Graphics items that extend outside a background perimeter

• US 8,130,241 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AI-CORE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Transpacific Image LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Plut, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMINI, JAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/037,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20110148920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629
• US Class Current: 345/629
• 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 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3179 Video signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3185 Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3188 Scale or resolution adjustment scaling in general G06T3/40; resolution modifying circuits for displays in general G09G5/391

Abstract

Described herein are methods and systems that allow a user to reposition or size a graphics item or background such that a portion of the graphics item resides outside the background. This permits tailored operating spaces based on user preference and allowable conditions, which are particularly useful with display devices having a large display area.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying, via a display device having a configured maximum image size visible for display, a background defining an operating space for a graphical user interface;

receiving an input, via an input device, indicating a resizing of the background to a size that is less than the configured maximum image size visible for display; and

displaying, via the display device, the background resized to the size that is less than the configured maximum image size visible for display in response to receiving the input.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

defining an anchor for a graphics item, wherein the anchor is within a border of the graphics item;

and

displaying, via the display device, the graphics item, wherein the anchor is within a border of the background.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein defining the anchor further comprises defining the anchor as at least one point location shared by the graphics item and the background.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein defining the anchor further comprises defining the anchor to comprise at least one point location that lies on a straight line between a geometric center of the graphics item and a geometric center of the background.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein defining the anchor further comprises defining the anchor in relation to a geometric center of the background.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving another input, via the input device, indicating a change in size or position of the graphics item or the background that results in the anchor point not being within the border of the background; and

denying the change.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an interface of a graphics tool, wherein receiving the input further comprises receiving the input according to the displaying of the interface of the graphics tool.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving another input, via the input device, indicating a change in size of a graphics item displayed on the display;

resizing, based on the another input indicating a change in size of the graphics item, the graphics item within the configured maximum image size visible for display, wherein a portion of the graphics item resides outside of a border of the background; and

customizing the operating space to include the portion of the graphics item that resides outside of the border of the background.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving another input, via the input device, indicating a change in position of a graphics item displayed on the display;

repositioning, based on the another input indicating a change in position of the graphics item, the graphics item within the configured maximum image size visible for display, wherein a portion of the graphics item resides outside of a border of the background; and

customizing the operating space to include the portion of the graphics item that resides outside of the border of the background.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

turning, to an off state, pixels of the display device outside of the borders of the graphic item and background.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein turning to an off state comprises setting the pixels to zero or black, or stopping light being transmitted associated with the pixels.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input, via the input device, indicating a change in position of the background; and

repositioning, based on the input, the background within the configured maximum image size visible for display.

13. The method of claim 8, 9, or 12, further comprising:

determining display properties of the display device; and

modifying at least one of the graphics item or background based on the display properties.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining the display properties further comprises determining at least one of a resolution of the display device or a native aspect ratio of the display device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying at least one of the graphics item or background further comprises at least one of resolution down converting or resolution up converting of video information associated with the graphics item.

16. A system, comprising:

means for displaying a background on a display having a configured visible maximum image size, wherein the background defines an operating space for a graphical user interface;

means for receiving an input indicating a resizing of the background to a size that is less than the configured visible maximum image size; and

means for displaying the background resized to the size that is less than the configured visible maximum image size.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for defining an anchor for a graphics item, wherein the anchor is within a border of the graphics item; and

means for displaying the graphics item, wherein the anchor is within a border of the background.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for defining the anchor further comprises defining the anchor to comprise at least one point location that lies on a straight line between a geometric center of the graphics item and a geometric center of the background.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for defining the anchor further comprises defining the anchor in relation to a geometric center of the background.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving another input indicating a change in size or position of the graphics item or background that would result in the anchor point not being within the border of the background; and

means for denying the change.

26. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving another input, via the input device, indicating a change in size of a graphics item displayed on the display;

means for resizing, based on the another input indicating a change in size of the graphics item, the graphics item within the configured maximum image size visible for display, wherein a portion of the graphics item resides outside of a border of the background; and

means for customizing the operating space to include the portion of the graphics item that resides outside of the border of the background.

27. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving another input, via the input device, indicating a change in position of a graphics item displayed on the display;

means for repositioning, based on the another input indicating a change in position of the graphics item, the graphics item within the configured maximum image size visible for display, wherein a portion of the graphics item resides outside of a border of the background; and

means for customizing the operating space to include the portion of the graphics item that resides outside of the border of the background.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause at least one computing device to perform operations comprising:

displaying, via a display device having a configured maximum image size visible for display, a background, wherein the background defines an operating space for a graphical user interface;

receiving, via an input device, an input indicating a resizing of the background to a size that is less than the configured maximum image size visible for display; and

displaying, via the display device, the background resized to the size that is less than the configured maximum image size visible for display according to the input.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, the operations further comprising:

defining an anchor for a graphics item, wherein the anchor is within a border of the graphics item; and

displaying, via the display device, the graphics item, wherein the anchor is within a border of the background.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, the operations further comprising:

receiving another input, via the input device, indicating a change in size or position of the graphics item or background that would result in the anchor point not being within the border of the background; and

denying the change.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving another input, via the input device, indicating a change in size of a graphics item displayed on the display;

resizing, based on the another input indicating a change in size of the graphics item, the graphics item within the configured maximum image size visible for display, wherein a portion of the graphics item resides outside of a border of the background; and

customizing the operating space to include the portion of the graphics item that resides outside of the border of the background.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving another input, via the input device, indicating a change in position of a graphics item displayed on the display;

repositioning, based on the another input indicating a change in position of the graphics item, the graphics item within the configured maximum image size visible for display, wherein a portion of the graphics item resides outside of a border of the background; and

customizing the operating space to include the portion of the graphics item that resides outside of the border of the background.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one computing device configured to;

display a background on a display device having a configured visible maximum image size, wherein the background defines an operating space for a graphical user interface;

receive an input indicating a resizing of the background to a size that is less than the configured visible maximum image size; and

display the background resized to the size that is less than the configured visible maximum image size.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one computing device is further configured to:

determine an anchor for a graphics item, wherein the anchor is within a border of the graphics item

display the graphics item, wherein the anchor is within a border of the background.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one computing device is further configured to:

receive another input, via the input device, indicating a change in size of a graphics item displayed on the display; and

resize, based on the another input indicating a change in size of the graphics item, the graphics item within the configured maximum image size visible for display, wherein a portion of the graphics item resides outside of a border of the background; and

customize the operating space to include the portion of the graphics item that resides outside of the border of the background.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one computing device is further configured to:

receive another input, via the input device, indicating a change in position of a graphics item displayed on the display;

reposition, based on the another input indicating a change in position of the graphics item, the graphics item within the configured maximum image size visible for display, wherein a portion of the graphics item resides outside of a border of the background; and

customize the operating space to include the portion of the graphics item that resides outside of the border of the background.