Scheme for graphical user interface using polygonal-shaped slider

• US 6,542,171 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Satou, Takashi, Akutsu, Akihito, Kojima, Haruhiko, Tonomura, Yoshinobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US09/348,847
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 345/676, 345/679-680, 345/688, 345/473-475, 345/704, 345/711, 345/723, 345/810, 345/833, 345/974, 463/30-31
• US Class Current: 715/833
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A scheme for graphical user interface using a polygonal-line-shaped slider that enables a user to intuitively manipulate-and playback spatio-temporal media data such as video data and animation data without deteriorating the temporal continuity of the data in interactive manipulation and playback of the spatio-temporal media data is disclosed. In this scheme, the slider is composed of a polygonal line composed of at least one segment and a coordinate indicator that is moved along the polygonal line. Data corresponding to coordinates specified by the coordinate indicator is entered. The apparatus according to present invention stores the coordinates of vertexes of the polygonal line, stores input coordinates, maps the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line, and positions the coordinate indicator at the point.

Claims

1. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least two segments and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates; and

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a nearest point on the polygonal line which is substantially nearest to the input coordinates and positioning the coordinate indicator at the nearest point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) maps the input coordinates onto the point on the polygonal line by projecting the input coordinates on the polygonal line.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (c) positions the position of an intersection point which is nearest to the input coordinates at a position of the coordinate indicator, the intersection point being selected from intersection points of each segment and a perpendicular line from the input coordinates to the each segment of the polygonal line.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c1) extending a perpendicular line from the input coordinates to each segment of the polygonal line;

(c2) finding an intersection point of the perpendicular line and each segment and calculating, for each segment, a ratio of a length of a partial segment divided by the intersection point with respect to a length of each segment;

(c3) calculating a distance between the input coordinates and each intersection point; and

(c4) selecting one of intersection points whose distance as obtained by the step (c3) is smallest among intersection points whose ratio as calculated by the step (c2) is within a range of 0 to 1.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) generates, for each endpoint of each segment of the polygonal line, an end line which is either a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through each endpoint, selects a segment that has two end lines between which the input coordinates are located and that is nearest to the input coordinates, calculates a distance between the input coordinates and each one of the two end lines of a selected segment and calculates a ratio of calculated distances, and positions the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides the selected segment at a calculated ratio.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c11) generating, for both vertexes (P1, P2) of each segment of the polygonal line, end lines (L1, L2) each of which is a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through a vertex;

(c12) determining, for each of the vertexes (P1, P2), whether or not each one of the vertexes and the input coordinates are on same side of an end line passing through another one of the vertexes;

(c13) calculating a distance between the input coordinates and each segment;

(c14) selecting one segment (L3) which is nearest to the input coordinates from those segments which are determined by the step (c12) as having one vertex on the same side as the input coordinates of the end line passing through another vertex;

(c15) calculating distances (D1, D2) between the input coordinates and the end lines (L1, L2) passing through the vertexes of said one segment (L3) selected by the step (c14); and

(c16) positioning the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides said one segment (L3) at a ratio (D1;

D2) of the distances calculated by the step (c15).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) generates, for each endpoint of each segment of the polygonal line, an end line which is either a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through each endpoint, selects a segment that has two end lines between which the input coordinates are located and that is nearest to the input coordinates, generates a parallel line that is parallel to a selected segment and passing through the input coordinates and obtain an intersection point of the parallel line and each one of the two end lines of the selected segment, calculates distances between the input coordinates and obtained intersection points and obtains a ratio of calculated distance, and positions the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides the selected segment at a calculated ratio.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c21) generating, for both vertexes (P1, P2) of each of segment of the polygonal line, end lines (L1, L2) each of which is a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through a vertex;

(c22) determining, for each of the vertexes (P1, P2), whether or not each one of the vertexes and the input coordinates are on same side of an end line passing through another one of the vertexes;

(c23) calculating a distance between the input coordinates and each segment;

(c24) selecting one segment (L3) which is nearest to the input coordinates from those segments which are determined by the step (c22) as having one vertex on the same side as the input coordinates of the end line passing through another vertex;

(c25) generating a parallel line (L4) that is parallel to said one segment (L3) and passing through the input coordinates;

(c26) finding intersection points (Q1, Q2) of the parallel line (L4) and the end lines (L1, L2) of said one segment (L3);

(c27) calculating distances (D1, D2) between the input coordinates and the intersection points (Q1, Q2); and

(c28) positioning the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides said one segment (L3) at a ratio (D1;

D2) of the distances calculated by the step (c15).

