Scaling type overlay icons

Abstract

A method and system are provided for displaying icons in accordance with user preferences. The method includes providing a user with a size selection mechanism for selecting an icon size from a range of sizes. The method additionally includes searching a set of stored resources related to the underlying file and generating the icon in the selected size based upon the stored resources. The method may additionally include selecting a type overlay and scaling the type overlay independently from the icon.

1 . A method performed by a computing system having a processor and memory for displaying an icon having a type overlay that upon selection allows access to an underlying file, the method comprising:
 generating, with the processor and the memory, the icon for the underlying file based on a user-requested icon size received from a user, wherein the user-requested icon size is an icon size between a first defined icon size and a second defined icon size;   selecting a type overlay overlapping and obstructing a portion of the icon, wherein the type overlay indicates a computing application associated with the underlying file;   determining a size of the type overlay based on the user-requested icon size, wherein the size of the type overlay scales independently from the icon between the first defined icon size and the second defined icon size; and   presenting the icon and the type overlay overlapping and obstructing a portion of the icon.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the user with a size selection user interface element having a continuous range of sizes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising searching a set of stored image resources that includes a set of images having a number of defined sizes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising interpolating between the first defined icon size and a second defined icon size. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the scaling applied to the icon is different from the scaling applied to the type overlay to interpolate between the first defined icon size and the second defined icon size. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning the type overlay based upon the identified icon size. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising positioning the type overlay in a corner of the generated icon. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising positioning a status overlay in a corner of the generated icon. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the icon is generated as a detail icon based upon the user-requested size. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the icon is generated as a thumbnail image icon based upon the user-requested size. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the icon is generated as a generic image icon based upon the user-requested size. 
     
     
         12 . A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor and memory, perform a method for displaying an icon having a type overlay that upon selection allows access to an underlying file, the method comprising:
 providing a user-selection component for allowing a user to identify an icon size for an icon representing an underlying file;   receiving a user-requested icon size from the user, wherein the user-requested icon size identifies an icon size for the icon representing the underlying file;   generating, with the processor and the memory, the icon for the underlying file based on a user-requested icon size received from a user, wherein the user-requested icon size is an icon size between a first defined icon size and a second defined icon size;   selecting a type overlay overlapping and obstructing a portion of the icon, wherein the type overlay indicates a computing application associated with the underlying file;   determining a size of the type overlay based on the user-requested icon size, wherein the size of the type overlay scales independently from the icon between the first defined icon size and the second defined icon size; and   presenting the icon and the type overlay overlapping and obstructing a portion of the icon.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said selection component displays a continuous range of sizes for user selection. 
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprising searching a set of stored image resources upon receiving the user-requested icon size, the stored set of image resources including a set of images in a plurality of defined sizes. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises interpolating between the first defined icon size and the second defined icon size to generate the icon. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the type overlay overlaps and obstructs a bottom right corner of the icon. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising positioning a status overlay in a bottom left corner of the generated icon. 
     
     
         18 . A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor and memory, perform a method for displaying an icon having a type overlay that upon selection allows access to an underlying file, the method comprising:
 providing a user-selection component for allowing a user to identify an icon size for an icon representing an underlying file, wherein the icon size is between a first defined icon size and a second defined icon size;   receiving a user-requested icon size from the user, wherein the user-requested icon size identifies an icon size for the icon representing the underlying file such that the user-requested icon size is between the first defined icon size and the second defined icon size;   generating, with the processor and the memory, the icon for the underlying file based on a user-requested icon size received from a user, wherein the icon is generated utilizing a first ratio between the first defined icon size and the second defined icon size;   selecting a type overlay overlapping and obstructing a portion of the icon, wherein the type overlay indicates a computing application associated with the underlying file;   determining a size of the type overlay based on the user-requested icon size, wherein the type overlay is generated utilizing a second ratio between the first defined icon size and the second defined icon size, such that the first ratio and the second ratio are different ratios; and   presenting the icon and the type overlay overlapping and obstructing a portion of the icon.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first ratio is between 1:1 (256/256) and 1:2 (128/256), and the second ratio is between 1:1 (48/48) and 2:3 (32/48). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first ratio is between 1:1 (128/128) and 3:8 (48/128), and the second ratio is between 1:1 (32/32) and 3:4 (24/32).