TOOLBAR DYNAMICS FOR DIGITAL WHITEBOARD

• US 20130346878A1
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Mason, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 9,465,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Roughly described, different drawing regions are opened for different users on the same whiteboard. Each drawing region has its own set of line appearance properties, which the user can set with a toolbar. Lines drawn in a drawing region adopt the line appearance properties then in effect for that drawing region, which also apply to replications of the line on other devices in the collaboration session. As the user draws toward a boundary of the user'"'"'s drawing region, the boundary automatically moves so that the drawing continues to contain the user'"'"'s drawing activity.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a toolbar on a touch sensitive display surface, comprising the steps of:

in response to first user input at a first touch position on the display, displaying the toolbar at a first toolbar position which depends on the first touch position; and

in response to second user input at a second touch position;

determining whether the second touch position is less than a predetermined distance horizontally from the first toolbar position,

if the second touch position is determined to be less than a predetermined distance horizontally from the first toolbar position, leaving the toolbar at the first toolbar position, and

if the second touch position is determined to be greater than the predetermined distance horizontally from the first toolbar position, moving the toolbar to a second toolbar position which is closer to the second touch position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first toolbar position is such that the toolbar does not overlap the first touch position, and the second toolbar position is such that the toolbar does not overlap the second touch position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second touch positions have different vertical positions,

but wherein the first and second toolbar positions have equal vertical positions and the step of moving the toolbar to a second toolbar position which is closer to the second touch position moves the toolbar only horizontally.

4. The method of claim 1, for use in drawing a line, wherein the first user input includes the user touching a writing implement to the display to indicate a begin of the line,

and wherein the second user input includes the user lifting the writing implement from the display to indicate an end of the line.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second touch position is determined to be greater than the predetermined distance horizontally from the first toolbar position,

further comprising a step of inserting a time delay between detection of the second user input and the step of moving the toolbar.

6. A system for positioning a toolbar on a touch sensitive display surface, comprising:

a memory; and

a data processor coupled to the memory, the data processor configured to;

in response to first user input at a first touch position on the display, display the toolbar at a first toolbar position which depends on the first touch position; and

in response to second user input at a second touch position;

determine whether the second touch position is less than a predetermined distance horizontally from the first toolbar position,

if the second touch position is determined to be less than a predetermined distance horizontally from the first toolbar position, leave the toolbar at the first toolbar position, and

if the second touch position is determined to be greater than the predetermined distance horizontally from the first toolbar position, move the toolbar to a second toolbar position which is closer to the second touch position.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first toolbar position is such that the toolbar does not overlap the first touch position, and the second toolbar position is such that the toolbar does not overlap the second touch position.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the first and second touch positions have different vertical positions, but wherein the first and second toolbar positions have equal vertical positions and the moving the toolbar to a second toolbar position which is closer to the second touch position moves the toolbar only horizontally.

9. The system of claim 6, for use in drawing a line, wherein the first user input includes the user touching a writing implement to the display to indicate a begin of the line,

and wherein the second user input includes the user lifting the writing implement from the display to indicate an end of the line.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the second touch position is determined to be greater than the predetermined distance horizontally from the first toolbar position,

and wherein the data processor is further configured to insert a time delay between detection of the second user input and moving the toolbar.