Abstract: A method for presenting advertisement images on a display screen, comprising: subdividing a map image into a plurality of geographic regions; associating an advertisement image with a region of the plurality of geographic regions; receiving a signal indicative of a group of regions of the plurality of geographic regions; receiving a signal indicative of a region-of-interest, the region-of-interest corresponding to at least one region of the plurality of geographic regions; determining whether the region and the region-of-interest are included in the group of regions, and if so, generating a presentation of the advertisement image; and, displaying the presentation on the display screen.

Abstract: A method in a computer system for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, the original image being a collection of polygons having polygons defined by three or more shared edges joined at vertex points, the method comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region across which the magnification decreases, the focal and shoulder regions having respective perimeters; subdividing polygons in the collection of polygons proximate to at least one of the perimeters, as projected with the polygons onto a base plane, by inserting one or more additional vertex points and additional edges into the polygons to be subdivided; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation by displacing the vertex points onto the lens and perspectively projecting the displacing onto a view plane in a direction aligned with a

Abstract: A method for presenting applications on a display screen, comprising: displaying a first presentation on the display screen, the first presentation including two or more icons; receiving a signal indicative of an icon, the icon being one of the two or more icons, the icon having an application associated therewith; initiating the application, the application having information associated therewith; generating a second presentation, the second presentation having a first area for presenting the information at least partially surrounded by a second area for presenting reduced-size versions of the two or more icons other than the icon; and, displaying the second presentation on the display screen to replace display of the first presentation.

Abstract: A method in a computer system for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, the original image being a collection of polygons having polygons defined by three or more shared edges joined at vertex points, the method comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region across which the magnification decreases, the focal and shoulder regions having respective perimeters; subdividing polygons in the collection of polygons proximate to at least one of the perimeters, as projected with the polygons onto a base plane, by inserting one or more additional vertex points and additional edges into the polygons to be subdivided; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation by displacing the vertex points onto the lens and perspectively projecting the displacing onto a view plane in a direction aligned with a

Abstract: A method in a computer system for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, the original image being a collection of polygons having polygons defined by three or more shared edges joined at vertex points, the method comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region across which the magnification decreases, the focal and shoulder regions having respective perimeters; subdividing polygons in the collection of polygons proximate to at least one of the perimeters, as projected with the polygons onto a base plane, by inserting one or more additional vertex points and additional edges into the polygons to be subdivided; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation by displacing the vertex points onto the lens and perspectively projecting the displacing onto a view plane in a direction aligned with a

Abstract: Methods for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for initiating a control operation for a user-selectable video game character, for emphasizing an advertisement in a computer generated display, and for presenting multiple GUIs in desktop user interfaces using detail-in-context graphical distortions. The method for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for a user-selectable item presented in a computer generated original image on a display, comprising: receiving a selection signal for the item from a user; distorting the original image to produce a distorted region for the item to provide the user with detailed information for the item; and, receiving a purchase signal for the item from the user.

Abstract: Methods for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for initiating a control operation for a user-selectable video game character, for emphasizing an advertisement in a computer generated display, and for presenting multiple GUIs in desktop user interfaces using detail-in-context graphical distortions. The method for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for a user-selectable item presented in a computer generated original image on a display, comprising: receiving a selection signal for the item from a user; distorting the original image to produce a distorted region for the item to provide the user with detailed information for the item; and, receiving a purchase signal for the item from the user.

Abstract: In one or more implementations, a signal is received selecting a geographic location in an original image of a digital map for display on a display. The original image is distorted to give an appearance of a lens being applied to the digital map for display on the display, the appearance of the lens including a focal region that includes a magnification of the geographic location and a base region that surrounds the focal region.

Abstract: Detail-in-context techniques are described. In an implementation, an original image is distorted to produce a distorted region for a selected object at a first position in an original image displayed on a display screen. The distorted region magnifies at least a portion of the object. A signal is received to drag the object and the distorted region from the first position to a second position. A signal is received to drop the object at the second position. The distorted region is removed from the original image after the object is dropped at the second position.

