LOCALIZED THUMBNAIL PREVIEW OF RELATED CONTENT DURING SPATIAL BROWSING

• US 20140059477A1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wong, Curtis Glenn
• Application Number:
  US14/066,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20140059477A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/779
• 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 3/0484 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

Abstract

Technologies, systems, and methods for exploring a virtual space without cluttering or obscuring a field of view of the virtual space with overlaid names, labels, symbols, markers, and the like. Instead, a user may select objects of interest presented in a context bar to locate them in the field of view. Further, the user can make use of various forms of selection to zoom in on objects or points in the field of view and access information regarding the virtual space and objects without adding persistent clutter to the field of view.

Claims

1. A method performed on a computing device, the method comprising presenting an image in a context bar that is located outside of a field of view, where the image is a first representation of an object, and where the image is distinct from a second representation of the object presented in the field of view.

2. The method of claim 1 where the presenting the image in the context bar comprises presenting a plurality of images in the context bar, where each of the presented plurality of images is a representation of a corresponding one of a plurality of objects, and where the each of the presented plurality of images is distinct from a different representation of the corresponding one of a plurality of objects presented in the field of view.

3. The method of claim 2 where the presented plurality of images changes according to the corresponding plurality of objects presented in the field of view changing.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising locating an object of interest in the field of view in response to selecting the corresponding image presented in the context bar.

5. The method of claim 4 where the locating comprises highlighting the object of interest in the field of view.

6. The method of claim 5 where the highlighting comprises presenting additional information about the highlighted object.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising un-highlighting the object of interest in the field of view in response to de-selecting the corresponding image presented in the context bar.

8. A system comprising a computing device and at least one program module together configured for performing actions comprising presenting an image in a context bar that is located outside of a field of view, where the image is a first representation of an object, and where the image is distinct from a second representation of the object presented in the field of view.

9. The system of claim 8 where the presenting the image in the context bar comprises presenting a plurality of images in the context bar, where each of the presented plurality of images is a representation of a corresponding one of a plurality of objects, and where the each of the presented plurality of images is distinct from a different representation of the corresponding one of a plurality of objects presented in the field of view.

10. The system of claim 9 where the presented plurality of images changes according to the corresponding plurality of objects presented in the field of view changing.

11. The system of claim 9, the actions further comprising locating an object of interest in the field of view in response to selecting the corresponding image presented in the context bar.

12. The system of claim 11 where the locating comprises highlighting the object of interest in the field of view.

13. The system of claim 12 where the highlighting comprises presenting additional information about the highlighted object.

14. The system of claim 12, the actions further comprising un-highlighting the object of interest in the field of view in response to de-selecting the corresponding image presented in the context bar.

15. At least one computer storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform actions comprising presenting an image in a context bar that is located outside of a field of view, where the image is a first representation of an object, and where the image is distinct from a second representation of the object presented in the field of view.

16. The at least one computer storage device of claim 15 where the presenting the image in the context bar comprises presenting a plurality of images in the context bar, where each of the presented plurality of images is a representation of a corresponding one of a plurality of objects, and where the each of the presented plurality of images is distinct from a different representation of the corresponding one of a plurality of objects presented in the field of view.

17. The at least one computer storage device of claim 16 where the presented plurality of images changes according to the corresponding plurality of objects presented in the field of view changing.

18. The at least one computer storage device of claim 16, the actions further comprising locating an object of interest in the field of view in response to selecting the corresponding image presented in the context bar.

19. The at least one computer storage device of claim 18 where the locating comprises highlighting the object of interest in the field of view, and where the actions further comprise un-highlighting the object of interest in the field of view in response to de-selecting the corresponding image presented in the context bar.

20. The at least one computer storage device of claim 19 where the highlighting comprises presenting additional information about the highlighted object.