Patent · US Expired

Spatial morphing of text to accommodate annotations

US6230170A · kind A · utility

145Cited by
33References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 17, 1998
Grant dateMay 8, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F40/169
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A primary body of data is displayable on a screen and a supporting body of data is relatable to an annotation tag present in the primary body of textual data. An annotation tag having a predetermined size in the primary body of data is selected, and negotiations ensue between the primary body of data and the supporting body to determine a space into which the supporting body of data can be fitted while substantially maintaining an unobstructed view of the primary body of data. To help accommodate the supporting body of data, at least a portion of the primary body of data is spatially morphed by repositioning, resizing, or distortion. An animation sequence is used to position the supporting body of data in the negotiated space.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.