Patent Application
20120159318
Computer and software users have grown accustomed to user-friendly software applications that help them write, calculate, organize, prepare presentations, send and receive electronic mail, make music, and the like. For example, modern electronic word processing applications allow users to view, prepare, and edit a variety of documents.
To assist with the utilization of functionality of a given software application, a user interface containing a plurality of generic functionality controls is typically provided along an upper, lower, or side edge of a displayed workspace in which the user may view, enter, copy, manipulate, and format text or data. There may be times when users may not need to use some functionality controls, but the user interface may contain extraneous information that crowds the display area. For example, a user may be creating a word processing document, but may only need to use certain basic functionality controls. He/she may wish to be presented with a simplified functionality control menu, rather than a highly inclusive toolbar. Alternatively, sometimes a user may launch a software application, for example, a word processing application, to read a document, but the user may not desire to enter or edit data. In this case, the user may not need to use any functionality controls, and may wish to have more screen display area for viewing the document.
It is with respect to these and other considerations the present invention has been made.
Embodiments of the present invention solve the above and other problems by providing an improved user interface for displaying a full screen view optimized for reading a document and optimized for editing a document. According to embodiments of the invention, a full screen view reading mode provides a view optimized for reading, as opposed to authoring a document. A user may be presented with simulated real world effects, such as page curls, to enhance a reading experience that is intended to be focused on the reading of a document. A full screen view editing mode provides a user an interface-light, but full-fledged editing mode. Editing mode may be optimized for editing or authoring a document in a full screen view wherein controls that are relevant to editing or authoring tasks may be provided on demand to provide a user interface-light, aesthetically-pleasing, and non-distracting display.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that the following detailed description is explanatory only and is not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:
As briefly described above, embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing an improved user interface for displaying a full screen view user interface optimized for reading a document and optimized for editing a document.
In today's computer age, applications, such as word processing or spreadsheet applications, are used extensively by a range of users. As mentioned previously, users have grown accustomed to user-friendly applications, and have come to expect a user interface that provides various functionality controls for allowing the user to enter, manipulate, and/or format text or data as is needed. As technology advances and as more options and functionalities are provided for users to utilize, user interfaces of various applications may consume more display space than before. Some users may prefer less displayed functionality controls. For example, some users may prefer to utilize various shortcut keys instead of functionality controls displayed in a user interface. Other users may utilize applications more so to view a document than to enter or manipulate text or data. Other users may utilize a given application to enter data or text, but may only need basic functionality controls rather than a large selection of editing and formatting controls. For such cases and others, embodiments of the present invention provide for a more focused, full screen, user interface-light view.
According to embodiments, a full screen view may be optimized for writing/editing or for reading a document. A full screen view editing mode is intended to be a user interface-light, but full-fledged editing mode. Basic functionality controls may be provided in a transient full screen view editing mode toolbar. A full screen view reading mode is optimized for reading, as opposed to authoring. A user interface may be provided for page navigation, margin display, and for searching.
The following description refers to the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While embodiments of the invention may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the proper scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.
Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements through the several figures, aspects of the present invention and the exemplary operating environment will be described. While the invention will be described in the general context of program modules that execute in conjunction with an application program that runs on an operating system on a personal computer, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may also be implemented in combination with other program modules.
Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
According to embodiments, a user may enter full screen view by a selection of a user interface entry point, such as a selectable full screen view option provided in a view menu or via a selection of an in-window view switcher control 102 as illustrated in
When full screen view is initiated, the editing mode toolbar 220 may be displayed along an edge of the display. After an elapse of a prescribed amount of time (e.g., 3-4 seconds), the editing mode toolbar 220 display may be removed from the full screen view user interface to provide additional display space for viewing a displayed document 210. According to embodiments, a full screen view editing toolbar 220 may be removed from the full screen view user interface via a display animation effect. Various animation effects may be incorporated including, but not limited to, slide-out, fade-out, disappear, dissolve, or any other animation effect known in the art.
