Drawing aid system for multi-touch devices

• US 8,860,675 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Tao, Brown, Hans-Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOHLMAN, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US13/181,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20130016126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 715700-866, 345173-178
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools

Abstract

A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product/article of manufacture provide the ability to enable and use a tool implement on a multi-touch device. The tool implements may be activated and deactivated using the borders of touch-sensitive region of a multi-touch device. The tool implement can be positioned in the display area (e.g., by dragging grips of the tool) and then used (in combination with a touch gesture to perform an operation. The tool implement may be a drawing aid tool that is used to remap a user'"'"'s stroke gesture to a defined stroke that is displayed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for enabling a tool implement on a multi-touch device, comprising:

(a) detecting a first touch at a border of a touch-sensitive region of the multi-touch device;

(b) detecting a second touch at the border of the touch-sensitive region of the multi-touch device;

(c) if the second touch is detected within a threshold time, displaying the tool implement, wherein the tool implement comprises;

(i) a first grip located at the first touch;

(ii) a second grip located at the second touch; and

(iii) a graphic representation of the tool implement wherein a relationship between the first grip and the second grip defines a size and orientation of the tool implement;

(d) detecting a tap gesture on the first grip or the second grip;

(e) in response to the tap gesture, cycling to a different drawing aid tool;

(f) positioning the tool implement based on movement of the first touch and the second touch, wherein the positioning comprises moving the first grip and the second grip corresponding to the movement of the first touch and the second touch;

(g) detecting a touch gesture in the multi-touch device; and

(h) utilizing the tool implement in combination with the touch gesture to perform an operation in an application executing on the multi-touch device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the tool implement comprises a drawing aid tool;

the touch gesture comprises a stroke gesture;

the application comprises a computer drawing application; and

the utilizing comprises remapping the stroke gesture to a defined stroke using the drawing aid tool and displaying the defined stroke.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a two-finger hold on the first grip and the second grip of the tool implement;

dragging the tool implement towards the border of the touch sensitive region using the first grip and the second grip;

detecting two outgoing touch events, of the first grip and the second grip, from the border; and

in response to detecting the two outgoing touch events, deactivating and stop displaying the tool implement.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a touch event on a tool implement toggle button; and

in response to the detecting of the touch event, deactivating and stop displaying the tool implement.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a two finger hold on the first grip and the second grip of the tool implement;

detecting a dragging of the first grip and the second grip to a single point;

detecting a colliding touch event of the first grip and the second grip at the single point; and

in response to the detecting of the colliding touch event, deactivating and stop displaying the tool implement.

6. A computer-implemented method for drawing a stroke using a drawing aid tool on a multi-touch device, comprising:

(a) activating and displaying a drawing aid tool, wherein the drawing aid tool comprises;

(i) a first grip located at a first touch in a touch-sensitive region of the multi-touch device;

(ii) a second grip located at a second touch in the touch-sensitive region of the multi-touch device; and

(iii) a graphic representation of the tool wherein a relationship between the first grip and the second grip defines a size and orientation of the drawing aid tool;

(b) detecting a tap gesture on the first grip or the second grip;

(c) in response to the tap gesture, cycling to a different drawing aid tool;

(d) detecting a stroke gesture in the multi-touch device;

(e) remapping the stroke gesture to a defined stroke using the drawing aid tool; and

(f) displaying the defined stroke.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

positioning the drawing aid tool based on movement of the first touch and the second touch, wherein the positioning comprises moving the first grip and the second grip corresponding to the movement of the first touch and the second touch.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein:

the drawing aid tool influences a complete digital canvas space of the multi-touch device; and

the influence of the drawing aid tool is not specific to a drawing aid tool location.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein:

the first touch and the second touch are controlled by a first hand of a user; and

the stroke gesture is controlled by a second hand of the user.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein:

the drawing aid tool comprises a ruler;

the first grip is located at a first end of the ruler;

the second grip is located at a second end of the ruler;

the graphic representation comprises a ruler line connecting the first grip and the second grip;

the stroke gesture comprises a curvilinear line; and

the remapping remaps the curvilinear line to a new line that is parallel to the ruler line.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein:

the drawing aid tool comprises a compass;

the first grip is located at a center point of the compass;

the second grip is located on a circle, wherein a radius of the circle is defined by a distance between the first grip and the second grip;

the graphic representation comprises the circle having the first grip as the center point and the second grip on a perimeter of the circle;

the stroke gesture comprises a curvilinear line; and

the remapping remaps the curvilinear line to an arc line that is concentric with the circle.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein:

the drawing aid tool comprises a protractor;

the first grip is located at a center point of the protractor;

the second grip is located on a circle, wherein a radius of the circle is defined by a distance between the first grip and the second grip;

the graphic representation comprises;

the circle having the first grip and the second grip; and

a ray between the first grip and the second grip;

the stroke gesture comprises a curvilinear line; and

the remapping remaps the curvilinear line to a ray that projects from the center point.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

setting, on the drawing aid tool, a relative distance that is based on the second grip; and

displaying on the drawing aid tool, one or more increment lines that are based on the relative distance; and

wherein the defined stroke has a precise defined length that comprises a multiple of the relative distance.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

setting, on the drawing aid tool, a relative distance that is based on the second grip;

displaying on the drawing aid tool, one or more increment lines that are based on the relative distance; and

defining a pressure release effect that is based on a finish distance between a last passed increment and an end of the stroke gesture.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the defined stroke is displayed dynamically in real time as the stroke gesture is detected.

