Apparatus for displaying a plurality of two dimensional display regions on a display

Claim 1

An apparatus for displaying a plurality of two dimensional display regions including a currently displayed display region on a surface of a display, comprising: pointing means for generating X and Y coordinate signals corresponding to locations on the display, said pointing means further having means for generating a Z increment signal; means for displaying a pointer on the display at a location corresponding to X and Y coordinate signals generated by said pointing means; means for storing the plurality of two dimensional display regions; means for determining a sequence of the plurality of two dimensional display regions, said sequence including a first display region, a last display region, and intervening display regions, the currently displayed display region being one of said first, last, and intervening display regions, and said sequence having an associated forward direction beginning with said first display region and ending with said last display region and an associated reverse direction beginning with said last display region and ending with said first display region; means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed display region in said forward direction of said sequence, a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, or the currently displayed display region in response to said Z increment signal, irrespective of whether the location at which said pointer is displayed coincides with said selected display region; and means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display in accordance with said sequence such that said selected display region appears as the currently displayed display region, and display regions succeeding said selected display region in said forward direction of said sequence appear overlapped by said selected display region in a third dimension normal to the surface of the display with each of said displayed display regions being displayed in its entirety except where overlapped by a preceding display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, said selected display region being displayed in its entirety.

Claim 2

An apparatus for displaying a plurality of two dimensional display regions including a currently displayed display region on a surface of a display, comprising: pointing means for generating X and Y coordinate signals corresponding to locations on the display, said pointing means further having means for generating a Z increment signal; means for displaying a pointer on the display at a location corresponding to X and Y coordinate signals generated by said pointing means; means for storing the plurality of two dimensional display regions; means for determining a sequence of the plurality of two dimensional display regions, said sequence including a first display region, a last display region, and intervening display regions, the currently displayed display region being one of said first, last, and intervening display regions, and said sequence having an associated forward direction beginning with said first display region and ending with said last display region and an associated reverse direction beginning with said last display region and ending with said first display region; means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed display region in said forward direction of said sequence, a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, or the currently displayed display region in response to said Z increment signal, irrespective of whether the location at which said pointer is displayed coincides with said selected display region; and means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display in accordance with said sequence such that said selected display region appears as the currently displayed display region, and display regions succeeding said selected display region in said forward direction of said sequence appear overlapped by said selected display region in a third dimension normal to the surface of the display with each of said displayed display regions being displayed in its entirety except where overlapped by a preceding display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, said selected display region being displayed in its entirety.

Claim 8

An apparatus for displaying a plurality of two dimensional display regions including a currently displayed display region on a surface of a display, comprising: pointing means for generating X and Y coordinate signals corresponding to locations on the display, said pointing means further having means for generating a Z increment signal; means for displaying a pointer on the display at a location corresponding to X and Y coordinate signals generated by said pointing means; mean for storing the plurality of two dimensional display regions; means for determining a sequence of the plurality of two dimensional display regions, said sequence including a first display region, a last display region, and intervening display regions, the currently displayed display region being one of said first, last, and intervening display regions, and said sequence having an associated forward direction beginning with said first display region and ending with said last display region and an associated reverse direction beginning with said last display region and ending with said first display region; means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed display region in said forward direction of said sequence, a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, or the currently displayed display region in response to said Z increment signal; and means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display in accordance with said sequence such that said selected display region appears as the currently displayed display region, and display regions succeeding said selected display region in said forward direction of said sequence appear overlapped by said selected display region in a third dimension normal to the surface of the display with each of said displayed display regions being displayed in its entirety except where overlapped by a preceding display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, said selected display region being displayed in its entirety, said displaying means including means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display such that display regions preceding said selected display region in said reverse direction of said sequence appear at least partially transparent.

