Handwritten file names

• US 20040093568A1
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Pettiross, Jeffrey W., Lerner, Matthew, Schobbe, Gerhard A., Bernstein, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/268
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/171 by use of digital ink

Abstract

Computer systems and methods allow users to receive, save, access, and/or display handwritten information as electronic ink in objects managed by an operating system and/or that are accessible by the operating system. Such systems and methods may allow the operating system to receive, save, access, and/or display electronic ink file names, author identifiers, keywords or comments, and the like. Some examples of such systems and methods include: (a) receiving electronic ink data associated with a document or file; (b) storing the electronic ink data; and (c) providing operating system access to the stored electronic ink data. Then, whenever the file name (or other information) is displayed in an object managed by the operating system, it will be displayed in electronic ink format. Additionally, aspects of the invention relate to computer-readable media including instructions stored thereon for performing the methods and operating the systems described above.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

an input system that receives electronic ink data associated with a document or file on or accessible by the computer system;

a storage system that stores the electronic ink data associated with the document or file; and

an ink access system that allows the operating system to access at least some of the stored electronic ink data.

2. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic ink data includes an electronic ink title for the document or file.

3. A computer system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a rendering system for rendering the title in electronic ink based on the stored electronic ink data.

4. A computer system according to claim 3, wherein the title is rendered as part of a file list operation.

5. A computer system according to claim 3, wherein the title is rendered as part of a file preview operation.

6. A computer system according to claim 3, wherein the title is rendered in a title bar visible on a display of the computer system.

7. A computer system according to claim 3, wherein the title is rendered in an application bar visible on a display of the computer system.

8. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the input system is activated in response to data from an application program indicating that electronic ink input should be activated with respect to at least one document or file in the application program.

9. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the input system receives the electronic ink data as part of a save operation.

10. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the input system receives the electronic ink data when an electronic ink title is added to an existing document or file.

11. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the input system receives the electronic ink data when at least some electronic ink data associated with the document or file is changed by a user.

12. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic ink data includes at least one member selected from the group of:

an electronic ink title, an electronic ink author identification, an electronic ink keyword, and an electronic ink comment.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving electronic ink data associated with a document or file on or accessible by a computer;

storing the electronic ink data; and

providing operating system access to at least some of the stored electronic ink data.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the electronic ink data includes an electronic ink title for the document or file.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

rendering the title for the document or file in electronic ink based on the stored electronic ink data.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the title is rendered as part of a file list operation.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the title is rendered as part of a file preview operation.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the title is rendered in a title bar visible on a display of the computer.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein the title is rendered in an application bar visible on a display of the computer.

20. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

rendering information associated with the document or file as electronic ink based on the stored electronic ink data.

21. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

receiving input from an application program activating an electronic ink input system for receiving the electronic ink data associated with the document or file.

22. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

inputting the electronic ink data as part of a save operation.

23. A method according to claim 13, wherein the receiving the electronic ink data includes adding the electronic ink data as an electronic ink title to an existing document or file.

24. A method according to claim 13, wherein the receiving the electronic ink data includes receiving changes relating to at least some of the electronic ink data associated with the document or file.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the changes in the electronic ink data associated with the document or file includes changes an electronic ink title for the document or file.

26. A method according to claim 13, wherein the electronic ink data includes at least one member selected from the group of:

an electronic ink title, an electronic ink author identification, an electronic ink keyword, and an electronic ink comment.

27. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing a method, comprising:

receiving electronic ink data associated with a document or file on or accessible by a computer;

storing the electronic ink data; and

providing operating system access to at least some of the stored electronic ink data.

28. A computer-readable medium according to claim 27, wherein the electronic ink data includes an electronic ink title for the document or file.

29. A computer-readable medium according to claim 28, wherein the method further includes:

rendering the title for the document or file in electronic ink based on the stored electronic ink data.

30. A computer-readable medium according to claim 29, wherein the title is rendered as part of a file list operation.

31. A computer-readable medium according to claim 29, wherein the title is rendered as part of a file preview operation.

32. A computer-readable medium according to claim 29, wherein the title is rendered in a title bar visible on a display of the computer.

33. A computer-readable medium according to claim 29, wherein the title is rendered in an application bar visible on a display of the computer.

34. A computer-readable medium according to claim 27, wherein the method further includes:

rendering information associated with the document or file as electronic ink based on the stored electronic ink data.

35. A computer-readable medium according to claim 27, wherein the method further includes:

receiving input from an application program activating an electronic ink input system for receiving the electronic ink data associated with the document or file.

36. A computer-readable medium according to claim 27, wherein the electronic ink data is received as part of a save operation.

37. A computer-readable medium according to claim 27, wherein the receiving the electronic ink data includes adding the electronic ink data as an electronic ink title to an existing document or file.

38. A computer-readable medium according to claim 27, wherein the receiving the electronic ink data includes receiving changes relating to at least some of the electronic ink data associated with the document or file.

39. A computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the changes include changes in an electronic ink title for the object.

40. A computer-readable medium according to claim 27, wherein the electronic ink data includes at least one member selected from the group of:

an electronic ink title, an electronic ink author identification, an electronic ink keyword, and an electronic ink comment.

41. A method, comprising:

sending data from an application program to an operating system, wherein the data requests activation of an electronic ink entry region when storing information associated with a document or file on the application program;

receiving the data in the operating system; and

sending a user interface including the electronic ink entry region to the application program when the application program seeks to store information associated with a document or file.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the data is sent from the application program to the operating system as part of a call requesting return of the user interface and activation of a process for storing data associated with a document or file present on the application program.

43. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing a method, comprising:

receiving data from an application program at an operating system, wherein the data requests activation of an electronic ink entry region when storing information associated with a document or file on the application program; and

sending a user interface including the electronic ink entry region to the application program when the application program seeks to store information associated with a document or file.

44. A computer-readable medium according to claim 43, wherein the data is sent from the application program to the operating system as part of a call requesting return of the user interface and activation of a process for storing data associated with a document or file present on the application program.