Magnification Interface with Independent Pointer Sizing

Abstract

A computer program for rendering a magnified graphic user interface (GUI) establishes a first magnification level for the graphic user interface and a second magnification level for a pointer. It displays the magnified GUI at the first magnification level and monitors application program interface messaging for a call for a system pointer identifier. It intercepts this call and scales the pointing indicia not to the magnification level of the GUI, but to the second magnification level for the pointer. The pointer is then displayed to an end user of the computer system at a magnification level that is different from the magnification level of the GUI. Thus, the invention provides for independent magnification of the graphic user interface from the mouse cursor or caret.

1 . One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing a method by running a software program on a computer, the computer operating under an operating system, the method including issuing instructions from the software program comprising:
 setting a static magnification level for a pointing indicia that is displayed on a graphic user interface controlled by the operating system;   displaying the graphic user interface at a magnification level different from the static magnification level set for the pointing indicia;   identifying a current system pointer identifier;   scaling or maintaining the pointing indicia size to correspond to the static magnification level set for the pointing indicia; and   displaying the pointing indicia at the static magnification level wherein the pointing indicia remains at the same size regardless of the magnification of the graphic user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The media of  claim 1  wherein the pointing indicia is selected from the group consisting of cursors and carets and wherein the media further comprises instructions to establish separate static magnifications levels for cursors and carets. 
     
     
         3 . One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing a method by running a software program on a computer, the computer operating under an operating system, the method including issuing instructions from the software program comprising:
 establishing a plurality of application-specific magnification levels for pointing indicia that are displayed on a graphic user interface controlled by the operating system;   associating each application-specific magnification level with at least one or more software applications that execute on the operating system;   magnifying the graphic user interface generated by the operating system to a user-specified magnification level;   monitoring which software application is in focus on the graphic user interface;   intercepting a call for a current system pointer identifier to be displayed within the current software application that is in focus; and   scaling the pointing indicia to the associated application-specific magnification level according to the software application that is currently in focus.   
     
     
         4 . The media of  claim 3  wherein the pointing indicia is selected from the group consisting of cursors and carets and wherein the media further comprises instructions to establish separate application-specific magnifications levels for cursors and carets. 
     
     
         5 . The media of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of application-specific magnification levels are static wherein the pointing indicia is scaled to constant size irrespective of the magnification of the graphic user interface. 
     
     
         6 . The media of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of application-specific magnification levels are relative to the graphic user interface magnification level wherein the pointing indicia is scaled to size relative to the magnification of the graphic user interface, the scaling selected from the group consisting of linear scaling, stepped scaling and logarithmic scaling. 
     
     
         7 . One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing a method by running a software program on a computer, the computer operating under an operating system, the method including issuing instructions from the software program comprising:
 establishing an initial magnification level for a graphic user interface and a pointing indicia whereby the graphic user interface and pointing indicia are magnified and reduced in synchronization;   establishing a magnification convergence value wherein synchronization between the graphic user interface and the pointing indicia are maintained for magnification levels equal or less to the magnification convergence value;   responsive to a magnification level of the graphic user interface exceeding the convergence value, decoupling synchronization and maintaining the magnification level of the pointing indicia at the magnification convergence value irrespective of continued magnification of the graphic user interface; and   responsive to a magnification level of the graphic user interface adjusted below or equal to the convergence value re-coupling synchronization and magnifying the pointing indicia at a factor relative to the graphic user interface magnification level.   
     
     
         8 . The media of  claim 7  wherein the synchronization is linear. 
     
     
         9 . The media of  claim 7  wherein the synchronization is logarithmic. 
     
     
         10 . The media of  claim 7  wherein the synchronization is established via stepped values. 
     
     
         11 . The media of  claim 7  wherein the convergence value is derived from a ratio of pointing indicia surface area against graphic user interface surface area. 
     
     
         12 . The media of  claim 7  further comprising instructions to perform the steps of:
 providing a first convergence value for a cursor and a second convergence value for a caret; 
 magnifying the cursor in accordance with the first convergence value; and 
 magnifying the caret in accordance with the second convergence value. 
 
