Systems and Methods for Providing a Toolbox

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining one or more characteristics of an object is described, the method including providing, via a graphical user interface on a mobile device, at least one tool from a virtual toolbox, the at least one tool including one or more of a roof gauge, level, ruler, flashlight, compass, and unit converter; identifying user selection of a given tool of the at least one tool; providing the given tool in response to the user selection; and determining, via the given tool, the one or more characteristics of the object. Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing the at least one tool. Methods and apparatus are disclosed for using the at least one tool.

1 . A method for determining one or more characteristics of an object, comprising:
 providing, via a graphical user interface on a mobile device, at least one tool from a virtual toolbox, the at least one tool including one or more of a roof gauge, level, ruler, flashlight, compass, and unit converter;   identifying user selection of a given tool of the at least one tool;   providing the given tool in response to the user selection; and   determining, via the given tool, the one or more characteristics of the object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is the roof gauge, the roof gauge including:
 a virtual protractor, wherein the curved periphery of the virtual protractor has a calibrated scale;   a pivot arm with a first end and a second end, wherein:
 the first end is fixed at a pivot point near the center of the virtual protractor, 
 the second end points to, and overlaps, the calibrated scale; and 
   a base line, wherein the base line is parallel to a side of the mobile device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the calibrated scale is calibrated for a roof pitch from 0/12 to at least 97/12. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the calibrated scale is calibrated to correspond to a roof pitch of 0/12 when the second end of the pivot arm points to the midpoint of the calibrated scale. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the central portion of the virtual protractor is capable of displaying the roof pitch. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further including an option to record the position of the pivot arm. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining, via the given tool, the one or more characteristics of the object, includes:
 identifying a position of the base line, the position of the base line being parallel to a slant of the roof;   positioning the second end of the pivot arm on the calibrated scale based on the position of the base line; and   determining the roof pitch based on the positioning of the second end of the pivot arm on the calibrated scale.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein identifying the position of the base line further includes identifying aligning of the base line with the slant of the roof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein identifying the position of the base line further includes:
 displaying, via a display on the mobile device, an image of a roof to be measured, overlaid with the roof gauge; and   identifying aligning of the base line with the image of the slant of the roof.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is the level, the level comprising one or more selectable bars including:
 a vertical bar to determine a vertical level;   a horizontal bar to determine a horizontal level; and   an angular bar to determine an angular level.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining, via the given tool, the one or more characteristics of the object, includes:
 displaying, via a display on the mobile device, an image of the object to be measured, overlaid with the level;   identifying a selection of a given bar of the one or more selectable bars;   identifying a position of the given bar, the position being parallel to the image of the object to be measured; and   determining the level of the object based on the position of the given bar.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is the ruler, the ruler including:
 a straight edge capable of being calibrated; and   a virtual quarter, the virtual quarter capable of being one or more of resized and repositioned.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the straight edge is calibrated when a size of the virtual quarter matches the size of a real quarter. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining, via the given tool, the one or more characteristics of the object, includes:
 identifying resizing of the virtual quarter; and   calibrating the straight edge based on the resizing of the virtual quarter.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including:
 displaying, via a display on the mobile device, an image of the object to be measured, overlaid with the ruler; and   determining a length of the object via the ruler.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is the compass, the compass including one or more directional coordinates. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the compass includes a circle capable of free rotation about its center, and the one or more directional coordinates are provided along the perimeter of the circle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the directional coordinates include icons representing one or more cardinal directions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the compass is calibrated via a predetermined motion of the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined motion is a figure-eight motion of the mobile device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining, via the given tool, the one or more characteristics of the object, includes:
 identifying a predetermined motion of the mobile device; and   calibrating the compass, in response to the predetermined motion, by aligning the compass with a frame of reference that remains stationary with respect to the earth.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further including:
 identifying, via a display on the mobile device, an image of an object;   providing the one or more directional coordinates overlaid on the object;   identifying user selection of a given directional coordinate of the one or more directional coordinates; and   associating the given directional coordinate with the object.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more characteristics of the object includes capturing an image of the object via the mobile device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the at least one tool includes:
 providing a selectable menu for the virtual toolbox;   identifying an additional user selection of the selectable menu for the virtual toolbox; and   providing, in response to the additional user selection, the at least one tool from the virtual toolbox.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , further including storing the one or more characteristics of the object in a database. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the database is external to the mobile device. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , further including providing the one or more characteristics of the object to a user. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the one or more characteristics includes providing the one or more characteristics via one or more of an electronic mail and a text message. 
     
     
         29 . A method of using a roof gauge to determine a roof pitch, comprising:
 calibrating the roof gauge, the roof gauge configured on a mobile device, and including:
 a virtual protractor, wherein the curved periphery of the virtual protractor has a calibrated scale, 
 a pivot arm with a first end and a second end, wherein: 
 the first end is fixed at a pivot point near the center of the virtual protractor, 
 the second end points to, and overlaps, the calibrated scale, and a base line, wherein the base line is parallel to a side of the mobile device; 
   aligning the base line with a slant of a roof;   indicating to the mobile device that the base line is aligned with the slant of the roof; and   saving the roof pitch in a database.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein aligning the base line with the slant of the roof includes placing the mobile device on the roof. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein aligning the base line with the slant of the roof includes:
 viewing, via a display on the mobile device, an image of the roof to be measured, overlaid with the roof gauge; and   aligning the base line of the roof gauge with the image of the slant of the roof.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein calibrating the roof gauge includes:
 placing the mobile device on a flat surface; and   indicating to the mobile device that the roof gauge is ready for calibration.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising electronically sharing the roof pitch with one or more users. 
     
