Methods of displaying information at different zoom settings and related devices and computer program products

• US 7,768,536 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hyatt, Edward Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, CHANTE E
• Application Number:
  US11/733,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20080252662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 345/660, 345/619, 345/670, 345/671, 715/864
• US Class Current: 345/660
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A method of displaying pages of information on an electronic screen may include receiving a first page of information including first text, and rendering the first page of information including the first text on the electronic screen at a first zoom setting. After rendering the first page of information at the first zoom setting, zoom input may be accepted from a user through a user interface, and the first page of information including the first text may be rendered on the electronic screen at a second zoom setting different than the first zoom setting responsive to the zoom input. In addition, a target text size may be saved in electronic memory, and the target text size may represent a size of the first text on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting. A second page of information including second text different than the first text may be received, and a third zoom setting may be determined responsive to the target text size and responsive to the second text. The second page of information including the second text may then be rendered on the electronic screen at a third zoom setting. Related devices and computer program products are also discussed.

Claims

1. A method of displaying pages of information on an electronic screen, the method comprising:

receiving a first page of information including first text;

rendering the first page of information including the first text on the electronic screen at a first zoom setting;

after rendering the first page of information at the first zoom setting, accepting zoom input from a user through a user interface;

rendering the first page of information including the first text on the electronic screen at a second zoom setting different than the first zoom setting responsive to the zoom input;

saving in electronic memory a target text size representing a size of the first text on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting;

receiving a second page of information including second text different than the first text;

determining a third zoom setting responsive to the target text size and responsive to the second text; and

rendering the second page of information including the second text on the electronic screen at a third zoom setting;

wherein determining the third zoom setting comprises determining the third zoom setting responsive to the target text size and responsive to the second text to normalize a size of the second text rendered on the electronic screen at the third zoom setting relative to a size of the first text rendered on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first page of information includes the first text and a first image, wherein rendering the first page of information at the first zoom setting comprises rendering the first text and the first image on the electronic screen at the first zoom setting, and wherein rendering the first page of information at the second zoom setting comprises rendering the first text and the first image on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the second page of information includes the second text and a second image, and wherein rendering the second page of information at the third zoom setting comprises rendering the second text and the second image on the electronic screen at the third zoom setting.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second and third zoom settings are different.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first text includes text elements having a plurality of different sizes, and wherein the target text size represents a predominate one of the plurality of different sizes of the text elements of the first text rendered on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first text includes text elements having a plurality of different sizes, and wherein the target text size represents a least one of the plurality of different sizes of the text elements of the first text rendered on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first text includes text elements having a plurality of different sizes, and wherein the target text size represents an intermediate one of the plurality of different sizes of the text elements of the first text rendered on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first text includes text elements having a plurality of different sizes, and wherein the target text size represents a greatest one of the plurality of different sizes of the text elements of the first text rendered on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second text includes text elements having a plurality of different sizes, and wherein determining the third zoom setting comprises determining the third zoom setting so that a predominate one of the plurality of different sizes of the text elements of the second text rendered on the electronic screen at the third zoom setting is equal to the target text size.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second text includes text elements having a plurality of different sizes, and wherein determining the third zoom setting comprises determining the third zoom setting so that a least one of the plurality of different sizes of the text elements of the second text rendered on the electronic screen at the third zoom setting is equal to the target text size.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second text includes text elements having a plurality of different sizes, and wherein determining the third zoom setting comprises determining the third zoom setting so that an intermediate one of the plurality of different sizes of the text elements of the second text rendered on the electronic screen at the third zoom setting is equal to the target text size.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second text includes text elements having a plurality of different sizes, and wherein determining the third zoom setting comprises determining the third zoom setting so that a greatest one of the plurality of different sizes of the text elements of the second text rendered on the electronic screen at the third zoom setting is equal to the target text size.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electronic screen comprises an electronic screen of a handheld electronic device.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein rendering the first page of information at the second zoom setting comprises,

rendering a first portion of the first page of information including a first portion of the first text at the second zoom setting, and

rendering a second portion of the first page of information including a second portion of the first text at the second zoom setting wherein the first and second portions of the first text have different text sizes.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein rendering the first page of information at the second zoom setting comprises,

rendering a first portion of the first page of information including a first portion of the first text at the second zoom setting, wherein the target text size represents a size of text of the first portion of the first text, and

rendering a second portion of the first page of information including a second portion of the first text at a fourth zoom setting wherein the first and second portions of the first text have different text sizes, and wherein the fourth zoom setting is selected responsive to the target text size and a size of text of the second portion of the first text.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein rendering the first and second portions of the first page comprises scrolling from the first portion of the first page to the second portion of the first page.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein rendering the second portion of the first page comprises rendering a portion of the first page at an intermediate zoom setting between the first and fourth zoom settings before rendering the second portion of the first page at the fourth zoom setting.

18. A method of displaying pages of information on an electronic screen, the method comprising:

receiving a first page of information including first text;

rendering the first page of information including the first text on the electronic screen at a first zoom setting;

after rendering the first page of information at the first zoom setting, accepting zoom input from a user through a user interface;

rendering the first page of information including the first text on the electronic screen at a second zoom setting different than the first zoom setting responsive to the zoom input wherein rendering the first page of information at the second zoom setting comprises,

rendering a first portion of the first page of information including a first portion of the first text at the second zoom setting, wherein the target text size represents a size of text of the first portion of the first text, and

rendering a second portion of the first page of information including a second portion of the first text at a fourth zoom setting wherein the first and second portions of the first text have different text sizes, and wherein the fourth zoom setting is selected responsive to the target text size and a size of text of the second portion of the first text, wherein rendering the first and second portions of the first page comprises scrolling from the first portion of the first page to the second portion of the first page;

saving in electronic memory a target text size representing a size of the first text on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting;

receiving a second page of information including second text different than the first text;

determining a third zoom setting responsive to the target text size and responsive to the second text; and

rendering the second page of information including the second text on the electronic screen at a third zoom setting.

19. A method of displaying pages of information on an electronic screen, the method comprising:

receiving a first page of information including first text;

rendering the first page of information including the first text on the electronic screen at a first zoom setting;

after rendering the first page of information at the first zoom setting, accepting zoom input from a user through a user interface;

rendering the first page of information including the first text on the electronic screen at a second zoom setting different than the first zoom setting responsive to the zoom input, wherein rendering the first page of information at the second zoom setting comprises,

rendering a first portion of the first page of information including a first portion of the first text at the second zoom setting, wherein the target text size represents a size of text of the first portion of the first text, and

rendering a second portion of the first page of information including a second portion of the first text at a fourth zoom setting wherein the first and second portions of the first text have different text sizes, and wherein the fourth zoom setting is selected responsive to the target text size and a size of text of the second portion of the first text, wherein rendering the second portion of the first page comprises rendering a portion of the first page at an intermediate zoom setting between the first and fourth zoom settings before rendering the second portion of the first page at the fourth zoom setting;

saving in electronic memory a target text size representing a size of the first text on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting;

receiving a second page of information including second text different than the first text;

determining a third zoom setting responsive to the target text size and responsive to the second text; and

rendering the second page of information including the second text on the electronic screen at a third zoom setting.