Gestural indicators for selecting graphic objects
First Claim
1. A display editing system for selecting one image object from a plurality of image objects for editing, comprisingfirst means for entering a plurality of image objects on a display surface,second means responsive to each entered object for creating and storing a first characteristic descriptor representative of said object, said first characteristic descriptor including the general shape and location on the display surface of said object,third means for entering a selection gesture for selecting at least one of said objects,fourth means responsive to said selection gesture for creating and storing a second characteristic descriptor representative of said selection gesture, said second characteristic descriptor including the general shape and location on the display surface of said selection gesture,fifth means for choosing the one of said first characteristic descriptors which is most similar in general shape and location to that of said second characteristic descriptor, thereby selecting said one image object.
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Abstract
A graphical imaging system, wherein the rough location, size and shape of objects in the image is summarized by a first characteristic descriptor, representing a parametric "pose" computed for each object. A second characteristic descriptor, i.e. a "gesture matching" function, is provided in order to select the single object, or else the set of objects, that best comports with the user'"'"'s selection gesture. When most closely matched, these key characteristic descriptors permit simple and natural user gestures to distinguish among a large set of graphic objects that may overlap both spatially. User gestures can be simple slashes passing through the object, or quick, coarse approximations of objects'"'"' shapes.
153 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A display editing system for selecting one image object from a plurality of image objects for editing, comprising
first means for entering a plurality of image objects on a display surface, second means responsive to each entered object for creating and storing a first characteristic descriptor representative of said object, said first characteristic descriptor including the general shape and location on the display surface of said object, third means for entering a selection gesture for selecting at least one of said objects, fourth means responsive to said selection gesture for creating and storing a second characteristic descriptor representative of said selection gesture, said second characteristic descriptor including the general shape and location on the display surface of said selection gesture, fifth means for choosing the one of said first characteristic descriptors which is most similar in general shape and location to that of said second characteristic descriptor, thereby selecting said one image object.
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2. A display editing system for selecting one image object from a plurality of image objects for editing, comprising
first means for entering a plurality of overlapping objects on a display surface, second means responsive to each object for creating and storing a first characteristic descriptor representative of each of said objects, said first characteristic descriptor including the general shape and location on the display surface of said object, third means for entering a selection gesture for selecting one of said objects from said overlapping objects, fourth means responsive to said selection gesture for creating and storing a second characteristic descriptor representative of said selection gesture, said second characteristic descriptor including the general shape and location on the display surface of said selection gesture, fifth means for choosing the one of said first characteristic descriptors which is most similar in general shape and location to that of said second characteristic descriptor, and thereby selecting said one image object.
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6. A method of display editing for selecting one image object from a plurality of image objects for editing, comprising the steps of
entering a plurality of overlapping objects on a display surface, creating and storing a first characteristic descriptor representative of said object, said first characteristic descriptor including the general shape and location on the display surface of said object, entering a selection gesture for selecting one of said objects, creating and storing a second characteristic descriptor representative of said selection gesture, said second characteristic descriptor including the general shape and location on the display surface of said selection gesture, choosing the one of said first characteristic descriptors which is most similar in general shape and location to that of said second characteristic descriptor, and thereby selecting one image object from said plurality of overlapping objects.
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10. A display editing system for selecting a path formed of a collection of primitive objects suitably related to each other of an image, from a plurality of paths formed of line segments, comprising:
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first means for entering said plurality of primitive objects on a display surface, second means for entering a selection gesture curve, third means for generating a path list corresponding to a plurality of incomplete paths representing a sequence of primitive objects; fourth means responsive to entry of said selection gesture curve for comparing the general shape and location of said entered selection gesture curve with partial curves of said path list, fifth means for choosing one of said paths which is most similar in general shape and location to that of said entered selection gesture curve.
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11. A display editing system for selecting a chain of objects from a plurality of objects displayed on a display screen wherein the objects are represented by a path formed of a sequence of primitive line segments approximately linked together, said primitive line segments each having no crossing, junctions or sharp corners, comprising:
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first means for entering said plurality of primitive line segments for each of said objects on a display surface, second means for entering a selection gesture curve, third means for generating a path list corresponding to a plurality of incomplete paths representing a sequence of the primitive line segments representative of said plurality of objects; fourth means responsive to entry of said selection gesture curve for comparing said entered selection gesture curve with partial curves of said path list, fifth means for choosing one of said paths from said path list which is most similar to said entered selection gesture curve to thereby select the chain of objects represented by said path. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of selecting a graphical object most closely related to a selection gesture, comprising the steps of
inputting a selection gesture; - creating a characteristic descriptor representative of the general shape and location for said input gesture;
providing a plurality of gesture-based selection modes;
testing the characteristic descriptor of the input gesture for a similarity to a property of each graphical object by each of the gesture-based selection modes using the corresponding property of the selection mode;
assigning a score to each object or set of objects based on the said testing; and
selecting the object or set of objects with the highest score. - View Dependent Claims (14)
- creating a characteristic descriptor representative of the general shape and location for said input gesture;
Specification