9. The method of claim 3, wherein when a position of the coordinate indicator is indeterminable, the step (c) positions the coordinate indicator at one of the vertexes of the polygonal line that is nearest to the input coordinates.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein when a position of the coordinate indicator is indeterminable, the step (c) positions the coordinate indicator at one of the vertexes of the polygonal line that is nearest to the input coordinates.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein when a position of the coordinate indicator Is indeterminable, the step (c) positions the coordinate indicator at one of the vertexes of the polygonal line that is nearest to the input coordinates.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) positions the coordinate indicator at the point when a distance between the input coordinates and the polygonal line is within a prescribed threshold.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(d) providing data corresponding to a position of the coordinate indicator.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step (d) provides data corresponding to a ratio at which the position of the coordinate indicator internally divides the polygonal line.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step (d) includes the steps of:

(d1) storing data corresponding to the vertexes of the polygonal line; and

(d2) acquiring data (V1, V2) corresponding to both vertexes of one segment on which the coordinate indicator is positioned, and calculating a ratio at which the position of the coordinate indicator internally divides said one segment;

(d3) calculating data corresponding to the ratio calculated by the step (d2) according to acquired data (V1, V2), and providing calculated data.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(e) selecting one polygonal line from a plurality of polygonal lines.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step (e) selects one polygonal line containing a segment that is nearest to the input coordinates.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step (e) selects one polygonal line having a coordinate indicator that is nearest to the input coordinates.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

(f) storing, for each segment of each polygonal line, a flag indicating whether or not each polygonal line is switchable to another polygonal line at each segment;

wherein the step (e) refers to the flag of one segment of one polygonal line on which the coordinate indicator is positioned when determining whether or not said one polygonal line is to be switched to another polygonal line.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(g) merging polygonal lines that share a vertex into one.

21. The method of claim 1, further,comprising the step of:

(h) displaying the polygonal line and the coordinate indicator.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(i) editing the polygonal line according to the input coordinates stored by the step (b).

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(j) smoothing a shape of the polygonal line.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step (j) includes the steps of:

(j1) extracting a vertex whose vertex angle is smaller than a prescribed threshold (α

) from the vertexes of the polygonal line; and

(j2) dividing an extracted vertex into at least two vertexes each having a vertex angle greater than the threshold.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the step (j) includes the steps of:

(j11) extracting a pair of adjacent vertexes whose distance is shorter than a prescribed threshold (d) from the vertexes of the polygonal line; and

(j12) merging extracted vertexes into one vertex.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(k) generating a polygonal line that approximates a trajectory of a moving object contained in video data or a trajectory of a motion of a screen view.

27. A method of interactively manipulating video data, comprising the steps of:

(l) sliding a coordinate indicator along a polygonal line formed by, at least two segments using a polygonal line shaped slider composed of the polygonal line and the coordinate indicator according to input coordinates; and

(m) presenting the video data of an image frame corresponding to a position of the coordinate indicator, wherein the coordinate indicator is positioned at a nearest point on the polygonal line which is substantially nearest to the input coordinates.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

(n) presenting the polygonal line over the video data.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

(o) generating a polygonal line that approximates a trajectory of an moving object contained in the video data or a trajectory of a motion of a screen view.

