System and method for entry and display of blueprint data

• US 8,826,171 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Chou, Steve S. K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORR, HENRY W
• Application Number:
  US10/750,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20050140677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,898 Days
• Field of Search: 715/780, 345/443, 345/442
• US Class Current: 715/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/203 Drawing of straight lines or curves
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A handheld device with a graphical user interface (GUI) for entering and displaying blueprint data as a hierarchical sequence of segments. A handheld device having a touchscreen and/or keys is used to sequentially enter line segments and arcs to enter blueprint data into the device. Each line segment or arc that is entered may be referenced to an existing endpoint or start point of a previously entered line segment or arc. A blueprint entered into the handheld device may be edited by modifying, deleting, or inserting a line segment or arc. When an edit is performed, the line segments and arcs in the sequence that follow the element being edited may be automatically modified to maintain continuity in the blueprint without disturbing prior segments in the sequence.

Claims

1. A method for entering blueprint data into a handheld device comprising:

receiving in said handheld device a start point for a first line segment;

receiving in said handheld device a length for said first line segment;

receiving in said handheld device a direction for said first line segment, wherein an end point of said first line segment is determined from said start point, said direction, and length received for said first line segment;

receiving in said handheld device a start point for an arc;

receiving in said handheld device an end point for said arc;

receiving in said handheld device a radius for said arc;

receiving and displaying said first line segment and said arc on a display associated with said handheld device;

automatically parsing said arc into a plurality of arc subdivisions with a line segment editor;

receiving in said handheld device a start point for a second line segment, wherein said start point of said second line segment is said end point of said first line segment wherein said end point of said second line segment is determined from said start point of said second line segment, and received direction and length for said second line segment;

receiving and displaying said second line segment on said display;

receiving in said handheld device a start point for a third line segment, wherein said start point of said third line segment is said end point of said second line segment;

translating in said handheld device said second line segment so that the start point of said second line segment coincides with an end point of said third line segment;

receiving and displaying said third line segment on said display;

storing said first, second, and third line segments as a hierarchical sequence within a memory of said handheld device; and

in response to deletion of said second line segment a processor of said handheld device automatically identically translates said third line segment in said memory without translating said first line segment such that coincidence is achieved between the start point of said third line segment and an endpoint of said first line segment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a repeat factor for said first line segment.

3. A computer system for entering blueprint data into a handheld device comprising:

a graphical user interface for receiving in said handheld device a start point for a first line segment;

said graphical user interface for receiving in said handheld device a length for said first line segment;

said graphical user interface for receiving in said handheld device a direction for said first line segment, wherein an end point of said first line segment is determined from said start point, said direction, and length received for said first line segment;

said graphical user interface for receiving in said handheld device a start point for an arc;

said graphical user interface for receiving in said handheld device an end point for said arc;

said graphical user interface for receiving in said handheld device a radius for said arc;

said graphical user interface for receiving and displaying said first line segment and said arc on a display associated with said handheld device;

a processor for automatically parsing said arc into a plurality of arc subdivisions with a line segment editor;

said graphical user interface for receiving in said handheld device a start point for a second line segment, wherein said start point of said second line segment is said end point of said first line segment wherein said end point of said second line segment is determined from said start point of said second line segment, and received direction and length for said second line segment;

said graphical user interface for receiving and displaying said second line segment on said display;

said graphical user interface for receiving in said handheld device a start point for a third line segment, wherein said start point of said third line segment is said end point of said second line segment;

said processor for translating in said handheld device said second line segment so that the start point of said second line segment coincides with an end point of said third line segment;

said graphical user interface receiving and displaying said third line segment on said display;

a memory for storing said first, second, and third line segments as a hierarchical sequence within said handheld device; and

said processor, in response to deletion of said second line segment a processor of said handheld device automatically identically translates said third line segment in said memory without translating said first line segment such that coincidence is achieved between the start point of said third line segment and an endpoint of said first line segment.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein said display is a touchscreen.

5. The computer system of claim 3, further comprising a keypad.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions stored therein which, when executed, cause a processor of a handheld device to perform a method for entering blueprint data into said handheld device comprising:

receiving in said handheld device a start point for a first line segment;

receiving in said handheld device a length for said first line segment;

receiving in said handheld device a direction for said first line segment, wherein an end point of said first line segment is determined from said start point, said direction, and length received for said first line segment;

receiving in said handheld device a start point for an arc;

receiving in said handheld device an end point for said arc;

receiving in said handheld device a radius for said arc;

receiving and displaying said first line segment and said arc on a display associated with said handheld device;

automatically parsing said arc into a plurality of arc subdivisions with a line segment editor;

receiving in said handheld device a start point for a second line segment, wherein said start point of said second line segment is said end point of said first line segment wherein said end point of said second line segment is determined from said start point of said second line segment, and received direction and length for said second line segment;

receiving and displaying said second line segment on said display;

receiving in said handheld device a start point for a third line segment, wherein said start point of said third line segment is said end point of said second line segment;

translating in said handheld device said second line segment so that the start point of said second line segment coincides with an end point of said third line segment;

receiving and displaying said third line segment on said display;

storing said first, second, and third line segments as a hierarchical sequence within a memory of said handheld device; and

in response to deletion of said second line segment a processor of said handheld device automatically identically translates said third line segment in said memory without translating said first line segment such that coincidence is achieved between the start point of said third line segment and an endpoint of said first line segment.