Optimal display and zoom of objects and text in a document

• US 9,442,649 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2011
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Davis, Tristan, Taleghani, Ali, Woo, Joseph Wai-Yan, Sunderland, Edgar Mark, Best, Jessica Arwen, Lisse, Michelle E., Santos, Israel Amir Garza
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, James A
• Application Number:
  US13/288,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20130111332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,776 Days
• Field of Search: 345/660
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An object is zoomed upon selection. A scaling factor is calculated for zooming the object based on current viewing properties of a document and properties of the object as well as the current size of the application window and device. The scaling factor to zoom the object is calculated such that after the object is zoomed, viewing the object is similar to a viewing experience for the rest of the document. Text of the document may be displayed to increase the readability of the document. For example, the text may be displayed such that each line of displayed text averages out to a predetermined number of characters (e.g. 50-75 characters) per line. A display size and width of an average character are determined and used to calculate how many columns of text to display within the display. When the zoom level of the text changes, the text is redisplayed.

Claims

1. A method for displaying text within a document for readability, comprising:

accessing a document comprising text;

determining a display size for displaying the text;

determining a text property by determining an average character width for the text in the document;

determining a desired number of characters per line to display per column;

determining a first number of columns used to display the text based on the text property, the display size and the desired number of characters per line to display;

displaying the text in the determined first number of columns within a window that approximately averages the desired number of characters per line per column;

receiving a selection to change at least one of;

a zoom level of the document, a font size of the document, and the display size for displaying the text;

based on the at least one of the changed zoom level of the document, the font size of the document and the display size for displaying the text, determining a second number of columns to be displayed such that the desired number of characters per line to display per column is maintained; and

displaying the text in the second number of columns.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the average character width comprises determining an average of different font widths used within the document.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the desired number of characters per line to display comprises setting the desired number of characters per line between fifty and seventy-five.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first and second number of columns to display based on the text property comprises modifying column widths within the window.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first and second number of columns to display based on the text property comprises maintaining the display size such that the displayed text is viewable within the display size without scrolling.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining:

a width of the display size, a border width, and a padding that is used in determining the first and second number of columns.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the display size for displaying the text is affected, and in response to the change determining at least one of:

a new display size for displaying the text and determining a new text property.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first and second number of columns used to display the text based on the text property, the display size and the desired number of characters per line to display comprises determining a maximum number of columns that fit within the display size without adding a scrolling option to the window.

9. A computer-readable memory having computer-executable instructions for displaying text within a document for readability, comprising:

accessing a document comprising text;

determining a display size for displaying the text;

determining an average character width by computing an average of font widths for each font used in the document;

determining a desired number of characters per line to display per column;

determining a first number of columns used to display the text based on the average character width, the display size and the desired number of characters per line to display;

displaying the text in the determined first number of columns within a window that approximately averages the desired number of characters per line per column;

receiving a selection to change at least one of;

a zoom level of the document, a font size of the document, and the display size for displaying the text;

based on the at least one of the changed zoom level of the document, the font size of the document and the display size for displaying the text, determining a second number of columns to be displayed such that the desired number of characters per line to display per column is maintained; and

displaying the text in the second number of columns.

10. The computer-readable memory of claim 9, wherein determining the desired number of characters per line to display comprises setting the desired number of characters per line between fifty and seventy-five.

11. The computer-readable memory of claim 9, further comprising maintaining the display size such that the displayed text is viewable within the display size of the window without adding a horizontal scroll.

12. The computer-readable memory of claim 9, further comprising determining:

a width of the window, a border width, and a padding that is used in determining a maximum number of columns.

13. The computer-readable memory of claim 9, wherein maintaining the determined desired number of characters per line comprises determining if the display size for displaying text is affected, and in response to the change determining at least one of:

a new display size for displaying the text;

determining a new average character width; and

determining the number of columns used to display the text.

14. The computer-readable memory of claim 9, wherein determining the first and second number of columns used to display the text based on the text property, the display size and the desired number of characters per line to display comprises determining a maximum number of columns that fit within the display size without adding a scrolling option to the window.

15. A system for displaying text within a document for readability, comprising:

a processor and a computer-readable memory;

an operating environment stored on the computer-readable medium and executing on the processor; and

an zoom manager operating under the control of the operating environment and operative to;

access a document comprising text;

determine a display size for displaying the text;

determine an average character width by computing an average of font widths used in the document;

determine a desired number of characters per line to display per column;

determine a first number of columns used to display the text based on the average character width, the display size and the desired number of characters per line to display per column;

display the text in the determined first number of columns within a window that approximately averages the desired number of characters per line per column; and

change at least one of;

a zoom level of the document, a font size of the document, and the display size for displaying the text;

based on the at least one of the changes, determining a second number of columns to be displayed such that the desired number of characters per line to display per column is maintained; and

displaying the text in the second number of columns.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the zoom manager, in determining the desired number of characters per line to display, is operative to set the desired number of characters per line between fifty and seventy-five.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the zoom manager is further operative to maintain the display size such that the displayed text is viewable within the display size of the window without adding a horizontal scroll.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the zoom manager is further operative to determine:

a width of the window, a border width, and a padding that is used in determining a maximum number of columns.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the zoom manager, in maintaining the determined desired number of characters per line, is operative to determine if the display size for displaying the text is affected, and in response to the change, determine at least one of:

a new display size for displaying the text;

determine a new text property; and

determine the second number of columns used to display the text.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the zoom manager, in determining the first and second number of columns used to display the text based on the text property, the display size and the desired number of characters per line to display, is operative to determine a maximum number of columns that fit within the display size without adding a scrolling option to the window.