Fractal computer user centerface with zooming capability

A method of visually displaying, on a display area, items of information stored in computer memory, by displaying representation objects, which represent the items of information, on a reference surface, each of which representation objects has a predetermined size and position on such reference surface and is comprised of groups of pixels, comprising:

• storing a data object for each of the representation objects having a predetermined size, shape and position on such reference surface;
• storing at least one portal data object defining a portion of the reference surface and a portal scale at which the portion of the reference surface is to be displayed and for providing a portal representation object at a predetermined size, shape and position on the reference surface;
• displaying at least one portal representation object in the display area, whereby the portion of the reference surface defined by such portal data object is displayed in the display area;
• and
• varying at least one of (1) the portion of the reference surface displayed in such portal representation object in response to control signals to display different representation objects therein, and (2) the portal scale in response to control signals to display the representation objects at a different scale.

An apparatus for visually displaying items of information stored in computer memory, by displaying representation objects, which represent the items of information, on a reference surface, each of which representation objects has a predetermined size and position on such reference surface and is comprised of groups of pixels, comprising:

• a computer having a display area;
• means for storing a data object for each of the representation objects having a predetermined size and position on such reference surface, each of which data objects comprises a sequence of image representations of such representation object, which sequence includes reduced copies of such representation object, and an address of such representation object on the reference surface;
• means for deriving and storing a plurality of reduced copies of representation objects by successively representing the information in the pixel groups forming such representation object by smaller pixel groups, so as to provide the sequence of image representations of successively smaller representation objects;
• means for displaying at least a portion of the reference surface on such display area;
• means for displaying a different portion of the reference surface in response to control signals to display different representation objects;
• and
• means for substituting representation objects of different size for displayed representation objects in order to effectively enlarge or reduce the magnification of the information displayed n the display area.

An apparatus for visually displaying items of information stored in computer memory, by displaying representation objects, which represent the items of information, on a reference surface, each of which representation objects has a predetermined size and position on such reference surface and is comprised of groups of pixels, comprising:

• a computer having a display area;
• means for storing a data object for each of the representation objects having a predetermined size, shape and position on such reference surface;
• means for storing at least one portal data object defining a portion of the reference surface and a portal scale at which the portion of the reference surface is to be displayed and for providing a portal representation object at a predetermined size, shape and position on the reference surface;
• means for displaying at least one portal representation object in the display area, whereby the portion of the reference surface defined by such portal data object is displayed in the display area;
• and
• means for varying at least one of (1) the portion of the reference surface displayed in such portal representation object in response to control signals to display different representation objects therein, and (2) the portal scale in response to control signals to display the representation objects at a different scale.