Region dynamics for digital whiteboard
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for operating a digital whiteboard having an area, comprising the steps of:
- in response to first opening user input, opening a first drawing region on the whiteboard, the first drawing region having an area smaller than the full digital whiteboard area and further having a first boundary;
establishing a first set of line appearance properties, including two or more of brush type, brush size, and color, in effect for the first drawing region;
in response to second opening user input, opening a second drawing region on the whiteboard distinct from the first drawing region;
establishing a second set of line appearance properties, including two or more of brush type, brush size, and color, in effect for the second drawing region, the second set of line appearance properties being non-identical to the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the first drawing region;
in response to first drawing user input indicating drawing of a first line within the first drawing region, displaying the first line on the whiteboard with an appearance that depends on the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the first drawing region;
moving the first boundary in response to the first drawing user input; and
in response to second drawing user input indicating drawing of a second line within the second drawing region, displaying the second line on the whiteboard with an appearance that depends on the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the second drawing regionwherein the step of moving the first boundary in response to the first drawing user input comprises a step of, in response to the first drawing user input reaching a first position that is within a predetermined distance from the first boundary of the first drawing region, moving the first boundary of the first drawing region in a direction away from the first position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Roughly described, different drawing regions are opened for different users on the same whiteboard. Each drawing region has its own set of line appearance properties, which the user can set with a toolbar. Lines drawn in a drawing region adopt the line appearance properties then in effect for that drawing region, which also apply to replications of the line on other devices in the collaboration session. As the user draws toward a boundary of the user'"'"'s drawing region, the boundary automatically moves so that the drawing continues to contain the user'"'"'s drawing activity.
135 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for operating a digital whiteboard having an area, comprising the steps of:
-
in response to first opening user input, opening a first drawing region on the whiteboard, the first drawing region having an area smaller than the full digital whiteboard area and further having a first boundary; establishing a first set of line appearance properties, including two or more of brush type, brush size, and color, in effect for the first drawing region; in response to second opening user input, opening a second drawing region on the whiteboard distinct from the first drawing region; establishing a second set of line appearance properties, including two or more of brush type, brush size, and color, in effect for the second drawing region, the second set of line appearance properties being non-identical to the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the first drawing region; in response to first drawing user input indicating drawing of a first line within the first drawing region, displaying the first line on the whiteboard with an appearance that depends on the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the first drawing region; moving the first boundary in response to the first drawing user input; and in response to second drawing user input indicating drawing of a second line within the second drawing region, displaying the second line on the whiteboard with an appearance that depends on the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the second drawing region wherein the step of moving the first boundary in response to the first drawing user input comprises a step of, in response to the first drawing user input reaching a first position that is within a predetermined distance from the first boundary of the first drawing region, moving the first boundary of the first drawing region in a direction away from the first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A digital whiteboard system comprising:
-
a digital whiteboard having an area; a memory; and a data processor coupled to the memory, the data processor configured to; in response to first opening user input, open a first drawing region on the whiteboard, the first drawing region having an area smaller than the full digital whiteboard area and further having a first boundary; establish a first set of line appearance properties, including two or more of brush type, brush size, and color, in effect for the first drawing region; in response to second opening user input, open a second drawing region on the whiteboard distinct from the first drawing region; establish a second set of line appearance properties, including two or more of brush type, brush size, and color, in effect for the second drawing region, the second set of line appearance properties being non-identical to the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the first drawing region; in response to first drawing user input indicating drawing of a first line within the first drawing region, display the first line on the whiteboard with an appearance that depends on the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the first drawing region; move the first boundary in response to the first drawing user input reaching a first position that is within a predetermined distance from the first boundary of the first drawing region, moving the first boundary of the first drawing region in a direction away from the first position; and in response to second drawing user input indicating drawing of a second line within the second drawing region, display the second line on the whiteboard with an appearance that depends on the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the second drawing region.
-
-
15. A digital whiteboard system comprising:
-
a wall surface having first and second distinct drawing regions; and a computer system having a database accessible thereto, wherein the database has first storage for storing an identification of first line appearance properties associated with the first drawing region, and second storage for storing an identification of second line appearance properties associated with the second drawing region wherein the first line appearance properties and the second line appearance properties each include two or more of brush type, brush size, and color. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
-
17. A method for operating a digital whiteboard having an area, comprising the steps of:
-
in response to first opening user input, opening a first drawing region on the whiteboard at a first location, wherein at the first location the first drawing region includes a first portion and a second portion of the whiteboard, the first drawing region having an area smaller than the full digital whiteboard area; establishing a first set of line appearance properties, including two or more of brush type, brush size, and color, in effect for the first drawing region; in response to second opening user input, opening a second drawing region on the whiteboard distinct from the first drawing region; establishing a second set of line appearance properties, including one or more of brush type, brush size, and color, in effect for the second drawing region, the second set of line appearance properties being non-identical to the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the first drawing region; in response to first drawing user input indicating drawing of a first line within the first drawing region, displaying the first line on the whiteboard, the first line including sections in the first and second portions of the whiteboard, with an appearance that depends on the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the first drawing region; moving the first drawing region in response to the first drawing user input to a second location, wherein at the second location the first drawing region includes a third portion of the whiteboard and does not include the first portion of the whiteboard; and in response to second drawing user input indicating drawing of a second line within the second drawing region, displaying the second line on the whiteboard with an appearance that depends on the set of line appearance properties then in effect for the second drawing region; wherein the step of moving the first drawing region in response to the first drawing user input comprises a step of, in response to the first drawing user input reaching a first position that is within a predetermined distance from a first boundary of the first drawing region, moving the first boundary of the first drawing region in a direction away from the first position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
Specification