Virtual Magnifying Glass with on-the Fly Control Functionalities

Abstract

A display screen magnifier is controllable by a user to magnify selected portions of a desktop including windows open on the screen. A moveable magnifier frame is provided, within which a magnified image is presented. The magnified image corresponds to screen content located within a magnification region underlying the magnifier frame, magnified to a set level of magnification. The magnifier is controllable through use of a user input device. At least one operational parameter of the magnifier can be adjusted, without interaction with on-screen objects and without taking focus away from the desktop or any windows open on the screen. In a particular embodiment of the invention, on-the-fly controllability of the magnifier includes its activation and deactivation, adjustment of the magnification level, and adjustment of the size of the magnifier frame.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A machine readable storage medium containing thereon instructions which, when executed by a data processing device having a display screen and a touch pad, serve to configure the device to:
 provide a display screen magnifier which is controllable by a user to magnify selected portions of a desktop including windows open on the screen;   provide a magnifier including a moveable magnifier frame within which a magnified image is presented, the image corresponding to screen content located within a magnification region underlying the magnifier frame, magnified to a set level of magnification;   activate and deactivate an adjustment mode by user selection on the touch pad, a graphic appearing on the display screen when the adjustment mode is activated, the graphic indicating that the adjustment mode is activated, the magnifier being controllable by a user through use of the touchpad;   when the adjustment mode is activated, independently adjust the magnification level of the magnifier, without user interaction with on-screen objects and without taking focus away from the desktop or any windows open on the screen; and   provide an adjuster associated with adjusting the magnification level of the magnifier, the touch pad being switchable between the magnifier and an on-screen application that has focus, the touch pad directing touch pad actions to the on-screen application that has focus when the touch pad is switched to the on-screen application that has focus.   
   
   
       22 . A machine readable storage medium according to  claim 21 , wherein, when the adjustment mode is activated, a hook is caused to be set which temporarily directs input of the touch pad to the magnifier for altering the magnification level of the magnifier and a size of the magnifier frame. 
   
   
       23 . A machine readable storage medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the magnified image is dynamically updated to reflect changes in underlying screen content occurring while the magnifier is activated. 
   
   
       24 . A machine readable storage medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the magnifier is activated upon actuation of a switch on the touch pad, and enters the adjustment mode upon the switch being continuously actuated for a predetermined time period. 
   
   
       25 . A machine readable storage medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the adjuster is also associated with adjusting a size of the magnifier frame. 
   
   
       26 . A machine readable storage medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the graphic includes direction arrows associated with adjusting a size of the magnifier frame and the magnification level of the magnifier. 
   
   
       27 . A data processing device, comprising:
 a display screen; and   a touch pad device, the touch pad device being configured to provide a display screen magnifier which is controllable by a user to magnify selected portions of a desktop including windows open on the screen, the magnifier providing a moveable magnifier frame within which a magnified image is presented, the image corresponding to screen content located within a magnification region underlying the magnifier frame, magnified to a set level of magnification;   wherein the touch pad device includes an adjustment mode that is activated and deactivated by user selection;   wherein the magnifier is controllable by a user through use of the touch pad device, when the adjustment mode is activated, to independently adjust the magnification level of the magnifier, without user interaction with on-screen objects and without taking focus away from the desktop or any windows open on the screen, the touch pad being switchable between a magnifier and an on-screen application that has focus, the touch pad directing input to the on-screen application that has focus when the touch pad is switched to the on-screen application that has focus.   
   
   
       28 . A data processing device according to  claim 27 , wherein the magnifier is capable of activation and deactivation through use of the touch pad device, without user interaction with on screen objects and without taking focus away from the desktop or any windows open on the screen. 
   
   
       29 . A data processing device according to  claim 27 , wherein the display screen magnifier is configured by a windows style of an application programming interface of an operating system, and a second stage screen content compositing engine associated with the windows style. 
   
   
       30 . A data processing device according to  claim 27 , wherein, when the adjustment mode is activated, a hook is caused to be set which temporarily directs input of the touch pad device to the magnifier for altering the magnification level of the magnifier and a size of the magnifier frame. 
   
   
       31 . A data processing device according to  claim 27 , wherein the magnified image is dynamically updated to reflect changes in underlying screen content occurring while the magnifier is activated. 
   
   
       32 . A data processing device according to  claim 27 , wherein the magnifier is activated upon actuation of a switch on the touch pad, and enters the adjustment mode upon the switch being continuously actuated for a predetermined time period. 
   
   
       33 . A data processing device according to  claim 27 , wherein the adjustment mode is also associated with adjusting a size of the magnifier frame. 
   
   
       34 . A data processing device according to  claim 27 , further comprising a graphic appearing on the display screen when the adjustment mode is activated, the graphic indicating that the adjustment mode is activated, and the graphic including direction arrows associated with adjusting a size of the magnifier frame and the magnification level of the magnifier. 
   
   
       35 . A method of configuring a data processing device having a display screen and a touch pad device to provide a display screen magnifier which is controllable by a user to magnify selected portions of a desktop including windows open on the screen, the input device including an adjustment mode that is activated and deactivated by user selection, the method comprising:
 displaying a magnifier having a moveable magnifier frame on the display screen;   magnifying an image within the magnifier to a set level of magnification, the image corresponding to screen content located within a magnification region underlying the magnifier frame; and   independently adjusting, through input by a user through use of the touch pad device when the adjustment mode is activated, the magnification level of the magnifier and the size of the magnifier frame, without user interaction with on-screen objects and without taking focus away from the desktop or any windows open on the screen, the touch pad device being switchable between the magnifier and an on-screen application that has focus, the touch pad device directing actions to the on-screen application that has focus when the touch pad device is switched to the on-screen application that has focus.   
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the magnifier is capable of activation and deactivation through use of the touch pad device, without user interaction with on screen objects and without taking focus away from the desktop or any windows open on the screen. 
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the display screen magnifier is configured by a windows style of an application programming interface of an operating system, and a second stage screen content compositing engine associated with the windows style. 
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 35 , further comprising activating the magnifier upon actuation of a switch on the touch pad. 
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 35 , further comprising allowing adjustment of a size of the magnifier frame. 
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 35 , further comprising showing a graphic on the display screen, the graphic indicating that the adjustment mode is activated, the graphic including direction arrows associated with adjusting a size of the magnifier frame and the magnification level of the magnifier.