Claim 9

An apparatus for displaying a plurality of two dimensional display regions including a currently displayed display region on a surface of a display, comprising: pointing means for generating X and Y coordinate signals corresponding to locations on the display, said pointing means further having means for generating a Z increment signal; means for displaying a pointer on the display at a location corresponding to X and Y coordinate signals generated by said pointing means; mean for storing the plurality of two dimensional display regions; means for determining a sequence of the plurality of two dimensional display regions, said sequence including a first display region, a last display region, and intervening display regions, the currently displayed display region being one of said first, last, and intervening display regions, and said sequence having an associated forward direction beginning with said first display region and ending with said last display region and an associated reverse direction beginning with said last display region and ending with said first display region; means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed display region in said forward direction of said sequence, a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, or the currently displayed display region in response to said Z increment signal; and means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display in accordance with said sequence such that said selected display region appears as the currently displayed display region, and display regions succeeding said selected display region in said forward direction of said sequence appear overlapped by said selected display region in a third dimension normal to the surface of the display with each of said displayed display regions being displayed in its entirety except where overlapped by a preceding display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, said selected display region being displayed in its entirety, said displaying means including means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display such that display regions preceding said selected display region in said reverse direction of said sequence appear at least partially transparent.

Claim 10

An apparatus for displaying a plurality of two dimensional display regions including a currently displayed display region on a surface of a display, comprising: pointing means for generating X and Y coordinate signals corresponding to locations on the display, said pointing means further having means for generating a Z increment signal; means for displaying a pointer on the display at a location corresponding to X and Y coordinate signals generated by said pointing means; means for storing the plurality of two dimensional display regions; means for determining a sequence of the plurality of two dimensional display regions, said sequence including a first display region, a last display region, and intervening display regions, the currently displayed display region being one of said first, last, and intervening display regions, and said sequence having an associated forward direction beginning with said first display region and ending with said last display region and an associated reverse direction beginning with said last display region and ending with said first display region; means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed region in said forward direction of said sequence, a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, or the currently displayed display region in response to said Z increment signal; and means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display in accordance with said sequence such that said selected display region appears as the currently displayed display region, and display regions succeeding said selected display region in said forward direction of said sequence appear overlapped by said selected display region in a third dimension normal to the surface of the display with each of said displayed display regions being displayed in its entirety except where overlapped by a preceding display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, said selected display region being displayed in its entirety, wherein said Z increment signal has one of a first, second, and third value and wherein said selecting means includes means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed display region in said forward direction of said sequence when said Z increment has said first value, selecting the currently displayed display region when said Z increment signal has said second value, and selecting a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence when said Z increment has said third value.

Claim 11

An apparatus for displaying a plurality of two dimensional display regions including a currently displayed display region on a surface of a display, comprising: pointing means for generating X and Y coordinate signals corresponding to locations on the display, said pointing means further having means for generating a Z increment signal; means for displaying a pointer on the display at a location corresponding to X and Y coordinate signals generated by said pointing means; means for storing the plurality of two dimensional display regions; means for determining a sequence of the plurality of two dimensional display regions, said sequence including a first display region, a last display region, and intervening display regions, the currently displayed display region being one of said first, last, and intervening display regions, and said sequence having an associated forward direction beginning with said first display region and ending with said last display region and an associated reverse direction beginning with said last display region and ending with said first display region; means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed region in said forward direction of said sequence, a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, or the currently displayed display region in response to said Z increment signal; and means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display in accordance with said sequence such that said selected display region appears as the currently displayed display region, and display regions succeeding said selected display region in said forward direction of said sequence appear overlapped by said selected display region in a third dimension normal to the surface of the display with each of said displayed display regions being displayed in its entirety except where overlapped by a preceding display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, said selected display region being displayed in its entirety, wherein said Z increment signal has one of a first, second, and third value and wherein said selecting means includes means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed display region in said forward direction of said sequence when said Z increment has said first value, selecting the currently displayed display region when said Z increment signal has said second value, and selecting a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence when said Z increment has said third value.

Claim 12

An apparatus for displaying a plurality of two dimensional display regions including a currently displayed display region on a surface of a display, comprising: pointing means for generating X and Y coordinate signals corresponding to locations on the display, said pointing means further having means for generating a Z increment signal, said means for generating said Z increment signal including one of a mechanical switch, a pressure sensing device, and an accelerometer; means for displaying a pointer on the display at a location corresponding to X and Y coordinate signals generated by said pointing means; means for storing the plurality of two dimensional display regions; means for determining a sequence of the plurality of two dimensional display regions, said sequence including a first display region, a last display region, and intervening display regions, the currently displayed display region being one of said first, last, and intervening display regions, and said sequence having an associated forward direction beginning with said first display region and ending with said last display region and an associated reverse direction beginning with said last display region and ending with said first display region; means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed display region in said forward direction of said sequence, a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, or the currently displayed display region in response to said Z increment signal; and means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display in accordance with said sequence such that said selected display region appears as the currently displayed display region, and display regions succeeding said selected display region in said forward direction of said sequence appear overlapped by said selected display region in a third dimension normal to the surface of the display with each of said displayed display regions being displayed in its entirety except where overlapped by a preceding display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, said selected display region being displayed in its entirety.

