Manipulation of Graphical Objects

• US 20130169687A1
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Williamson, John, Brown, Lorna M., Scott, James, Hodges, Stephen E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,070,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/656
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

One or more graphical objects are displayed in a fixed orientation with reference to a sensed reference direction. Manipulation is achieved by fixing the orientation or position of a displayed graphical object with reference to an apparatus, such as the display itself or a proxy device, detecting a change in orientation of that apparatus and editing the orientation of the graphical object based on the detected change.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a first object on a display at a first orientation, the first orientation set with respect to a reference direction;

displaying a second object on the display at a second orientation, the second orientation set with respect to the display;

detecting a change in orientation of the display; and

in response to detecting the change in orientation of the display;

continuing to display the first object at the first orientation, with respect to the reference direction, such that the first object appears to be stationary while the display rotates around the first object; and

displaying the second object at a third orientation, the third orientation set with respect to the display.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the reference direction is vertically downwards.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the reference direction is determined by the direction of acceleration due to gravity.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the third orientation is equal to the second orientation, with respect to the display, such that the second object appears to rotate with the display.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the third orientation is a 90 degree offset from the second orientation, with respect to the display.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein displaying the second object at the third orientation comprises rotating the second object with respect to the display in specified increments according to an auto-snap function.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein rotating the second object with respect to the display in specified increments according to an auto-snap function comprises:

determining an angle of rotation associated with the display; and

when the angle of rotation exceeds a pre-defined threshold angle, rotating the second object by the specified increment.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein:

the pre-defined threshold angle is 45 degrees; and

the specified increment is 90 degrees.

9. A system comprising:

a display comprising;

a first object having a first orientation that is set with respect to a reference direction; and

a second object having a second orientation that is set with respect to the display;

a sensor that detects changes in a physical orientation of the display; and

a processor that modifies the display such that the first object maintains the first orientation with respect to the reference direction and such that the second object is displayed having a third orientation that is set with respect to the display.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the reference direction is vertically downwards.

11. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the third orientation is equal to the second orientation, with respect to the display.

12. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the third orientation differs from the second orientation by 90 degrees.

13. A system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a memory that stores the first object and the second object displayed on the display.

14. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the system comprises a mobile device or a handheld computer.

15. A storage device storing program instructions that, when executed by a processor, direct a computing system to perform operations comprising:

displaying a first object on a display, the first object having a first orientation with respect to a reference direction;

displaying a second object on the display, the second object having a second orientation with respect to a physical structure of the display;

detecting a change in physical orientation of the display; and

in response to detecting the change in physical orientation of the display;

continuing to display the first object at the first orientation with respect to the reference direction; and

displaying the second object at a third orientation, the third orientation set with respect to the display.

16. A storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein the reference direction is vertically downwards.

17. A storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein the reference direction is determined by the direction of acceleration due to gravity.

18. A storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein the third orientation is equal to the second orientation, with respect to the display, such that the second object appears to rotate with the display.

19. A storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein the third orientation differs from the second orientation by 90 degrees.

20. A storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein displaying the second object at the third orientation comprises:

determining an angle of rotation associated with the display;

when the angle of rotation does not exceed a pre-defined threshold angle, continuing to display the second object at the second orientation with respect to the physical structure of the device; and

when the angle of rotation exceeds a pre-defined threshold angle, rotating the second object by a specified increment to the third orientation.