Patent Application
20090138825
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of image processing applications. More particularly, the invention relates a to graphical user interface used for viewing and processing images such as photographs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable data processing devices such as Personal Digital Assistants (“PDAs”) and programmable wireless telephones are becoming more powerful every day, providing users with a wide range of applications previously only available on personal computers. At the same time, due to advances in silicon processing technology and battery technology, these devices may be manufactured using smaller and smaller form factors. Accordingly, users no longer need to sacrifice processing power for portability when selecting a personal data processing device.
Although processing devices with small form factors tend to be more portable, users may find it increasingly difficult to interact with them. For example, entering data may be difficult due to the absence of a full-sized keyboard and reading information may be difficult due to a small, potentially dim Liquid Crystal Display (“LCD”). Moreover, navigating through complex menu hierarchies, directory structures and documents may be difficult without the use of a full-functioned mouse or other cursor control device.
One type of application which may be particularly problematic on a device with limited screen space and input functionality is photo/image processing. Current photo management and photo processing applications typically allow users to concurrently view thumbnails representing a series of photos stored in a particular directory. To view a full screen image of a specific photo, the user may select the thumbnail of the photo using a mouse. Given the fact that users are frequently capturing and storing personal photos on portable data processing devices, what is needed are new navigation techniques and graphical user interface features to aid in navigating through photographs on a data processing device.
A graphical user interface (“GUI”) for managing a set of images is described comprising: a thumbnail region for displaying a first group of thumbnail images; a highlight element to highlight a specified one of the first group of thumbnail images responsive to user input; and a navigation map positioned adjacent to the thumbnail region for graphically displaying an indication of the particular thumbnail image currently being highlighted and further graphically displaying a positional relationship between the first group of thumbnail images and a second group of thumbnail images not currently displayed in the thumbnail region.
A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained from the following detailed description in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
a-d illustrate an exemplary data processing device on which embodiments of the invention are implemented.
Described below is a system and method for integrating personal information management and messaging applications. Throughout the description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the underlying principles of the present invention.
Embodiments of the invention may be implemented on a data processing device such as that described in co-pending application entitled ADJUSTABLE DATA PROCESSING DISPLAY, Ser. No. 09/714,320, Filed Nov. 15, 2000, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and which is incorporated herein by reference. Certain embodiments of such a data processing device will now be described followed by a detailed description of an image navigation apparatus and method. It should be noted, however, that the specific data processing device described below is not required for implementing the underlying principles of the invention. Rather, the invention may be implemented on virtually any type of data processing device including standard personal computers, personal digital assistants and wireless telephones.
a-d illustrate a data processing device 100 with an adjustable display 103 according to one embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the data processing device 100 is comprised of a keyboard 101, a control knob/wheel 102 (e.g., for scrolling between menu items and/or data), and a set of control buttons 105 (e.g., for selecting menu items and/or data).
In one embodiment, the display 103 is pivotally coupled to the data processing device 100. More specifically, the display 103 pivots around a pivot point 109, located within a pivot area 104, from a “closed” position illustrated in
In one embodiment, a switch within the device 100 (not shown) is triggered when the display 103 is moved from one position to the next. Hardware/software within the device may be configured to read the position of the switch and invert images rendered on the display based on the switch position. Accordingly, images are rendered on the display 103 right-side-up, regardless of whether the display 103 is in an open or a closed position. In addition, in one embodiment, a different user interface (or other operating systems functions) may be triggered by the switch. For example, when the display is moved into a closed position, a user interface may be displayed which is more easily navigable with only the control buttons 105 and control knob 102 (i.e., without the use of the keyboard 101). Various other interface functions may be triggered by the switch consistent with the underlying principles of the invention. Moreover, various different types of switches may be employed on the device 100 including standard mechanical switches, electrical switches (e.g., capacitive/magnetic switches), or any combination thereof.
If standard electrical wiring is used to electrically couple the data processing device 100 and the display 103, the pivot area 104 should be wide enough to accommodate the wiring. However, various different types of electrical connections may be employed between the data processing device 100 and the display 103 while still complying with the underlying principles of the invention. For example, in one embodiment, the display 103 may be communicatively coupled to the processing device 100 via a wireless connection (e.g., using the Bluetooth standard, IEEE 802.11b, a capacitive coupling, . . . etc). If configured with a wireless connection, the display 103 may be detachable from the processing device 100.
Moreover, various types of physical connections may be used to rotatably mount the display 103 to the processing device 100. For example, in one embodiment, the device 100 is cooperatively mated to the display 103 with a set of circular guide rails or tracks (not shown).
The control knob 102 and control buttons 105 may be programmed to perform various functions within applications executed on the processing device 100. For example, if an email client application is executed on the device 100, the control knob 102 may be configured to scroll through the list of email messages within the user's inbox (e.g., with the current email message highlighted on the display 103). One of the control buttons 105 may be configured to select a particular email message within the list. A second control button may be configured as a “back” button, allowing the user to back out of selected email messages and/or to move up through the menu/folder hierarchy. A third control button may be configured to bring the user to a desired location within the email application (e.g., to the top of the menu/folder hierarchy) or within the operating system executed on the processing device 100.
In one embodiment, the functions to be executed by the buttons 105 and control knob 102 may be programmed by the end-user. In addition, various different control elements may be employed on the processing device 100 while still complying with the underlying principles of the invention.
