Freeform Encounter Selection Tool

• US 20070057930A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Iwema, Marieke, Jarrett, Robert, Jones, F., Keely, Leroy
• Granted Patent: US 8,132,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• 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

Abstract

A freeform selection tool for a computer system with a graphical user interface allows a user to draw a freeform selection path so as to select one or more graphical objects. The user is provided with the freedom to input selection ink, in any orientation, and using any desired selection path size provided by the select tool. The selecting tool may change the visual appearance of any graphical object once selected. The selecting tool provides the ability to select ink or graphical object with a particular property to be used for the selection. The selecting tool can recognize various selection gestures coordinated with a semantic relationship of the ink so that the number of selection ink strokes can be minimized. The selecting tool may change for different selection modes depending on the type of graphical object encountered and change of the context for a particular selection.

Claims

1-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A freeform selection tool for a computer system, comprising:

a user interface module for collecting points for a freeform selection path and displaying a selection of a plurality of graphical objects based upon the freeform selection path on a display surface wherein the freeform selection path comprises selection ink and the graphical objects comprises handwritten ink strokes; and

an encounter selection module for selecting the graphical objects responsive to the freeform selection path;

wherein the user interface module displays a graphical hollow appearance for the plurality of graphical objects responsive the freeform selection path for each graphical object selected by the encounter selection modules the graphical hollow appearance comprising a perimeter of the handwritten ink strokes having a dark contrast with respect to an interior of the strokes bounded by the perimeter.

46. The freeform selection tool in accordance with claim 45, in which the encounter selection module includes an ink classification mode for classify the plurality of graphical objects into a semantical ink structure.

47. The freeform selection tool in accordance with claim 45, in which the encounter selection module includes a union selection mode for a union select mode operable to select the plurality of graphical objects on said display surface with a plurality of freeform selection paths.

48. The freeform selection tool in accordance with claim 45, in which the encounter selection module includes a property detection mode for selecting a plurality of graphical objects responsive to a predetermined property value of said graphical objects.

49. The freeform selection tool in accordance with claim 46, in which the semantic ink structure is at least one of an ink word and an ink paragraph.

50. The freeform selection tool in accordance with claim 45, in which the user interface module displays a graphical handle at opposing ends of the freeform selection path.

51. A method of selecting a plurality of graphical objects in a computer system, comprising the steps of:

receiving user input for displaying a selection of the plurality graphical objects based upon a plurality of freeform selection paths being unconnected in which each selection path includes a first end and a second end, and the ends are at different locations on a display surface, and

selecting the plurality of graphical objects responsive to an encounter with the freeform selection paths, wherein the graphical objects are selected from the different freeform selection paths.

52. The method in accordance with claim 51, in which the plurality of graphical objects are ink objects and the plurality of selection paths are selection ink.

53. The method in accordance with claim 51, in which the plurality of graphical objects includes ink objects and non-ink objects and the plurality of selection paths are selection ink.

54. The method in accordance with claim 53, further including a step of classifying the ink object into a semantical structure for selection.