Content display with dynamic zoom focus

• US 10,042,529 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2014
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Shen, Chen, Cheng-kai, Gueniot, Alexandre, Chen, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHEFFIELD, HOPE CORNELL
• Application Number:
  US14/246,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20150277714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for displaying and presenting content. When presenting content in real time, contextual-zoom-focus and/or dynamic-zoom-focus may be placed on selected portions of the content. For example, the content may be zoomed and the selected portions of content may be repositioned to a central area of a display. Additionally, context may be maintained for the selected portions of content by at least partially displaying nearby content. In some cases, portions of content may be displayed in a progressive manner along a selected display path. Accordingly, context for the portions of content may be maintained along the display path. In some cases, placing contextual-zoom-focus and/or dynamic-zoom-focus on portions of content may be animated and the portions of content may perceptively zoom and glide into focus.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying content having a plurality of objects, the method comprising:

displaying the plurality of objects in a window, the plurality of objects having an arrangement;

receiving an indication of a path from a first object to a second object of the plurality of objects, wherein the first object is positioned near at least one other object within the arrangement, wherein the second object is positioned near at least one different object within the arrangement, and wherein the indication of the path comprises one of a curved line and a straight line drawn between the first object and the second object in the window;

placing dynamic-zoom-focus on the first object in the window, comprising;

automatically calculating a first change in size for the first object in order to display the first object and at least a portion of the at least one other object within a predetermined area of the window, wherein the calculated first change in size preserves context for the first object with respect to the plurality of objects by accounting for at least partial display of the at least one other object positioned near the first object within the arrangement;

resizing the first object based on the calculated first change in size; and

repositioning the first object in a central area of the window;

gliding a view within the window along the path from the first object to the second object, wherein gliding the view along the path comprises adjusting the view in the window such that the path falls in a central area of the window along with one or more of the plurality of objects during the gliding; and

placing dynamic-zoom-focus on the second object in the window, comprising;

automatically calculating a second change in size for the second object in order to display the second object and at least a portion of the at least one different object within the predetermined area of the window, wherein the calculated second change in size preserves context for the second object with respect to the plurality of objects by accounting for at least partial display of the at least one different object positioned near the second object within the arrangement, and wherein the calculated second change in size is different than the calculated first change in size;

resizing the second object based on the calculated second change in size; and

repositioning the second object in the central area of the window.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the path from the first object to the second object comprises one of:

receiving a touch indication of the path;

receiving a stylus indication of the path;

receiving an indication of the path using an input device comprising one of;

a mouse and a keyboard; and

automatically generating the path upon selection of the second object.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the touch indication of the path further comprises substantially enclosing the first object and then substantially enclosing the second object using touch.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the stylus indication of the path further comprises substantially enclosing the first object and then substantially enclosing the second object using a stylus.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the indication of the path further comprises selecting the first object and then selecting the second object using an input device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a connector between the substantially enclosed first object and the substantially enclosed second object.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the path from the first object to the second object is received during an edit mode.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein placing dynamic-zoom-focus on the first object, gliding a view within the window along the path, and placing dynamic-zoom-focus on the second object occurs based on predetermined timing.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein placing dynamic-zoom-focus on the first object, gliding a view within the window along the path, and placing dynamic-zoom-focus on the second object occurs based on receiving a control input.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the path from the first object to the second object is received during a presentation mode.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein placing dynamic-zoom-focus on the first object comprises:

increasing a size of the first object based on the calculated first change in size; and

repositioning the first object to a central portion of the window.

