Detail-in-context lenses for interacting with objects in digital image presentations

• US 20040111332A1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cloudrock LLC (Slingshot Technologies LLC)
• Original Assignee: IDELIX Software Inc. (Lat49 Media Inc.)
• Inventors: Solehdin, Ali, Baar, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• 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: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

Methods for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for initiating a control operation for a user-selectable video game character, for emphasizing an advertisement in a computer generated display, and for presenting multiple GUIs in desktop user interfaces using detail-in-context graphical distortions. The method for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for a user-selectable item presented in a computer generated original image on a display, comprising: receiving a selection signal for the item from a user; distorting the original image to produce a distorted region for the item to provide the user with detailed information for the item; and, receiving a purchase signal for the item from the user.

Claims

1. A method for initiating an electronic shopping transaction for a user-selectable item presented in a computer generated original image on a display, comprising:

receiving a selection signal for said item from a user;

distorting said original image to produce a distorted region for said item to provide said user with detailed information for said item; and

,

receiving a purchase signal for said item from said user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said distorting further includes:

creating a lens surface for said distorted region; and

,

transforming said original image by applying a distortion function defining said lens surface to said original image.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said creating further includes displaying a graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) over said distorted region for adjusting said lens surface.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said lens surface includes a focal region and a base region and said GUI includes:

a slide bar icon for adjusting a magnification for said lens surface;

a slide bar icon for adjusting a degree of scooping for said lens surface;

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

a bounding rectangle icon with at least one handle icon for adjusting a size and a shape for said base region;

a move icon for adjusting a location for said lens surface within said original image;

a pickup icon for adjusting a location for said base region within said original image; and

, a fold icon for adjusting a location for said focal region relative to said base region.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said selection and purchase signals are generated by moving a cursor on said display with a pointing device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said pointing device is a mouse.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said distorted region overlaps said item.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said detailed information is said distorted region.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said detailed information is purchasing information for said item.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said purchasing information includes a price, a product identifier, a delivery period, and a function selection icon.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said function selection icon includes a purchase icon and an add-to-shopping-cart icon.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said purchasing information is presented in a pop-up window.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said pop-up window is presented adjacent to said distorted region.

5. The method of claim I wherein said original image includes a DVD image, a video cassette image, a cable television image, a satellite television image, and a video game image.

8. The method of claim I wherein said distorted region is on said item.

16. A method for initiating a control operation for a user-selectable video game character presented in a computer generated original image on a display, comprising:

receiving a selection signal for said character from a user;

distorting said original image to produce a distorted region for said character to provide said user with detailed information for said character; and

,

receiving a control signal for said character from said user.

17. A method for emphasizing an advertisement presented in a computer generated original image on a display, comprising:

distorting said original image to produce a distorted region for said advertisement to provide a user with detailed information for said advertisement.

18. A method for presenting a second GUI over a first GUI on a computer display to avoid occlusion of predetermined elements of said first GUI, comprising:

determining whether overlaying said second GUI on said first GUI will occlude said predetermined elements;

in response to said determining, distorting said second GUI to produce a distorted GUI having a distorted region avoiding said occlusion of said predetermined elements; and

,

overlaying said distorted GUI on said first GUI for presentation on said computer display.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said distorting further includes:

creating a lens surface for said distorted region; and

,

transforming said second GUI by applying a distortion function defining said lens surface to said second GUI.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said lens surface is a folded lens surface.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said folded lens surface includes a focal region and a base region and said focal region is folded away from said predetermined elements relative to said base region.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said creating further includes displaying a third GUI over said distorted region for adjusting said lens surface.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said third GUI includes:

a slide bar icon for adjusting a magnification for said lens surface;

a slide bar icon for adjusting a degree of scooping for said lens surface;

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

a bounding rectangle icon with at least one handle icon for adjusting a size and a shape for said base region;

a move icon for adjusting a location for said lens surface within said second GUI;

a pickup icon for adjusting a location for said base region within said second GUI; and

, a fold icon for adjusting a location for said focal region relative to said base region.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein said first GUI is a desktop GUI.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said predetermined elements are predetermined icons in said desktop GUI.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein said first GUI is a menu.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said menu includes a pop-up menu and a pull-down menu.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said predetermined elements are predetermined items in said menu.

29. The method of claim 18 wherein said second GUI is a menu.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said menu includes a pop-up menu and a pull-down menu.