System and method for entry and display of blueprint data

• US 20050140677A1
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Published: 06/30/2005
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,826,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 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 system for entry and display of blueprint data comprising a handheld device, said handheld device further comprising:

a graphical user interface for providing line segment data entry fields and for displaying input line segments;

a processor and memory adapted for accepting, storing, and editing line segment data associated with said input line segments.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said input line segments are stored as a hierarchical sequence, and wherein editing, insertion, or deletion of a selected line segment translates line segments that succeed the selected line segment of said hierarchical sequence without translating line segments that precede the selected line segment in said hierarchical sequence.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said line segment data entry fields comprise a start point field, a direction field, and a length field.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said display is a touchscreen.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said a graphical user interface further provides arc data fields.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said arc data fields comprise a start point field, an end point field, and a radius field.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a keypad.

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

entering a start point for a first line segment;

entering a length for said first line segment;

entering a direction for said first line segment; and

entering and displaying said line segment on a display associated with said handheld device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising entering a repeat factor for said line segment.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

entering a start point for an arc;

entering an end point for said arc;

entering a radius for said arc; and

displaying said arc on said display.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

entering a start point for a second line segment, wherein said start point of said second line segment is an end point of said first line segment; and

entering and displaying said second line segment on said display.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

entering a start point for a third line segment, wherein said start point of said third line segment is an end point of said first line segment; and

translating said second line segment so that the start point of said second line segment coincides with an end point of said third line segment.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

entering a start point for a third line segment, wherein said start point of said third line segment is an end point of said second line segment; and

entering and displaying said third line segment on said display.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

storing said first, second, and third line segments as a hierarchical sequence, and wherein editing or deletion of said second line segment automatically translates said third line segment without translating said first line segment.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions stored therein for performing a method of entering blueprint data into a handheld device, said method comprising:

entering a start point for a first line segment;

entering a length for said first line segment;

entering a direction for said first line segment; and

entering and displaying said line segment on a display associated with said handheld device.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said method further comprises:

entering a start point for an arc;

entering an end point for said arc;

entering a radius for said arc; and

displaying said arc on said display.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said method further comprises:

entering a start point for a second line segment, wherein said start point of said second line segment is an end point of said first line segment; and

entering and displaying said second line segment on said display.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein said method further comprises:

entering a start point for a third line segment, wherein said start point of said third line segment is an end point of said first line segment; and

translating said second line segment so that the start point of said second line segment coincides with an end point of said third line segment.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein said method further comprises:

entering a start point for a third line segment, wherein said start point of said third line segment is an end point of said second line segment; and

entering and displaying said third line segment on said display.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein said method further comprises:

storing said first, second, and third line segments as a hierarchical sequence, and

wherein editing or deletion of said second line segment automatically translates said third line segment without translating said first line segment.