Method and apparatus for zooming on non-positional display attributes

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for viewing a plurality of objects on a display that allows a user to zoom on a non-positional display attribute for the plurality of objects, the method comprising:

• receiving a value fur a mapped attribute for an object;
• receiving a value for a zooming parameter for the non-positional display attribute;
• mapping the mapped attribute for the object to the non-positional display attribute for the object by computing a function of the value of the mapped attribute and the value for the zooming parameter to produce a value for the non-positional display attribute;
• wherein the non-positional display attribute has more than two possible values;
• wherein if the value for the zooming parameter changes in a first direction, the function maps a narrower range of mapped attribute values to prominent display attribute values;
• wherein if the value for the zooming parameter changes in a second direction, the function maps a wider range of mapped attribute values to prominent display attribute values;
• and
• displaying the object on the display using the non-positional display attribute.

An apparatus that facilitates viewing a plurality of objects on a display that allows a user to zoom on a non-positional display attribute for the plurality of objects, the apparatus comprising:

• an input receiving mechanism that is configured to receive,
• a value for a mapped attribute for an object, and
• a value for a zooming parameter for the non-positional display attribute;
• a mapping mechanism that is configured to map the mapped attribute for the object to the non-positional display attribute for the object by computing a function of the value of the mapped attribute and the value for the zooming parameter to produce a value for the non-positional display attribute;
• wherein the non-positional display attribute has more than two possible values;
• wherein if the value for the zooming parameter changes in a first direction, the function maps a narrower range of mapped attribute values to prominent display attribute values;
• wherein if the value for the zooming parameter changes in a second direction, the function maps a wider range of mapped attribute values to prominent display attribute values;
• and
• a display mechanism that is configured to display the object on the display using the non-positional display attribute.