Apparatus and method for changing the size of displayed contents

Abstract

A data processing apparatus comprises an operation member which is operated to change a display form of displayed contents and a processing unit which is responsive to an operation of the operation member to change the display form of the displayed contents of an active window.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A data processing apparatus comprising:
 a display configured to display window screens on a desktop screen;   a first memory configured to store information specifying an application capable of performing an enlargement or reduction of display;   a second memory configured to store information indicating a relationship among the application and the window screens and the desktop screen;   an operation module configured to be operated to issue an instruction to perform an enlargement or reduction of display;   a determination module configured to determine, whether a current application displaying an active window when the operation module issues the instruction is capable of performing an enlargement or reduction of display, based on the information in the first memory and the second memory; and   a processor configured to instruct the current application to perform an enlargement or reduction of the active window in response to one operation of the operation module when the current application displaying the active window is capable of performing an enlargement or reduction of display, and to instruct the current application to perform an enlargement or reduction of the desktop screen in response to one operation of the operation module when the desktop screen is active when the operation module issues the instruction.   
     
     
         18 . The data processing apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the operation module comprises a hardware member mounted on a housing of the data processing apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The data processing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the hardware member comprises a button for issuing an instruction to perform an enlargement or reduction of display by a predetermined magnification in response to the one operation of the operation module. 
     
     
         20 . The data processing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the hardware member comprises a dial for issuing an instruction to perform an enlargement or reduction of display by a variable magnification. 
     
     
         21 . The data processing apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the operation module comprises an icon displayed in the active window, the icon issuing an instruction to perform an enlargement or reduction of display by a predetermined magnification in response to the one operation of the icon. 
     
     
         22 . The data processing apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the icon comprises an enlargement icon and a reduction icon. 
     
     
         23 . A data processing method comprising:
 displaying window screens on a desktop screen;   issuing an instruction to perform an enlargement or reduction of display by operating an operation module;   determining, whether a current application displaying an active window when the operation module issues the instruction is capable of performing an enlargement or reduction of display, based on information in a first memory and a second memory, wherein the first memory stores information specifying an application capable of performing an enlargement or reduction of display and the second memory stores information indicating a relationship among the application and the window screens and the desktop screen;   instructing the current application to perform an enlargement or reduction of the active window in response to one operation of the operation module when the current application displaying the active window is capable of performing an enlargement or reduction of display; and   instructing the current application to perform an enlargement or reduction of the desktop screen in response to one operation of the operation module when the desktop screen is active when the operation module issues the instruction.   
     
     
         24 . The data processing method of  claim 23 , wherein the operation module comprises a hardware member mounted on a housing of a data processing apparatus. 
     
     
         25 . The data processing method of  claim 24 , wherein the hardware member comprises a button for issuing an instruction to perform an enlargement or reduction of display by a predetermined magnification in response to the one operation of the operation module. 
     
     
         26 . The data processing method of  claim 24 , wherein the hardware member comprises a dial for issuing an instruction to perform an enlargement or reduction of display by a variable magnification. 
     
     
         27 . The data processing method of  claim 23 , wherein the operation module comprises an icon displayed in the active window, the icon issuing an instruction to perform an enlargement or reduction of display by a predetermined magnification in response to the one operation of the icon. 
     
     
         28 . The data processing method of  claim 27 , wherein the icon comprises an enlargement icon and a reduction icon.