Graphical user interface having an attached toolbar for drag and drop editing in detail-in-context lens presentations

• US 9,400,586 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accessify, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jetha, Zeenat, Baar, David, Carlisle, Andrew, Lantin, Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuyetlien T
• Application Number:
  US13/531,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20120278746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 715/769, 715/770, 715797-801
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Detail-in-context techniques are described. In an implementation, an original image is distorted to produce a distorted region for a selected object at a first position in an original image displayed on a display screen. The distorted region magnifies at least a portion of the object. A signal is received to drag the object and the distorted region from the first position to a second position. A signal is received to drop the object at the second position. The distorted region is removed from the original image after the object is dropped at the second position.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an object selection signal to select an object in an image, wherein the object is moveable within the image;

in response to said receiving an object selection signal, selecting the object;

subsequent to said selecting the object and while the object is selected;

changing an appearance of the object to indicate that it is selected, and

attaching a lens to the object;

receiving a drag signal to drag the object and the lens from a first position to a second position;

dragging the object together with the lens from the first position to the second position;

receiving a drop signal to drop the object at the second position; and

wherein the lens magnifies a portion of the object and a portion of the image outside of the object.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to said receiving a drag signal, dragging the object and the lens from the first position to the second position; and

in response to said receiving a drop signal, dropping the object at the second position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises:

an extent of the lens;

a focal region including a magnification, wherein the focal region magnifies at least a portion of the object and a portion of the image outside of the object;

a shoulder region between the extent of the lens and the focal region; and

wherein the shoulder region provides context for the focal region with respect to a portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens by preserving visibility of information surrounding the focal region.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying, together with the lens, a graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) including at least one of;

a slide bar icon for adjusting the magnification for the focal region;

a slide bar icon for adjusting a degree of scooping for the lens;

a bounding rectangle icon with at least one handle icon for adjusting a size and a shape of the focal region;

a bounding rectangle icon with at least one handle icon for adjusting a size and a shape of the extent of the lens;

a move icon for adjusting a position of the lens within the image;

or

a fold icon for adjusting a position of the focal region relative to the extent of the lens.

5. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage device including instructions for execution on one or more processors, wherein the instructions comprise instructions for:

receiving an object selection signal to select an object in an image, wherein the object is moveable within the image;

in response to said receiving an object selection signal, selecting the object;

subsequent to said selecting the object and while the object is selected;

changing an appearance of the object to indicate that it is selected, and

attaching a lens to the object;

receiving a drag signal to drag the object and the lens from a first position to a second position;

dragging the object together with the lens from the first position to the second position;

receiving a drop signal to drop the object at the second position; and

wherein the lens magnifies a portion of the object and a portion of the image outside of the object.

6. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 5, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

in response to said receiving a drag signal, dragging the object and the lens from the first position to the second position; and

in response to said receiving a drop signal, dropping the object at the second position.

7. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 5, wherein the lens comprises:

an extent of the lens;

a focal region including a magnification, wherein the focal region magnifies at least a portion of the object and a portion of the image outside of the object;

a shoulder region between the extent of the lens and the focal region; and

wherein the shoulder region provides context for the focal region with respect to a portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens by preserving visibility of information surrounding the focal region.

8. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 7, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

displaying, together with the lens, a graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) including at least one of;

a slide bar icon for adjusting the magnification for the focal region;

a slide bar icon for adjusting a degree of scooping for the lens;

a bounding rectangle icon with at least one handle icon for adjusting a size and a shape of the focal region;

a bounding rectangle icon with at least one handle icon for adjusting a size and a shape of the extent of the lens;

a move icon for adjusting a position of the lens within the image; and

a fold icon for adjusting a position of the focal region relative to the extent of the lens.