Computer-implemented method for configuring a tool with at least one pointing element on a screen

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9772770-B2
Application number	US-201414562553-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2014
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for configuring a tool with at least one pointing element on a screen comprising the steps of: pointing and activating (S 1 ) a tool with a pointing element, said tool comprising a list of customizable parameters; and without releasing the pointing element, providing (S 2 ) a first direction for selecting a customizable parameter of the list; providing (S 3 ) a second direction for customizing a selected parameter of the list; and defining (S 4 ) series of moves of the pointing element according to first and second direction for configuring the tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for configuring a tool with at least one pointing element on a screen comprising the steps of:
pointing and activating (S 1 ) a tool by performing an action on a pointing element, said tool comprising a list of customizable parameters; and
while continuing performing said action on the pointing element:
providing (S 2 ) a first direction for selecting a customizable parameter of the list;
providing (S 3 ) a second direction for customizing the selected parameter of the list; and
defining (S 4 ) series of moves of the pointing element according to first and second direction for configuring the tool.

2. A computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said first and second directions are orthogonal.

3. A computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein said first direction is vertical and said second direction is horizontal.

4. A computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said pointing element is a mouse, or a pen or a finger in case of touchscreen.

5. A computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said screen is a touch screen or a multi-touch screen.

6. A computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said parameter is thickness, opacity, hardness, or intensity of a color.

7. A computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said parameter is a parameter with a continuous intensity value.

8. A computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said parameter is a parameter with a discrete intensity value.

9. A computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the selection and customization of the parameter is displayed above the pointing element.

10. A computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the tool is automatically activated at the end of configuring.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
a computer memory system; and
computer-executable instructions embodied in the computer memory system and causing a computer system to configure a tool with at least one pointing element on a screen, including the computer executable instructions causing the computer system to:
point to and activate (S 1 ) the tool by performing an action on a pointing element, said tool comprising a list of customizable parameters; and
while continuing performing said action on the pointing element:
providing (S 2 ) a first direction for selecting a customizable parameter of the list;
providing (S 3 ) a second direction for customizing the selected parameter of the list; and
defining (S 4 ) series of moves of the pointing element according to first and second direction for configuring the tool.

12. A computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium configuring a tool with at least one pointing element on a screen; and
code means stored on the computer readable medium configuring the tool by performing an action on at least one pointing element on a screen by:
pointing to and activating (S 1 ) the tool by performing an action on a pointing element, said tool comprising a list of customizable parameters; and
while continuing performing said action on the pointing element:
providing (S 2 ) a first direction for selecting a customizable parameter of the list;
providing (S 3 ) a second direction for customizing the selected parameter of the list; and
defining (S 4 ) series of moves of the pointing element according to first and second direction for configuring the tool.

13. A computer apparatus comprising:
a graphical user interface viewable in a screen; and
a tool displayable in a screen view of the graphical user interface with at least one pointing element on the screen wherein the pointing element points to and activates the tool, and
wherein the tool comprises a list of customizable parameters, the list configured such that, while continuing performing said action on the pointing element:
a first direction for selecting a customizable parameter of the list is provided;
a second direction for customizing the selected parameter of the list is provided; and
a series of moves of the pointing element according to the provided first and second directions is defined for configuring the tool.

14. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said first and second directions are orthogonal.

15. A computer apparatus claimed in claim 14 wherein said first direction is vertical and said second direction is horizontal.

16. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said pointing element is a mouse, or a pen or a finger in case of touchscreen.

17. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said screen is a touch screen or a multi-touch screen.

18. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said parameter is thickness, opacity, hardness, or intensity of a color.

19. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said parameter is a parameter with one of:
a continuous intensity value, and
a discrete intensity value.

20. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the selection and customization of the parameter is displayed above the pointing element in screen views of the graphical user interface.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the action performed on the pointing element is at least one of a click and a hold.

22. The computer apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the action performed on the pointing element is at least one of a click and a hold.

Assignees

• Dassault Systemes

Inventors

• Letzelter Frederic
• Gunther Mathieu

Classifications

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• G06F3/04883 Primary

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title