Moving an object about a display frame by combining classical mechanics of motion

• US 9,501,150 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Rodgers, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parker, Jeanette J
• Application Number:
  US13/460,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20130086516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 715/799, 345/594
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for moving objects such as a display window about a display frame by combining classical mechanics of motion. A window nudging method commences by receiving a discrete user interface gesture from a human interface device such as a mouse click or a keystroke, and based the discrete user interface gesture, instantaneously accelerating the window object to an initial velocity. Once the window is in motion, then the method applies a first movement to animate the window object using realistic motion changes. Such realistic motion changes comprise a friction model that combines sliding friction with fluid friction to determine frame-by-frame changes in velocity. The friction model that combines sliding friction with fluid friction can be applied to any object in the display frame. Collisions between one object and another object or between one object and its environment are modeled using a critically-damped spring model.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for moving window objects about a display frame, the method comprising:

displaying a first window object and a second window object in the display frame;

receiving a first gesture in a first direction and a second gesture, the first gesture and second gesture comprising signals from a human interface device;

determining environmental variables, the environmental variables comprising at least a first strength of the first gesture, a second strength of the second gesture, and mass values for the first and second window objects, wherein the mass values for the first and second window objects correspond to inertia values for movement of the first and second window objects;

selecting, by the first gesture, the first window object to be moved from among a plurality of window objects in the display frame;

applying, in response to the first gesture in the first direction, a first movement in the first direction to the first window object at least by using one or more mechanics-based force models and a plurality of mechanics-based dampening models comprising a fluid friction model and a sliding friction model, the first movement based at least in part on a first mass value of the first window object and the first strength;

selecting, by the second gesture, the second window object to be moved from among the plurality of window objects in the display frame; and

applying, in response to the second gesture, a second movement to the second window object at least by using the one or more mechanics-based force models and the one or more mechanics-based dampening models, the second movement based at least in part on a second mass value of the second window object and the second strength, wherein

the second movement is different from the first movement when the second mass value is different from the first mass value and the second strength is equal to the first strength, and

the second movement is also different from the first movement when the second mass value is equal to the first mass value and the second strength is different from the first strength.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, in response to the first gesture, a first initial speed for the first window object when the first window object remains stationary in the display frame based in part or in whole upon the first strength of the first gesture;

causing the first window object to travel at the first initial speed that is reduced by a dampening mechanics model comprising a fluid friction model and a sliding friction model;

applying a different first gesture to the first window object, the different first gesture associated with a different strength that is different from the first strength of the first gesture; and

imparting, in response to the different first gesture, a second initial speed for the first window object regardless of whether the first window object is in motion or is stationary, wherein the first initial speed and the second initial speed are identical.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a first initial location of the first window object in the display frame;

identifying a first distance between the first initial location of the first window object to a first bounce periphery;

determining a first initial speed to the first window object in response to the first gesture based at least in part upon the first distance;

imparting, by the first gesture, the first initial speed to the first window object so that the first window object selected from the plurality of window objects travels from the first initial location to a first destination location at which the first window object is dampened to a stop by one or more mechanics-based dampening models comprising a fluid friction model and a sliding friction model before the first window object reaches a first bounce periphery in the display frame;

identifying a second initial location of the second window object in the display frame;

identifying a second distance between the second initial location of the second window object to the first bounce periphery or a second bounce periphery;

determining the second initial speed to the second window object in response to the second gesture based at least in part upon the second distance; and

imparting, by the second gesture, the second initial speed to the second window object so that the second window object selected from among the plurality of window objects travels from the second initial location to a second destination location where the second window object is dampened to a stop by the one or more mechanics-based dampening models comprising a fluid friction model and a sliding friction model before the second window object reaches the first bounce periphery or a second bounce periphery in the display frame.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

imparting a first different initial speed to the first window object in response to the first gesture based in part or in whole upon the first strength;

slowing the first different initial speed of the first window object with the one or more mechanics-based dampening models over a first period of time

after the first period of time, applying a first different gesture that has a first different strength from the first strength of the first gesture to the first window object;

imparting the first different initial speed to the first window object in response to the first different gesture regardless of whether the first window object is moving;

imparting a second different initial speed to the second window object in response to the second gesture based in part or in whole upon the second strength of the second gesture;

slowing the second different initial speed of the second window object with the one or more mechanics-based dampening models over a second period of time;

after the second period of time, applying a second different gesture that has a second different strength from the second strength of the second gesture to the second window object and

imparting the second different initial speed to the second window object in response to the second different gesture regardless of whether the second window object is moving.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

identifying the first bounce periphery in the display frame for the first window object;

identifying a first distance between the first window object and the first bounce periphery based in part or in whole upon the first gesture;

identifying a first predetermined ratio for the first window object;

identifying a first predetermined distance for the first window object based upon the first distance, the first predetermined ratio, and a requirement of maintenance of context during first animation of the first window object;

identifying a size of the display frame, a first size of the first window object, and a first mass value of the first window object;