In one embodiment, a cursor control element 107 is provided within the keyboard 101. The cursor control element 107 acts like a typical set of control keys, providing for movement of a cursor in any direction specified by the user (i.e., up, down, left and right).
In one embodiment, the data processing device 100 is also provided with audio telephony (e.g., cellular) capabilities. To support audio telephony functions, the embodiment illustrated in
As illustrated in
The images captured via the camera 115 may be stored on a non-volatile memory such as flash memory or a hard drive. Control of the camera 115 and processing of the stored images may be provided via the image/photo processing and camera application described in detail below.
As illustrated in
In the particular example shown in
The navigation map 302 provides a graphical indication of the individual photo(s) highlighted via the highlight graphic 307 and selected via the selection box 304 within each group of six. For example, based on the position of the highlighted thumbnail icon 305, the user can easily discern that the highlighted thumbnail image 303 is located within the upper left corner of the first set of six photos (i.e., the “first” set in that it is the leftmost set). As the user moves the highlight graphic 307 throughout the thumbnail images, the highlight graphic within the navigation map 302 moves accordingly. As illustrated, in one embodiment, the highlight graphic 305 within the navigation map 302 will appear enlarged relative to the non-highlighted thumbnail image icons.
The user may scroll the highlight graphic 307 through the different photographs via the control knob 102 and/or the cursor control element 107. Specifically, in one embodiment, scrolling in a downward direction on the control knob 102 or to the right via the cursor control element 107 causes the highlight to jump, in succession, to the right, through each of the three thumbnail images at the top of the first set of six. Once the highlight graphic 307 reaches the rightmost top thumbnail 310, it will drop down to the bottom row of thumbnail images, starting with the leftmost thumbnail image 311. A continued downward motion of the control knob 102 and/or rightward selection on the cursor control element 107 will cause the highlight graphic 307 to proceed to the right across the bottom row. Once it reaches the rightmost thumbnail 312 on the bottom row, continued downward/rightward motion of the control knob 102/cursor control element 107 causes the six viewable thumbnail images to be replaced with the next six thumbnail images in the user's image library (i.e., those represented as image set 308 in the navigation map 302). The highlight graphic 307 will then appear over the leftmost top thumbnail image of the second group of thumbnail images and the motion of the highlight graphic will continue substantially as just described (i.e., across the top row and then the bottom row of the second set in response to a downward movement of the control knob 102 or rightward selection of the cursor control element 107).
An upward movement of the control knob 102 and a leftward selection on the cursor control element 107 will cause the highlight graphic to move in the opposite direction across the different sets of thumbnail images as that just described (e.g., from right to left across the bottom and then from right to left across the top). Thus, the navigation map 302 provides an intuitive graphical user interface for navigating through a plurality of photographs.
In one embodiment, however, the cursor control element 107 will move the highlight graphic 307 through the thumbnails in a different manner than the control knob 102. Specifically, in this embodiment, the highlight element 107 does not necessarily pass through the lower row of thumbnail images before moving to the next set. For example, when the highlight graphic 307 is highlighting the rightmost top photo 310, a continued rightward motion via the cursor control element 107 will bring up the second set of photos 308, with the photo in the upper left corner of the second set being highlighted initially. Thus, starting from the position illustrated in
When a particular thumbnail image is highlighted, the user may select the thumbnail image via the selection boxes 304 corresponding to the thumbnail image. The user may place a check in a particular selection box via a specified control element 105 or alphanumeric key from the keyboard 101. As the user continues to select thumbnail images via the selection boxes 304 in this manner, selection indications (e.g., check marks) will appear in corresponding thumbnail icons within the navigation map 302 (e.g., such as highlighted thumbnail icon 305).
Once a set of thumbnail images have been selected, a specified operation may be performed on the entire group such as, by way of example but not limitation, an operation to send the selected group in an e-mail message, a compression operation, a resizing operation, a deletion of all selected images, a move operation on all selected images, . . . etc.
In one embodiment, to check a number of contiguous photos or all photos in the set, the user may highlight the first photo in the series, hold the Shift key down on the keyboard 101 while clicking the control knob 102. Then while still holding down the Shift key the user can scroll to the final photo in the series and click the push wheel a final time. All photos between the first and last clicked will be selected (including the first and last).
As illustrated in
The user may view a thumbnail image as a full-screen image 501 such as that shown in
As illustrated, in one embodiment, even when in full-screen mode the navigation map 503 is still viewable, as is a highlight indication 504 for the currently-selected full-screen image. Moreover, the user may jump from one image to the next in the same manner as described above (e.g., using the control elements 105 or control knob 102). The highlight indication 504 will move accordingly within the navigation map 503. In full screen mode, however, only the selected, full-screen image will appear on the screen.
As illustrated in
In one embodiment, the user may bring up an image processing application menu by selecting a specified control element 105 or key form the keyboard 101. As illustrated in
Embodiments of the invention may include various steps as set forth above. The steps may be embodied in machine-executable instructions which cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor to perform certain steps. Alternatively, these steps may be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic for performing the steps, or by any combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components.
Elements of the present invention may also be provided as a machine-readable medium for storing the machine-executable instructions. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, propagation media or other type of media suitable for storing or transmitting electronic instructions. For example, the present invention may be downloaded as a computer program which may be transferred from a remote computer (e.g., a server) to a requesting computer (e.g., a client) by way of data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium via a communication link (e.g., a modem or network connection).
Throughout the foregoing description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details were set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. Accordingly, the scope and spirit of the invention should be judged in terms of the claims which follow.