Abstract: In one or more implementations, a signal is received selecting a geographic location in an original image of a digital map for display on a display. The original image is distorted to give an appearance of a lens being applied to the digital map for display on the display, the appearance of the lens including a focal region that includes a magnification of the geographic location and a base region that surrounds the focal region.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, an appearance of a lens in an image is displayed. The appearance of the lens includes a focal region having a focal region having a magnification and a plurality of facets. The facets display information from respective layers of the image. The appearance of the lens also includes a base defining an extent of the appearance of the lens in the image. Additionally, the appearance of the lens includes a shoulder region between the focal region and the base. The shoulder region provides context for the focal region with respect to portions of the image outside of the appearance of the lens by preserving visibility of information surrounding the focal region.

Abstract: A method in a computer system for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, the original image having one or more images relating to the region-of-interest, the method comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a focal region with a magnification for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region across which the magnification varies to provide a continuous transition from the focal region to regions outside the lens; subdividing the focal region into one or more facets, each facet for displaying a respective image relating to the region-of-interest; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation.

Abstract: In one or more implementations, a cropped image is defined within a boundary on an original image displayed on a display. The original image is distorted to give an appearance of a lens being applied to the original image displayed on the display, the appearance of the lens including a focal region and a base region. A graphical user interface (“GUI”) is displayed on the display for adjusting the appearance of the lens.

Abstract: A method for presenting advertisement images on a display screen, comprising: subdividing a map image into a plurality of geographic regions; associating an advertisement image with a region of the plurality of geographic regions; receiving a signal indicative of a group of regions of the plurality of geographic regions; receiving a signal indicative of a region-of-interest, the region-of-interest corresponding to at least one region of the plurality of geographic regions; determining whether the region and the region-of-interest are included in the group of regions, and if so, generating a presentation of the advertisement image; and, displaying the presentation on the display screen.

Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen of a client coupled over a network to a server, comprising: establishing a lens having a focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region; if the lens is in transit between first and second locations for the region-of-interest in the original image, applying the lens to the original image by a first method to generate the presentation at the client; and, if the lens is stationary in the original image, receiving the presentation from the server, the server applying the lens to the original image by a second method to generate the presentation.

Abstract: A method in a computer system for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, the original image being a collection of polygons having polygons defined by three or more shared edges joined at vertex points, the method comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region across which the magnification decreases, the focal and shoulder regions having respective perimeters; subdividing polygons in the collection of polygons proximate to at least one of the perimeters, as projected with the polygons onto a base plane, by inserting one or more additional vertex points and additional edges into the polygons to be subdivided; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation by displacing the vertex points onto the lens and perspectively projecting the displacing onto a view plane in a direction aligned with a

Abstract: A method for controlling access to secured information for a predetermined region of a computer generated original image presented on a display, comprising: determining whether a user is authorized to access the secured information; and, in response to the determining, distorting the original image to produce a distorted region for the predetermined region to provide the user with the secured information on the display.

Abstract: A method in a computer system for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, the original image being a collection of polygons having polygons defined by three or more shared edges joined at vertex points, the method comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region across which the magnification decreases, the focal and shoulder regions having respective perimeters; subdividing polygons in the collection of polygons proximate to at least one of the perimeters, as projected with the polygons onto a base plane, by inserting one or more additional vertex points and additional edges into the polygons to be subdivided; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation by displacing the vertex points onto the lens and perspectively projecting the displacing onto a view plane in a direction aligned with a

Abstract: In one or more implementations, a signal is received selecting a geographic location in an original image of a digital map for display on a display. The original image is distorted to give an appearance of a lens being applied to the digital map for display on the display, the appearance of the lens including a focal region that includes a magnification of the geographic location and a base region that surrounds the focal region.

Abstract: An improved method for display of a transitional region of interest while transitioning between a first region of interest and a second region of interest within visual information on a display screen of a computer. The method comprising the steps of applying a transitional transformation to the visual information and displaying the transitional transformed visual information on the display screen. The transitional transformation requiring a reduced calculation for transforming the visual information in the transitional region.