System and method for viewing digital visual content on a device

Abstract

A system and method for viewing material displayed on an electronic device. When a user desires to view a document, only a portion of which is viewable on a display at a given moment, the portion is displayed on the display as a primary image. A secondary image is then generated, with the secondary image including the portion and additional material of the document not part of the primary image. The secondary image is superimposed over the primary image on the display when a user scrolls though the document such that both the secondary image and the primary image are visible to the user.

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to viewing and browsing of digital visual content. More specifically, the present invention relates to viewing and browsing of digital visual content on devices having smaller displays than the digital visual content. Background technique

[0002] Viewing web content on electronic devices is difficult because in many cases only a portion of the entire page is displayed at a given moment. This makes the task of locating specific information on a page difficult, even if the user roughly knows where the specific information is located within the content. Since the content is larger than the screen, the user has to scroll around the document in hopes of finding the correct part of the content. Also, since the user cannot see the surrounding area in the document, the context of the information visible on the screen at any given moment is unclear.

[0003] Although attempts have been made to address the problems ass...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0016] The present invention includes adding a transparent overview of the content (referred to herein as a minimap) to be displayed in conjunction with the content itself. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary mobile telephone 12 upon which the present invention may be implemented. However, it is important to note that the present invention is not limited to any type of electronic device and may be incorporated into devices such as personal digital assistants, personal computers, mobile phones and other devices. It should be understood that the present invention may be incorporated into various mobile telephones 12 . According to one embodiment of the present invention, the mobile telephone 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a housing 30, a display 32 in the form of a liquid crystal display, a keypad 34, a microphone 36, an earpiece 38, a battery 40, an infrared port 42, an antenna 44, a UICC In the form of a smart card 46 , a card reader 48 , a wireless interface circuit 52 , a...

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to viewing and browsing of digital visual content. More specifically, the present invention relates to viewing and browsing of digital visual content on devices having smaller displays than the digital visual content. Background technique

[0002] Viewing web content on electronic devices is difficult because in many cases only a portion of the entire page is displayed at a given moment. This makes the task of locating specific information on a page difficult, even if the user roughly knows where the specific information is located within the content. Since the content is larger than the screen, the user has to scroll around the document in hopes of finding the correct part of the content. Also, since the user cannot see the surrounding area in the document, the context of the information visible on the screen at any given moment is unclear.

[0003] Although attempts have been made to address the problems ass...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0016] The present invention includes adding a transparent overview of the content (referred to herein as a minimap) to be displayed in conjunction with the content itself. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary mobile telephone 12 upon which the present invention may be implemented. However, it is important to note that the present invention is not limited to any type of electronic device and may be incorporated into devices such as personal digital assistants, personal computers, mobile phones and other devices. It should be understood that the present invention may be incorporated into various mobile telephones 12 . According to one embodiment of the present invention, the mobile telephone 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a housing 30, a display 32 in the form of a liquid crystal display, a keypad 34, a microphone 36, an earpiece 38, a battery 40, an infrared port 42, an antenna 44, a UICC In the form of a smart card 46 , a card reader 48 , a wireless interface circuit 52 , a...

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