     
     
         13 . The media of  claim 7  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a user-selectable pointing indicia magnification adjustment to decouple the synchronization whereby the pointing indicia is magnified independently of the magnification level of the graphic user interface background; and 
 displaying the independently magnified pointing indicia. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the steps of:
 detecting the resolution of the minor axis of the graphic user interface as displayed to an end user; 
 establishing a convergence scale; and 
 dividing the resolution of the minor axis by the convergence scale to compute magnification convergence value. 
 
     
     
         15 . One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing a method by running a software program on a computer, the computer operating under an operating system, the method including issuing instructions from the software program comprising:
 magnifying in synchronization both a graphic user interface and a pointing indicia;   establishing a magnification convergence value;   responsive to a magnification level of the graphic user interface exceeding the convergence value, decoupling synchronization and displaying the pointing indicia magnified at a lesser relative factor than the graphic user interface magnification level;   responsive to a magnification level of the graphic user interface below or equal to the convergence value re-coupling synchronization and displaying the pointing indicia magnified at a factor relative to the graphic user interface magnification level;   responsive to a first user-initiated event, decoupling synchronization to display the pointing indicia to a user-selectable level magnification level; and   responsive to a second user-initiated event, re-coupling synchronization to display the pointing indicia according to the convergence value.   
     
     
         16 . One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing a method by running a software program on a computer, the computer operating under an operating system, the method including issuing instructions from the software program comprising:
 establishing a first magnification level for the graphic user interface;   displaying the magnified graphic user interface at the first magnification level;   detecting erratic pointer activity subsequent to a period of pointer inactivity;   temporarily scaling the pointing indicia to a second magnification level;   displaying the pointing indicia; and   returning the pointing indicia to the first magnification level for display.   
     
     
         17 . One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing a method by running a software program on a computer, the computer operating under an operating system, the method including issuing instructions from the software program comprising:
 magnifying in synchronization both a graphic user interface and a pointing indicia;   establishing a pointing indicia floor value for magnification; and   responsive to a modification of a current magnification level of the graphic user interface at or below the floor value, decoupling synchronization and displaying the pointing indicia at the floor value until the magnification level of the graphic user interface increases above the floor valve whereby synchronization is re-coupled.   
     
     
         18 . The media of  claim 17  further comprising the steps of:
 detecting the resolution of the minor axis of the graphic user interface as displayed to an end user; 
 establishing a floor value scale; and 
 dividing the resolution of the minor axis by the floor value scale to compute the pointing indicia floor value. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method of magnifying a graphic user interface and a pointing indicia on an operating system executed by a computer processor, the method comprising:
 magnifying in synchronization both the graphic user interface and the pointing indicia;   establishing a pointing indicia ceiling value for magnification; and   responsive to a modification of a current magnification level of the graphic user interface exceeding the ceiling value, decoupling synchronization and displaying the pointing indicia at the ceiling value unless the magnification level of the graphic user interface falls below the ceiling value whereby synchronization is re-coupled.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of:
 detecting the resolution of the minor axis of the graphic user interface as displayed to an end user; 
 establishing a ceiling value scale; and 
 dividing the resolution of the minor axis by the ceiling value scale to compute the pointing indicia ceiling value. 
 
     
     
         21 . A method of magnifying a graphic user interface and a pointing indicia on an operating system executed by a computer processor, the method comprising:
 magnifying in synchronization both the graphic user interface and the pointing indicia;   establishing a pointing indicia floor value for magnification; and   responsive to a modification of a current magnification level of the graphic user interface at or below the floor value, decoupling synchronization and displaying the pointing indicia at the floor value until the magnification level of the graphic user interface increases above the floor valve whereby synchronization is re-coupled.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the steps of:
 detecting the resolution of the minor axis of the graphic user interface as displayed to an end user; 
 establishing a floor value scale; and 
 dividing the resolution of the minor axis by the floor value scale to compute the pointing indicia floor value.