Lasso select

• US 20030214536A1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jarrett, Robert J., Iwema, Marieke, Dresevic, Bodin, Jones, F. David, Rimas, Emily K., Lui, Charlton E., Bhattacharyay, Subha, Schobbe, Gerhard A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,299,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/831
• 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: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32

Abstract

A lasso select tool that allows a user to draw a flexible line of selection ink in order to select one or more graphical objects for manipulation. As the user draws this selection line, the lasso select tool continuously redraws and displays a connection line connecting one end of the selection line with the opposite end of the selection line. This connection line thus graphically demonstrates to the user the area that is presently encompassed by the resulting lasso enclosure. Further, the lasso select tool will change the appearance of any object selected with the lasso enclosure. The lasso select tool also selects objects that are only substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure. For example, the lasso select tool may select ink objects that are only 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

Claims

1. A method of selecting an object graphically represented to a user, comprising:

receiving input data from a user defining a non-linear selection line having a starting point and an end point;

forming a connection line connecting the starting point and the end point to thereby form a lasso enclosure; and

selecting each object substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

2. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting only objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

3. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting only objects that are 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

4. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting only image objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure;

selecting only electronic ink objects that are 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure; and

selecting only text box objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

5. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 1, wherein selecting each object includes identifying a number of pixels representing the object that are enclosed by the lassos enclosure.

6. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 1, wherein selecting each object includes identifying a number of data points forming the object that are enclosed by the lasso enclosure.

7. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 1, wherein the data points forming the object correspond to contact points of a stylus against a digitizer.

8. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying both the non-linear selection line and the selection line to the user.

9. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving second input from the user defining a new end point of the non-linear selection line;

forming a second connection line between the starting point and the new end point of the non-linear selection line to thereby form a second lasso enclosure;

deselecting each object selected with the first lasso enclosure; and

selecting each object substantially encompassed by the second lasso enclosure.

10. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 9, further comprising:

selecting only image objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the second lasso enclosure;

selecting only electronic ink objects that are 60% or more encompassed by the second lasso enclosure; and

selecting only text box objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

11. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 1, further comprising:

changing the appearance of each selected object.

12. The method of selecting an object graphically recited in claim 1, wherein selecting each object substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure includes:

defining a boundary for the lasso enclosure; and

for each object

defining a boundary box for the object, and

determining if the boundary box for the object intersects or is encompassed by the boundary of the lasso enclosure, and

if the object has a boundary box that intersects or is encompassed by the boundary of the lasso enclosure, determining what portion of the object is encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

13. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 12, wherein selecting each object substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure further includes:

defining a boundary box for the lasso enclosure; and

using the boundary box defined for the lasso enclosure as the boundary of the lasso enclosure.

14. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 11, wherein selecting each object substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure further includes:

determining a perimeter of the lasso enclosure; and

using the determined perimeter of the lasso enclosure as the boundary of the lasso enclosure.

15. A method of selecting a graphical object, comprising:

receiving user input defining a selection line; and

if the selection line is substantially straight, selecting each object intersected by the selection line, and

if the selection line is non-linear,

defining a connection line joining a starting point and an end point of the selection line to thereby form a lasso enclosure, and

selecting each object substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

16. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 15, further comprising:

selecting only objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

17. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 15, further comprising:

selecting only objects that are 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

18. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 15, further comprising:

selecting only image objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure;

selecting only electronic ink objects that are 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure; and

selecting only text box objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

19. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 15, further comprising:

changing the appearance of each selected object.

20. The method of selecting an object graphically recited in claim 15, wherein selecting each object substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure includes:

defining a boundary for the lasso enclosure; and

for each object

defining a boundary box for the object, and

determining if the boundary box for the object intersects or is encompassed by the boundary of the lasso enclosure, and

if the object has a boundary box that intersects or is encompassed by the boundary of the lasso enclosure, determining what portion of the object is encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

21. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 20, wherein selecting each object substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure further includes:

defining a boundary box for the lasso enclosure; and

using the boundary box defined for the lasso enclosure as the boundary of the lasso enclosure.

22. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 20, wherein selecting each object substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure further includes:

determining a perimeter of the lasso enclosure; and

using the determined perimeter of the lasso enclosure as the boundary of the lasso enclosure.

23. A method of selecting a graphical object, comprising:

forming a selection enclosure; and

selecting each object that is substantially encompassed by the selection enclosure.

24. The method of selection a graphical object recited in claim 23, further comprising:

selecting only objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the selection enclosure.

25. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 23, further comprising:

selecting only objects that are 60% or more encompassed by the selection enclosure.

26. The method of selecting an object recited in claim 23, further comprising:

selecting only image objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the selection enclosure;

selecting only electronic ink objects that are 60% or more encompassed by the selection enclosure; and

selecting only text box objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the selection enclosure.

27. A lasso select tool, comprising:

a user interface module that collects selection ink and displays a selection based upon the collected selection ink, the selection line having a starting point and an end point; and

a lasso select module that

creates a connection line between the starting point and the end point of the selection line to thereby form a lasso enclosure; and

selects each object substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

28. The lasso select tool recited in claim 27, wherein the lasso select module selects only objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

29. The lasso select tool recited in claim 27, wherein the lasso select module selects only objects that are 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

30. The lasso select tool recited in claim 27, wherein the lasso select module selects only image objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure;

only electronic ink objects that are 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure; and

only text box objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

31. The lasso select tool recited in claim 27, further comprising:

a selection line shape determining module that

determines if the selection line is approximately straight, and

provides the collected selection ink to the lasso select module only if the selection line is not approximately straight.

32. The lasso select tool recited in claim 31, further comprising:

an encounter select module that selects each object intersected by the selection line,

wherein the selection line shape determining module provides the collected selection ink to the lasso select module only if the selection line is approximately straight.

33. A method for selection graphical objects in a display area, comprising:

receiving user inputs defining a line on the display area;

using the line as an encounter select selection line while the user inputs define a substantially straight line; and

upon receiving user inputs defining a non-linear line, converting the line from the encounter select selection line to a lasso select selection line.