Automatic Enlargement of Viewing Area with Selectable Objects

• US 20110010668A1
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Feldstein, Jordan Spencer, Feldstein, Michael Steven
• Granted Patent: US 9,372,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/822
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A system (and method) are disclosed for enlarging a portion of a view of a user interface displayed within a touch-sensitive screen. The system is configured to determine a predetermined touch area corresponding to a touch applied on the screen. The system provides, for display on the screen, a user interface, the user interface including selectable objects and a scrim of the user interface in response to a plurality of selectable objects being within the predetermined touch area. The system generates a magnified view of the selectable objects within the touch area and provides, for display on the screen over the scrim of the user interface, the magnified view. The area of the magnified view is greater than the touch area. Once a selection is made within the magnified view, the magnified view and scrim view are removed and the normal view of the user interface is returned.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for enlarging a portion of a view of a user interface displayed within a touch-sensitive screen, the method comprising:

determining a touch zone, the touch zone corresponding to a measurement for a finger tip detected through a touch-sensitive screen;

storing the touch zone;

providing, for display on the screen, a user interface, the user interface including selectable objects;

providing, for display on the screen, a scrim of the user interface in response to a portion a plurality of selectable objects being within the touch zone;

generating a magnified view of the selectable objects within the touch zone, the magnified view having a zone greater than the touch zone;

providing, for display on the screen over the scrim of the user interface, the magnified view, the magnified view partially covering the screen;

receiving an indication of a selection of a selectable object within the magnified view; and

removing the magnified view in response to the indication of the selection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, for display on the screen, a second scrim corresponding to the magnified view in response to at least a portion a plurality of selectable objects within the magnified view being within the touch zone;

generating a second magnified view of the selectable objects within the magnified view the second magnified view greater than the touch zone;

providing, for display over the second scrim on the screen, the second magnified view, the second magnified view partially covering the screen;

receiving an indication of a selection of a selectable object within the second magnified view; and

removing the magnified view in response to the indication of the selection.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the touch zone is measured in pixels.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing, for display on the screen, a dialog configured to receive an indication corresponding to proceeding with the second magnified view prior to providing the second scrim.

5. A computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

determine a touch zone, the touch zone corresponding to a measurement for a finger tip detected through a touch-sensitive screen;

store the touch zone;

provide, for display on the screen, a user interface, the user interface including selectable objects;

provide, for display on the screen, a scrim of the user interface in response to a portion a plurality of selectable objects being within the touch zone;

generate a magnified view of the selectable objects within the touch zone;

provide, for display on the screen over the scrim of the user interface, the magnified view;

receive an indication of a selection of a selectable object within the magnified view; and

remove the magnified view in response to the indication of the selection.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to:

provide, for display on the screen, a second scrim corresponding to the magnified view in response to at least a portion a plurality of selectable objects within the magnified view being within the touch zone;

generate a second magnified view of the selectable objects within the magnified view, the second magnified view greater than the touch zone;

provide, for display over the second scrim on the screen, the second magnified view;

receive an indication of a selection of a selectable object within the second magnified view; and

remove the magnified view in response to the indication of the selection.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the radius is measured in pixels.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to provide, for display on the screen, a dialog configured to receive an indication corresponding to proceeding with the second magnified view prior to providing the second scrim.

9. A computer implemented method for enlarging a portion of a view of a user interface displayed within a touch-sensitive screen, the method comprising:

providing, for display on the screen, a user interface, the user interface including selectable objects;

generating automatically a magnified view of a plurality of selectable objects in response to the plurality of selectable objects being within a predetermined touch zone;

receiving an indication of a selection associated with the magnified view; and

removing the magnified view in response to the indication of the selection.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining a radius of a finger tip applied on a screen; and

storing the determined radius as the predetermined touch zone.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the radius is measured in pixels.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the indication of the selection further comprises receiving an indication of the selection of a selectable object within the magnified view.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing, for display on the screen, a scrim of the user interface in response to the plurality of selectable objects being within the predetermined touch zone; and

providing, for display on the screen over the scrim of the user interface, the magnified view.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing, for display on the screen, a second scrim corresponding to the magnified view in response to at least a portion a plurality of selectable objects within the magnified view being within the predetermined touch zone;

generating a second magnified view of the selectable objects within the magnified view;

providing, for display over the second scrim on the screen, the second magnified view;

receiving an indication of a selection of a selectable object within the second magnified view; and

removing the magnified view in response to the indication of the selection.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing, for display on the screen, a dialog configured to receive an indication corresponding to proceeding with the second magnified view prior to providing the second scrim.

16. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions thereon, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

provide, for display on a touch-sensitive screen, a user interface, the user interface including selectable objects;

generate automatically a magnified view of a plurality of selectable objects in response to the plurality of selectable objects being within a predetermined touch zone;

receive an indication of a selection associated with the magnified view; and

remove the magnified view in response to the indication of the selection.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to:

determine a radius of a finger tip applied on a screen; and

store the determined radius as the predetermined touch zone.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the radius is measured in pixels.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to receive the indication of the selection further comprises instructions that cause the processor to receive an indication of the selection of a selectable object within the magnified view.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to:

provide, for display on the screen, a scrim of the user interface in response to the plurality of selectable objects being within the predetermined touch zone; and

provide, for display on the screen over the scrim of the user interface, the magnified view.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to:

provide, for display on the screen, a second scrim corresponding to the magnified view in response to at least a portion a plurality of selectable objects within the magnified view being within the predetermined touch zone;

generate a second magnified view of the selectable objects within the magnified view;

provide, for display over the second scrim on the screen, the second magnified view;

receive an indication of a selection of a selectable object within the second magnified view; and

remove the magnified view in response to the indication of the selection.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to provide, for display on the screen, a dialog configured to receive an indication corresponding to proceeding with the second magnified view prior to providing the second scrim.