SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CROPPING AND ANNOTATING IMAGES ON A TOUCH SENSITIVE DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20100194781A1
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SecureNet Solutions Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: SecureNet Solutions Group, LLC
• Inventors: Siegel, Marc, Tossing, Christopher, Ho, Albert
• Application Number:
  US12/767,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194781A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/620
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/20 using renewable energy

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for cropping and annotating images on a touch sensitive display device or other handheld device, including the following steps: (a) displaying an image of the image file to be cropped/annotated; (b) receiving an first input from a user designating a first point in the image defining a corner of a crop/annotation rectangle; (c) receiving a second input from the user designating a second point in the image defining an opposite corner of the crop/annotation rectangle; and (d) cropping and/or annotating the image from the first point to the second point of the crop/annotation rectangle. The present invention may be used in digital cameras, Apple iPhones®, hand-held devices that inspectors may use to annotate photographs taken to substantiate statements of problems found during industrial inspections, and for other purposes.

Claims

1. A method for cropping an image file, comprising the steps of:

displaying an image of the image file to be cropped in a display area;

receiving a first input from a user designating a first point in the image defining a corner of a crop rectangle;

receiving a second input from the user designating a second point in the image defining an opposite corner of the crop rectangle, wherein the first input is released before the second input is initiated; and

cropping the image to the crop rectangle defined by the first point and the second point to create a cropped image when the second input is released.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on the image a location of the first point.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a rectangle overlaid over the image corresponding to the crop rectangle before cropping the image.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein if the user does not immediately release the second input, allowing the user to drag the second point to visually edit a shape and a size of the crop rectangle.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein if the user drags the second point near an edge of a displayed portion and the image is larger than the displayed portion, then scrolling the displayed portion to show a portion of the image in a direction of the dragged point.

6. The method as recited in 1, further comprising:

displaying the cropped image in the display area in place of the original image.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

scaling the cropped image to fill the entire display area.

8. A method of annotating an image file, comprising the steps of:

displaying an image of the image file to be annotated in a display area;

receiving a first input from a user designating a first point in the image defining a corner of an annotation rectangle;

receiving a second input from the user designating a second point in the image defining an opposite corner of the annotation rectangle, wherein the first input is released before the second input is initiated; and

annotating the image from the first point to the second point of the annotation rectangle to create an annotated image when the second input is released.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

displaying on the image a location of the first point.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

displaying a shape corresponding to the annotation rectangle of the image before annotating the image.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein if the user does not immediately release the second input, allowing the user to drag the second point to visually show a shape and a size of the annotation rectangle.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein if the user drags the second point near an edge of a displayed portion and the image is larger than the displayed portion, then scrolling the displayed portion to show a portion of the image in a direction of the dragged point.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a third input representing a type of shape and a characteristic of the shape corresponding to the annotation rectangle.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the shape is selected from the group consisting of a line, a rectangle, an ellipse, and a circle.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the characteristic of the shape is selected from the group consisting of a line type, a line width, and a line color.

13. The method as recited in 8, further comprising:

displaying the annotated image in the display area in place of the original image.

17. A touch-sensitive hand-held system having a capability of cropping and annotating an image file, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one or more memories, operatively coupled to the processor, and containing program code, which when executed causes the processor to execute a process comprising the steps of;

displaying an image of the image file to be cropped or annotated in a display area;

receiving a first input from a user designating a first point in the image defining a corner of a crop rectangle;

receiving a second input from the user designating a second point in the image defining an opposite corner of the crop rectangle, wherein the first input is released before the second input is initiated;

cropping the image from the first point to the second point of the crop rectangle when the second input is released to form a cropped image;

displaying the cropped image in the display area in place of the original image;

receiving a third input from the user designating a third point in the cropped image defining a corner of an annotation rectangle;

receiving a fourth input from the user designating a fourth point in the cropped image defining an opposite corner of the annotation rectangle, wherein the first input is released before the second input is initiated; and

annotating the cropped image from the third point to the fourth point of the annotation rectangle when the fourth input is released to form an annotated cropped image.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, further containing program code, which when executed causes the processor to execute a process further comprising the step of:

displaying on the image a location of the first point and a location of the third point.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, further containing program code, which when executed causes the processor to execute a process further comprising the steps of:

displaying a rectangle overlaid over the image corresponding to the crop rectangle before cropping the image; and

displaying a shape overlaid over the image corresponding to the annotation rectangle before annotating the image.

20. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein if the user drags the second point near an edge of a displayed portion and the image is larger than the displayed portion, then scrolling the displayed portion to show a portion of the image in a direction of the dragged point.