Method for handling objects representing annotations on an interactive input system and interactive input system executing the method

Abstract

An interactive input system, method and computer readable medium for handling objects representing annotations on an interactive input system are disclosed. The method includes creating an annotation on the interactive input system, associating the annotation with a temporary grouping region, and in the event that a threshold amount of time passes before a further annotation is created within a threshold distance of the temporary grouping region, disabling the temporary grouping region to thereafter prevent automatic grouping with the annotation of any further annotation.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 creating a first annotation in response to tool interaction with an input surface;   associating the first annotation with a temporary grouping region; and   in the event of a tool change, disabling association of a further annotation created in response to tool interaction with the input surface with the temporary grouping region to inhibit automatic grouping of the further annotation with the first annotation.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein when no tool change occurs, the method further comprises:
 creating a further annotation in response to tool interaction with the input surface; and   associating the further annotation with the temporary grouping region.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein when the tool change occurs, the method further comprises:
 associating the further annotation with a further temporary grouping region.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the tool change is determined to have occurred when an identifier of an input stream generated in response to creation of the first annotation is different than an identifier of an input stream generated in response to creation of the further annotation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the identifier of each input stream is associated with one of a particular user and a particular tool. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the identifier of each input stream is associated with a particular tool and wherein the particular tool is one of a pen tool, a pointer, a mouse, a highlighter, a cylinder, a finger and a hand. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the further annotation is a threshold distance from the first annotation and/or was created after expiry of a threshold period of time following creation of the first annotation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the further temporary grouping region is a bounding rectangle encompassing at least the further annotation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein when the tool change occurs, the method further comprises:
 associating the further annotation with a further temporary grouping region.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the temporary grouping region is created in response to creation of the first annotation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising manually grouping the further annotation with the first annotation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the further annotation is a threshold distance from the first annotation and/or was created after expiry of a threshold period of time following creation of the first annotation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the temporary grouping region is a bounding rectangle encompassing at least the first annotation. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 an interactive surface;   memory storing executable instructions; and   a processing unit communicating with said interactive surface and said memory, said processing unit being configured to, upon execution of said executable instructions, cause said apparatus at least to:
 create a first annotation in response to tool interaction with said interactive surface; 
 associate the first annotation with a temporary grouping region; and 
 in the event of a tool change, disable association of a further annotation created in response to tool interaction with the interactive surface with the temporary grouping region to inhibit automatic grouping of the further annotation with the first annotation 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to, upon execution of said executable instructions and when no tool change occurs, cause the apparatus to:
 create a further annotation in response to tool interaction with the interactive surface; and   associate the further annotation with the temporary grouping region.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to, upon execution of said executable instructions and when the tool change occurs, cause the apparatus to:
 associate the further annotation with a further temporary grouping region.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the processing unit is configured to, upon execution of said executable instructions, determine the occurrence of a tool change when an identifier of an input stream generated in response to creation of the first annotation is different than an identifier of an input stream generated in response to creation of the further annotation. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the identifier of each input stream is associated with one of a particular user and a particular tool. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the identifier of each input stream is associated with a particular tool and wherein the particular tool is one of a pen tool, a pointer, a mouse, a highlighter, a cylinder, a finger and a hand. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the further annotation is a threshold distance from the first annotation and/or was created after expiry of a threshold period of time following creation of the first annotation. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the temporary grouping region is a bounding rectangle encompassing at least the first annotation. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is configured to, upon execution of said executable instructions, create the temporary grouping region in response to creation of the first annotation. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is configured to, in response to user input, group the further annotation with the first annotation. 
     
     
         25 . A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program for execution by a processing unit, the computer program comprising:
 computer program code for creating a first annotation in response to tool interaction with an input surface;   computer program code for associating the first annotation with a temporary grouping region; and   computer program code for, in the event of a tool change, disabling association of a further annotation created in response to tool interaction with the input surface with the temporary grouping region to prevent automatic grouping of the further annotation with the first annotation.