Method and system for overloading loop selection commands in a system for selecting and arranging visible material in document images

• US 20030179235A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Saund, Eric, Bobrow, Daniel G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,086,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A graphical input and display system having a user interface for selecting object(s) to be operated on by the system includes input devices permitting a user to select and establish image object(s) received from various image input sources. A processor, connected to the system, receives requests for various image element selection operations and also accesses a memory structure. The system memory structure includes a user interaction module, which allows a user to select image elements without pre-selecting an element selection mode, as well as data memory.

Claims

1. A graphical input and display system having a user interface for selecting image objects to be operated on by the system, comprising:

user input means for selecting and establishing image objects;

image input means for entering said electronic image onto a display means;

a processor, connected for receiving requests for image element selection operations and for accessing a memory structure;

a user interaction module for selecting image elements without pre-selecting an element selection mode; and

data memory means comprising;

displayed objects data structure; and

selected objects data structure.

2. The graphical input and display system according to claim 1, wherein said user input means comprises an electronic mouse.

3. The graphical input and display system according to claim 1, wherein said user input means comprises a stylus.

4. The graphical input and display system according to claim 1, wherein said element selection mode comprises clicking or tapping on an element.

5. The graphical input and display system according to claim 1, wherein said element selection mode comprises a rectangle drag mode.

6. The graphical input and display system according to claim 1, wherein said element selection mode comprises a freeform path drag mode.

7. The graphical input and display system according to claim 1, wherein said element selection mode comprises a polygon enclosure mode.

8. A method for utilizing a user interface on a graphical input and display system having user input means, image input means, a processor, and a user interaction module for selecting image elements without pre-selecting an element selection mode for selecting objects to be operated on by the system, comprising:

receiving a user input selection;

determining the selection mode of said input selection; and

performing the selection operation.

9. The method for utilizing a user interface on a graphical input and display system for selecting image elements to be operated on by the system according to claim 8, wherein said user input selection comprises a mouse click or stylus tap event.

10. The method for utilizing a user interface on a graphical input and display system for selecting image elements to be operated on by the system according to claim 9, wherein determining the selection mode of said input selection comprises:

selecting the object if said click or tap event is performed on an image element;

initiating the path/rectangle mode if said click or tap event is not performed on said image element; and

initiating the polygon input mode if a second click or tap event is performed.

11. The method for utilizing a user interface on a graphical input and display system for selecting image elements to be operated on by the system according to claim 8, wherein said user input selection comprises a mouse or stylus drag event.

12. The method for utilizing a user interface on a graphical input and display system for selecting image elements to be operated on by the system according to claim 11, wherein determining the selection mode of said input selection comprises:

evaluating the path of said mouse or stylus drag event;

displaying a drag rectangle if said path is a clear rectangle selection gesture;

displaying a drag path if said path is a clear freeform path; and

displaying both a drag path and a drag rectangle if said path is an ambiguous selection gesture.

13. The method for utilizing a user interface on a graphical input and display system for selecting image elements to be operated on by the system according to claim 8, wherein said user input selection comprises a mouse release or stylus lift event.

14. The method for utilizing a user interface on a graphical input and display system for selecting image elements to be operated on by the system according to claim 13, wherein determining the selection mode of said input selection comprises:

evaluating the path of said mouse release or stylus lift event;

selecting the objects by a rectangle if said path is a clear rectangle selection gesture; and

selecting the objects enclosed by a freeform path if said path is a freeform path selection gesture.

15. The method for utilizing a user interface on a graphical input and display system for selecting image elements to be operated on by the system according to claim 14, further comprising highlighting the region enclosed by said rectangle or said freeform path.

16. The method for utilizing a user interface on a graphical input and display system for selecting image elements to be operated on by the system according to claim 8, wherein receiving a user input selection comprises causing all modes of a selection path to remain visible to the user as user inputs a selection path.

17. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium which, when said program code is executed by said computer causes said computer to perform method steps for selecting image elements without pre-selecting an element selection mode for selecting objects to be operated on by the system, said method steps comprising:

receiving a user input selection;

determining the selection mode of said input selection; and

performing the selection operation.

18. A memory for storing data for access by a program being executed on a computer for invoking object selection operations without pre-selecting an element selection mode for selecting objects to be operated on by the system, said memory comprising:

displayed objects data structure stored in said memory;

selected region data structure;

selection gesture data structure; and

selected objects data structure.