System and method for automatically switching between writing and text input modes
First Claim
1. In a computer system, a method comprising:
- receiving a request to select an input panel, the request received external to an executing application program;
selecting the input panel, including displaying a representation thereof;
notifying the executing application program that the input panel was selected, and in response, the application program enabling a text entry mode and having at least a first displayed area corresponding to the application program that is visible while the representation of the input panel is displayed;
receiving input data in the input panel, passing the input data to an input method, receiving text from the input method, and passing the text to the application program; and
receiving input data comprising pen events directed to the first displayed area, passing the input data to the application program, the application program handling the pen events as text editing commands while the application program has the text entry mode enabled.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. In a computer system, a method comprising:
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receiving a request to select an input panel, the request received external to an executing application program;
selecting the input panel, including displaying a representation thereof;
notifying the executing application program that the input panel was selected, and in response, the application program enabling a text entry mode and having at least a first displayed area corresponding to the application program that is visible while the representation of the input panel is displayed;
receiving input data in the input panel, passing the input data to an input method, receiving text from the input method, and passing the text to the application program; and
receiving input data comprising pen events directed to the first displayed area, passing the input data to the application program, the application program handling the pen events as text editing commands while the application program has the text entry mode enabled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a computer system, a system for providing data to a program, comprising:
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an input panel having a selected state and a deselected state;
an input method corresponding to the input panel;
an input mechanism that receives input data;
an operating system connected to an input panel manager to determine the state of the input panel and, when selected, to further determine whether received input data was directed to the input panel, the operating system and input panel manager further configured to;
1) pass the received input data to the input method when the input panel is in the selected state and the input data is directed to the input panel, receive text from the input method, and pass the text to the program;
2) pass the received input data to the program when the input panel is in the selected state and the input data is directed to an input display area of the program and not directed to the input panel, the program interpreting the input data as text editing commands for editing text; and
3) pass the received input data to the program when the input panel is in the deselected state and the input data is directed to the program, the program interpreting at least some of the input data as digital ink data. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. In a computer system, a method for providing data to a program, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an input panel having a selected state 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 such that the program interprets the received data in a pen mode, and (e) if the input panel is in the selected state and the user input data is directed to a visible text display area corresponding to the program and not to the input panel, passing the input data to the program as the received data such that the program interprets the received data in a text entry mode. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A computer implemented method, comprising:
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displaying a representation of an input panel when in a selected state;
receiving a first request to change the selected state of the input panel to a deselected state;
removing the representation of the input panel when in the deselected state;
notifying a program of the first request, and in response, the program enabling a digital ink entry mode without requiring further manual input directed to a mode change, and providing visual feedback indicative of the digital ink entry mode;
receiving a second request to change the deselected state of the input panel to the selected state;
notifying a program of the second request, and in response, the program enabling a text entry mode in which at least some input data events received outside the input panel and in a visible area that displays entered text are passed to the program and interpreted by the program as text editing events. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification