Ink Effects for Digital Authoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of electronic authoring environments face inefficiencies in applying multiple shape and color effects to ink input, requiring the creation of multiple objects and increasing system resource usage.
Innovation Solution
The system allows users to apply variable graphical effects to ink input objects without creating multiple objects, using effect definitions that can be anchored, tiled, or stretched to match the size of the ink input object, and include multiple effects in layers, reducing memory and processing requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate ink objects are created to apply different shape and color effects, then the ability to apply multiple effects is improved, but the device complexity and memory usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate ink objects into a single ink object by introducing a parent-child relationship structure. The parent ink object contains multiple child ink objects, each representing different effects (shape, color, texture). This merging approach allows multiple effects to be applied to one unified object rather than requiring multiple separate objects, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to apply multiple effects.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate ink objects are created to apply different shape and color effects, then the ability to apply multiple effects is improved, but the memory and processing resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple ink objects into a single parent object with child effect objects, reducing the total number of objects stored in memory. Instead of maintaining separate memory allocations for multiple independent ink objects, the system now maintains one parent object and multiple lightweight child effect definitions, significantly reducing memory and processing resource requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The parent ink object is designed to be universal and multi-functional, capable of holding and managing multiple different types of effects (shape, color, texture, pattern) within a single object structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized objects, each designed for a single effect type, thereby reducing the overall quantity of objects and resources required.
3Ease of operation
If basic shape and color effects are provided for ink input, then the ease of operation is improved, but the adaptability and versatility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the effect application process into two distinct layers: a simple parent ink object that the user directly manipulates, and child effect objects that define specific visual properties. This segmentation allows users to interact with a single simple object while the system automatically manages multiple effect layers, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving high adaptability and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where child effect objects (shape, color, texture) are contained within the parent ink object. This nesting allows the parent object to maintain simplicity for user interaction while encapsulating multiple complex effect definitions internally. The nested structure enables advanced versatility without exposing complexity to the user, thus preserving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Document authoring that involves illustrating pen input in an authoring environment is herein improved to provide greater control of colors and patterns for representing the pen input in a graphical user interface. Colors and patterns are provided as effects that are applied to the illustrated pen input so that multiple textures or colors may be applied to the illustrated pen input without requiring the user to manually signal a switch in texture or colors or using multiple objects to represent the pen input. In various aspects, effects may be layered on top of each other, and the effects may be stretched or tiled depending on the size of the illustrated pen input.