User-machine interface

• US 20060271521A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Denoue, Laurent, Chiu, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,543,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A user-machine interface is disclosed that uses a line to connect and/or to intersect various objects displayed on a screen. A start of the line may identify a source, an end of the line may identify a sink, and line shapes and/or objects intersected by the line may identify commands.

Claims

1. A user-machine communication method that receives user inputs and performs actions based on the user inputs, the method comprising:

displaying at least two objects;

connecting the at least two objects by a line; and

performing a command relative to the at least two objects.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing a start of the line at a first one of the two objects;

identifying a source based on the start of the line;

placing an end of the line at a second one of the two objects; and

identifying a sink based on the end of the line.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

forming a first line shape as the start of the line; and

disposing the first line shape in a first position relative to the source.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

identifying a source command associated with the first line shape; and

processing the source based on the source command.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

associating a start point with selecting the first one of the two objects;

associating a first substantially closed perimeter with selecting data substantially within the first substantially closed perimeter as the source;

associating a first substantially straight line overlaying text with selecting the text as the source; and

associating extending the first substantially straight line from left to right with copying the source and extending the first substantially straight line from right to left with cutting the source, or associating extending the first substantially straight line from left to right with cutting the source and extending the first substantially straight line from right to left with copying the source.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying a source command associated with the first one of the two objects; and

performing the source command to obtain the source.

7. The method of claim 6, the source command comprising one or more of:

receiving email;

receiving a facsimile;

receiving public broadcast information including TV or radio broadcast;

receiving a download;

or

receiving a telephone call.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

forming a second line shape as the end of the line;

disposing the second line shape in a second position relative to the sink; and

disposing a result of the command at the sink.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying a sink command associated with the second line shape; and

processing the result based on the sink command.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

associating a end point with placing the result at a location associated with the end point;

associating a second substantially closed perimeter with placing the result substantially within the second substantially closed perimeter; and

associating a second substantially straight line with placing the result in an orientation and position of the second substantially straight line.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying a sink command associated with the second one of the two objects; and

performing the sink command to dispose the result.

12. The method of claim 11, the sink command comprising one or more of:

sending the result as an email;

sending the result as a facsimile;

sending the result as an instant message;

uploading the result;

displaying the result;

outputting the result for subsequent commands;

generating an audible sound based on the result;

voice synthesizing the result;

or

magnifying the result.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

intersecting the line with a third object; and

performing a command associated with the third object as the command.

14. The method of claim 13, the command associated with the third object comprising one or more of:

moving the source to the sink;

modifying the source based on parameters associated with the third object; and

outputting the modified source as an object result.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

a. intersecting the line with a next object;

b. modifying the next object result based on a command associated with the further object;

replacing the next object result with the modified next object result; and

repeating a and b above until the end of the line is reached.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming a third line shape; and

performing a command associated with the third line shape as the command.

19. An apparatus that performs the method of claim 1, comprising:

one or more of;

a xerographic copier;

a xerographic printer;

a personal digital assistant;

a cell phone;

a personal computer;

or

a workstation.

17. A user-machine interface processor, comprising:

display means for displaying objects;

line forming means for connecting a line having a start at a first displayed object and an end at a second displayed object;

line shape identifying means for associating line shapes with the start, the end and a portion of the line between the start and the end of the line with corresponding commands; and

means for executing commands that corresponds to one or more line shapes.

18. The user-machine interface processor of claim 17, further comprising:

means for intersecting the line with a third displayed object; and

means for executing a command associated with the third displayed object.

20. A user-machine communication method that receives user inputs and performs actions based on the user inputs, the method comprising:

displaying at least two objects;

connecting the at least two objects by a line;

performing a command relative to the at least two objects;

placing a start of the line at a first one of the two objects;

identifying a source based on the start of the line;

placing an end of the line at a second one of the two objects;

identifying a sink based on the end of the line;

forming a first line shape as the start of the line;

disposing the first line shape in a first position relative to the source;

identifying a source command associated with the first line shape;

processing the source based on the source command;

forming a second line shape as the end of the line;

disposing the second line shape in a second position relative to the sink;

disposing a result of the command at the sink;

identifying a sink command associated with the second line shape;

processing the result based on the sink command;

intersecting the line with a third object; and

performing a command associated with the third object as the command.