Definition and use of node-based points, lines and routes on touch screen devices

Abstract

A method and system are presented which will detect combinations of user touches on a touch screen device as nodes, and will create points of definition, lines, routes and corridors from these nodes. Where the device has a communications capability, the locally defined points of definition, routes and corridors can be shared with remote users and databases, and similar entities created by remote users can be viewed on a local display. The method and system are of particular benefit to navigation applications, map customization on touch screen devices, real estate management, scientific measurement, and geographic information systems.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 698,625, filed Sep. 8, 2012 by the present inventor.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH[0002]None.BACKGROUNDPrior Art[0003]The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:U.S. PATENTS[0004]Patent NumberKind CodeIssue DatePatentee0,862,382A12013 Apr. 13Stone0,093,188A12011 Apr. 21Barkai et al.0,040,684A12008 Feb. 14Crump0,181,620A12011 Jul. 28Hung0,046,881A12011 Feb. 24Karaoguz0,149,109A12010 Jun. 17Elias0,307,512A12008 Dec. 11Tandon0,178,697A12011 Jul. 21Mincey et al.8,380,366B12013 Feb. 19Schulte et al.0,022,308A12011 Jan. 27BrittonFOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS[0005]Patent NumberIssue DatePatenteeKR20090017462 (A)2009 Feb. 18Sang et al.NON-PATENT SOURCES[0006]1. Google, Google Maps for Android (HTC), version 6.8.1, 2012[0007]2. Apple iOS 6.1.3, Maps[0008]The numbers and types of touch-screen devices is rapidly increasing, and user interf...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a system where points, lines, routes, and corridors can be easily defined and manipulated. The system can also efficiently stretch and re-size these entities. Additionally, key nodes can be used to operate on composite entities made up of multiple line or route segments. The text also mentions that data can be shared between different devices, and that the system allows for planning and transmission of geometric information over a communications network. Overall, the system provides a flexible and efficient way to manage and manipulate geometrical information.

Problems solved by technology

However, with the exception of shape, area and window definition by the current author in U.S. Pat. No. 0,862,382 (Stone, 2013), no methods are node-based.

However there is no means to define multiple new geographic points, lines or routes using touches against a point on a map on a touch screen, and then to share these with selected users or use them in a mapping application such as navigation or real estate management.

The lack of a node based approach may be suitable for certain drawing applications, but presents difficulties for complex editing, conversion to other graphical entities, sharing with remote users and databases and joining of line segments to create a multi-segment line.

Currently therefore there is no method available for line definition on multi-touch enabled devices which supports complex editing, remote sharing or the explicit joining of multiple lines for use with applications such as map displays.

Therefore both nodes and routes are generally limited to existing node and route positions, and are not intended to define waypoints in the middle of nowhere.

However these operations are specific to the apparatus defined by Schulte et al., and especially the involvement of an unspecified control device which is separate to the touch screen device itself.

However the intermediate touch and tracing step which is obviously of use for calculation of distance likely to be travelled by road is not appropriate to where a minimum straight-line distance is required to be calculated.

Currently there is no means to be able to define and manage node-based points of definition, lines and routes rapidly and in a user-friendly manner using multi-touch gestures, nor to create a corridor from a line or route.

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