12. A computer storage device having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor cause a computer system to:

display an object in a window, wherein the object comprises one or more elements in a first arrangement, and wherein at least one of the one or more elements comprises one or more sub-elements in a second arrangement;

receive an indication of a first path from a first element to a second element of the one or more elements, wherein the first element is positioned near at least one other element within the first arrangement, wherein the second element is positioned near at least one different element within the first arrangement, and wherein the indication of the first path comprises one of a curved line and a straight line drawn between the first element and the second element in the window;

place dynamic-zoom-focus on the first element in the window, comprising;

automatically calculate a first change in size for the first element in order to display the first element and at least a portion of the at least one other element within a predetermined area of the window, wherein the calculated first change in size maintains context for the first element with respect to the one or more elements by accounting for at least partial display of the at least one other element positioned near the first element within the first arrangement;

resize the first element based on the calculated first change in size; and

reposition the first element in a central area of the window;

glide a view within the window along the first path from the first element to the second element, wherein gliding the view along the path comprises adjusting the view in the window such that the path falls in a central area of the window along with one or more of the plurality of objects during the gliding; and

place dynamic-zoom-focus on the second element in the window, comprising;

automatically calculate a second change in size for the second element in order to display the second element and a least a portion of the at least one different element within the predetermined area of the window, wherein the calculated second change in size preserves context for the second element with respect to the one or more elements by accounting for at least partial display of the at least one different element positioned near the second element within the first arrangement, and wherein the calculated second change in size is different than the calculated first change in size;

resize the second element based on the calculated second change in size; and

reposition the second element in the central area of the window.

13. The computer storage device of claim 12, further comprising:

receive an indication of a second path from a first sub-element to a second sub-element of the second element;

place dynamic-zoom-focus on the first sub-element in the window;

glide a view within the window along the second path from the first sub-element to the second sub-element; and

place dynamic-zoom-focus on the second sub-element in the window.

14. The computer storage device of claim 12, wherein receiving the indication of the first path comprises one of:

receive a touch indication of the first path;

receive a stylus indication of the first path;

receive an indication of the first path using an input device comprising one of;

a mouse and a keyboard; and

automatically generate the first path upon selection of the second sub-element.

15. The computer storage device of claim 14, wherein the indication of the first path further comprises substantially enclosing the first element and then substantially enclosing the second element.

16. A computer system comprising:

at least one processing unit; and

at least one memory having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the computer system to;

display a plurality of objects in a window, the plurality of objects having an arrangement;

receive an indication of a path from a first object to a second object of the plurality of objects, wherein the first object is positioned near at least one other object within the arrangement, wherein the second object is positioned near at least one different object within the arrangement, and wherein the indication of the path comprises one of a curved line and a straight line drawn between the first object and the second object in the window;

place dynamic-zoom-focus on the first object in the window, comprising;

automatically calculate a first change in size for the first object in order to display the first object and at least a portion of the at least one other object within a predetermined area of the window, wherein the calculated first change in size preserves context for the first object with respect to the plurality of objects by accounting for at least partial display of the at least one other object positioned near the first object within the arrangement;

resize the first object based on the calculated first change in size; and

reposition the first object in a central area of the window;

glide a view within the window along the path from the first object to the second object, wherein gliding the view along the path comprises adjusting the view in the window such that the path falls in a central area of the window along with one or more of the plurality of objects during the gliding; and

place dynamic-zoom-focus on the second object in the window, comprising;

automatically calculate a second change in size for the second object in order to display the second object and at least a portion of the at least one different object within the predetermined area of the window, wherein the calculated second change in size preserves context for the second object with respect to the plurality of objects by accounting for at least partial display of the at least one different object positioned near the second object within the arrangement, and wherein the calculated second change in size is different than the calculated first change in size;

resize the second object based on the calculated second change in size; and

reposition the second object in the central area of the window.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein placing dynamic-zoom-focus on the first object comprises:

increase a size of the first object based on the calculated first change in size;

reposition the first object to a central portion of the window; and

maintain context for the first object in the window.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the indication of the path from the first object to the second object is received during an edit mode.

19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the indication of the path from the first object to the second object is received during a presentation mode.

20. The computer system of claim 16, wherein placing dynamic-zoom-focus on the first object, gliding a view within the window along the path, and placing dynamic-zoom-focus on the second object occurs based on predetermined timing.