Digital Image Magnification For Internet Appliance

Abstract

A magnifying tool that enlarges a selected region of displayed image surrounding a cursor in a graphical user interface (GUI), and superimposes the enlarged region directly over the selected region (and a portion of the adjacent non-selected region). The location of the cursor relative to the enlarged region is co-located with the location of the cursor relative to the selected region such that the locations are identical.

1 . A method of digital image magnification in a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:
 identifying a region of a first image in which a cursor is positioned in the GUI, the region including one or more graphical elements having corresponding hyperlinks;   forming a magnified image including an enlarged version of the first image corresponding to the region, the magnified image including enlarged versions of the one or more graphical elements;   superimposing the cursor over the magnified image to form a second image; and   utilizing cursor position data indicating the cursor position in the GUI such that positioning of a second point in the magnified image corresponding to the superimposed cursor relative to the magnified image coincides with a first point corresponding to the cursor in the GUI relative to the first image,   wherein utilizing includes maintaining the cursor position such that it remains adjacent to a magnified region corresponding to the region including one or more graphical elements having corresponding hyperlinks.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnified image has a width equal to a width of the GUI, thereby enhancing the readability of the text in the first image. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a location identified by the cursor relative to the magnified image is co-located with a location identified by the cursor relative to the first image. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein a user visually interacting with a magnified interface element at the location identified by the cursor relative to the magnified image actually interacts with an interface element at the location identified by the cursor relative to the first image. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein identifying the selected region comprises:
 determining Cartesian coordinate data identifying a location of the cursor; and   calculating upper and left boundaries of the selected region based on the Cartesian coordinate data.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein calculating the left boundary comprises:
 multiplying a distance from the cursor to a left boundary of the magnified image by a width of the selected region to form a first factor;   dividing the first factor by a width of the magnified image to form a second factor; and   subtracting the second factor from an X Cartesian coordinate of the cursor.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein calculating the upper boundary comprises:
 multiplying a distance from the cursor to a upper boundary of the magnified image by a height of the selected region to form a third factor;   dividing the third factor by a height of the magnified image to form a fourth factor; and   subtracting the fourth factor from a Y Cartesian coordinate of the cursor.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second image is displayed within a television safe area on a display screen. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising alpha blending the first image with the magnified image, such that the first image shows through the magnified image. 
     
     
         10 . A method of digital image magnification in a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI including a first image and a cursor superimposed over the first image and movable on the first image by manipulation of an input device, the method comprising:
 determining Cartesian coordinate data identifying a first point on the first image located under the cursor;   forming a magnified image including an enlarged version of a region surrounding the identified first point, the region including one or more graphical elements having corresponding hyperlinks;   superimposing the cursor over the magnified image; and   utilizing cursor position data indicating the cursor position in the GUI such that positioning of a second point in the magnified image corresponding to the superimposed cursor relative to the magnified image coincides with the first point corresponding to the cursor in the GUI relative to the first image,   wherein utilizing includes maintaining the cursor position such that the second point remains surrounded by a magnified region corresponding to the region including one or more graphical elements having corresponding hyperlinks.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the magnified image is superimposed over the first image such that a first edge of the magnified image extends to a first edge of the first image and a second edge of the magnified image extends to a second edge of the first image. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the magnified image, first image, and the cursor are displayed within a television safe area on a display screen. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein a user visually interacting with a magnified interface element at the second point actually interacts with an interface element at first point. 
     
     
         14 . A method of magnifying a background image in a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI including image data for generating the background image on a display, and cursor position data for positioning a cursor over the background image, the method comprising:
 identifying a first point of the background image that coincides with the cursor position data;   forming a magnified image using the image data corresponding to a region located adjacent to the first point, the region including one or more graphical elements having corresponding hyperlinks; and   superimposing the cursor over the magnified image such that the cursor is located directly over a second point of the magnified image; and   utilizing the cursor position data such that positioning of the second point in the magnified image corresponding to the superimposed cursor relative to the magnified image coincides with the first point corresponding to the cursor in the GUI relative to the background image,   wherein utilizing includes maintaining the cursor position such that it remains adjacent to a magnified region corresponding to the region including one or more graphical elements having corresponding hyperlinks.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the magnified image is superimposed between the background image and the cursor such that a first edge of the magnified image extends to a first edge of the background image and a second edge of the magnified image extends to a second edge of the background image. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the magnified image, background image, and the cursor are displayed within a television safe area on a display screen. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein a user visually interacting with a magnified interface element at the second selected point actually interacts with an interface element at first selected point. 
     
     
         18 . A system for magnifying an image, the system comprising:
 means for identifying a region of a first image in which a cursor is positioned in the GUI, the region including one or more graphical elements having corresponding hyperlinks;   means for forming a magnified image including an enlarged version of the first image corresponding to the region, the magnified image including enlarged versions of the one or more graphical elements;   means for superimposing the cursor over the magnified image to form a second image; and   means for utilizing cursor position data indicating the cursor position in the GUI such that positioning of a second point in the second image corresponding to the superimposed cursor relative to the magnified image coincides with a first point corresponding to the cursor in the GUI relative to the first image,   wherein the means for utilizing includes means for maintaining the cursor position such that it remains adjacent to a magnified region corresponding to the region including one or more graphical elements having corresponding hyperlinks.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the magnified image has a width equal to a width of the first image, thereby enhancing the readability of the text in the first image. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein a location identified by the cursor relative to the magnified image is co-located with a location identified by the cursor relative to the first image. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein a user visually interacting with a magnified interface element at the location identified by the cursor relative to the magnified image actually interacts with an interface element at the location identified by the cursor relative to the first image.