Lasso select

• US 20050198590A1
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• 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 7,890,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• 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 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.

2. The lasso select tool recited in claim 1, wherein the lasso select module selects only objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

3. The lasso select tool recited in claim 1, wherein the lasso select module selects only objects that are 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

4. The lasso select tool recited in claim 1, 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.

5. The lasso select tool recited in claim 1, 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.

6. The lasso select tool recited in claim 5, 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.

7. 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.

8. The method recited in claim 7, further comprising:

upon converting the line from the encounter select selection line to the lasso select selection line, deselecting any object selected by the encounter selection line.

9. The method recited in claim 7, further comprising:

upon converting the line from the encounter select selection line to the lasso select selection line, forming a connection line between a starting point and an end point of the lasso select selection to thereby form a lasso enclosure.

10. The method recited in claim 9, further comprising selecting each object substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

11. The method recited in claim 10, further comprising selecting only objects that are 60% encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

12. The method recited in claim 10, further comprising selecting only objects that are 80% encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

13. The method recited in claim 10, further comprising:

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

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

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