METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRECISION MEASUREMENTS ON A TOUCH SCREEN

• US 20180286014A1
• Filed: 03/27/2018
• Published: 10/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calgary Scientific Inc.
• Original Assignee: Calgary Scientific Inc.
• Inventors: Reed, Kenneth Todd, Draper, Jonathan Neil
• Granted Patent: US 10,796,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting

Abstract

A measurement method and apparatus to make precise measurements on a touch screen device, such as a mobile device. A measuring tool is provided that that measures a quantity associated with an image being displayed on the touch screen. In response to a user selection, the measuring tool may be activated. A magnified view is presented that shows a position associated with a touch of, e.g., a user'"'"'s finger so the user may fine-tune a start position of a measurement. The user'"'"'s touch may be tracked from the start position to a current position during which time a dynamically updated display of the quantity being measured is presented. An ending measurement of the quantity is displayed in accordance with a removal of the touch at an end position.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying an image on a touch screen display associated with a client computing device;

providing a measuring tool that measures a quantity associated with the image being displayed;

activating the measuring tool in response to a received selection;

displaying a magnified view of a position associated with a touch;

tracking a movement of the touch from a start position to a current position of the touch, the tracking including presenting a dynamically updated display of the quantity in accordance with the movement; and

displaying an ending measurement of quantity in accordance with a removal of the touch at an end position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the start position after the touch is associated with the start position for a predetermined period.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising fine-tuning the position associated with the touch prior to the predetermined period elapsing.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing a visual indication that the start position has been set.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising changing a color of a crosshair provided within the magnified view that is associated with the start position.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a geometric identifier that visually indicates the quantity.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising indicating the quantity as a linear measurement by displaying a line segment or as an area by displaying a two-dimensional geometric shape.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing a measurement display associated with the geometric identifier.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering the image and the magnified view at a server;

communicating the image and the magnified to the client computing device;

communicating metadata from the server to client computing device that contains information about the quantity; and

rendering the dynamically updated display of the quantity at the client computing device using the metadata.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second touch to resize the ending measurement of the quantity;

displaying a magnified view of a current position associated with the second touch;

tracking a movement of the second touch from either the start position or the end position to the current position of the second touch, the tracking including presenting a dynamically updated display of the quantity in accordance with the movement of the second touch; and

displaying a second ending measurement of quantity in accordance with a removal of the second touch at a second end position.

11-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method, comprising:

providing a measuring tool that measures a quantity associated with an image being displayed on a touch screen display associated with a client computing device;

activating the measuring tool to display a magnified view of a position associated with a touch;

tracking a movement of the touch as the touch traverses the touch screen; and

presenting a dynamically updated display of the quantity as the touch traverses the touch screen to present an ending quantity in accordance with a removal of the touch from the touch screen.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

fine-tuning the position associated with the touch prior to the predetermined period elapsing; and

providing a visual indication that a start position has been set.