System and method for processing a pointer movement

#The invention relates to a system and method for real-time processing of a pointer movement provided by a pointing device. The invention further relates to a workstation and an imaging apparatus comprising said system, and a computer program product comprising instructions for causing a processor system to perform said method.

#A pointing device, such as a computer mouse, touch screen, stylus, etc., enables a user to interact with apparatuses such as computers, tablets, etc. Said interaction may involve the use of a graphical user interface, wherein a position or movement of the pointing device is represented onscreen by a pointer or cursor being positioned and/or moved accordingly. In this manner, an intuitive way of interacting with the device is provided.

#Systems and methods are known that enable users to operate a pointing device to perform processing of an image using the pointer shown onscreen. For example, the user may draw a line or curve in the image by moving the pointing device accordingly.

#These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. In the drawings,

#FIG. 1 shows a system according to the present invention, and a display;

#FIG. 2 shows a method according to the present invention;

#FIG. 1 shows a system 100 for real-time processing of a pointer movement provided by a pointing device 140. The system 100 comprises an output 130 for displaying a pointer 162 at a first position in an image 152. For that purpose, the output 130 is shown to be connected to a display 150. The display 150 may, but does not have to be part of the system 100. The output 130 is shown to provide display data 132 to the display 150 for said displaying of the pointer 162 in the image 152. The system 100 further comprises a user input 110 for obtaining pointer movement data 112 from a pointing device 140 operable by a user. The pointer movement data 112 is indicative of a pointer movement of the pointer 162 from the first position to a second position in the image 152. The pointing device 140 is shown to be a computer mouse. However, it will be appreciated that any other type of pointing device 140, such as a touch screen, gaze tracker, stylus, etc., may be advantageously used.

#The system 100 comprises a processor 120. The processor 120 is shown to be connected to the user input 110 for receiving the pointer movement data 112 from the user input 110. Moreover, the processor 120 is shown to be connected to the output 130 for providing output data 122 to the output 130. The output data 122 may, but do not have to be equal to the display data 132. The output data 122 is at least indicative of a position of the pointer. The processor 120 is arranged for (i) dampening the pointer movement by reducing the pointer movement along a direction orthogonal to a contour 160 in the image, and (ii) establishing a third position of the pointer 162 based on said dampened pointer movement.

#FIG. 2 shows a method 200 for real-time processing of a pointer movement provided by a pointing device. The method 200 comprises, in a first step titled “DISPLAY POINTER AT FIRST POSITION”, displaying 210 a pointer at a first position in an image, the image comprising a contour. The method 200 further comprises, in a second step titled “OBTAINING POINTER MOVEMENT DATA”, obtaining 220 pointer movement data from a pointing device operable by a user, the pointer movement data being indicative of a pointer movement of the pointer from the first position to a second position in the image. The method 200 further comprises, in a third step titled “DAMPENING THE POINTER MOVEMENT BASED ON THE CONTOUR”, dampening 230 the pointer movement by reducing the pointer movement along a direction orthogonal to the contour. The method 200 further comprises, in a fourth step titled “ESTABLISHING THIRD POSITION BASED ON DAMPENED MOVEMENT”, establishing 240 a third position of the pointer based on said dampened pointer movement. The method 200 may correspond to an operation of the system 100, and will be further explained in reference to the system 100. It will be appreciated, however, that the method may be performed in separation from said system.