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CALL FOR PRIOR ART: (Microsoft) Scaling based on pixel density

up vote 14 down vote favorite

TITLE: Scale factors for visual presentations

  • App Number: 13/230445
  • Publication Number: US 2013/0063492 A1
  • Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
  • Prior Art Cutoff Date: Prior Art predating Sept 12, 2011
  • Availability for Challenge: Open Until at least Sept 14, 2013

Summary: This application generates and display graphical elements based on pixel density. The invention selects a scale factor from a scale factor set that is within the range of the pixel density.

Claim 1 requires, among other things:

A method of generating, using a device having a processor, a presentation comprising elements to be displayed on a display component, the method comprising:

  • executing on the processor instructions configured to:

    • identify a pixel density of the display component;

    • for respective elements of the presentation:

      • from a scale factor set, select a scale factor having a pixel density range including the pixel density of the display component; and

      • request the element to generate a scaled representation using the scale factor; and

    • generate the presentation comprising the scaled representations of the elements.

Sample figure

WHY IT MATTERS - This application is similar to other resolution-independent scaling applications, patents, and implementations carried out in the industry.

QUESTION - Have you seen anything that was published before 09/12/2011 that discusses (1) scale factor; (2) scale factor set; and (3) pixel density range in the manner described in claim 1?

If so, please submit evidence of that prior art as an answer below. Please submit only one piece of prior art per answer below. We welcome multiple prior art proposals from the same individual; please create separate answers for each one. This is so the community can vet each individual piece of prior art independently.

For details about what makes good prior art, please see our FAQ. Once you have submitted prior art, check back soon to see if the Ask Patents community has chosen your prior art to be submitted to the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

If you'd like to contribute in another way, please vote or comment on submissions made below. And we welcome you to post your own request for prior art if you know of another questionable patent or patent application.

Thanks for participating!

2 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accept

"Writing DPI-Aware Win32 Applications", an article by Ryan Haveson and Ken Sykes, published by Microsoft and dated September 2008.

Some of the terminology is different; Pixel Density is referred to as DPI (dots per inch, where a dot is a pixel).

Notice on page 15, the sections "Multiple Resolution Support" and "Closest Fit", appears to disclose what 13/230445 calls "scaling sets." Vis.:

The multiple resolution support technique requires that you provide your graphics at multiple resolutions so that you have a version that renders well at for each targeted DPI setting, such as 96, 120, 144, and 192. In this case, these values are equivalent to 100%, 125%, 150%, and 200% of the baseline DPI setting of 96. At run time, your application’s logic first determines the correct DPI scaling factor, and then uses it to determine which resolution of the graphics to use.

and:

For example, if the current custom DPI setting is 132 and you have provided multiple resolution graphics for 96, 120, and 144 DPI, you would first load the graphic that has slightly greater resolution to the current DPI. In this case, you would first load the 144 DPI version of the graphic. You would then scale it down to render well at 132 DPI.

up vote 3 down vote

Not an answer, but an attempt to save the time of people looking for answers. The following have already been presented to the USPTO by the applicant so "finding" them will not add anything.

Issued Patents

1 7689908 2010-03-30 Yan,et al.
2 7689583 2010-03-30 Bozich, et al.
3 7180531 2007-02-20 Gery, et al.
4 6549214 2003-04-15 Patel, et al.
5 6213653 2001-04-10 Borg, et al.

Patent Applications

1 20080065668 A1 2008-03-13 Spence, et al.
2 20080030425 A1 2008-02-07 Fullerton, et al.
3 20050012723 A1 2005-01-20 Pallakoff, Matt.

Non-Patent Literature

"Overview of Resolution Independence", Retrieved at http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/HiDPIOverview/HiDPIConceptslHiDPIConcepts.html, Retrieved Date: June 7, 2011, Pages 7.

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CALL FOR PRIOR ART: (Microsoft) Scaling based on pixel density

up vote 14 down vote

TITLE: Scale factors for visual presentations

  • App Number: 13/230445
  • Publication Number: US 2013/0063492 A1
  • Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
  • Prior Art Cutoff Date: Prior Art predating Sept 12, 2011
  • Availability for Challenge: Open Until at least Sept 14, 2013

Summary: This application generates and display graphical elements based on pixel density. The invention selects a scale factor from a scale factor set that is within the range of the pixel density.

Claim 1 requires, among other things:

A method of generating, using a device having a processor, a presentation comprising elements to be displayed on a display component, the method comprising:

  • executing on the processor instructions configured to:

    • identify a pixel density of the display component;

    • for respective elements of the presentation:

      • from a scale factor set, select a scale factor having a pixel density range including the pixel density of the display component; and

      • request the element to generate a scaled representation using the scale factor; and

    • generate the presentation comprising the scaled representations of the elements.

Sample figure

WHY IT MATTERS - This application is similar to other resolution-independent scaling applications, patents, and implementations carried out in the industry.

QUESTION - Have you seen anything that was published before 09/12/2011 that discusses (1) scale factor; (2) scale factor set; and (3) pixel density range in the manner described in claim 1?

If so, please submit evidence of that prior art as an answer below. Please submit only one piece of prior art per answer below. We welcome multiple prior art proposals from the same individual; please create separate answers for each one. This is so the community can vet each individual piece of prior art independently.

For details about what makes good prior art, please see our FAQ. Once you have submitted prior art, check back soon to see if the Ask Patents community has chosen your prior art to be submitted to the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

If you'd like to contribute in another way, please vote or comment on submissions made below. And we welcome you to post your own request for prior art if you know of another questionable patent or patent application.

Thanks for participating!

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up vote 9 down vote

"Writing DPI-Aware Win32 Applications", an article by Ryan Haveson and Ken Sykes, published by Microsoft and dated September 2008.

Some of the terminology is different; Pixel Density is referred to as DPI (dots per inch, where a dot is a pixel).

Notice on page 15, the sections "Multiple Resolution Support" and "Closest Fit", appears to disclose what 13/230445 calls "scaling sets." Vis.:

The multiple resolution support technique requires that you provide your graphics at multiple resolutions so that you have a version that renders well at for each targeted DPI setting, such as 96, 120, 144, and 192. In this case, these values are equivalent to 100%, 125%, 150%, and 200% of the baseline DPI setting of 96. At run time, your application’s logic first determines the correct DPI scaling factor, and then uses it to determine which resolution of the graphics to use.

and:

For example, if the current custom DPI setting is 132 and you have provided multiple resolution graphics for 96, 120, and 144 DPI, you would first load the graphic that has slightly greater resolution to the current DPI. In this case, you would first load the 144 DPI version of the graphic. You would then scale it down to render well at 132 DPI.

edit

Yes, page 15. I have edited my answer to call this out - Joel Spolsky Mar 27 at 19:59

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