Upon receiving an indication of a focus of a cursor in a specified area of the full screen view user interface, the display of the lightweight editing mode toolbar 220 may be restored. According to embodiments, a full screen view editing toolbar 220 may be restored to the full screen view user interface via a display animation effect. The animation effect may be one of various animation effects known in the art. Consider as an example, a user may decide to edit a document 210 in full screen view editing mode. He/she may select a full screen view switcher control 102 provided in a user interface. Upon detection of the selection, the document 210 may be displayed in full screen view editing mode, and a full screen view editing mode toolbar 220 may be displayed along a top edge of the display as shown in
As illustrated in
Referring now to
Other selectable functionality controls may be provided in the editing mode user interface toolbar 220, such as a “zoom” functionality control 330 and an “add comment” functionality control 325. An “options” functionality control 315 may be provided, which, when selected, may provide a menu of various selectable options that are not included in the main editing mode user interface toolbar 220. For example, an options menu in editing mode may include such functionalities as find, track changes, show comments and changes, show original/final document, and background options. An “exit” functionality control 335 may be provided in an editing mode user interface toolbar 220, which, when selected, may exit reading mode, and may restore an original view of a document 310. The page that was being viewed upon exiting reading mode may be preserved when the original view is restored. An editing mode user interface toolbar 220 may also include a “write” selectable functionality control 205 and a “read” selectable functionality control 320. Upon selection of a “write” 205 or “read” 320 selectable functionality control, the full screen view may toggle to the selected mode (reading or editing mode). As should be appreciated, the selectable functionality controls included in the editing mode user interface toolbar 220 may be modified according to individual user preferences.
As was briefly described above, a full screen view reading mode may provide a view optimized for reading, as opposed to, writing or editing a document 210. According to an embodiment, a document 210 being viewed in reading mode may not be able to be edited. Selectable functionality controls may be provided in a reading mode user interface toolbar for allowing such functionalities as page navigation, margin display, and search. In full screen view reading mode, a page of a document 210 may be displayed in its entirety (e.g., like a physical sheet of paper).
Referring now to
Upon selection of a “find” functionality, the reading mode user interface toolbar 400 may be removed from the display and may be replaced by a find or search toolbar like the find toolbar shown in
Embodiments of the present invention provide for a full page reading environment that provides a display of one or more simulated page movement visual effects via an animation function of the software application. For example, the full page reading environment simulates real world effects, such as a page flip effect, to enhance a user's reading experience. Various page flip effect options may be provided to a user from which to choose. For example, a user may choose a “fly through” option. According to a fly through option, a first page may be displayed. Upon selection to “flip” to another page, the first page may appear to move to the forefront of the display, then fade out, and become replaced with the other page. As another example, a user may choose a “page curl” option to transition from one page to another. The page curl effect may simulate a page slowly turning. As the page turns, a user may see the back of the image mapped to the opposite side of the curl. A user may also choose to turn off the page flip effect.
As described above, embodiments of the present invention may provide for an improved user interface for displaying a full screen view. The full screen view reading mode may provide an optimized user interface for reading a document, and a full screen view editing mode may provide an optimized user interface for editing a document. Both the full screen view reading and editing modes provide a user with an interface-light, aesthetically-pleasing, and non-distracting display.
Embodiments of the invention as described above may be implemented via local and remote computing and data storage systems, including the systems illustrated and described with reference to
With reference to
Computing device 600 may have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device 600 may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in
As stated above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in system memory 604, including operating system 605. While executing on processing unit 602, programming modules 606 may include the word processing application 607, wherein the word processing application may contain sufficient computer-executable instructions, which when executed, perform functionalities as described herein. The aforementioned process is an example, and processing unit 602 may perform other processes. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include electronic mail and contacts applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, slide presentation applications, drawing or computer-aided application programs, etc.
Generally, consistent with embodiments of the invention, program modules may include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that may perform particular tasks or that may implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, embodiments of the invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may be practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic elements or microprocessors. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, embodiments of the invention may be practiced within a general purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems.
Embodiments of the invention, for example, may be implemented as a computer process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). In other words, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. A computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
The term computer readable media as used herein may include computer storage media. Computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. System memory 604, removable storage 609, and non-removable storage 610 are all computer storage media examples (i.e., memory storage.) Computer storage media may include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store information and which can be accessed by computing device 600. Any such computer storage media may be part of device 600. Computing device 600 may also have input device(s) 612 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, a sound input device, a touch input device, etc. Output device(s) 614 such as a display, speakers, a printer, etc. may also be included. The aforementioned devices are examples and others may be used.
The term computer readable media as used herein may also include communication media. Communication media may be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may describe a signal that has one or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media.
Embodiments of the present invention, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present invention have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, floppy disks, or a CD-ROM, a carrier wave from the Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosed methods' stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the invention.
All rights including copyrights in the code included herein are vested in and the property of the Applicant. The Applicant retains and reserves all rights in the code included herein, and grants permission to reproduce the material only in connection with reproduction of the granted patent and for no other purpose.
While the specification includes examples, the invention's scope is indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, while the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example for embodiments of the invention.
