METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEXT SELECTION

• US 20130290906A1
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: THORSANDER, Simon Martin
• Granted Patent: US 10,025,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method includes, detecting a location of a text selection icon on a display of an electronic device, and, detecting touch input representing a selection of text displayed on the display using the text selection icon, wherein: if the detected location of the text selection icon is maintained within a zone adjacent an edge of the display, the displayed text is selected on a row by row basis, and, if the detected location of the text selection icon moves outside said zone, the displayed text is selected on a letter by letter basis.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a location of a text selection icon on a display of an electronic device; and

,

detecting touch input representing a selection of text displayed on the display using the text selection icon;

wherein;

if the detected location of the text selection icon is maintained within a zone adjacent an edge of the display, the displayed text is selected on a row by row basis; and

,

if the detected location of the text selection icon moves outside said zone, the displayed text is selected on a letter by letter basis.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the text selection icon is a text selection cursor.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the text selection icon is a text selection handle.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising varying the width of the zone on the basis of an amount of text selected.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the touch input is a drag of the text selection icon.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the selected text is highlighted on the display.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the touch input is detected on a track pad.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the touch input is detected on a touch-sensitive display.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a display;

at least one processor configured to;

detect touch input representing a selection of text displayed on the display using the text selection icon;

wherein;

if the detected location of the text selection icon is maintained within a zone adjacent an edge of the display, the displayed text is selected on a row by row basis; and

,

if the detected location of the text selection icon moves outside said zone, the displayed text is selected on a letter by letter basis.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the text selection icon is a text selection cursor.

12. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the text selection icon is a text selection handle.

13. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is configured to vary the width of the zone on the basis of an amount of text selected.

14. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the touch input is a drag of the text selection icon.

15. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the selected text is highlighted on the display.

16. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display.

17. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the touch input is detected on a track pad.

18. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the touch input is detected on a touch-sensitive display.