Systems and Methods for Providing a Toolbox

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.