Method for copying images

• US 20080148167A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brainlab Limited (Brainlab AG)
• Original Assignee: Orthocrat Limited
• Inventors: Glozman, Zeev, Russak, Zeev
• Granted Patent: US 8,935,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/543 User-generated data transfer, e.g. clipboards, dynamic data exchange [DDE], object linking and embedding [OLE]

Abstract

An apparatus for copying image data between computer applications running under at least one operating system, the apparatus comprising: a selector, operable by a user, for selecting an object from a computer application, and an image data importer, associated with the selector, and configured to automatically import image data of the selected object into a predetermined target computer application, upon the selecting.

Claims

1. Apparatus for copying image data between computer applications running under at least one operating system, the apparatus comprising:

a) a selector, operable by a user, for selecting an object from a first computer application; and

b) an image data importer, associated with said selector, and configured to automatically import image data of said selected object into a predetermined target computer application, upon said selecting.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an image capturer, associated with said selector, and configured to capture said image data from the operating system prior to said importing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising, a topmost object maker associated with said selector, and configured to make a window of said selected object topmost, and an image capturer configured to automatically capture said image data of said window made topmost from the operating system prior to said importing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising, a topmost object maker associated with said selector, and configured to make a window of said selected object topmost, using a handle of said window.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an image presenter, associated with said image data importer, and configured to present an image of said selected object in a window of the target application, using said imported image data.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an image presenter, associated with said image data importer, and configured to present an image of said selected object in a window of the target application, using said imported image data, according to a predefined policy.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an image data processor, associated with said image data importer, and configured to process said image data, according to a predefined policy.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said selector is further configured to present a marker to said user, and allow said user to drag said marker onto an image of said object, thereby to select said object.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image data importer is further configured to determine whether said selected object belongs to the target application, and to avoid importing said image data when said object belongs to the target application.

10. Method for copying image data between computer applications running under at least one operating system, the method comprising:

allowing a user to select an object from a computer application; and

upon said selecting, automatically importing image data of said selected object into a predetermined target computer application.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising capturing said image data from the operating system prior to said importing.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

making a window of said selected object topmost, and capturing said image data of said selected object made topmost from the operating system.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising presenting an image of said selected object in a window of the target application, using said imported image data.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising presenting an image of said selected object in a window of said target application, using said imported image data, according to a predefined rule.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising processing said image data, according to a predefined rule.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising presenting a marker to said user, and allowing said user to drag said marker onto an image of said object, thereby to select said object.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising finding if said selected object belongs to the target application, and avoiding importing image data already belonging to the target application.