Reshaping freehand drawn lines and shapes in an electronic document
First Claim
1. In a computing system for handling freehand drawn lines and shapes, a method for improving the appearance of the hand drawn lines and shapes comprising:
- comparing a source line segment of a source line against a straight line and detecting a deviation value indicating deviation between the source line segment and the straight line;
straightening the source line segment to a straight line if the deviation value is below a predetermined threshold value;
evaluating the source line segment as an angle segment, when the deviation value is below a predetermined threshold value, by detecting whether the source line segment can be defined as an angle segment with two straight line segments and defining the line segment as an angle segment having two straight line segments intersecting at an angle if the source line segment can be defined with two straight line segments;
dividing the source line segment into new segments if the deviation value is not below the predetermined threshold value and the line segment can not be defined as an angle segment; and
repeating the acts of comparing, straightening, evaluating and dividing on the new segments until all segments of the source line have been straightened.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention improves the appearance of freehand drawn lines and shapes in an electronic document by first recognizing freehand drawn lines and shapes and generating a line made up of sequential straight line segments for the freehand drawn line when the line does not form a closed line and generating a multiple straight-line-segment shape when the line forms a closed line. If a multiple segment shape is being reshaped, a basic shape is selected from reference ideal shapes as the basic shape of the multiple segment shape. The basic shape is adjusted to provide a specific shape as an improved shape for the freehand drawn shape. The recognition of the freehand drawn lines and shapes is accomplished by comparing source segments of a source freehand drawn line to a straight line and substituting a straight line segment for a source segment if the deviation between the source segment and the straight line is below a predetermined value. Sequential source segments of a source freehand drawn line are evaluated to determine if they are an angle segment. A segment pair of sequential source line segments are defined as an angle segment having two straight line segments intersecting at a common end point if both source segments of the segment pair are within a predetermined deviation value from a straight line. The straight line segments and angle segments are combined to form a multiple segment line if the line does not close on itself and a multiple segment shape if the line does close on itself.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. In a computing system for handling freehand drawn lines and shapes, a method for improving the appearance of the hand drawn lines and shapes comprising:
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comparing a source line segment of a source line against a straight line and detecting a deviation value indicating deviation between the source line segment and the straight line;
straightening the source line segment to a straight line if the deviation value is below a predetermined threshold value;
evaluating the source line segment as an angle segment, when the deviation value is below a predetermined threshold value, by detecting whether the source line segment can be defined as an angle segment with two straight line segments and defining the line segment as an angle segment having two straight line segments intersecting at an angle if the source line segment can be defined with two straight line segments;
dividing the source line segment into new segments if the deviation value is not below the predetermined threshold value and the line segment can not be defined as an angle segment; and
repeating the acts of comparing, straightening, evaluating and dividing on the new segments until all segments of the source line have been straightened. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for reshaping freehand drawn lines and shapes in a computing system having a display and a pointing device for drawing lines and shapes on the display, the system comprising:
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a polyline recognition module analyzing freehand drawn lines and shapes and generating a polyline made up of sequential straight line segments when the polyline does not form a closed line and generating a polyline shape when the polyline forms a closed line;
a basic shape recognition module responsive to the polyline recognition module and selecting a basic shape from reference ideal shapes as the basic shape of the polyline shape; and
a shape adjustment module responsive to the basic shape recognition module and adjusting the basic shape to provide a specific shape as an improved polyline shape. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for improving the appearance of freehand drawn lines and shapes displayed in an electronic document, said apparatus comprising:
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means for recognizing freehand drawn lines and shapes and generating a line made up of sequential straight line segments for the freehand drawn line when the line does not form a closed line and generating a multiple straight-line-segment shape when the line forms a closed line;
means responsive to the multiple straight-line-segment shape for selecting a basic shape from reference ideal shapes as the basic shape of the freehand drawn shape; and
means responsive to the basic shape for adjusting the basic shape to provide a specific shape as an improved shape for the freehand drawn shape. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program product readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for improving the appearance of freehand drawn lines and shapes, said computer process comprising:
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recognizing freehand drawn lines and shapes and generating a line made up of sequential straight line segments for the freehand drawn line when the line does not form a closed line and generating a multiple straight-line-segment shape when the line forms a closed line;
selecting a basic shape from reference ideal shapes as the basic shape of the multiple segment shape; and
adjusting the basic shape to provide a specific shape as an improved shape for the freehand drawn shape. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification