Object association in a computer generated drawing environment

• US 7,719,534 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Moran, Evan F. B., Clay, Daniel J., Daw, Craig L., Albertson, Dan R., Allyn, Barry Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Amini; Javid A
• Application Number:
  US12/326,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20090079742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 345/441, 345/660, 345/619, 345/581
• US Class Current: 345/441
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

Methods and systems for associating two objects in a drawing application with one another are provided. Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a method in a computing environment that includes receiving a command to designate a target and designating the target. The method can further include identifying a subject and providing a suggested association of the subject with the target. The method can still further include receiving a command to accept the suggested association and associating the subject with the target as suggested.

Claims

1. A method in a computing environment for associating two objects in a drawing application with one another, the computing environment having a processor and a memory, the method comprising:

receiving a command to designate a target object;

designating the target object, wherein designating the target object is performed by the processor executing instructions stored in the memory;

displaying a visual indicator identifying a direction relative to the target object wherein the direction indicates a suggested direction for placing a subject object;

identifying the subject object;

receiving a command to accept the direction identified by the visual indicator;

placing the subject object relative to the target object in the direction identified by the visual indicator;

connecting the target object and the subject object with a connector object, wherein connecting the target object and the subject object with a connector object is performed by the processor executing instructions stored in the memory;

removing the visual indicator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the connector object extends away from the target object in the direction identified by the visual indicator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator includes a first visual indicator and the method further comprises:

displaying at least one second visual indicator; and

removing the at least one second visual indicator.

4. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for controlling a computing environment to perform a method comprising:

receiving a command to designate a target;

designating the target;

identifying a subject;

providing a suggested association of the subject with the target, wherein the suggested association is a direction relative to the target;

receiving a command to accept the suggested association;

associating the subject with the target as suggested.

5. The computer-readable storacie medium of claim 4 wherein associating the subject with the target includes at least one of placing the subject relative to the target in a selected direction and connecting the target to the subject with a connector.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein associating the subject with the target includes placing the subject relative to the target in a selected direction and connecting the target to the subject with a connector, the connection being a dynamic connection so that the target and subject remain connected by the connector when (a) the target is moved, (b) the subject is moved, or (c) both (a) and (b).

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein identifying a subject includes:

receiving a command to designate a subject from one and more objects in at least one of a drawing area and an area separate from the drawing area; and

designating the subject as commanded.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein identifying a subject includes:

suggesting a subject designation;

receiving a command to accept the suggested subject designation; and

designating the subject.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein:

identifying a subject includes identifying multiple subjects;

providing a suggested association of the subject with the target includes providing a suggested association of each subject with the target;

receiving a command to accept the suggested association includes receiving a command to accept the suggested associations; and

associating the subject with the target includes associating the subjects with the target as suggested.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein providing a suggested association of the subject with the target includes providing a first suggested association of the subject with the target and at least one second suggested association of the subject with the target.

11. The computer-readable storaQe medium of claim 4 wherein providing a suggested association includes displaying a visual indicator proximate to the target, the visual indicator indicating a suggested direction for (a) placing the subject relative to the target, (b) extending a connector away from the target, wherein the connector is suitable for connecting the target to the subject, or (c) both (a) and (b).

12. A method in a computing environment for associating two objects in a drawing application with one another, the computing environment having a processor and a memory, the method comprising:

receiving a command to designate a target object;

designating the target object, wherein designating the target object is performed by the processor executing instructions stored in the memory;

displaying a visual indicator identifying a direction relative to the target object for placing a subject object;

identifying the subject object;

receiving a command to accept the direction identified by the visual indicator;

placing the subject object relative to the target object in the direction identified by the visual indicator;

connecting the target object and the subject object with a connector object, wherein connecting the target object and the subject object with a connector object is performed by the processor executing instructions stored in the memory; and

removing the visual indicator;

displaying at least one second visual indicator; and

removing the at least one second visual indicator.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the connector object extends away from the target object in the direction identified by the visual indicator.

14. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for controlling a computing environment to perform a method comprising:

receiving a command to designate a target;

designating the target;

identifying a subject;

providing a suggested association of the subject with the target, wherein providing a suggested association includes displaying a visual indicator proximate to the target, the visual indicator indicating a suggested direction for (a) placing the subject relative to the target, (b) extending a connector away from the target, wherein the connector is suitable for connecting the target to the subject, or (c) both (a) and (b);

receiving a command to accept the suggested association;

associating the subject with the target as suggested.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein associating the subject with the target includes at least one of placing the subject relative to the target in a selected direction and connecting the target to the subject with a connector.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein identifying a subject includes:

receiving a command to designate a subject from one and more objects in at least one of a drawing area and an area separate from the drawing area; and

designating the subject as commanded.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein identifying a subject includes:

suggesting a subject designation;

receiving a command to accept the suggested subject designation; and

designating the subject.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein:

identifying a subject includes identifying multiple subjects;

providing a suggested association of the subject with the target includes providing a suggested association of each subject with the target;

receiving a command to accept the suggested association includes receiving a command to accept the suggested associations; and

associating the subject with the target includes associating the subjects with the target as suggested.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein providing a suggested association of the subject with the target includes providing a first suggested association of the subject with the target and at least one second suggested association of the subject with the target.