Dynamic Annotation Persistence for Touch Screen CAD Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAD systems lack efficient methods for dynamically annotating objects on a screen, with preview annotations being transient and not persisting after object deselection, which hinders user experience and data management.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a processor configures a display device to show preview annotations for selected objects, allowing users to change them to persistent annotations upon selection, which remain visible even after the object is deselected, enabling dynamic updating and storage of annotation data based on object characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If preview annotations are displayed for selected objects, then user interaction and annotation preview capability are improved, but annotations disappear when objects are deselected, reducing data persistence
Solution Approach 1:
The annotation system dynamically changes the state of annotations based on object selection. When an object is selected, preview annotations are displayed; when deselected, the system offers a transition option to make annotations persistent. This dynamic state management resolves the contradiction by allowing annotations to adapt their persistence based on user intent.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages annotation persistence by detecting user actions. When a user selects an annotation after object deselection, the system automatically transitions the annotation from temporary preview state to persistent state, eliminating the need for manual re-creation and preserving annotation information.
2Loss of information
If annotations remain visible after object deselection, then data management is improved, but system complexity increases due to state management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the annotation data from its temporary display context and stores it independently in a data structure. This separation allows annotations to persist without being tied to the object selection state, reducing the complexity of state management while maintaining annotation persistence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the annotation data that can exist independently from the original object context. This copied annotation data can be displayed and managed separately, allowing persistent annotations without requiring complex state tracking of the original object-annotation relationships.
3Productivity
If preview annotations are automatically created for selected objects, then annotation efficiency is improved, but user control over annotation permanence is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to users about the state of annotations and their associated objects. When an object is deselected, the system feedbacks to the user by displaying a notification or indicator that the annotation is in preview mode, allowing the user to make an informed decision about whether to make it persistent, thus maintaining user control while enabling efficient annotation creation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system (100) having a processor (102) is provided that facilitates drawing and annotation of objects on a touch screen (108,110). The processor is responsive to an object selection input (118) corresponding to a selection of an object (112) displayed at an object location (120), to display a preview type of an annotation (122) for the selected object at an annotation location (124) adjacent to the object location. Also, the processor stops displaying the annotation when an object deselection input (126) is received that corresponds to a deselection of the object prior to the annotation being changed to a persistent type. Further, when the first object is selected, the processor is responsive to an annotation selection input (128) corresponding to a selection of the annotation, to cause the annotation to change from being the preview type to being the persistent type that remains visually displayed when the object is deselected after the annotation has changed to the persistent type.