determining a first fixed-energy impulse function using the one or more mechanics-based dampening models based in part or in whole upon the first predetermined distance, the size of the display frame, the first size of the first window object, and the first mass value of the first window object;

imparting the first fixed-energy impulse value to the first window object;

imparting the first different initial speed for the first window object in response to the first fixed-energy impulse value based in part or in whole upon the first mass value of the first window object so that the first window object traverses the first predetermined distance when the first different initial speed for the first window object is reduced to zero by the one or more mechanics-based dampening models;

identifying the second bounce periphery in the display frame for the second window object;

identifying a second distance between the second window object and the first bounce periphery or the bounce periphery based in part or in whole upon the second gesture;

identifying a second predetermined ratio for the second window object;

identifying a second predetermined distance for the second window object based upon the second distance, the second predetermined ratio, and the requirement of maintenance of context during first animation of the second window object;

identifying a second size of the second window object, and a second mass value of the second window object;

determining a second fixed-energy impulse function using the one or more mechanics-based dampening models based in part or in whole upon the second predetermined distance, the size of the display frame, the second size of the first window object, and the second mass value of the second window object;

imparting the second fixed-energy impulse value to the second window object and

imparting the second different initial speed for the second window object in response to the second fixed-energy impulse value based in part or in whole upon the second mass value of the second window object so that the second window object traverses the second predetermined distance when the second different initial speed for the second window object is reduced to zero by the one or more mechanics-based dampening models.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first strength of the first gesture is derived from a discrete gesture, the first movement comprises a motion integrator and environment feedback, the first mass value of the first window object is based on content of the first window object, and the second mass value of the second window object is based on content of the second window object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first strength of the first gesture is derived from a continuous gesture.

8. A computer system for moving window objects about a display frame, the computer system comprising:

a computer processor to execute a set of program code instructions; and

a memory to hold the program code instructions, in which the program code instructions comprises program code to perform;

displaying a first window object and a second window object in the display frame;

receiving a first gesture in a first direction and a second gesture, the first gesture and second gesture comprising signals from a human interface device;

determining environmental variables, the environmental variables comprising at least a first strength of the first gesture, a second strength of the second gesture and mass values for the first and second window objects, wherein the mass values for the first and second window objects correspond to inertia values for movement of the first and second window objects;

selecting, by the first gesture, the first window object to be moved from among a plurality of window objects in the display frame;

applying, in response to the first gesture in the first direction, a first movement in the first direction to the first window object at least by using one or more mechanics-based force models and a plurality of mechanics-based dampening models comprising a fluid friction model and a sliding friction model, the first movement based at least in part on a first mass value of the first window object and the first strength;

selecting, by the second gesture, the second window object to be moved from among the plurality of window objects in the display frame; and

applying, in response to the second gesture, a second movement to the second window object at least by using the one or more mechanics-based force models and the one or more mechanics-based dampening models, the second movement based at least in part on a second mass value of the second window object and the second strength, wherein

the second movement is different from the first movement when the second mass value is different from the first mass value and the second strength is equal to the first strength, and the second movement is also different from the first movement when the second mass value is equal to the first mass value and the second strength is different from the first strength.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the first mass value of the first window object is based on content of the first window object.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the second mass value of the second window object is based on content of the second window object.

11. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the first movement comprises a motion integrator.

12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the first movement comprises environmental feedback.

13. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the first strength of the first gesture is derived from a discrete gesture.

14. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the first strength of the first gesture is derived from a continuous gesture.

15. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor causes the processor to execute a method to implement moving window objects about a display frame, the method comprising:

displaying a first window object and a second window object in the display frame;

receiving a first gesture in a first direction and a second gesture, the first gesture and second gesture comprising signals from a human interface device;

determining environmental variables, the environmental variables comprising at least a first strength of the first gesture, a second strength of the second gesture and mass values for the first and second window objects, wherein the mass values for the first and second window objects correspond to inertia values for movement of the first and second window objects;

selecting, by the first gesture, the first window object to be moved from among a plurality of window objects in the display frame;

applying, in response to the first gesture in the first direction, a first movement in the first direction to the first window object at least by using one or more mechanics-based force models and a plurality of mechanics-based dampening models comprising a fluid friction model and a sliding friction model, the first movement based at least in part on a first mass value of the first window object and the first strength;

selecting, by the second gesture, the second window object to be moved from among the plurality of window objects in the display frame; and

applying, in response to the second gesture, a second movement to the second window object at least by using the one or more mechanics-based force models and the one or more mechanics-based dampening models, the second movement based at least in part on a second mass value of the second window object and the second strength, wherein

the second movement is different from the first movement when the second mass value is different from the first mass value and the second strength is equal to the first strength, and the second movement is also different from the first movement when the second mass value is equal to the first mass value and the second strength is different from the first strength.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first mass value of the first window object is based on content of the first window object.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the second mass value of the second window object is based on content of the second window object.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first movement comprises a motion integrator.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first movement comprises environmental feedback.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first strength of the first gesture is derived from a discrete gesture.