30. An apparatus for entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising:

(a) a unit for storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least two segments and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) a unit for storing input coordinates; and

(c) a unit for mapping the input coordinates onto a nearest point on the polygonal line which is substantially nearest to the input coordinates and positioning the coordinate indicator at the nearest point.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the unit (c) generates, for each endpoint of each segment of the polygonal line, an end line which is either a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through each endpoint, selects a segment that has two end lines between which the input coordinates are located and that is nearest to the input coordinates, generates a parallel line that is parallel to a selected segment and passing through the input coordinates and obtain an intersection points of the parallel and each one of the two end lines of the selected segment, calculates distances between the input coordinates and obtained intersection points and obtains a ratio of calculated distances, and positions the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides the selected segment at a calculated ratio.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the unit (c) includes:

(c21) a unit for generating, for both vertexes (P1, P2) of each segment of the polygonal line, end lines (L1, L2) each of which is a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through a vertex;

(c22) a unit for determining, for each of the vertexes (P1, P2), whether or not each one of the vertexes and the input coordinates are on same side of an end line passing through another one of the vertexes;

(c23) a unit for calculating a distance between the input coordinates and each segment;

(c24) a unit for selecting one segment (L3) which is nearest to the input coordinates from those segments which are determined by the unit (c22) as having one vertex on the same side as the input coordinates of the end line passing through another vertex;

(c25) a unit for generating a parallel line (L4) that is parallel to said one segment (L3) and passing through the input coordinates;

(c26) a unit for finding intersection points (Q1, Q2) of the parallel line (L4) and the end lines (L1, L2) of said one segment (L3);

(c27) a unit for calculating distances (D1, D2) between the input coordinates and the intersection points (Q1, Q2); and

(c28) a unit for positioning the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides said one segment (L3) at a ratio (D1;

D2) of the distances calculated by the unit (c25).

33. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

(k) a unit for generating a polygonal line that approximates a trajectory of a moving object contained in video data or a trajectory of a motion of a screen view.

34. An apparatus for interactively manipulating video data, comprising the steps of:

(1) a unit for receiving input coordinates;

(m) a unit for sliding a coordinate indicator along a polygonal line formed by at least two segments using a polygonal line shaped slider composed of the polygonal line and the coordinate indicator according to input coordinates; and

(n) a unit for presenting the video data of an image frame corresponding to a position of the coordinate indicator, wherein the coordinate indicator is positioned at a nearest point on the polygonal line which is substantially nearest to the input coordinates.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

(o) a unit for generating a polygonal line that approximates a trajectory of a moving object contained in the video data or a trajectory of a motion of screen view.

36. A computer readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute processing for entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, the processing includes:

(a) a process for storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least two segments and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) a process for storing input coordinates; and

(c) a process for mapping the input coordinates onto a nearest point on the polygonal line which is substantially nearest to the input coordinates and positioning the coordinate indicator at the nearest point.

37. The recording medium of claim 36, wherein the process (c) generates, for each endpoint of each segment of the polygonal line, an end line which is either a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through each endpoint, selects a segment that has two end lines between which the input coordinates are located and that is nearest to the input coordinates, generates a parallel line that is parallel to a selected segment and passing through the input coordinates and obtains an intersection point of the parallel line and each one of the two end lines of the selected segment, calculates distances between the input coordinates and obtained intersection points and obtains a ratio of the calculated distances, and positions the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides the selected segment at a calculated ratio.

38. The recording medium of claim 36, wherein the process (c) includes the processes of:

(c21) a process for generating, for both vertexes (P1, P2) of each segment of the polygonal line, end lines (L1, L2) each of which is a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through a vertex;

(c22) a process for determining, for each of the vertexes (P1, P2), whether or not each one of the vertexes and the input coordinates are on same side of an end line passing through another one of the vertexes;

(c23) a process for calculating a distance between the input coordinates and each segment;

(c24) a process for selecting one segment (L3) which is nearest to the input coordinates from those segments which are determined by the process (c22) as having one vertex on the same side as the input coordinates of the end line passing through another vertex;

(c25) a process for generating a parallel line (L4) that is parallel to said one segment (L3) and passing through the input coordinates;

(c26) a process for finding intersection points (Q1, Q2) of the parallel line (L4) and the end lines (L1, L2) of said one segment (L3);

(c27) a process for calculating distances (D1, D2) between the input coordinates and the intersection points (Q1, Q2); and

(c28) a process for positioning the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides said one segment (L3) at a ratio (D1;

D2) of the distances calculated by the process (c25).