16. An apparatus for enabling a tool implement on a multi-touch computer system comprising:

(a) the multi-touch computer system having a processor;

(b) an application executing on the processor of the multi-touch computer system, wherein the application is configured to;

(i) detect a first touch at a border of a touch-sensitive region of the multi-touch device;

(ii) detect a second touch at the border of the touch-sensitive region of the multi-touch device;

(iii) if the second touch is detected within a threshold time, display the tool implement, wherein the tool implement comprises;

(1) a first grip located at the first touch;

(2) a second grip located at the second touch; and

(3) a graphic representation of the tool implement wherein a relationship between the first grip and the second grip defines a size and orientation of the tool implement;

(iv) detecting a tap gesture on the first grip or the second grip;

(v) in response to the tap gesture, cycling to a different drawing aid tool;

(vi) position the tool implement based on movement of the first touch and the second touch, wherein the positioning comprises moving the first grip and the second grip corresponding to the movement of the first touch and the second touch;

(vii) detect a touch gesture in the multi-touch device; and

(viii) utilize the tool implement in combination with the touch gesture to perform an operation in an application executing on the multi-touch device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the tool implement comprises a drawing aid tool;

the touch gesture comprises a stroke gesture;

the application comprises a computer drawing application; and

the application is configured to utilize the tool implement by remapping the stroke gesture to a defined stroke using the drawing aid tool and displaying the defined stroke.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the application is further configured to:

detect a two-finger hold on the first grip and the second grip of the tool implement;

drag the tool implement towards the border of the touch sensitive region using the first grip and the second grip;

detect two outgoing touch events, of the first grip and the second grip, from the border; and

in response to detecting the two outgoing touch events, deactivate and stop displaying the tool implement.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the application is further configured to:

detect a touch event on a tool implement toggle button; and

in response to the detecting of the touch event, deactivate and stop displaying the tool implement.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the application is further configured to:

detect a two finger hold on the first grip and the second grip of the tool implement;

detect a dragging of the first grip and the second grip to a single point;

detect a colliding touch event of the first grip and the second grip at the single point; and

in response to the detecting of the colliding touch event, deactivate and stop displaying the tool implement.

21. An apparatus for drawing a stroke using a drawing aid tool on a multi-touch computer system comprising:

(a) the multi-touch computer system having a processor;

(b) an application executing on the processor of the multi-touch computer system, wherein the application is configured to;

(i) activate and display a drawing aid tool, wherein the drawing aid tool comprises;

(1) a first grip located at a first touch in a touch-sensitive region of the multi-touch device;

(2) a second grip located at a second touch in the touch-sensitive region of the multi-touch device; and

(3) a graphic representation of the tool wherein a relationship between the first grip and the second grip defines a size and orientation of the drawing aid tool;

(ii) detecting a tap gesture on the first grip or the second grip;

(iii) in response to the tap gesture, cycling to a different drawing aid tool;

(iv) detect a stroke gesture in the multi-touch device;

(v) remap the stroke gesture to a defined stroke using the drawing aid tool; and

(vi) display the defined stroke.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the application is further configured to:

position the drawing aid tool based on movement of the first touch and the second touch, wherein the positioning comprises moving the first grip and the second grip corresponding to the movement of the first touch and the second touch.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the drawing aid tool influences a complete digital canvas space of the multi-touch device; and

the influence of the drawing aid tool is not specific to a drawing aid tool location.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the first touch and the second touch are controlled by a first hand of a user; and

the stroke gesture is controlled by a second hand of the user.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the drawing aid tool comprises a ruler;

the first grip is located at a first end of the ruler;

the second grip is located at a second end of the ruler;

the graphic representation comprises a ruler line connecting the first grip and the second grip;

the stroke gesture comprises a curvilinear line; and

the application is configured to remap by remapping the curvilinear line to a new line that is parallel to the ruler line.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the drawing aid tool comprises a compass;

the first grip is located at a center point of the compass;

the second grip is located on a circle, wherein a radius of the circle is defined by a distance between the first grip and the second grip;

the graphic representation comprises the circle having the first grip as the center point and the second grip on a perimeter of the circle;

the stroke gesture comprises a curvilinear line; and

the application is configured to remap by remapping the curvilinear line to an arc line that is concentric with the circle.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the drawing aid tool comprises a protractor;

the first grip is located at a center point of the protractor;

the second grip is located on a circle, wherein a radius of the circle is defined by a distance between the first grip and the second grip;

the graphic representation comprises;

the circle having the first grip and the second grip; and

a ray between the first grip and the second grip;

the stroke gesture comprises a curvilinear line; and

the application is configured to remap by remapping the curvilinear line to a ray that projects from the center point.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the application is further configured to:

set, on the drawing aid tool, a relative distance that is based on the second grip; and

display on the drawing aid tool, one or more increment lines that are based on the relative distance; and

wherein the defined stroke has a precise defined length that comprises a multiple of the relative distance.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the application is further configured to:

set, on the drawing aid tool, a relative distance that is based on the second grip;

display on the drawing aid tool, one or more increment lines that are based on the relative distance; and

define a pressure release effect that is based on a finish distance between a last passed increment and an end of the stroke gesture.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the defined stroke is displayed dynamically in real time as the stroke gesture is detected.