TOUCH SURFACE-SENSITIVE EDIT SYSTEM

• US 20090125848A1
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Keohane, Susann Marie, McBrearty, Gerald Francis, Shieh, Johnny Meng-Han, Mullen, Shawn Patrick, Murillo, Jessica Carol
• Application Number:
  US11/940,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125848A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided in which displayed text is manipulated using two fingers within an editing application to select a region of text or objects. In an example, two fingers are placed on a touch-sensitive display or touch pad and the region of text between the fingers is selected. The selected text can be manipulated as otherwise selected text is currently manipulated, e.g. cut, paste and copy functions can be performed. The movement of the fingers also performs this manipulation. In one example, if the fingers are brought to together, the selected text is cut, or a split screen could occur. If the fingers are placed together and then parted, the action would be to part the text to make room for a picture or other insert.

Claims

1. A method for enabling use of a touch sensitive surface of an input device to facilitate performing word processing functions on text content being presented on a display device, said method comprising:

detecting at least two points of contact being simultaneously established with said touch sensitive surface of said input device and providing input signals in response thereto; and

responding to said input signals for enabling word processing functions to be performed on said text content being presented on said display device.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said touch sensitive surface comprises a touch pad of a computer device.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said computer device is a laptop computer.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said touch sensitive surface comprises a touch sensitive display screen of an electronic device.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said electronic device is a wireless communication device.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said word processing functions include:

selecting a portion of said text content for processing; and

highlighting said selected portion of said text content on said display device.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said selecting is initiated by an establishment of two finger contact points on said touch sensitive surface of said input device.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said selected portion of said text content is modified by moving a first of said contact points on said touch sensitive surface while maintaining a second of said contact points in an initial position for said second contact point.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said moving is accomplished by sliding said first contact point on the surface of said touch sensitive surface.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said moving is accomplished by removing and re-establishing said first contact point on said touch sensitive surface while maintaining said second contact point in said initial position for said second contact point.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said word processing functions include:

cutting selected text content from said text content being presented on said display device.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said word processing functions include dividing said text content into separate portions.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said contact points are established by a placement of two fingers on said touch sensitive surface of said input device, said dividing being accomplished by simultaneously separating said fingers on said touch sensitive surface.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said word processing functions include deleting a selected portion said text content.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said contact points are established by a placement of two fingers on said touch sensitive surface of said input device, said deleting being accomplished by simultaneously moving said fingers together on said touch sensitive surface.

16. A programmed medium for enabling use of a touch sensitive surface of an input device to facilitate performing word processing functions on text content being presented on a display device, said medium being executable by a computing device for:

enabling a detecting at least two points of contact being simultaneously established with said touch sensitive surface of said input device and providing input signals in response thereto; and

enabling responding to said input signals for enabling word processing functions to be performed on said text content being presented on said display device.

17. The medium as set forth in claim 16 wherein said touch sensitive surface comprises a touch pad of said computing device.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said computing device is a laptop computer.

19. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said touch sensitive surface comprises a touch sensitive display screen of an electronic device.

20. A system for enabling use of a touch sensitive surface of an input device to facilitate performing word processing functions on text content being presented on a display device, said system including:

means for detecting at least two points of contact being simultaneously established with said touch sensitive surface of said input device and providing input signals in response thereto; and

means for responding to said input signals for enabling word processing functions to be performed on said text content being presented on said display device.