Method and apparatus for providing visual feedback during manipulation of text on a computer screen
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method of providing visual feedback to a computer user during manipulation of selected text on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a cursor control device for interactively positioning a cursor and an insertion caret on the display device, the computer also having a signal generation device for signaling an active state and an inactive state, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
- a) in response to an active state of the signal generation device while the cursor is over the selected text at a source location on said display device;
1) creating and displaying a text object of the selected text;
2) de-emphasizing the selected text at the source location;
b) in a finite series of steps moving the text object on the display device along a line between the source location and the cursor until the text object reaches the cursor;
c) displaying the insertion caret near the cursor;
d) in response to an inactive state of the signal generation device while the cursor is over a destination location;
1) on the display device zooming from a first bounding rectangle for the selected text at the source location to a second bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the destination location; and
2) displaying on screen the selected text at the destination location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus providing visual feedback to a computer user while dragging selected text is described. As its first step, the processing logic creates a text object from the selected text once the computer user has initiated a drag. Simultaneously, the selected text is visually de-emphasized. Secondly, the processing logic snaps the text object to the cursor so that the text object follows the cursor without obscuring text at the insertion point. Finally, when the computer user selects the final insertion point, the selected text is visually zoomed from the source location to the final insertion point.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method of providing visual feedback to a computer user during manipulation of selected text on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a cursor control device for interactively positioning a cursor and an insertion caret on the display device, the computer also having a signal generation device for signaling an active state and an inactive state, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
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a) in response to an active state of the signal generation device while the cursor is over the selected text at a source location on said display device;
1) creating and displaying a text object of the selected text;
2) de-emphasizing the selected text at the source location;
b) in a finite series of steps moving the text object on the display device along a line between the source location and the cursor until the text object reaches the cursor;
c) displaying the insertion caret near the cursor;
d) in response to an inactive state of the signal generation device while the cursor is over a destination location;
1) on the display device zooming from a first bounding rectangle for the selected text at the source location to a second bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the destination location; and
2) displaying on screen the selected text at the destination location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer implemented method of providing visual feedback to a computer user while manipulating selected text displayed on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a mouse for interactively positioning a cursor and an insertion caret on the display device, the mouse having a mouse button having an up position and a down position, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
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a) in response to the mouse button being in the down position while the cursor is over a selected text at a source location;
1) creating a text object from the selected text;
2) displaying on the display device the text object over the selected text at the source location;
3) visually de-emphasizing on the display device the selected text at the source location;
b) initializing an interpolation factor;
c) incrementing the interpolation factor if it has not reached a maximum value;
d) computing a distance between the text object and a first point associated with the pointer;
e) moving the text object along an imaginary line between the source location and the first point to a point on the display device determined by the distance multiplied by the interpolation factor;
f) with the mouse button is in the down position repeating steps b) through e);
g) if the mouse button is in the up position over a destination location;
1) computing a first bounding rectangle for the selected text at the source location;
2) computing a second bounding rectangle for the selected text at the destination location; and
3) zooming from the first bounding rectangle at the source location to the second bounding rectangle at the destination location. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for providing visual feedback to a computer user while manipulating selected text displayed on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a mouse for interactively positioning a cursor and an insertion caret on the display device, the mouse having a mouse button having an up position and a down position, the device comprising:
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a) a first means for creating a text object from the selected text, the first means responding to the mouse button being in the down position while the cursor is over the selected text at the source location;
b) a second means for visually de-emphasizing on the display device the selected text at the source location, the second means responding to the mouse button being in the down position;
c) a third means for initializing an interpolation factor and incrementing the interpolation factor if the interpolation factor has not reached a maximum value, the third means responding to the mouse button being in the down position;
d) a fourth means for computing a distance between the text object and a first point associated with the pointer, the fourth means responsive to the mouse button being in the down position;
e) a fifth means for moving the text object along an imaginary line between the source location and the first point to a point on the display device determined by the distance multiplied by the interpolation factor, the fifth means responding to the mouse button being in the down position; and
f) a zooming means for zooming from a first bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the source location to a second bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the destination location.
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19. An apparatus providing visual feedback while manipulating highlighted text, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a computer system including;
1) a central processing unit;
2) a display device for displaying images, text and the highlighted text, the display device being coupled to the central processing unit;
3) a mouse for interactively positioning a cursor and an insertion caret on the display device, the mouse having a mouse button having an up position and a down position, the mouse being coupled to the central processing unit;
b) a first means coupled to the central processing unit, the first means creating a text object from the highlighted text, the first means responding to the mouse button being in the down position while the cursor is over the highlighted text at a source location;
c) a second means coupled to the central processing unit, the second means visually de-emphasizing on the display device the highlighted text at the source location, the second means responding to the mouse button being in the down position;
d) a third means coupled to the central processing unit, the third means initializing an interpolation factor and incrementing the interpolation factor if it has not reached a maximum value, the third means responding to the mouse button being in the down position;
e) a fourth means coupled to the central processing unit, the fifth mean computing a distance between the text object and a first point associated with the pointer, the fourth means responsive to the mouse button being in the down position;
f) a fifth means coupled to the central processing unit, the fifth means moving the text object along an imaginary line between the source location and the first point to a point on the display device determined by the distance multiplied by the interpolation factor, the fifth means responding to the mouse button being in the down position; and
g) a zooming means coupled to the central processing unit, the zooming means zooming from a first bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the source location to a second bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the destination location.
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Specification