System for storing and retrieving text and associated graphics

• US 4,899,292 A
• Filed: 03/02/1988
• Issued: 02/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Image Storage/Retrieval Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Image Storage/Retrieval Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Stephen A., Farrell, Lee, Montagna, John A., Irving, Gary, Cross, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Harkcom, Gary V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark K.
• Application Number:
  US07/163,398
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 364/512, 364/521, 364/525, 364/188, 364/400, 364/401, 364/900 MS File, 340/716, 340/721, 340/724, 340/731
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

An insurance estimation, service manual or other system stores and displays documents and associated graphics. The system stores a multiplicity of the graphic images in compressed, digital form. A first group of the graphic images are associated with a first one of the documents. By selecting the first document, the system automatically decompresses the first plurality of graphic images. The system then displays at least a portion of the selected first document on a display screen along with a first one of the decompressed graphic images. Subsequently, upon touch of a touch screen, the system displays a second one of the decompressed documents. Because the second graphic image was decompressed when the document was selected, there was virtually no delay in displaying the second graphic image. Either graphic image can be enlarged and centered about or near a point of touch over the image. In a service manual system, the document comprises text describing steps for repairing a vehicle and the graphic images illustrate portions of the vehicle under repair. In the insurance estimation system, the system displays a graphic image of a vehicle or other object, and damaged parts are identified by means of the touch screen.

Claims

1. A process for storing and displaying documents including graphic images, said process comprising the steps of:

storing a multiplicity of documents in digital form;

storing a multiplicity of graphic images in compressed, digital form, a first plurality of said graphic images being associated with a first one of said documents, said first document having references imbedded therein which correspond to the locations of said first plurality of graphic images;

selecting said first document for processing from said multiplicity of documents;

decompressing said first plurality of graphic images after said first document is selected;

selecting a first decompressed graphic image from the first plurality for display;

displaying the selected first decompressed graphic image without displaying a second decompressed graphic image in said first plurality;

selecting said second decompressed graphic image from the first plurality for display; and

displaying said second selected decompressed graphic image after displaying said first decompressed graphic image.

2. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first decompressed graphic image is automatically selected when said first document is selected.

3. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second decompressed graphic image is manually selected after said first decompressed graphic image is displayed.

4. A process as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying on a display screen, simultaneously with said first decompressed graphic image, selection information corresponding to said second decompressed graphic image;

and

wherein said second decompressed graphic image is selected by touching a region of a touch screen, said touch screen overlaying said display screen and said region corresponding to said selection information.

5. Apparatus for storing and displaying a graphic image, said apparatus comprising:

first means for storing a first graphic image in digital form;

a display;

control means coupled to the first storing means for retrieving said first graphic image and inputting the retrieved image to said display;

a touch screen overlaying said display; and

decoding means, coupled to an output of said touch screen, for identifying a first region of said first graphic image displayed on said display corresponding to a first region touched on said touch screen;

wherein said control means includes means responsive to said decoding means, for enlarging and centering said first region of said first graphic image on said display;

said control means further comprising;

pixel control means for controlling a zoom size of images displayed by said display;

bus means for coupling data from said first storing means to said pixel control means; and

processor means coupled to said first storing means and said bus and programmed to control a number of pixels of data supplied simultaneously by said bus to said pixel control means in accordance with the zoom size of an image.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said control means further includes means for displaying document text on said display simultaneously with said first graphic image when said first graphic image is in either non-enlarged or said enlarged and centered form.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first storing means stores graphic images in compressed form, said apparatus further comprising:

second means for storing a multiplicity of documents in digital form; and

document selection means for selecting a first one of said documents for display;

wherein said control means is responsive to said selection of said first document, to decompress said first graphic image and a second graphic image stored in said first storing means; and

further comprising image selection means for selecting said first decompressed graphic image to display;

wherein said control means is responsive to the image selection means to display said first decompressed graphic image without displaying said second decompressed graphic image.

