Image Selection on a Screen

• US 20080170781A1
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Woolgar, David J.
• Application Number:
  US11/575,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20080170781A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A method of bounding a select area (202, 204, 206) of an image on a display (200) by a select area boundary (208, 210). The select area boundary comprises at least one select area boundary portion (212, 214, 216). The method comprises actuating one of a plurality of keypad buttons (308) for a first period of time, comparing the first period of time to a threshold period of time, and in dependance on the comparison resizing the select area (202, 204, 206) or calling up a different movement function.

Claims

1. A method of bounding a select area (202, 204, 206) of an image on a display (200) by a select area boundary (208, 210), said select area boundary comprising at least one select area boundary portion (212, 214, 216), the method comprising actuating one of a plurality of keypad buttons (308) for a first period of time, comparing the first period of time to a threshold period of time (110), and in dependence on the comparison resizing the select area (202, 204, 206) or calling up a different movement function.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the resizing the select area (420) moves a select area boundary portion (412) assigned to the actuated keypad button (404) in a vector direction allocated to the actuated keypad button.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a select area boundary portion (611) is assigned to a keypad button, and wherein the calling up a different movement function assigns a different select area boundary portion (612) to the keypad button.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein a vector direction is allocated to a keypad button, and wherein the calling up a different movement function allocates a different vector direction to the keypad button.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the calling up a different movement function moves the select area boundary in a vector direction allocated to the actuated keypad button.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the calling up a different movement function selects moving a select area boundary portion or moving the select area boundary on the next keypad button actuation.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the threshold period of time is substantially one half of a second.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein a keypad button is actuated for a period of time greater than the threshold period of time, and wherein the longer the keypad button is actuated the faster select area boundary portions move.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein other select area boundary portions are modified to maintain the select area boundary as a closed shape.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein at least one select area boundary portion is anchored.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein two keypad buttons (402, 404) are assigned to a common select area boundary portion (412), and said two keypad buttons allocated to opposing vector directions.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein a select area boundary portion movement is prevented if the select area boundary portion movement would move a select area boundary portion (714) outside of the display.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein a select area boundary portion movement is reversed if the select area boundary portion movement would move a select area boundary portion (714) outside of the display.

14. Software for causing a processor to perform the method according to claim 1.

15. A system for bounding a select area (202, 204, 206) of an image on a display (200) by a select area boundary (208, 210), said select area boundary comprising at least one select area boundary portion (212, 214, 216), the system comprising a keypad (100) comprising keypad buttons (308) operable by actuation;

processing means (102) operable to measure the time a keypad button is actuated, compare the time to a threshold period of time (110), and to resize the select area or call up a different movement function in dependence on the comparison; and

display means (104) operable to display the image and the select area boundary.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the processing means resizes the select area by moving a select area boundary portion (412) assigned to the actuated keypad button (404) in a vector direction allocated to the actuated keypad button.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein a select area boundary portion (611) is assigned to a keypad button, and wherein the processing means assigns a different select area boundary portion (612) to the keypad button on calling up a different movement function.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein a vector direction is allocated to a keypad button, and wherein the processing means allocates a different vector direction to the keypad button on calling up a different movement function.

19. A system according to claim 15, wherein the processing means moves the select area boundary in a vector direction allocated to the actuated keypad button on calling up a different movement function.

20. A system according to claim 15, wherein the processing means selects moving a select area boundary portion or moving the select area boundary for the next keypad actuation on calling up a different movement function.

21. A system according to claim 16, wherein the processing means moves select area boundary portions faster the longer the keypad button is actuated over the threshold period of time.

22. A system according to claim 16, wherein the processing means modifies other select area boundary portions to maintain the select area boundary as a closed shape.

23. A system according to claim 16, wherein the processing means anchors at least one select area boundary portion.

24. A system according to claim 15, wherein the processing means prevents a select area boundary portion movement if the select area boundary portion movement would move a select area boundary portion (714) outside the area of the displayed image.

25. A system according to claim 15, wherein the processing means reverses a select area boundary portion movement if the select area boundary portion movement would move a select area boundary portion (714) outside the area of the displayed image.

26. A system according to claim 15, wherein two keypad buttons (402, 404) are assigned to a common select area boundary portion (412), and said two keypad buttons allocated to opposing vector directions.

27. A system according to claim 15, wherein the keypad is part of a remote control.

28. A system according to claim 15, wherein the keypad buttons are four cursor buttons.

29. A system according to claim 15, wherein the keypad comprises a keypad confirm button (306) operable by actuation to command the processing means to confirm the select area boundary.

30. A system according to claim 15, wherein the processing means confirms the select area boundary when no keypad button is actuated for a confirmation period of time.