Layered content selection

• US 10,216,368 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2016
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Won, Sung Joon
• Primary Examiner(s): Baderman, Scott T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mrabi, Hassan
• Application Number:
  US15/350,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 715272
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure describe functionality for content selection that efficiently enables block copying of content from an executing application even when content is traditionally non-selectable in the executing application. An application may be executing, for example, on a computing device. Input may be received that triggers activation of a user interface for content selection. A layered view of the application and the user interface may be presented based on the received input. As an example, the layered view presents the user interface layered over the application. A block portion of content from the application may be selected based on a single action. Among other examples, the single action may be a non-continuous device click or a non-continuous touch input processed through the user interface. Additional action(s) for the selected block portion of content may be accessible through the user interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

executing, by a computing device, a first application that comprises content;

receiving, by the computing device, an input that triggers activation of a user interface for a content selection application;

displaying, based on the received input, a layered view that presents the user interface of the content selection application layered over the first application;

receiving, through the user interface of the content selection application, a selection of a user interface feature for identifying block portions of content within the first application, wherein each of the plurality of block portions of content is respectively identified by a bounding box;

presenting, through the content selection application, a plurality of block portions of content of the first application;

receiving, through the user interface, a single and non-continuous click action for selection of a block portion of the plurality of block portions of the content; and

in response to a receipt of the single and non-continuous click action, selecting, via the content selection application, the block portion of the content from the first application, wherein the block portion of the content comprises at least two snippets of content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the single and non-continuous click action is a device input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the single and non-continuous click action is a touch input.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, through the content selection application, a selection of a user interface feature for copying the selected block portion of the content; and

copying the selected block portion of the content based on the received selection for copying the selection block portion of the content.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, through the content selection application, a user interface selection to paste the selected block portion of the content; and

pasting the block portion of the content in another application based on the received selection to paste the selected block portion of the content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least two snippets of content are non-selectable in the first application.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, via the content selection application, source code associated with the content of the first application, and wherein the block portion of content is selected from the first application based on an analysis of the detected source code.

8. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory operatively connected with the at least one processor storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to execute a method that comprises;

executing a first application that comprises content;

receiving an input that triggers activation of a user interface for a content selection application;

displaying, based on the received input, a layered view that presents the user interface of the content selection application layered over the first application;

receiving, through the user interface of the content selection application, a selection of a user interface feature for identifying block portions of content within the first application, wherein each of the plurality of block portions of content is respectively identified by a bounding box;

presenting, through the content selection application, a plurality of block portions of content of the first application;

receiving, through the user interface, a single and non-continuous click action for selection of a block portion of the plurality of block portions of the content; and

in response to a receipt of the single and non-continuous click action, selecting, via the content selection application, the block portion of the content from the first application, wherein the block portion of the content comprises at least two snippets of content.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the single and non-continuous click action is a device input.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the single and non-continuous click action is a touch input.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the executed method further comprises:

receiving, through the content selection application, a selection of a user interface feature for copying the selected block portion of the content; and

copying the selected block portion of the content based on the received selection for copying the selection block portion of the content.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the executed method further comprises:

receiving, through the content selection application, a user interface selection to paste the selected block portion of the content; and

pasting the block portion of the content in another application based on the received selection to paste the selected block portion of the content.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein one or more of the at least two snippets of content are non-selectable in the first application.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the executed method further comprises:

detecting, via the content selection application, source code associated with the content of the first application, and wherein the block portion of content is selected from the first application based on an analysis of the detected source code.

15. A computer storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to execute a method comprising:

executing a first application that comprises content;

receiving an input that triggers activation of a user interface for a content selection application;

displaying, based on the received input, a layered view that presents the user interface of the content selection application layered over the first application;

receiving, through the user interface of the content selection application, a selection of a user interface feature for identifying block portions of content within the first application, wherein each of the plurality of block portions of content is respectively identified by a bounding box;

presenting, through the content selection application, a plurality of block portions of content of the first application;

receiving, through the user interface, a single and non-continuous click action for selection of a block portion of the plurality of block portions of the content; and

in response to a receipt of the single and non-continuous click action, selecting, via the content selection application, the block portion of the content from the first application, wherein the block portion of the content comprises at least two snippets of content.

16. The computer storage media of claim 15, wherein the single and non-continuous click action is one selected from a group consisting of:

a device input and a touch input.

17. The computer storage media of claim 15, wherein the method further comprising:

receiving, through the content selection application, a selection of a user interface feature for copying the selected block portion of the content; and

copying the selected block portion of the content based on the received selection for copying the selection block portion of the content.

18. The computer storage media of claim 17, wherein the method further comprising:

receiving, through the content selection application, a user interface selection to paste the selected block portion of the content; and

pasting the block portion of the content in another application based on the received selection to paste the selected block portion of the content.

19. The computer storage media of claim 15, wherein one or more of the at least two snippets of content are non-selectable in the first application.

20. The computer storage media of claim 15, wherein the method further comprising:

detecting, via the content selection application, source code associated with the content of the first application, and wherein the block portion of content is selected from the first application based on an analysis of the detected source code.