Patent ID: 8161415

Claim:
A method for inputting a desired graphical object from a large plurality of predetermined graphical objects, comprising the steps of: (i) preparing said graphical objects for gesture-selection, wherein said preparation comprises the steps of: (a) assigning each of said graphical objects into one of a plurality of groups in accordance with a predetermined similarity criterion, wherein the number of said groups is much less than the number of said graphical objects; (b) associating respective base shapes to each of said groups, wherein said base shapes have a certain degree of similarity to the objects assigned to the associated group according to said similarity criterion; (c) associating in each of said groups at least one gesture to each of said graphical objects, so that within any group the associated gestures are distinguishable from each other; (d) electronically storing said assignments of said graphical objects to said groups and for each group said association of said objects to said gestures; (ii) selecting said desired graphical object comprising the steps of: (e) selecting a base shape from the plurality of base shapes by activating a region belonging to the base shape and defining thereby the group to which said desired graphical object is assigned; (f) drawing a gesture on a digitizing tablet similar to the gesture associated with said desired graphical object upon selecting the base shape, and wherein the gesture resembles actual shape of said desired graphical object or a feature thereof, wherein said drawn gesture comprises more than one stroke, and after receiving the selection of a base shape, the digitizing tablet: (a) receives a stroke; (b) waits for a next stroke for a predetermined time interval; (c) repeats steps (a) and (b) if there is a next stroke to be received within said predetermined time interval; (d) terminates the gesture-reception if no further stroke is made within said predetermined time interval; (g) electronically recognizing which of said stored gestures belonging to the defined group is most similar to said drawn gesture; (h) identifying the desired graphical object associated with said recognized gesture; and (j) generating the identified graphical object in electronic form.