Zooming controller

• US 7,333,120 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Venolia, Daniel Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier; Jeffery A
• Application Number:
  US10/428,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 345/661, 345/667, 345/676, 345/684, 345/184, 715719-723, 715/730, 715/731, 715/856
• US Class Current: 345/661
• 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. In a computer system, a method of navigating within a set of data items, comprising:

displaying a user interface on a display device the user interface comprising a scale and an identifier of a current position along the scale, wherein the scale corresponds to a range including at least a subset of the data items;

receiving user input indicating movement;

responsive to an indication of movement along a first axis, changing the scale, wherein the scale corresponds to a resolution of the range, such that a change in the scale corresponds to a change in the resolution of the range, wherein changing the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the first axis from controlling a cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along a second axis, changing the current position along the scale, wherein changing the current position along the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the second axis from controlling the cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in to current position along the scale.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the current position along the scale comprises:

responsive to an indication of movement in a first direction along the second axis, moving the current position identifier in a first direction along the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement in a second direction along the second axis, moving the current position identifier in a second direction along the scale.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of data items comprises a video sequence, and wherein the current position represents a frame of the video sequence.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the frame represented by the current position.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying at least one context frame corresponding to a point along the scale.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of data items comprises audio samples, and wherein the current position represents an audio sample in the audio samples.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising outputting the audio sample represented by the current position.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of data items comprises a plurality of versions of a document, and wherein the current position represents one of the versions.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying the version represented by the current position.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of data items comprises portions of a textual document, and wherein the current position represents one of the portions.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying at least the portion of the textual document represented by the current position.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising selectively displaying at least one portion of the document at a semantic zoom level corresponding to the scale.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying a collapsed version of the document, wherein the degree to which the displayed version is collapsed corresponds to the scale.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises a word.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises a paragraph.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises a page.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises lines of text.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises body text.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises headings.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises subheadings.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a representative subset of the data items in the range, the subset substantially spanning the range.

22. The method of claim 1:

wherein receiving user input comprises receiving user input indicating substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis;

and wherein changing the scale and changing the current position are performed substantially simultaneously and responsively to the indication of substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the data items are stored in a database.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving user input comprises detecting user movement of an input device indicating movement along a first axis, a second axis, or a combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the input device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a mouse;

a trackball;

a touch tablet;

a joystick;

cursor direction keys; and

a touch pad.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the scale comprises:

responsive to an indication of movement in a first direction along the first axis, increasing the range of the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement in a second direction along the first axis, decreasing the range of the scale.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the first axis is a vertical axis and the second axis is a horizontal axis.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving user input comprises detecting at least one key press indicating movement.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a first on-screen indicator representing the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along the first axis, displaying a second on-screen indicator representing the changed scale.

30. A system for navigating within a set of data items, comprising:

a display device displaying a user interface comprising a scale and an identifier of a current position along the scale, wherein the scale corresponds to a range including at least a subset of the data items;

an input device, for receiving user input indicating movement; and

a processor, coupled to the display and to the input device, the processor,

responsive to an indication of movement along a first axis, changing the scale, wherein the scale corresponds to a resolution of the range, such that a change in the scale corresponds to a change in the resolution, wherein changing the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the first axis from controlling a cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along a second axis, changing the current position along the scale, wherein changing the current position along the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the second axis from controlling the cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in the current position along the scale.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein:

responsive to an indication of movement in a first direction along the second axis, the processor moves the current position identifier in a first direction along the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement in a second direction along the second axis, the processor moves the current position identifier in a second direction along the scale.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the set of data items comprises a video sequence, and wherein the current position represents a frame of the video sequence.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the display device displays the frame represented by the current position.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the display device displays at least one context frame corresponding to a point along the scale.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the set of data items comprises audio samples, and wherein the current position represents an audio sample in the audio samples.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising an audio output device, coupled to the processor, for outputting the audio sample represented by the current position.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein the set of data items comprises a plurality of versions of a document, and wherein the current position represents one of the versions.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the display device displays the version represented by the current position.

39. The system of claim 30, wherein the set of data items comprises portions of a textual document, and wherein the current position represents one of the portions.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the display device displays at least the portion of the textual document represented by the current position.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the display device selectively displays at least one portion of the document at a semantic zoom level corresponding to the scale.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the display device displays a collapsed version of the document, wherein the degree to which the displayed version is collapsed corresponds to the scale.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises a word.

44. The system of claim 39, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises a paragraph.

45. The system of claim 39, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises a page.

46. The system of claim 39, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises lines of text.

47. The system of claim 39, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises headings.

48. The system of claim 30, wherein the display device displays a representative subset of the data items in the range, the subset substantially spanning the range.