Claim 13

An apparatus for displaying a plurality of two dimensional display regions including a currently displayed display region on a surface of a display, comprising: pointing means for generating X and Y coordinate signals corresponding to locations on the display, said pointing means further having means for generating a Z increment signal, said means for generating said Z increment signal including one of a mechanical switch, a pressure sensing device, and an accelerometer; means for displaying a pointer on the display at a location corresponding to X and Y coordinate signals generated by said pointing means; means for storing the plurality of two dimensional display regions; means for determining a sequence of the plurality of two dimensional display regions, said sequence including a first display region, a last display region, and intervening display regions, the currently displayed display region being one of said first, last, and intervening display regions, and said sequence having an associated forward direction beginning with said first display region and ending with said last display region and an associated reverse direction beginning with said last display region and ending with said first display region; means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed display region in said forward direction of said sequence, a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, or the currently displayed display region in response to said Z increment signal; and means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display in accordance with said sequence such that said selected display region appears as the currently displayed display region, and display regions succeeding said selected display region in said forward direction of said sequence appear overlapped by said selected display region in a third dimension normal to the surface of the display with each of said displayed display regions being displayed in its entirety except where overlapped by a preceding display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, said selected display region being displayed in its entirety.

Claim 14

An apparatus for displaying a plurality of two dimensional display regions including a currently displayed display region on a surface of a display, comprising: pointing means for generating X and Y coordinate signals corresponding to locations on the display, said pointing means further having means for generating a Z increment signal; means for displaying a pointer on the display at a location corresponding to X and Y coordinate signals generated by said pointing means; means for storing the plurality of two dimensional display regions; means for determining a sequence of the plurality of two dimensional display regions, said sequence including a first display region, a last display region, and intervening display regions, the currently displayed display region being one of said first, last, and intervening display regions, and said sequence having an associated forward direction beginning with said first display region and ending with said last display region and an associated reverse direction beginning with said last display region and ending with said first display region; means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed display region in said forward direction of said sequence, a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, or the currently displayed display region in response to said Z increment signal; and means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display in accordance with said sequence such that said selected display region appears as the currently displayed display region, and display regions succeeding said selected display region in said forward direction of said sequence appear overlapped by said selected display region in a third dimension normal to the surface of the display with each of said displayed display regions being displayed in its entirety except where overlapped by a preceding display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, said selected display region being displayed in its entirety, said display means including animation means for displaying the display regions on the display as a series of changing frames of images and said animation means including means for animating the display regions such that the series of changing frames of images resemble a bound book having pages which are being turned back.

Claim 15

An apparatus for displaying a plurality of two dimensional display regions including a currently displayed display region on a surface of a display, comprising: pointing means for generating X and Y coordinate signals corresponding to locations on the display, said pointing means further having means for generating a Z increment signal; means for displaying a pointer on the display at a location corresponding to X and Y coordinate signals generated by said pointing means; means for storing the plurality of two dimensional display regions; means for determining a sequence of the plurality of two dimensional display regions, said sequence including a first display region, a last display region, and intervening display regions, the currently displayed display region being one of said first, last, and intervening display regions, and said sequence having an associated forward direction beginning with said first display region and ending with said last display region and an associated reverse direction beginning with said last display region and ending with said first display region; means for selecting a display region succeeding the currently displayed display region in said forward direction of said sequence, a display region preceding the currently displayed display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, or the currently displayed display region in response to said Z increment signal; and means for displaying the plurality of two dimensional display regions on the display in accordance with said sequence such that said selected display region appears as the currently displayed display region, and display regions succeeding said selected display region in said forward direction of said sequence appear overlapped by said selected display region in a third dimension normal to the surface of the display with each of said displayed display regions being displayed in its entirety except where overlapped by a preceding display region in said reverse direction of said sequence, said selected display region being displayed in its entirety, said display means including animation means for displaying the display regions on the display as a series of changing frames of images and said animation means including means for animating the display regions such that the series of changing frames of images resemble a bound book having pages which are being turned back.