SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING GRAPHS AND/OR PHYSICAL BODIES

• US 20130293552A1
• Filed: 07/01/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Khalifa University Of Science, Technology & Research
• Original Assignee: Masdar Institute Of Science And Technology
• Inventors: Mokri, Alaeddine, Emziane, Mahieddine
• Granted Patent: US 9,361,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

Systems and methods for analyzing graphs and/or physical bodies are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods determine one or more scaling factors that may be subsequently used to extract data from a graph/body under consideration. The systems and methods may also enable data extraction from multiple graphs, providing avenues to simultaneously optimize multiple variables at the same time.

Claims

1. An input device comprising a body and an input module, wherein the input module comprises sensor resources, processing resources, communication resources, and computer readable input module instructions (IMI), wherein the IMI when executed by a processor of said processing resources cause said input device to perform the following operations comprising:

detect positional information comprising at least one of a physical location and movement of said body with said sensor resources; and

transmit at least a portion of said positional information to a synchronization and display module of a mobile computing device using said communication resources;

wherein said body is configured to at least one of mechanically couple to said mobile computing device, mate with said mobile computing device, and envelop at least a portion of said mobile computing device.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein said body is configured as a case for said mobile computing device.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein said sensor resources include at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a rotary position sensor, optical sensor, infrared sensor, touch sensor, and pressure sensor.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein said communication resources are configured to transmit said positional information using at least one of wired and wireless communication.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein said communication resources are configured to wirelessly transmit said positional information to said mobile computing device.

6. A system, comprising:

a mobile computing device comprising a processor and a memory having a synchronization and display module (SDM) instructions stored therein; and

an attachment for said mobile computing device, said attachment comprising a body configured to at least one of mechanically couple to said mobile computing device, mate with said mobile computing device, and envelop at least a portion of said mobile computing device, said attachment further comprising an input module;

wherein;

said input module comprises sensor resources, processing resources, communication resources, and computer readable input module instructions (IMI), wherein the IMI when executed by a processor of said processing resources cause said input device to perform the following operations comprising;

detect positional information comprising at least one of a physical location and movement of said body with said sensor resources; and

transmit at least a portion of said positional information to said synchronization and display module using said communication resources; and

said SDM instructions when executed by said processor cause said processor to perform the following functions comprising;

in response to receiving said positional information, determine at least one scaling factor for one or more dimensions of a first graph or physical body, said at least one scaling factor corresponding to the number of pixels a digital pointer moves in response to movement of said attachment by a physical length of a unit of said first graph or physical body; and

extract data from said first graph or physical body by applying said at least one scaling factor to convert pixel coordinates of said digital pointer to data of said first graph or physical body.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said body is configured as a case for said mobile computing device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said sensor resources include at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a rotary position sensor, optical sensor, infrared sensor, touch sensor, and pressure sensor.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said communication resources are configured to transmit said positional information using at least one of wired and wireless communication.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein said communication resources are configured to wirelessly transmit said positional information to said mobile computing device.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said SDM instructions when executed by said processor further cause said processor to determine the total length in pixels of at least one axis of said first graph.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein said mobile computing device further comprises a display, wherein said SDM instructions when executed by said processor cause a graphical user interface to appear on said display, said graphical user interface comprising a rendering area;

and

said digital pointer is displayed within said rendering area.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said SDM instructions when executed further cause said processor to display an image of said first graph or physical body within said rendering area.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said SDM instructions when executed further cause said processor to identify one or more reference points within said rendering area, and correlate said one or more reference points with one or more selected points on said first graph or physical body.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein said first graph is in printed or electronic form.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein said SDM instructions when executed further cause said processor to determine data values of a second graph based at least in part on data extracted from said first graph.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said second graph is in printed or electronic form.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said first graph and said second graph comprise at least one common axis.

19. A method, comprising:

determining positional information comprising at least one of a physical location and a movement of a mobile computing device with sensor resources of an attachment to a mobile computing device, said attachment comprising a body configured to at least one of mechanically couple to said mobile computing device, mate with said mobile computing device, and envelop at least a portion of said mobile computing device;

transmitting at least a portion of said positional information to a synchronization and display module of said mobile computing device;

determining at least one scaling factor for one or more dimensions of a first graph or physical body with said mobile computing device computing device, said at least one scaling factor corresponding to the number of pixels a digital pointer moves in response to movement of said attachment by a physical length of a unit of said first graph or physical body; and

converting with said at least one scaling factor pixel coordinates of said digital pointer to data of said first graph or physical body.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said body is configured as a case for said mobile computing device.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said sensor resources include at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a rotary position sensor, optical sensor, infrared sensor, touch sensor, and pressure sensor.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining the total length in pixels of at least one axis of said first graph.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said computing device further comprises a display, the method further comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface on said display, said graphical user interface comprising a rendering area;

displaying said digital pointer within said rendering area.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising displaying an image of said first graph or physical body within said rendering area.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising identifying one or more reference points within said rendering area, and correlating said one or more reference points to one or more selected points on said first graph or physical body.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said first graph is in printed or electronic form.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining data values of a second graph based at least in part on data extracted from said first graph.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein said second graph is in printed or electronic form.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said first graph and said second graph comprise at least one common axis.