System and method that facilitates computer desktop use via scaling of displayed objects with shifts to the periphery

• US 7,536,650 B1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Czerwinski, Mary P., Horvitz, Eric J., Robbins, Daniel C., Robertson, George G., Meyers, Brian R., Baudisch, Patrick M., Smith, Gregory R.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US10/851,459
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 715764-769, 715/790, 715/802
• US Class Current: 715/767
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system that facilitates multi-tasking in a computing environment. A focus area component defines a focus area within a display space—the focus area occupying a subset area of the display space area. A scaling component scales display objects as a function of proximity to the focus area, and a behavior modification component modifies respective behavior of the display objects as a function their location of the display space. Thus, and more particularly the subject invention provides for interaction technique(s) and user interface(s) in connection with managing display objects on a display surface. One aspect of the invention defines a central focus area where the display objects are displayed and behave as usual, and a periphery outside the focus area where the display objects are reduced in size based on their location, getting smaller as they near an edge of the display surface so that many more objects can remain visible. In addition or alternatively, the objects can fade as they move toward an edge, fading increasing as a function of distance from the focus area and/or use of the object and/or priority of the object. Objects in the periphery can also be modified to have different interaction behavior (e.g., lower refresh rate, fading, reconfigured to display sub-objects based on relevance and/or visibility, static, etc.) as they may be too small for standard rendering. The methods can provide a flexible, scalable surface when coupled with automated policies for moving objects into the periphery, in response to the introduction of new objects or the resizing of pre-existing objects by a user or autonomous process.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented methodology that facilitates multi-tasking in a computing environment, comprising:

employing a processor to execute computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium to perform the following acts;

defining a focus area within a display space area such that the focus area occupies a subset of the display space area;

scaling display objects as a function of proximity to the focus area;

identifying clusters of display objects and providing for a user to navigate among the clusters in a display space so as to mitigate displacing location of clusters not of current interest; and

performing a cluster avoidance technique that comprises generating an alternative display path for a first cluster to follow so as to avoid displacing another cluster located within a direct path from the first cluster and a desired final location.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising highlighting a border of a window when a user cursors over the window.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising scaling windows of at least one of arbitrary sizes or arbitrary shapes with a preservation of aspect ratios to facilitate ensuring that some minimum area of any window remains visible.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising restoring and changing state for multiple monitors and changing display resolutions by preserving window size and position information as percentages of display size.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising anti-aliasing windows to facilitate readability thereof and mitigate flickering when moving the windows.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying at least one of colored or shaded gradients to windows to facilitate distinguishing respective windows.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising ghosting a first cluster as it passes through a second cluster that lies in a direct path from the first cluster to a desired final location.

8. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for implementing the methodology of claim 1.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cluster avoidance technique comprises temporarily moving a second cluster out of a direct path from a first cluster to a desired final location for the first cluster, and then returning the second cluster back to its original location.

10. A computer-implemented system that facilitates differentiating display objects in a computing environment, comprising:

means for scaling the display objects as a function of proximity to a focus area;

means for automatically highlighting display objects at least one of determined or inferred to be of interest to a user;

means for identifying clusters of display objects and providing for a user to navigate among the clusters in a display space so as to mitigate displacing location of clusters not of current interest; and

means for circumventing a cluster by generating an alternative display path for a first cluster to follow so as to avoid displacing another cluster located within a direct path from the first cluster and a desired final location;

wherein instructions associated with one or more of the above means are executed by a processor operatively coupled to memory.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for circumventing a cluster comprises means for temporarily moving a second cluster out of a direct path from a first cluster to a desired final location for the first cluster, and then returning the second cluster back to its original location.

12. A system that facilitates multi-tasking in a computing environment, comprising:

a processor that executes the following computer executable components stored on a computer readable medium;

a focus area component that defines a focus area within a display space, the focus area occupying a subset area of the display space area;

a scaling component that scales display objects as a function of proximity to the focus area; and

a cluster avoidance component that provides for a user to navigate among clusters in a display space so as to mitigate displacing location of clusters not of current interest by utilizing a cluster dodging technique that comprises generating an alternative display path for a first cluster to follow so as to avoid disturbing another cluster located within a direct path from the first cluster and a desired final location.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the scaling component highlights a border of a window when a user cursors over the window.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the scaling component displays a tool tip showing a title for the window.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the scaling component scales windows of at least one of arbitrary sizes or arbitrary shapes with a preservation of aspect ratios to facilitate ensuring that some minimum area of any window remained visible.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the scaling component saves window position, size, and title.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein when the scaling component identifies an open window of a same title it will be restored to a last state of which it was rendered.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the scaling component provides for restoring and changing state for multiple monitors and changing display resolutions by preserving window size and position information as percentages of display size.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the scaling component anti-aliases windows to facilitate readability thereof and mitigate flickering when moving the windows.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the scaling component adds a shaded gradient to windows.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the shaded gradient changes at least one of color along a diagonal axis of the windows or shading along a diagonal axis of the windows.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the cluster avoidance component temporarily ghosts a first cluster as it passes through a second cluster that lies in a direct path from the first cluster to a desired final location.

23. The system of claim 12 further comprising a proximity component that identifies a set of points of a display object and determines which point(s) are closest to a centroid of a cluster, and based on such distance determine whether or not to associate the display object with the cluster.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the determination is based in part as a function of:

display space available;

raw distance or relative distance, or if one display objects intersects another display object;

a utility based analysis;

inference;

user context;

display object content;

historical data; and

extrinsic data.

25. The system of claim 12, wherein the cluster dodging technique comprises temporarily moving a second cluster out of a direct path from a first cluster to a desired final location for the first cluster, and then returning the second cluster back to its original location.