Computer desktop use via scaling of displayed objects with shifts to the periphery

• US 8,225,224 B1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Robertson, George G., Meyers, Brian R., Smith, Gregory R., Hutchings, Dugald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadeese
• Application Number:
  US10/851,569
• Time in Patent Office: 2,979 Days
• Field of Search: 715764-769, 715/790, 715/802, 715/835, 715/789, 715/788, 715/805
• US Class Current: 715/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The present invention relates to facilitating multi-tasking in a computing environment. A focus area component defines a focus area within a display space—the focus area occupying a subset area of the display space area. A sealing component scales display objects as a function of proximity to the focus area, and a behavior modification component modifies respective behavior of the display objects as a function of their location of the display space. The subject invention provides for interaction technique(s) and other interface(s) in connection with managing display objects on a display surface. One aspect defines a central focus area, such that the display objects are displayed and behave as usual. Also included as a periphery outside the focus area where the display objects are reduced in size based on their location, getting smaller as the display objects near an edge of the display surface with many more objects visible.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method that facilitates navigating within a display space, comprising:

employing a processor to execute code instructions stored in a computer-readable medium, the code instructions when executed by the processor implement the following acts;

allocating a focal display region and a peripheral display region within the display space;

identifying clusters or display objects within one or more windows of the display space;

animating a display object when transitioning from the focal display region to the peripheral display region or from the peripheral display region to the focal display region;

scaling the display objects as a function of physical parameters with respect to the display objects and the display objects are scalable in a horizontal position or a vertical position relative to a display edge;

modifying a behavior of the clusters or the display objects in the peripheral display region, the behavior comprising a refresh rate that is a function at least in part of distance from the focal display region, and a cluster avoidance scheme that comprises migrating a first cluster in a path to a destination in the peripheral display region to a disparate path in order to avoid displacing a second cluster that lays in the direct path between the first cluster and the destination; and

implementing a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional mapping and scaling of the display object based on whether an image space corresponds to a two-dimensional representation or a three-dimensional representation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning input devices to be employed in connection with particular navigation function(s).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

determining the display object becomes part of a cluster by identifying a set of points of the display object; and

determining which point of the display object is closest to a centroid of the cluster based at least in part on a distance.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning input devices to be employed in connection with particular navigation function(s) inferring where a user desires to navigate as a function of a key stroke instruction or a voice command, and user context.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising inferring where a user desires to navigate as a function of cost-benefit analyses.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising inferring where a user desires to navigate as a function of the cluster and/or display object content.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing, on a computer readable medium, computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 1.

8. A computer-implemented system that facilitates handling of display objects, the system comprising a processor that executes the following computer-executable components retained in a memory:

a component that defines a focal display area and a peripheral display area within a display space;

a component that identifies clusters of the display objects in the display space;

a behavior component that modifies a functionality associated with a display object in a cluster in the peripheral display area, wherein the functionality comprises a refresh rate that is a function of proximity of the display object to the focal display area and to an edge of the display space;

a scaling component that scales the display objects in a corner of the display space as a function of a minimum of scales defined by a horizontal position or a vertical position of the display objects relative to the corner; and

a global control that changes an appearance of the background of an image space, the global control importing the display objects into the display space.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a navigation component that provides for navigating among the display objects within the cluster.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the display objects are windows.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising predefined keys to be employed in connection with particular navigation function(s).

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a navigation component that moves to a most proximal display object in accordance with a navigation instruction.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the most proximal display object is determined as a function of Euclidean distance from a presently selected display object.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising a navigation component that infers where a user desires to navigate as a function of key stroke instruction and user context.

15. The system of claim 8, further comprising a navigation component that infers where a user desires to navigate as a function of a utility-based analysis.

16. The system of claim 8, further comprising a navigation component that infers where a user desires to navigate as a function of the cluster and/or display object content.

17. The system of claim 8, further comprising, the system being integrated into a portable computing device, an input of the portable computing device employed to navigate among the clusters of the display objects and/or the display objects.

18. The system of claim 8, further comprising, the system being integrated into a wireless telephone.

19. The system of claim 8, further comprising, the system being integrated into a personal data assistant (PDA).

20. A computer-implemented system that facilitates navigating within a display space, comprising:

a processing unit;

a memory coupled to the processing unit;

the memory storing computer instructions that are executable on the processing unit, the instructions to implement the system for;

allocating a focal display area and a peripheral display area within the display space;

manipulating clusters or display objects transitioning from the focal display area to the peripheral display area or from the peripheral display area to the focal display area, manipulating clusters or the display objects comprises modifying a refresh rate that is a function at least in part of a distance from the focal display area to the clusters or the display objects and migrating a first cluster from a path to a destination in one of the peripheral display area or the focal display area to a disparate path to avoid displacing a second cluster that lays in the direct path between the first cluster and the destination;

navigating among the clusters or the display objects within the clusters; and

scaling and mapping the display objects to a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional scale and map based on whether an image space corresponds to a two-dimensional representation or a three-dimensional representation.