     
         34 . A method of using a level, comprising:
 calibrating the level, the level configured on a mobile device, comprising one or more selectable bars, the level including:
 a vertical bar to determine a vertical level, 
 a horizontal bar to determine a horizontal level, and 
 an angular bar to determine an angular level; 
   viewing, via a display on the mobile device, an image of an object to be measured, overlaid with the level;   selecting a given bar of the one or more selectable bars;   aligning the image of the object to be measured with the given bar;   indicating to the mobile device that the given bar is aligned with the image of the object to be measured; and   saving the level of the object in a database.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein calibrating the level includes:
 placing the mobile device on a flat surface; and   indicating to the mobile device that the level is ready for calibration.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising electronically sharing the level of the object with one or more users. 
     
     
         37 . A method of using a compass, comprising:
 calibrating the compass, the compass including one or more directional coordinates;   viewing, via a display on the mobile device, an image of an object to be marked, overlaid with the one or more directional coordinates;   selecting a given directional coordinate of the one or more directional coordinates; and   saving the given directional coordinate of the object in a database.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein calibrating the compass includes moving the mobile device in a predetermined motion. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the predetermined motion is a figure-eight motion of the mobile device, the predetermined motion performed three full times. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising electronically sharing the given directional coordinate of the object with one or more users. 
     
     
         41 . A method of using a ruler, comprising:
 calibrating the ruler, the ruler including:
 a straight edge capable of being calibrated, and 
 a virtual quarter, the virtual quarter capable of being one or more of resized and repositioned; 
   viewing, via a display on the mobile device, an image of an object to be measured, overlaid with the ruler; and   measuring a length of the object with the straight edge.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein calibrating the ruler includes:
 placing a real quarter over the display of the mobile device; and   resizing the virtual quarter so as to match the size of the real quarter.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising electronically sharing the length of the object with one or more users. 
     
     
         44 . A system including memory and one or more processors operable to execute instructions stored in the memory, comprising instructions to:
 provide, via a graphical user interface on a mobile device, at least one tool from a virtual toolbox, the at least one tool including one or more of a roof gauge, level, ruler, flashlight, compass, and unit converter;   identify user selection of a given tool of the at least one tool;   provide the given tool in response to the user selection; and   determine, via the given tool, the one or more characteristics of the object.   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the tool is the roof gauge, the roof gauge including:
 a virtual protractor, wherein the curved periphery of the virtual protractor has a calibrated scale;   a pivot arm with a first end and a second end, wherein:
 the first end is fixed at a pivot point near the center of the virtual protractor, 
 the second end points to, and overlaps, the calibrated scale; and 
   a base line, wherein the base line is parallel to a side of the mobile device.   
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the instructions to determine, via the given tool, the one or more characteristics of the object, include instructions to:
 identify a position of the base line, the position of the base line being parallel to a slant of the roof;   position the second end of the pivot arm on the calibrated scale based on the position of the base line; and   determine the roof pitch based on the position of the second end of the pivot arm on the calibrated scale.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the instructions to identify the position of the base line further include instructions to identify aligning of the base line with the slant of the roof. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein instructions to identify the position of the base line further include instructions to:
 display, via a display on the mobile device, an image of a roof to be measured, overlaid with the roof gauge; and   identify aligning of the base line with the image of the slant of the roof.   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the tool is the level, the level comprising one or more selectable bars including:
 a vertical bar to determine a vertical level;   a horizontal bar to determine a horizontal level; and   an angular bar to determine an angular level.   
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the instructions to determine, via the given tool, the one or more characteristics of the object, include instructions to:
 display, via a display on the mobile device, an image of the object to be measured, overlaid with the level;   identify a selection of a given bar of the one or more selectable bars;   identify a position of the given bar, the position being parallel to the image of the object to be measured; and   determine the level of the object based on the position of the given bar.   
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the tool is the ruler, the ruler including:
 a straight edge capable of being calibrated; and   a virtual quarter, the virtual quarter capable of being one or more of resized and repositioned.   
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the straight edge is calibrated when a size of the virtual quarter matches the size of a real quarter. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the instructions to determine, via the given tool, the one or more characteristics of the object, include instructions to:
 identify resizing of the virtual quarter; and   calibrate the straight edge based on the resizing of the virtual quarter.   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , further including instructions to:
 display, via a display on the mobile device, an image of the object to be measured, overlaid with the ruler; and   determine a length of the object via the ruler.   
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the tool is the compass, the compass including one or more directional coordinates. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the compass includes a circle capable of free rotation about its center, and the one or more directional coordinates are provided along the perimeter of the circle. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the directional coordinates include icons representing one or more cardinal directions. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the compass is calibrated via a predetermined motion of the mobile device. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the predetermined motion is a figure-eight motion of the mobile device. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the instructions to determine, via the given tool, the one or more characteristics of the object, include instructions to:
 identify a predetermined motion of the mobile device; and   calibrate the compass, in response to the predetermined motion, by aligning the compass with a frame of reference that remains stationary with respect to the earth.   
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , further including instructions to:
 identify, via a display on the mobile device, an image of an object;   provide the one or more directional coordinates overlaid on the object;   identify user selection of a given directional coordinate of the one or more directional coordinates; and   associate the given directional coordinate with the object.