SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHING BETWEEN WRITING AND TEXT INPUT MODES

• US 20020011993A1
• Filed: 01/07/1999
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: ALTMAN, DAN W., PARKER, KATHRYN L., LUI, CHARLTON E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,552,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A method and system for automatically determining when an application should switch from a writing mode to a text entry mode, and vice-versa. When a soft input panel (SIP) or input method (IM) is selected, the application is notified and enters a text entry mode. Inputting via the IM while in this mode causes a character to be sent to the application, while pen events in the application window enable text editing and the selection of text and ink data in the application widow. When the SIP is deselected, the application is notified and enters a pen (writing) mode, whereby the pen events are interpreted as digital ink strokes instead of characters. Sub-modes of the pen mode are also available, via which the pen events are used to manipulate existing ink in the application window. Visual feedback may be provided to remind the user of the current mode and/or sub-mode.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a method of passing input data to a program, comprising the steps of, receiving input data, determining the state of an input panel, and if the input panel is in a non-selected state, passing the input data to the program, and if the input panel is in a selected state, passing the input data to an input method, receiving text from the input method, and passing the text to the program.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving input data comprises the step of receiving pen events.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of receiving the pen events at the application program, and interpreting the pen events based on the state of at least one sub-mode.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the state of each sub-mode is disabled, and wherein the step of interpreting the pen events comprises the step of storing digital ink based on the pen events.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein a sub-mode is a select sub-mode in an enabled state, and wherein the step of interpreting the pen events comprises the step of selecting an area of a window of the program.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of performing at least one action on ink in the area selected.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein a sub-mode is an insert space sub-mode in an enabled state, and wherein the step of interpreting the pen events comprises the step of inserting space in a window of the program.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the input panel is in the selected state, and further comprising the steps of, determining if the input data is directed to the input panel, and if not, passing the input data to the program.

9. In a computer system, a method of changing the mode of an application program to receive text input, comprising the steps of, receiving a request to select an input panel, notifying the application program, the application enabling a text entry mode in response to the request, including displaying visual feedback indicative of the text entry mode, receiving input data in an input panel, passing the input data to an input method, receiving text from the input method, and passing the text to the application program.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of disabling a pen mode.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of displaying visual feedback indicative of the text entry mode includes the step of displaying a window of the input panel.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the input data comprises pen events, and further comprising the step of drawing a representation of a keyboard in the window of the input panel.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of displaying visual feedback indicative of the text entry mode includes the step of resizing a window of the application program.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of displaying visual feedback indicative of the text entry mode includes the step of removing horizontal lines from a window of the application program.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of enabling a text entry mode comprises the step of setting a caret in a window of the application program.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of enabling a text entry mode comprises the step of enabling a select mode, and further comprising the steps of receiving input data in an application window and passing the input data to the application program.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of interpreting the input data received in the application window to edit information displayed in the application window.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of interpreting includes the step of selecting text or ink.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of interpreting includes the step of setting a caret position.

20. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of, receiving a further request to deselect the input panel, disabling the text entry mode in response to the request, enabling a pen mode in response to the request, including displaying visual feedback indicative of the pen mode, receiving input as pen events, and passing the pen events as input data to the program.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of disabling the text entry mode includes the step of closing a window of the input panel.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of displaying visual feedback indicative of the pen mode comprises the step of removing a display of the window of the input panel.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of displaying visual feedback indicative of the pen mode includes the step of resizing a window of the application program.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of displaying visual feedback indicative of the text entry mode includes the step of drawing horizontal lines in a window of the application program.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of receiving the pen events at the application program, and interpreting the pen events based on the state of at least one sub-mode.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the state of each sub-mode is available but not entered, and wherein the step of interpreting the pen events comprises the step of storing digital ink based on the pen events.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein a sub-mode is a select sub-mode in an enabled state, and wherein the step of interpreting the pen events comprises the step of selecting an area of a window of the program.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of interpreting the pen events further comprises the step of performing an action on ink in the selected area.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein a sub-mode is an insert space sub-mode in an enabled state, and wherein the step of interpreting the pen events comprises the step of inserting space in a window of the program.

30. In a computer system, a method for providing data to a program, comprising the steps of,

(a) providing an input panel having a selected and a deselected state;

(b) receiving input data;

(c) if the input panel is in the selected state and the input data is directed to the input panel,

(1) passing the input data to an input method,

(2) receiving text from the input method, and

(3) passing the text to the program as received data;

(d) if the input panel is in the deselected state, passing the input data to the program as the received data, and

(e) if the input panel is in the selected state and the user input data is not directed to the input panel, passing the input data to the program as the received data.

31. In a computer system, a system for providing data to a program, comprising, an input panel having a selected and a deselected state, an input method corresponding to the input panel, an input mechanism for receiving user data, and an operating system connected to an input panel manager for determining the state of the input panel and whether the user data was directed to the input panel, the operating system and input panel manager passing the user data to the input method, receiving text from the input method, and passing the text to the program when the input panel is in the selected state and the user data is directed to the input panel.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the operating system passes the user data to the program when the input panel is in the deselected state.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the operating system passes the user data to the program when the user data is not directed to the input panel.