De-emphasis of user-selected portions in a video display
OwnerCarol Wolf, Hansen Watinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A machine (e.g., a computer) is used to generate a video display for a display device. A user interactively causes the machine to apply a de-emphasis effect to user-selected portions of the video display. The de-emphasis effect may be used to reduce visual distraction caused by those portions.
Claims20
A method of using a machine to view a video display, the method comprising interactively causing the machine to apply a de-emphasis effect to visually de-emphasize user-selected portions of the video display.
A method of generating a display for viewing by a user, the method comprising complying with a user-initiated request to apply a de-emphasis effect to portions of the display outside of a user-selected portion to reduce visual distraction caused by those outside portions.
A method of using a machine to generate a video signal, the method comprising viewing a display of the signal;
- and
- interactively causing the machine to blur user-selected portions of the display to reduce visual distraction caused by those portions.
A machine for supplying a display to a display device, the machine comprising a processor for enabling users to reduce visual distraction by selectively applying an effect to user-selected portions of the display to make those portions less eye catching and less demanding to the users.
Apparatus for use with a display device, the apparatus comprising:
- means for generating a display signal for the display device;
- and
- a user input source for interactively selecting portions of the displayed signal and for assigning different levels to the selected portions;
- wherein the means, in response to the user input source, modifies the display signal by applying a de-emphasis effect to the selected portions at the assigned levels.
An article for a processor-based machine, the article comprising memory encoded with code for causing the machine to allow a user to reduce visual distractions by selectively applying a de-emphasis effect to portions of the display to make those portions less eye catching and less demanding to view.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.