49. The system of claim 30:

wherein the input device receives user input indicating substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis;

and wherein the processor changes the scale and the current position substantially simultaneously and responsively to the indication of substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis.

50. The system of claim 30, further comprising a database, coupled to the processor, for storing the data items.

51. The system of claim 30, wherein the input device detects user movement along a first axis, a second axis, or a combination thereof.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the input device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a mouse;

a trackball;

a touch tablet;

a joystick;

cursor direction keys; and

a touch pad.

53. The system of claim 30, wherein:

responsive to an indication of movement in a first direction along the first axis, the processor increases the range of the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement in a second direction along the first axis, the processor decreases the range of the scale.

54. The system of claim 30, wherein the first axis is a vertical axis and the second axis is a horizontal axis.

55. The system of claim 30, wherein the input device is for detecting at least one key press indicating movement.

56. The system of claim 30 wherein:

the display device displays a first on-screen indicator representing the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along the first axis, the display device displays a second on-screen indicator representing the changed scale.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises text.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises a cursor.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises an icon.

60. The system of claim 56, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises a field.

61. The system of claim 56, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises a highlight.

62. A computer program product of navigating within a set of data items, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of;

displaying a user interface on a display device, the user interface comprising a scale and an identifier of a current position along the scale, wherein the scale corresponds to a range including at least a subset of the data items;

receiving user input indicating movement;

responsive to an indication of movement along a first axis, changing the scale, wherein the scale corresponds to a resolution of the range, such that a change in the scale corresponds to a change in the resolution of the range, wherein changing the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the first axis from controlling a cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along a second axis, changing the current position along the scale, wherein changing the current position along the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the second axis from controlling the cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in the current position along the scale.

63. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of changing the current position along the scale comprises computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:

responsive to an indication of movement in a first direction along the second axis, moving the current position identifier in a first direction along the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement in a second direction along the second axis, moving the current position identifier in a second direction along the scale.

64. The computer program of claim 62, wherein the set of data items comprises a video sequence, and wherein the current position represents a frame of the video sequence.

65. The computer program product of claim 64, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of displaying the frame represented by the current position.

66. The computer program product of claim 64, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of displaying at least one context frame corresponding to a point along the scale.

67. The computer program of claim 62, wherein the set of data items comprises audio samples, and wherein the current position represents an audio sample in the audio samples.

68. The computer program product of claim 67, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of outputting the audio sample represented by the current position.

69. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the set of data items comprises a plurality of versions of a document, and wherein the current position represents one of the versions.

70. The computer program product of claim 69, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of displaying the version represented by the current position.

71. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the set of data items comprises portions of a textual document, and wherein the current position represents one of the portions.

72. The computer program product of claim 71, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of displaying at least the portion of the textual document represented by the current position.

73. The computer program product of claim 71, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of selectively displaying at least one portion of the document at a semantic zoom level corresponding to the scale.

74. The computer program product of claim 71, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of displaying a collapsed version of the document, wherein the degree to which the displayed version is collapsed corresponds to the scale.

75. The computer program product of claim 71, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises a word.

76. The computer program product of claim 71, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises a page.

77. The computer program product of claim 71, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises lines of text.

78. The computer program product of claim 71, wherein each portion of the textual document comprises headings.

79. The computer program product of claim 62, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of displaying a representative subset of the data items in the range, the subset substantially spanning the range.

80. The computer program product of claim 62:

wherein the computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of receiving user input comprises computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of receiving user input indicating substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis;

and wherein the computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operations of changing the scale and changing the current position comprises computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operations substantially simultaneously and responsively to the indication of substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis.

81. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the data items are stored in a database.

82. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the computer program code fir controlling a processor to perform the operation of receiving user input comprises computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of detecting user movement of an input device indicating movement along a first axis, a second axis, or a combination thereof.

83. The computer program product of claim 82, wherein the input device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a mouse;

a trackball;

a touch tablet;

a joystick;

cursor direction keys; and

a touch pad.

84. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of changing the scale comprises computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:

responsive to an indication of movement in a first direction along the first axis, increasing the range of the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement in a second direction along the first axis, decreasing the range of the scale.

85. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the first axis is a vertical axis and the second axis is a horizontal axis.

86. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of receiving user input comprises computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of detecting at least one key press indicating movement.

87. The computer program product of claim 62, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:

displaying a first on-screen indicator representing the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along the first axis, displaying a second on-screen indicator representing the changed scale.

