Advanced navigation techniques for portable devices

Abstract

The present invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates navigating smoothly and gracefully through any type of content viewable on portable devices such as cell-phones, PDAs, and/or any other hybrids thereof. In addition, such navigation can be performed while preserving perspective and context with respect to a larger amount of content. Pointing devices can also be used to navigate through content—the amount or detail of the content being dependant on the speed of the pointing device. Additionally, a semi-transparent overview of content can be overlaid a zoomed-in portion of content to provide perspective to the zoomed in portion. Content shown in the semi-transparent overview can depend on the location of the pointing device with respect to the content.

1 . A method of displaying content on a portable device screen, comprising:
 identifying data representing an information space to be displayed on the portable device screen;   displaying a first region of the information space on the portable device screen;   detecting user input, received from a user interacting with the portable device, indicating navigation through the information space and selecting a second region of the data based on the navigation, the selected second region having an area determined based on a density of data at a location within the information space indicated by the navigation; and   in response to the user input indicating navigation, displaying on the portable device screen the second region.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said displaying on the portable device screen the second region comprises:
 stretching a view of the information space to transition from display of the first region to display of the second region on the portable device screen, the second region having an aspect ratio different from an aspect ratio of the first region.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said displaying on the portable device screen the second region comprises:
 shrinking a view of the information space to transition from display of the first region to display of the second region on the portable device screen, the second region having an aspect ratio different from an aspect ratio of the first region.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 indicating a plurality of view segments on the information space displayed on the portable device screen, the plurality of view segments including the first region and the second region.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said indicating comprises:
 indicating a first view segment on the information space displayed on the portable device screen; and   indicating a second view segment on the information space displayed on the portable device screen that overlaps with the first view segment, the second view segment having an area equal to an area of the first view segment.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said indicating comprises:
 indicating a first view segment on the information space displayed on the portable device screen; and   indicating a second view segment on the information space displayed on the portable device screen that overlaps with the first view segment, the second view segment having an area different from an area of the first view segment.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said indicating comprises:
 indicating a first view segment on the information space displayed on the portable device screen; and   indicating a second view segment on the information space displayed on the portable device screen that overlaps with the first view segment, the second view segment having a shape different from a shape of the first view segment.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said indicating comprises:
 indicating the plurality of view segments on the information space displayed on the portable device screen in positions to correspond with highest density data areas.   
     
     
         9 . A system for rendering a display at a portable device, comprising:
 a memory having stored thereon data that represents an information space capable of being displayed on a screen of the portable device; and   a processor configured to execute instructions that perform a method comprising:
 displaying at least a first region of the information space on the portable device screen, 
 detecting user input, received from a user interacting with the portable device, indicating navigation through the information space and selecting a second region of the data based on the navigation, the selected second region having an aspect ratio different from an aspect ratio of the first region; and 
 in response to the user input indicating navigation, displaying on the portable device screen the second region. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said displaying on the portable device screen the second region comprises:
 stretching a view of the information space to transition from an aspect ratio of the first region to an aspect ratio of the second region on the portable device screen.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said displaying on the portable device screen the second region comprises:
 shrinking a view of the information space to transition from an aspect ratio of the first region to an aspect ratio of the second region on the portable device screen.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , the method further comprising:
 indicating a plurality of view segments on the information space displayed on the portable device screen, the plurality of view segments including the first region and the second region.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said indicating comprises:
 indicating a first view segment on the information space displayed on the portable device screen; and   indicating a second view segment on the information space displayed on the portable device screen that overlaps with the first view segment, the second view segment having a shape different from a shape of the first view segment.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said indicating comprises:
 indicating the plurality of view segments on the information space displayed on the portable device screen in positions to correspond with highest density da to areas.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising:
 identifying data representing an information space to be displayed on the portable device screen;   displaying a first region of the information space on the portable device screen;   detecting user input, received from a user interacting with the portable device, indicating navigation through the information space and selecting a second region of the data based on the navigation, the first and second regions each having an area determined based on a density of data at a corresponding location within the information space; and   in response to the user input indicating navigation, displaying on the portable device screen the second region.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein said displaying on the portable device screen the second region comprises:
 stretching a view of the information space to transition from display of the first region to display of the second region on the portable device screen, the second region having an aspect ratio different from an aspect ratio of the first region.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein said displaying on the portable device screen the second region comprises:
 shrinking a view of the information space to transition from display of the first region to display of the second region on the portable device screen, the second region having an aspect ratio different from an aspect ratio of the first region.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein said displaying on the portable device screen the second region comprises:
 displaying the second region on the information space displayed on the portable device screen overlapping with the first region.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein said displaying on the portable device screen the second region comprises:
 displaying the second region on the information space displayed on the portable device screen in a shape different from a shape of the first region.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 displaying the first and second regions on the information space displayed on the portable device screen in positions to correspond with highest density data areas.