Automatic magnification and selection confirmation

• US 8,812,983 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: VanBlon, Russell Speight, Caliendo, Neal Robert Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ulrich, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Shangao
• Application Number:
  US13/400,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20130219338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/814, 715/815, 715/819, 715/822, 715/823, 715/864
• US Class Current: 715/815
• 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 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

According to one disclosed embodiment, an approach is provided in which a user input is detected at a first location on a display screen, such as a finger selection on a touch-enabled display screen. A number of visual controls that are proximate to the detected location are identified. A magnification interface is then displayed that includes a larger rendition of the visual controls.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method comprising:

detecting a first user input at a first location on a user interface (UI) presented on a display screen, the first user input being detected at least proximate to an arrangement of four visual controls, the four visual controls arranged in a two-by-two grid on the UI to establish the arrangement, the four visual controls each respectively being presented on the UI prior to the detecting of the first user input such that they are each presented in at least one dimension that is smaller than the same respective dimension of all other visual controls presented on the UI other than the four visual controls of the arrangement;

identifying the four visual controls as at least being proximate to the detected first location; and

presenting a magnification interface on the UI such that the magnification interface is overlaid on the area of the UI on which the four visual controls were presented prior to the detecting of the first user input, the magnification interface overlaid over at least a portion of at least one other area of the UI presenting at least one other visual control than the four visual controls of the arrangement, the magnification interface including a larger rendition of the four visual controls relative to their respective rendition on the UI prior to the detecting of the first user input.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the visual controls corresponds with a process, the method further comprising:

detecting a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determining that the second location corresponds with a control location of a selected one of the larger renditions of the visual controls;

invoking the process corresponding to the selected visual control; and

closing the magnification interface in response to detecting the second user input.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determining that the second location is outside the magnification interface; and

closing the magnification interface in response to the determination.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification of the four visual controls that are at least proximate to the detected first location is based upon a user sensitivity setting, the method further comprising:

identifying one or more spatial distances between the four visual controls.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

comparing the identified spatial distances with a user controlled threshold, wherein the magnification interface is triggered in response to the comparison.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnification interface is overlaid over at least a portion of eight other visual controls other than the visual controls of the arrangement.

7. An information handling system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory coupled to at least one of the processors;

a nonvolatile storage area accessible by at least one of the processors;

a display screen accessible by at least one of the processors; and

a set of computer program instructions stored in the memory and executable by at least one of the processors in order to;

detect a first user input at a first location on a user interface (UI) presented on the display screen, the first user input being detected at least proximate to an arrangement of four visual controls, the four visual controls arranged in a two-by-two grid on the UI to establish the arrangement, the four visual controls each respectively being presented on the UI prior to the detecting of the first user input such that they are each presented in at least one dimension that is smaller than the same respective dimension of all other visual controls presented on the UI other than the four visual controls of the arrangement;

identify the four visual controls as at least being proximate to the detected first location; and

present a magnification interface on the UI such that the magnification interface is overlaid on the area of the UI on which the four visual controls were presented prior to the detection of the first user input, the magnification interface overlaid over at least a portion of at least one other area of the UI presenting at least one other visual control than the four visual controls of the arrangement, the magnification interface including a lamer rendition of the four visual controls relative to their respective rendition on the UI prior to the detecting of the first user input.

8. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein each of the visual controls of the arrangement correspond with a process, and wherein the instructions are further executable to:

detect a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determine that the second location corresponds with a control location of a selected one of the larger renditions of the visual controls;

invoke the process corresponding to the selected visual control; and

close the magnification interface in response to detecting the second user input.

9. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the instructions are further executable to:

detect a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determine that the second location is outside the magnification interface; and

close the magnification interface in response to the determination.

10. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the instructions are further executable to:

set a timer corresponding to the display of the magnification interface; and

close the magnification interface in response to the timer elapsing before a second user input is received.

11. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the identification of the four visual controls that are at least proximate to the detected first location is based upon a user sensitivity setting, and wherein the instructions are further executable to:

identify one or more spatial distances between the visual controls of the arrangement.

12. The information handling system of claim 11 wherein the instructions are further executable to:

compare the identified spatial distances with a user controlled threshold, wherein the magnification interface is triggered in response to the comparison.

13. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein the size of the magnification interface is a size specified by a user based on user input to the information handling system prior to presenting the magnification interface.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by a processor to:

detect a first user input at a first location on a user interface (UI) presented on a display screen, the first user input being detected at least proximate to an arrangement of four visual controls, the four visual controls arranged in a two-by-two grid on the UI to establish the arrangement, the four visual controls each respectively being presented on the UI prior to the detecting of the first user input such that they are each presented in at least one dimension that is smaller than the same respective dimension of all other visual controls presented on the UI other than the four visual controls of the arrangement;

identify the four visual controls as at least being proximate to the detected first location; and

present a magnification interface on the UI such that the magnification interface is overlaid on the area of the UI on which the four visual controls were presented prior to the detection of the first user input, the magnification interface overlaid over at least a portion of at least one other area of the UI presenting at least one other visual control than the four visual controls of the arrangement, the magnification interface including a lamer rendition of the four visual controls relative to their respective rendition on the UI prior to the detecting of the first user input.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein each of the visual controls corresponds with a process, and wherein the instructions are further executable to:

detect a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determine that the second location corresponds with a control location of a selected one of the larger renditions of the visual controls;

invoke the process corresponding to the selected visual control; and

close the magnification interface in response to detecting the second user input.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the instructions are further executable to:

detect a second user input at a second location on the display screen during the display of the magnification interface;

determine that the second location is outside the magnification interface; and

close the magnification interface in response to the determination.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the instructions are further executable to:

set a timer corresponding to the display of the magnification interface; and

close the magnification interface in response to the timer elapsing before a second user input is received.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the identification of the four visual controls that are proximate to the detected first location is based upon a user sensitivity setting, and wherein the instructions are further executable to:

identify one or more spatial distances between the visual controls of the arrangement; and

compare the identified spatial distances with a user controlled threshold, wherein the magnification interface is triggered in response to the comparison.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the larger rendition of the visual controls of the arrangement is a rendition in which the visual controls are presented in the same dimensions as the at least one other visual control presented on the UI not included in the arrangement.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the area is an area that is larger than the area occupied by any other single visual control not included in the arrangement.