Automatic enlargement of viewing area with selectable objects

• US 9,372,614 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Feldstein, Michael Steven, Feldstein, Jordan Spencer
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAPANESE, WILLIAM C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Um, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/500,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,539 Days
• Field of Search: 715/800, 715/765, 715/711, 715/715, 715/767, 715/788, 715/790, 715/798, 715/799, 715/801, 715/808
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 operating a computing device, the method comprising:

determining a touch area of a user detected on a touch-sensitive screen of the computing device;

defining an area of spatial separation for the user based on the touch area;

providing, for display on the touch-sensitive screen, a user interface that includes selectable objects;

receiving a first user input on the touch-sensitive screen;

determining that two or more selectable objects are within the area of spatial separation of the first user input, the two or more selectable objects being in such close proximity that selection by the user of one could inadvertently select one of the others;

in response to determining that the two or more selectable objects are within the area of spatial separation, providing, for display on the touch-sensitive screen, a scrim of the user interface, and providing, for display on the touch-sensitive screen over the scrim of the user interface, a magnified view of a portion of the user interface that includes the two or more selectable objects, so that the two or more selectable objects are individually selectable;

receiving a second user input of a selection of one of the two or more selectable objects within the magnified view; and

removing the scrim of the user interface and the magnified view in response to receiving the second user input of the selection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the second user input of the selection, performing an operation corresponding to the selection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein defining the area of spatial separation based on the touch area of the user includes measuring the length or width of the determined touch area in pixels of the touch-sensitive screen.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing the measured length or width of the determined touch area in a memory resource.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining that two or more selectable objects are within the area of spatial separation comprises comparing the length or the width of the stored touch area with the distance between the two or more selectable objects.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause computing device to:

determine a touch area of a user detected on a touch-sensitive screen of the computing device;

define an area of spatial separation for the user based on the touch area;

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

receive a first user input on the touch-sensitive screen;

determine that two or more selectable objects are within the area of spatial separation of the first user input, the two or more selectable objects being in such close proximity that selection by the user of one could inadvertently select one of the others;

in response to determining that two or more selectable objects are within the area of spatial separation, provide, for display on the touch-sensitive screen, a scrim of the user interface, and provide, for display on the touch-sensitive screen over the scrim of the user interface, a magnified view of a portion of the user interface that includes the two or more selectable objects, so that the two or more selectable objects are individually selectable;

receive indication of a second user input of a selection of one of the two or more selectable objects within the magnified view; and

remove the scrim of the user interface and the magnified view in response to receiving the second user input of the selection.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein execution of the instructions causes the computing device to:

in response to receiving the second user input of the selection, perform an operation corresponding to the selection.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein execution of the instructions causes the computing device to define the area of spatial separation based on the touch area of the user by measuring the length or width of the determined touch area in pixels of the touch-sensitive screen.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein execution of the instructions causes the computing device to:

store the measured length or width of the determined touch area in a memory resource.

10. A computer implemented method for operating a computing device, the method comprising:

providing, for display on a touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, a user interface that includes selectable objects;

receiving a first user input on the touch-sensitive screen;

determining that two or more selectable objects are within an area of spatial separation of the first user input, the two or more selectable objects being in such close proximity that selection by the user of one could inadvertently select one of the others;

in response to determining that the two or more selectable objects are within the area of spatial separation, generating a magnified view of a portion of the user interface that includes the two or more selectable objects, so that the two or more selectable objects are individually selectable;

receiving a second user input of a selection of one of the two or more selectable objects within the magnified view; and

removing the magnified view in response to receiving the second user input of the selection.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining the area of spatial separation from a touch area of the user, wherein the touch area has a length or a width detected on the touch-sensitive screen; and

storing the touch area in a memory resource.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining that two or more selectable objects are within the area of spatial separation comprises comparing the length or the width of the stored touch area with the distance between the two or more selectable objects.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the length or the width of the touch area is measured in pixels of the touch-sensitive screen.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the user interface corresponds to at least one of a map or a web page.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

in response to receiving the second user input of the selection, performing an operation corresponding to the selection.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein performing the operation corresponding to the selection includes displaying a pop up user interface that includes information corresponding to the selection of one of the two or more selectable objects.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

provide, for display on a touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, a user interface that includes selectable objects;

receive a first user input on the touch-sensitive screen;

determine that two or more selectable objects are within an area of spatial separation of the first user input, the two of more selectable objects being in such close proximity that selection by the user of one could inadvertently select one of the others;

in response to determining that the two or more selectable objects are within the area of spatial separation, generate a magnified view of a portion of the user interface that includes the two or more selectable objects, so that the two or more selectable objects are individually selectable;

receive a second user input of a selection of one of the two or more selectable objects within the magnified view; and

remove the magnified view in response to receiving the second user input of the selection.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein execution of the instructions causes the computing device to:

determine the area of spatial separation from a touch area of the user, wherein the touch area has a length or a width detected on the touch-sensitive screen; and

store the touch area in a memory resource.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the length or the width of the touch area is measured in pixels of the touch-sensitive screen.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the user interface corresponds to at least one of a map or a web page.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein execution of the instructions causes the computing device to:

in response to receiving the second user input of the selection, perform an operation corresponding to the selection.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein execution of the instructions causes the computing device to perform the operation corresponding to the selection by displaying a pop up user interface that includes information corresponding to the selection of one of the two or more selectable objects.

23. A computing device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a touch-sensitive screen;

memory storing one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising;

providing, for display on the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, a user interface that includes selectable objects;

receiving a first user input on the touch-sensitive screen;

determining that two or more selectable objects are within an area of spatial separation of the first user input, the two or more selectable objects being in such close proximity that selection by the user of one could inadvertently select one of the others;

in response to determining that the two or more selectable objects are within the area of spatial separation, generating a magnified view of a portion of the user interface that includes the two or more selectable objects, so that the two or more selectable objects are individually selectable;

receiving a second user input of a selection of one of the two or more selectable objects within the magnified view; and

removing the magnified view in response to receiving the second user input of the selection.

24. The computing device of claim 23, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

determining the area of spatial separation from a touch area of the user, wherein the touch area has a length or a width detected on the touch-sensitive screen; and

storing the touch area in a memory resource.

25. The computing device of claim 24, wherein the length or the width of the touch area is measured in pixels of the touch-sensitive screen.

26. The computing device of claim 23, wherein the user interface corresponds to at least one of a map or a web page.

27. The computing device of claim 23, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

in response to receiving the second user input of the selection, performing an action corresponding to the selection.

28. The computing device of claim 27, wherein performing the operation corresponding to the selection includes displaying a pop up user interface that includes information corresponding to the selection of one of the two or more selectable objects.

29. The computing device of claim 24, wherein determining that two or more selectable objects are within the area of spatial separation comprises comparing the length or the width of the stored touch area with the distance between the two or more selectable objects.

30. A computing device, comprising:

means for providing, for display on a touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, a user interface that includes selectable objects;

means for receiving a first user input on the touch-sensitive screen;

means for determining that two or more selectable objects are within an area of spatial separation of the first user input, the two or more selectable objects being in such close proximity that selection by the user of one could inadvertently select one of the others;

means for, in response to determining that the two or more selectable objects are within the touch area, generating a magnified view of a portion of the user interface that includes the two or more selectable objects, so that the two or more selectable objects are individually selectable;

means for receiving a user input of a selection of one of the two or more selectable objects within the magnified view; and

means for removing the magnified view in response to receiving the user input of the selection.