Systems and methods for executing functions for objects based on the movement of an input device

• US 6,847,348 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Rojewski, Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, ALECIA DIANE
• Application Number:
  US10/101,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 382181-189, 345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/179
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Methods, computer program products and systems are provided for executing a function of a data processing computer system. The function may relate to an object. The method may be performed by: displaying a graphical representation of an object on a display device; receiving movement data from an input device, identifying a matching movement pattern that matches the cursor movement, which corresponds to the movement data; selecting a function that relates to the matching movement pattern and the object; and executing the function for the object. The identifying step can be performed by measuring the cursor movement as changes of the cursor coordinates occur. The result may then be compared to a plurality of predefined reference movement patterns. One movement pattern may be selected out of the plurality of reference movement patterns as the matching movement pattern for the object.

Claims

1. A method for executing at least one function of a data processing computer system, said function relating to an object, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of an object on a display device;

receiving movement data from an input device, said movement data representing a cursor movement on the display device, said cursor movement going sequentially through cursor coordinates;

identifying a predefined matching movement pattern in said cursor movement for said object via a grid that is associated with the object, wherein the size of the grid depends on the size of the object;

selecting at least one function out of a plurality of functions for said object, wherein said function is assigned to said matching movement pattern; and

executing said selected function for said object,

wherein the method further comprises adding a further reference movement pattern to the plurality of movement patterns, and further wherein adding said further reference movement pattern comprises;

recording a first set of movement data from the input device;

recording a second set of movement data from the input device;

calculating average cursor coordinates and tolerances from the previously recorded sets of movement data to determine a shape of the further reference movement pattern; and

storing the result of the calculation as the further reference movement pattern in the plurality of reference movement patterns.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a digital signature is created for a user from the further reference movement pattern, wherein said further reference movement pattern comprises contact pressure values.

3. A computer program product comprising program instructions for causing a processor to perform the method of claim 1 or 2.

4. A computer program product according to claim 3, wherein the computer program product is embodied in at least one of a recordable medium, a computer memory, a read-only memory and an electrical signal carrier.

5. A computer system for executing a function relating to an object, comprising:

first means for displaying a graphical representation of an object on a display device;

second means for receiving movement data from an input device, said data describing a cursor movement on the display device, said cursor movement going through cursor coordinates;

third means for identifying a predefined matching movement pattern in said cursor movement for said object via a grid that is associated with the object, wherein the size of the grid depends on the size of the object;

fourth means for selecting a function out of a plurality of functions for said object, wherein said function is assigned to said matching movement pattern; and

fifth means for executing said function for said object,

wherein the system further comprises means for adding a reference movement pattern to the plurality of movement patterns by;

recording a first set of movement data from the input device;

recording a second set of movement data from said input device;

calculating average cursor coordinates and tolerances from the previously recorded sets of movement data to determine a shape of the further reference movement pattern; and

storing the result of the calculation as the further reference movement pattern in the plurality of reference movement patterns.