88. The computer program product of claim 87, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises.

89. The computer program product of claim 87, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises a cursor.

90. In a computer system, a method of adjusting a parameter value, comprising:

displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface comprising a scale and a current parameter value, wherein the scale corresponds to a range including at least a subset of permissible values for the parameter;

receiving user input indicating movement;

responsive to an indication of movement along a first axis, changing the scale, wherein the scale corresponds to a resolution of the range, such that a change in the scale corresponds to a change in the resolution of the range, wherein changing the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the first axis from controlling a cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along a second axis, changing the parameter value according to the scale, wherein changing the current position along the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the second axis from controlling the cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in the current position along the scale.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein receiving user input comprises detecting user movement of an input device indicating movement along a first axis, a second axis, or a combination thereof.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the input-device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a mouse;

a trackball;

a touch tablet;

a joystick;

cursor direction keys; and

a touch pad.

93. The method of claim 90, wherein changing the scale comprises:

responsive to an indication of movement in a first direction along the first axis, increasing the range of the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement in a second direction along the first axis, decreasing the range of the scale.

94. The method of claim 90, wherein the first axis is a vertical axis and the second axis is a horizontal axis.

95. The method of claim 90, wherein receiving user input comprises detecting at least one key press indicating movement.

96. The method of claim 90, further comprising:

displaying a first on-screen indicator representing the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along the first axis, displaying a second on-screen indicator representing the changed scale.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises an icon.

99. The method of claim 90:

wherein receiving user input comprises receiving user input indicating substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis; and

wherein changing the scale and changing the parameter value are performed substantially simultaneously and responsively to the indication of substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis.

100. A system for adjusting a parameter value, comprising:

a display device displaying a user interface comprising a scale and a current parameter value, wherein the scale corresponds to a range including at least a subset of permissible values for the parameter;

an input device, for receiving user input indicating movement; and

a processor, coupled to the display and to the input device, the processor

responsive to an indication of movement along a first axis, changing the scale, wherein the scale corresponds to a resolution of the range, such that a change in the scale corresponds to a change in the resolution of the range, wherein changing the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the first axis from controlling a cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along a second axis, changing the parameter value according to the scale, wherein changing the parameter value according to the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the second axis from controlling the cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in the parameter value according to the scale.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein the input device detects user movement along a first axis, a second axis, or a combination thereof.

102. The system of claim 101, wherein the input device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a mouse;

a trackball;

a touch tablet;

a joystick;

cursor direction keys; and

a touch pad.

103. The system of claim 100, wherein:

responsive to an indication of movement in a first direction along the first axis, the processor increases the range of the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement in a second direction along the first axis, the processor decreases the range of the scale.

104. The system of claim 100, wherein the first axis is a vertical axis and the second axis is a horizontal axis.

105. The system of claim 100, wherein the input device is for detecting at least one key press indicating movement.

106. The system of claim 100 wherein:

the display device displays a first on-screen indicator representing the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along the first axis, the display device displays a second on-screen indicator representing the changed scale.

107. The system of claim 106, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises.

108. The system of claim 106, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises a field.

109. The system of claim 100:

wherein the input device receives user input indicating substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis; and

wherein the processor changes the scale and the parameter value substantially simultaneously and responsively to the indication of substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis.

110. A computer program product of adjusting a parameter value, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of;

displaying a user interface on a display device, the user interface comprising a scale and a current parameter value, wherein the scale corresponds to a range including at least a subset of permissible values for the parameter;

receiving user input indicating movement;

responsive to an indication of movement along a first axis, changing the scale, wherein the scale corresponds to a resolution of the range, such that a change in the scale corresponds to a change in the resolution of the range, wherein changing the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the first axis from controlling a cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along a second axis, changing the parameter value according to the scale, wherein changing the parameter value according to the scale comprises remapping the user input indicating movement along the second axis from controlling the cursor position on the display device to controlling the change in the parameter value according to to scale.

111. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of receiving user input comprises computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of detecting user movement of an input device indicating movement along a first axis, a second axis, or a combination thereof.

112. The computer program product of claim 111, wherein the input device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a mouse;

a trackball;

a touch tablet;

a joystick;

cursor direction keys; and

a touch pad.

113. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of changing the scale comprises computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:

responsive to an indication of movement in a first direction along the first axis, increasing the range of the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement in a second direction along the first axis, decreasing the range of the scale.

114. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the first axis is a vertical axis and the second axis is a horizontal axis.

115. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of receiving user input comprises computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of detecting at least one key press indicating movement.

116. The computer program product of claim 110, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:

displaying a first on-screen indicator representing the scale; and

responsive to an indication of movement along the first axis, displaying a second on-screen indicator representing the changed scale.

117. The computer program product of claim 116, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises.

118. The computer program product of claim 116, wherein each on-screen indicator comprises a highlight.

119. The computer program product of claim 110:

wherein the computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of receiving user input comprises computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operation of receiving user input indicating substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis; and

wherein the computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operations of changing the scale and changing the parameter value comprises computer program code for controlling a processor to perform the operations substantially simultaneously and responsively to the indication of substantially simultaneous movement along both the first axis and the second axis.