Touch Panel Stroke and Click Discrimination via Event Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic blackboards face challenges in distinguishing between stroke drawing and click operations, especially during remote operations on PCs, leading to difficulties in performing click operations effectively.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a network-connected image processing apparatus and method that includes a touch-panel display with a contact sensor and a communication network, allowing for the discrimination between stroke drawing and click operations by using event distribution units and stroke processors to manage and transmit appropriate events to either the electronic blackboard or connected PCs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If stroke drawing is performed on the electronic blackboard, then drawing functionality is achieved, but the ability to perform click operations remotely on connected PCs is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the interpretation of touch inputs based on the current operational state. When in drawing mode, touch inputs are interpreted as stroke drawing. When in remote control mode, touch inputs are interpreted as click operations on the connected PC. This dynamic state-based interpretation resolves the contradiction by making the same hardware input serve different functions depending on the operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of input interpretation from static to state-dependent. By introducing operational state as a variable parameter, the system can distinguish between stroke drawing and click operations even though both involve touch inputs on the same screen. The event distribution unit uses the current operational state parameter to route touch events to appropriate handlers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electronic blackboard is used for remote operations on PCs, then remote control functionality is achieved, but stroke drawing discrimination becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the touch input processing into distinct pathways based on operational state. The event distribution unit acts as a router that segments incoming touch events into either stroke drawing events or click operations events. This segmentation allows the system to handle remote control and drawing functions simultaneously without confusion, as each event type is processed through its dedicated pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The event distribution unit serves as an intermediary between the touch panel and the processing units. It receives raw touch events and mediates their interpretation by considering the current operational state. This intermediary layer resolves the ambiguity of touch inputs by adding contextual information from the operational state, making it possible to distinguish between drawing and clicking actions even during remote operations.
3Device complexity
If a single touch panel is used for both drawing and remote control, then device simplicity is maintained, but operation discrimination becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel is designed with multi-functionality to serve both drawing and remote control operations. Rather than requiring separate input devices, the same touch panel hardware is used for both purposes. The event distribution unit enables this universality by interpreting touch inputs differently based on the current operational state, allowing one device to reliably perform multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic state management to enable the touch panel to reliably serve multiple functions. The operational state changes between drawing mode and remote control mode, and this dynamic state information is used by the event distribution unit to correctly interpret touch inputs. This dynamic approach maintains device simplicity while ensuring reliable operation discrimination.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes an event acquisition unit that acquires a pen event based on an operation on a screen; a drawing-click determining unit that determines whether the pen event is an event concerning a stroke of a dot image or concerning a click operation; and a countdown timer that starts clocking when the drawing-click determining unit receives a determination-target pen event to determine, wherein the drawing-click determining unit determines that the determination-target pen event is an event concerning a stroke of a dot image when the clocking has ended and the event acquisition unit has acquired a pen event concerning another stroke, or when an elapsed time from an end of a pen event concerning another stroke acquired prior to the determination-target pen event is within a certain period of time.