a proportional magnification for at least a portion of said region of interest.

63. The method of claim 56 wherein said polygonal surfaces are selected to provide a uniformly magnified area for at least a portion of said region of interest.

64. The method of claim 51 wherein said region of interest, said lens surface, and said lens surface shape include a plurality of regions of interest, a plurality of lens surfaces, and a plurality of lens surfaces, and a plurality of lens surface shapes, respectively.

65. The method of claim 51 wherein said region of interest has a shape and at least a portion of said lens surface shape corresponds to said shape.

66. The method of claim 51 wherein said lens surface shape distorts at least a portion of said region of interest.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein said portion of said region of interest is magnified.

68. The method of claim 66 wherein said portion of said region of interest includes magnified text and increased font size text.

69. The method of claim 66 wherein said lens surface shape has at least one continuous tapered transition from said portion of said region of interest to at least one undistorted area of said visual information.

70. The method of claim 51 wherein said visual information is a page, said page including a newspaper page, a magazine page, a telephone directory page, a map page, and a web page.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein said region of interest includes a headline, a column, an article, a graphic, and an advertisement appearing on said page.

72. The method of claim 51 wherein said display screen is contained in a handheld device.

73. The method of claim 51 and further comprising means in the medium for moving said lens surface about said visual information over time to provide a dynamic presentation.

74. The method of claim 51 wherein said region of interest is selected based on data provided by an external data source.

75. The method of claim 74 where said external source includes a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular telephone network.

76. A system for displaying a region of interest within visual information on a display screen, said system having memory and an input device, comprising:

a processor coupled to said memory, display screen, and input device and adapted for;

applying a transformation to said visual information to improve visual detail in said region of interest by;

creating a lens surface having a predetermined lens surface shape for said region of interest; and

, creating a presentation by overlaying said visual information on said lens surface and projecting said lens surface with said visual information onto a plane;

said lens surface shape providing overwriting of at least a portion of said visual information adjacent to said region of interest and blending of at least a portion of said lens surface into at least one undistorted area of said visual information; and

,

displaying said presentation on said display screen;

wherein said region of interest, said lens surface, and said lens surface shape include a plurality of regions of interest, a plurality of lens surfaces, and a plurality of lens surface shapes, respectively.

77. The system of claim 76 wherein said lens surface shape preserves spatial orientation of said portion of said visual information adjacent to said region of interest.

78. The system of claim 76 wherein said lens surface shape provides sufficient space for said lens surface in said presentation.

79. The system of claim 76 wherein said processor is further adapted for scaling said visual information to fit on said display screen.

80. The system of claim 76 wherein said lens surface is comprised of a plurality of polygonal surfaces constructed from a plurality of points sampled from said lens surface shape.

81. The system of claim 80 wherein said applying a transformation includes selecting parameters for said polygonal surfaces including size, shape, number, density, and pattern.

82. The system of claim 81 wherein said parameters for said polygonal surfaces are selected to optimize computation time for said presentation.

83. The system of claim 81 wherein said density of said polygonal surfaces is increased in regions surrounding said region of interest.

84. The system of claim 81 wherein said density of said polygonal surfaces is increased in regions where said lens surface shape has a slope that exceeds a predetermined value.

85. The system of claim 81 wherein said lens surface shape has a slope and said density of said polygonal surfaces is proportional to said slope.

86. The system of claim 81 wherein said polygonal surfaces are triangles.

87. The system of claim 81 wherein said polygonal surfaces each have a height above a basal plane, said height selected to provide a proportional magnification for at least a portion of said region of interest.

88. The system of claim 81 wherein said polygonal surfaces are selected to provide a uniformly magnified area for at least a portion of said region of interest.

89. The system of claim 76 wherein said region of interest has a shape and at least a portion of said lens surface shape corresponds to said shape.

90. The system of claim 76 wherein said lens surface shape distorts at least a portion of said region of interest.

91. The system of claim 90 wherein said portion of said region of interest is magnified.

92. The system of claim 90 wherein said portion of said region of interest includes magnified text and increased font size text.

93. The system of claim 90 wherein said lens surface shape has at least one continuous tapered transition from said portion of said region of interest to at least one undistorted area of said visual information.

94. The system of claim 76 wherein said visual information is a page, said page including a newspaper page, a magazine page, a telephone directory page, a map page, and a web page.

95. The system of claim 94 wherein said region of interest includes a headline, a column, an article, a graphic, and an advertisement appearing on said page.

96. The system of claim 76 wherein said display screen is contained in a handheld device.

97. The system of claim 76 wherein said processor is further adapted for moving said lens surface about said visual information over time to provide a dynamic presentation.

98. The system of claim 76 wherein said region of interest is selected based on data provided by an external data source.

99. The system of claim 98 where said external source includes a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular telephone network.