8. Apparatus for estimating the cost of repairing vehicular or other damage, said apparatus comprising:

a computer;

means for inputting a model designation of a damaged vehicle or other object to said computer;

a display coupled to said computer;

means responsive to the inputting of a model designation, for retrieving a plurality of graphic images of said model and parts making up said model from an image storage device coupled to said computer;

control means coupled to the retrieving means for enabling a user to select a first one of said images and display the selected image on said display;

a touch screen coupled to said computer and overlaying said display;

identifying means responsive to a user'"'"'s touches on said touch screen for determining the identity of a damaged part touched on the selected image based on the location of the user'"'"'s touch;

processor means responsive to said identifying means for processing information relating to the identified part; and

means coupled to said processor means for inputting a decision whether to repair or replace damaged parts, and wherein said processor means determines the cost of correcting said damage based in part on the repair or replace decision.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the identifying means identifies a region of said model in said first graphic image corresponding to a touch on said touch screen;

and

said control means includes means responsive to said identifying means for enlarging and centering said first graphic image about the identified region.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said control means causes said display to display touch pads outside of said model and lines between the touch pads and associated parts so that a touch on said touch screen over the model causes said control means to enlarge and center said first graphic image and a touch outside of said model over a touch pad identifies a damaged part without causing said control means to enlarge and center the image about said touch pad.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein:

the identifying means identifies a region of said model in said first graphic image corresponding to a touch on said touch screen;

said first graphic image is a view of the model as a whole; and

said control means is responsive to the identifying means for controlling said display to display a second, more detailed one of said graphic images corresponding to the identified region of said model.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said control means controls said display to display a menu indicating a variety of said graphic images including said second graphic image corresponding to the identified region of said model.

13. Apparatus for storing and displaying documents including graphic images, comprising:

means for storing a multiplicity of documents and graphic images in digital form, a first plurality of said graphic images being associated with a first one of said documents, said first document having references imbedded therein which correspond to the locations of said first plurality of graphic images;

means coupled to said storing means for selecting said first document and a first graphic image from the first plurality for display;

means coupled to said selecting means for displaying the selected first graphic image without displaying a second graphic image in said first plurality;

means coupled to said storing means for selecting a second graphic image from the first plurality for display; and

means coupled to said selecting means for displaying said second graphic image after displaying said first graphic image.

14. Apparatus for displaying a graphic image comprising:

a computer processor;

a display coupled to said computer processor;

a touch screen overlaying said display and coupled to said computer processor;

means responsive to said computer processor for defining a graphic image area on said display and a separate control area on said display apart from said graphic image area;

means responsive to said computer processor for generating a graphic image in said graphic image area;

means responsive to said computer processor for generating a display of touch pads in said control area, each touch pad corresponding to a different component of the graphic image;

means responsive to said computer processor for providing an indicia on said display to identify a component of said graphic image when the touch pad corresponding to the component is touched by a user; and

means responsive to said computer processor for enlarging the graphic image displayed in said graphic image area when the graphic image is touched by a user.

15. A process for storing and displaying documents including graphic images, said process comprising the steps of:

storing a multiplicity of documents in digital form;

storing a multiplicity of graphic images in compressed, digital form, a first plurality of said graphic images being associated with a first one of said documents;

selecting said first document for processing from said multiplicity of documents;

decompressing said first plurality of graphic images after said first document is selected;

displaying first selection information corresponding to a first decompressed graphic image in said first plurality and second selection information corresponding to a second decompressed graphic image in said first plurality;

selecting said first decompressed graphic image for display by touching a region of a touch screen overlaying said first selection information;

displaying said first decompressed graphic image without displaying said second decompressed graphic image;

selecting said second decompressed graphic image for display by touching a second region of said touch screen overlaying said second selection information;

displaying said second selected decompressed graphic image after displaying said first decompressed graphic image;

displaying third selection information representing a command to scroll the display of said first document;

touching a third region of said touch screen corresponding to said third selection information; and

scrolling said first document in response to the touching of said third region of said touch screen.

16. A process as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first document comprises text and further comprising the step of displaying said text simultaneously with but apart from said first graphic image.

17. A process as set forth in claim 16 wherein:

said text describes a procedure for repairing a vehicle; and

said first graphic image illustrates the portion of said vehicle under repair, according to said text.

18. A process as set forth in claim 17 wherein said first document includes a data table and further comprising the steps of:

imbedding in said first document a reference to said data table; and

displaying said data table.