39. The recording medium of claim 36, wherein the processes further include:

(k) a process for generating a polygonal line that approximates a trajectory of a moving object contained in video data or a trajectory of a motion of a screen view.

40. A computer readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute processing for interactively manipulating video data, the processing including:

(l) a process for sliding a coordinate indicator along a polygonal line formed by at least two segments using a polygonal line shaped slider composed of the polygonal line and the coordinate indicator according to input coordinates; and

(m) a process for presenting the video data of an image frame corresponding to a position of the coordinate indicator, wherein the coordinate indicator is positioned at a nearest point on the polygonal line which is substantially nearest to the input coordinates.

41. The recording medium of claim 40, wherein the processes further include:

(n) a process for generating a polygonal line that approximates a trajectory of a moving object contained in the video data or a trajectory of a motion of a screen view.

42. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates; and

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point,

wherein the step (c) positions the position of an intersection point which is nearest to the input coordinates at a position of the coordinate indicator, the intersection point being selected from intersection points of each segment and a perpendicular line from the input coordinates to the each segment of the polygonal line.

43. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates; and

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point,

wherein the step (c) includes the steps of;

(c1) extending a perpendicular line from the input coordinates to each segment of the polygonal line;

(c2) finding an intersection point of the perpendicular line and each segment and calculating, for each segment, a ratio of a length of a partial segment divided by the intersection point with respect to a length of each segment;

(c3) calculating a distance between the input coordinates and each intersection point; and

(c4) selecting one of intersection points whose distance as obtained by the step (c3) is smallest among intersection points whose ratio as calculated by the step (c2) is within a range of 0 to 1.

44. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates; and

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point,

wherein the step (c) generates, for each endpoint of each segment of the polygonal line, an end line which is either a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through each endpoint, selects a segment that has two end lines between which the input coordinates are located and that is nearest to the input coordinates, calculates a distance between the input coordinates and each one of the two end lines of a selected segment and calculates a ratio of calculated distances, and positions the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides the selected segment at a calculated ratio.

45. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates; and

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point,

wherein the step (c) includes the steps of;

(c11) generating, for both vertexes (P1, P2) of each segment of the polygonal line, end lines (L1, L2) each of which is a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through a vertex;

(c12) determining, for each of the vertexes (P1, P2), whether or not each one of the vertexes and the input coordinates are on same side of an end line passing through another one of the vertexes;

(c13) calculating a distance between the input coordinates and each segment;

(c14) selecting one segment (L3) which is nearest to the input coordinates from those segments which are determined by the step (c12) as having one vertex on the same side as the input coordinates of the end line passing through another vertex;

(c15) calculating distances (D1, D2) between the input coordinates and the end lines (L1, L2) passing through the vertexes of said one segment (L3) selected by the step (c14); and

(c16) positioning the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides said one segment (L3) at a ratio (D1;

D2) of the distances calculated by the step (c15).

46. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates; and

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point,

wherein the step (c) generates, for each endpoint of each segment of the polygonal line, an end line which is either a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through each endpoint, selects a segment that has two end lines between which the input coordinates are located and that is nearest to the input coordinates, generates a parallel line that is parallel to a selected segment and passing through the input coordinates and obtain an intersection point of the parallel line and each one of the two end lines of the selected segment, calculates distances between the input coordinates and obtained intersection points and obtains a ratio of calculated distance, and positions the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides the selected segment at a calculated ratio.

47. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates; and

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point,

wherein the step (c) includes the steps of;

(c21) generating, for both vertexes (P1, P2) of each of segment of the polygonal line, end lines (L1, L2) each of which is a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through a vertex;

(c22) determining, for each of the vertexes (P1, P2) whether or not each one of the vertexes and the input coordinates are on same side of an end line passing through another one of the vertexes;

(c23) calculating a distance between the input coordinates and each segment;

(c24) selecting one segment (L3) which is nearest to the input coordinates form those segments which are determined by the step (c22) as having one vertex on the same side as the input coordinates of the end line passing through another vertex;

(c25) generating a parallel line (L4) that is parallel to said one segment (L3) and passing through the input coordinates;

(c26) finding intersection points (Q1, Q2) of the parallel line (L4) and the end lines (L1, L2) of said one segment (L3);

(c27) calculating distances (D1, D2) between the input coordinates and the intersection points (Q1, Q2); and

(c28) positioning the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides said one segment (L3) at a ratio (D1;

D2) of the distances calculated by the step (c15).

48. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates; and

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point,

wherein the step (c) positions the position of an intersection point which is nearest to the input coordinates at a position of the coordinate indicator, the intersection point being selected from intersection points of each segment and a perpendicular line from the input coordinates to the each segment of the polygonal line, and

when a position of the coordinate indicator is indeterminable, the step (c) positions the coordinate indicator at one of the vertexes of the polygonal line that is nearest to the input coordinates.

49. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates; and

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point; and

(d) providing data corresponding to a position of the coordinate indicator,

wherein the step (d) includes the steps of;

(d1) storing data corresponding the vertexes of the polygonal line; and

(d2) acquiring data (V1, V2) corresponding to both vertexes of one segment on which the coordinate indicator is positioned, and calculating a ratio at which the position of the coordinate indicator internally divides said one segment; and

(d3) calculating data corresponding to the ratio calculated by the step (d2) according to acquired data (V1, V2), and providing calculated data.

50. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates;

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point; and

(e) selecting one polygonal line from a plurality of polygonal lines.

51. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates;

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point; and

(e) selecting one polygonal line from a plurality of polygonal lines,

wherein the step (e) selects one polygonal line containing a segment that is nearest to the input coordinates.

52. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates;

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point; and

(e) selecting one polygonal line from a plurality of polygonal lines,

wherein the step (e) selects one polygonal line having a coordinate indicator that is nearest to the input coordinates.

53. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates;

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point; and

(e) selecting one polygonal line from a plurality of polygonal lines; and

(f) storing, for each segment of each polygonal line, a flag indicating whether or not each polygonal line is switchable to another polygonal line at each segment,

wherein the step (e) refers to the flag of one segment of one polygonal line on which the coordinate indicator is positioned when determining whether or not said one polygonal line is to be switched to another polygonal line.

54. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(b) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates;

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point; and

(g) merging polygonal lines that share a vertex into one.

55. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(c) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates;

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point; and

(j) smoothing a shape of the polygonal line,

wherein the step (j) includes the steps of;

(j1) extracting a vertex whose vertex angle is smaller than a prescribed threshold (α

) from the vertexes of the polygonal line; and

(j2) dividing an extracted vertex into at least two vertexes each having a vertex angle greater than the threshold.

56. A method of entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising the steps of:

(d) storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) storing input coordinates;

(c) mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point; and

(j) smoothing a shape of the polygonal line,

wherein the step (6) includes the steps of;

(j11) extracting a pair of adjacent vertexes whose distance is shorter than a prescribed threshold (d) from the vertexes of the polygonal line; and

(j12) merging extracted vertexes into one vertex.

57. A method of interactively manipulating video data, comprising the steps of:

(l) sliding a coordinate indicator along a polygonal line formed by at least one segment using a polygonal line shaped slider composed of the polygonal line and the coordinate indicator according to input coordinates;

(m) presenting the video data of an image frame corresponding to a position of the coordinate indicator; and

(n) presenting the polygonal line over the video data.

