System and method for cropping and annotating images on a touch sensitive display device

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for cropping and annotating images on a touch sensitive display device or other handheld device, including the following steps: (a) displaying an image of the image file to be cropped/annotated; (b) receiving an first input from a user designating a first point in the image defining a corner of a crop/annotation rectangle; (c) receiving a second input from the user designating a second point in the image defining an opposite corner of the crop/annotation rectangle; and (d) cropping and/or annotating the image from the first point to the second point of the crop/annotation rectangle. The present invention may be used in digital cameras, Apple iPhones®, hand-held devices that inspectors may use to annotate photographs taken to substantiate statements of problems found during industrial inspections, and in other purposes.

1 . A method for cropping an image file, comprising the steps of:
 displaying an image of the image file to be cropped in a display area;   receiving a first input from a user designating a first point in the image defining a corner of a crop rectangle;   receiving a second input from the user designating a second point in the image defining an opposite corner of the crop rectangle; and   cropping the image to the crop rectangle defined by the first point and the second point to create a cropped image when the second input is released.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying on the image a location of the first point.   
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying a rectangle overlaid over the image corresponding to the crop rectangle before cropping the image.   
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein if the user does not immediately release the second input, allowing the user to drag the second point to visually edit a shape and a size of the crop rectangle. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein if the user drags the second point near an edge of a displayed portion and the image is larger than the displayed portion, then scrolling the displayed portion to show a portion of the image in a direction of the dragged point. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  1 , further comprising:
 displaying the cropped image in the display area in place of the original image.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 scaling the cropped image to fill the entire display area.   
     
     
         8 . A method of annotating an image file, comprising the steps of:
 displaying an image of the image file to be annotated in a display area;   receiving a first input from a user designating a first point in the image defining a corner of an annotation rectangle;   receiving a second input from the user designating a second point in the image defining an opposite corner of the annotation rectangle; and   annotating the image from the first point to the second point of the annotation rectangle to create an annotated image when the second input is released.   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 displaying on the image a location of the first point.   
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 displaying a shape corresponding to the annotation rectangle of the image before annotating the image.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein if the user does not immediately release the second input, allowing the user to drag the second point to visually show a shape and a size of the annotation rectangle. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein if the user drags the second point near an edge of a displayed portion and the image is larger than the displayed portion, then scrolling the displayed portion to show a portion of the image in a direction of the dragged point. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  8 , further comprising:
 displaying the annotated image in the display area in place of the original image.   
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a third input representing a type of shape and a characteristic of the shape corresponding to the annotation rectangle.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the shape is selected from the group consisting of a line, a rectangle, an ellipse, and a circle. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the characteristic of the shape is selected from the group consisting of a line type, a line width, and a line color. 
     
     
         17 . A touch-sensitive hand-held system having a capability of cropping and annotating an image file, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one or more memories, operatively coupled to the processor, and containing program code, which when executed causes the processor to execute a process comprising the steps of:
 displaying an image of the image file to be cropped or annotated in a display area; 
 receiving a first input from a user designating a first point in the image defining a corner of a crop rectangle; 
 receiving a second input from the user designating a second point in the image defining an opposite corner of the crop rectangle; 
 cropping the image from the first point to the second point of the crop rectangle when the second input is released to form a cropped image; 
 displaying the cropped image in the display area in place of the original image; 
 receiving a third input from the user designating a third point in the cropped image defining a corner of an annotation rectangle; 
 receiving a fourth input from the user designating a fourth point in the cropped image defining an opposite corner of the annotation rectangle; and 
 annotating the cropped image from the third point to the fourth point of the annotation rectangle when the fourth input is released to form an annotated cropped image. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , further containing program code, which when executed causes the processor to execute a process further comprising the step of:
 displaying on the image a location of the first point and a location of the third point.   
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , further containing program code, which when executed causes the processor to execute a process further comprising the steps of:
 displaying a rectangle overlaid over the image corresponding to the crop rectangle before cropping the image; and   displaying a shape overlaid over the image corresponding to the annotation rectangle before annotating the image.   
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein if the user does not immediately release the second input or the fourth input, allowing the user to drag the second point or the fourth point to visually show a shape and a size of the crop rectangle or the annotation rectangle. 
     
     
         21 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein if the user drags the second point or the fourth point near an edge of a displayed portion and the image is larger than the displayed portion, then scrolling the displayed portion to show a portion of the image in a direction of the dragged point. 
     
     
         22 . The system as recited in  17 , further containing program code, which when executed causes the processor to execute a process further comprising the step of:
 displaying the annotated cropped image in the display area in place of the cropped image.