58. An apparatus for entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising:

(a) a unit for storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) a unit for storing input coordinates; and

(c) a unit for mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point,

wherein the unit (c) generates, for each endpoint of each segment of the polygonal line, an end line which is either a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through each endpoint, selects a segment that has two end lines between which the input coordinates are located and that is nearest to the input coordinates, generates a parallel line that is parallel to a selected segment and passing through the input coordinates and obtain an intersection point of the parallel line and each one of the two end lines of the selected segment, calculates distances between the input coordinates and obtained intersection points and obtains a ratio of calculated distance, and positions the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides the selected segment at a calculated ratio.

59. An apparatus for entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, comprising:

(a) a unit for storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) a unit for storing input coordinates; and

(c) a unit for mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point,

wherein the unit (c) includes;

(c21) a unit for generating, for both vertexes (P1, P2) of each segment of the polygonal line, end lines (L1, L2) each of which is a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through a vertex;

(c22) a unit for determining, for each of the vertexes (P1, P2) whether or not each one of the vertexes and the input coordinates are on same side of an end line passing through another one of the vertexes;

(c23) a unit for calculating a distance between the input coordinates and each segment;

(c24) a unit for selecting one segment (L3) which is nearest to the input coordinates form those segments which are determined by the unit (c22) as having one vertex on the same side as the input coordinates of the end line passing through another vertex;

(c25) a unit for generating a parallel line (L4) that is parallel to said one segment (L3) and passing through the input coordinates;

(c26) a unit for finding intersection points (Q1, Q2) of the parallel line (L4) and the end lines (L1, L2) of said one segment (L3);

(c27) a unit for calculating distances (D1, D2) between the input coordinates and the intersection points (Q1, Q2); and

(c28) a unit for positioning the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides said one segment (L3) at a ratio (D1;

D2) of the distances calculated by the unit (c25).

60. A computer readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute processing for entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, the processing including:

(a) a process for storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) a process for storing input coordinates; and

(c) a process for mapping the input coordinates onto a point in the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point,

wherein the process (c) generates, for each endpoint of each segment of the polygonal line, an end line which is either a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through each endpoint, selects a segment that has two end lines between which the input coordinates are located and that is nearest to the input coordinates, generates a parallel line that is parallel to a selected segment and passing through the input coordinates and obtain an intersection point of the parallel line and each one of the two end lines of the selected segment, calculates distances between the input coordinates and obtained intersection points and obtains a ratio of calculated distance, and positions the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides the selected segment at a calculated ratio.

61. A computer readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute processing entering data corresponding to specified coordinates, the processing including:

(a) a process for storing coordinates of vertexes which define a polygonal line shaped slider that is composed of a polygonal line formed by at least one segment and a coordinate indicator to be moved along the polygonal line;

(b) a process for storing input coordinates; and

(c) a process for mapping the input coordinates onto a point on the polygonal line and positioning the coordinate indicator at the point,

wherein the process (c) includes;

(c21) a process for generating, for both vertexes (P1, P2) of each of segment of the polygonal line, end lines (L1, L2) each of which is a bisector line of a vertex angle or a perpendicular line passing through a vertex;

(c22) a process for determining, for each of the vertexes (P1, P2) whether or not each one of the vertexes and the input coordinates are on same side of an end line passing through another one of the vertexes;

(c23) a process for calculating a distance between the input coordinates and each segment;

(c24) a process for selecting one segment (L3) which is nearest to the input coordinates form those segments which are determined by the process (c22) as having one vertex on the same side as the input coordinates of the end line passing through another vertex;

(c25) a process for generating a parallel line (L4) that is parallel to said one segment (L3) and passing through the input coordinates;

(c26) a process for finding intersection points (Q1, Q2) of the parallel line (L4) and the end lines (L1, L2) of said one segment (L3);

(c27) a process for calculating distances (D1, D2) between the input coordinates and the intersection points (Q1, Q2); and

(c28) a process for positioning the coordinate indicator at a point that internally divides said one segment (L3) at a ratio (D1;

D2) of the distances calculated by the process (c25).