Method and apparatus for formatting paragraphs
First Claim
1. A method for formatting paragraphs on a screen of a computer system comprising the steps of:
- entering a word on a screen of a computer system using a pointing device of said computer system;
automatically finding an associated paragraph, if any, that the word is to be associated with, wherein said associated paragraph is automatically found without receiving an explicit command to associate said word with said paragraph;
automatically adding the word to said associated paragraph, if one exists, wherein said word is automatically added to said paragraph without receiving an explicit command to add said word; and
starting a new paragraph with said word if no associated paragraph exists.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for formatting paragraphs on a screen of a computer system including the steps of: a) entering a word on a screen of a computer system using a pointing mechanism; b) finding an associated paragraph, if any, that the word is to be associated with; c) adding the word to the associated paragraph, if one exists; and d) starting a new paragraph with the word if there is not a closely related exiting paragraph. A newly-entered word can be added to an associated paragraph in basically four ways. The word can be added in a new line at the top of the paragraph, in a new line at the bottom of the paragraph, at the end of an existing line, or between words of an existing line. After a word has been entered, the text within the paragraph is repositioned as desired by the user, either implicitly or through an explicit command. For example, the words within a paragraph can be caused to "reflow" so that they are aligned between the left and right margins of the paragraph. Alternatively, the words within the paragraph can be centered or right-justified.
43 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for formatting paragraphs on a screen of a computer system comprising the steps of:
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entering a word on a screen of a computer system using a pointing device of said computer system; automatically finding an associated paragraph, if any, that the word is to be associated with, wherein said associated paragraph is automatically found without receiving an explicit command to associate said word with said paragraph; automatically adding the word to said associated paragraph, if one exists, wherein said word is automatically added to said paragraph without receiving an explicit command to add said word; and starting a new paragraph with said word if no associated paragraph exists. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for displaying text in a pen-based computer system comprising the steps of:
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entering a word comprising at least one character into a pen-based computer system by a stylus means; displaying said word on a screen of said computer system; automatically incorporating said word into an associated paragraph if said word is contacting or is closely proximate said associated paragraph, wherein said word is incorporated into said paragraph without receiving an explicit command to incorporate said word; and creating a new paragraph with said word if said word is not contacting or closely proximate to said paragraph. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A pen-based word processing system comprising:
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a CPU; screen means coupled to said CPU; tablet means coupled to said CPU for receiving at least one stroke from a stylus means; means for displaying said at least one stroke from said stylus on said screen means; means for interpreting said at least one stroke as a word comprising at least one character; means for determining whether said word belongs with an associated paragraph displayed on said screen means without receiving an explicit command from a user to associate said word with said paragraph; and means for adding said word to said associated paragraph. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for formatting paragraphs on a screen of a computer system comprising the steps of:
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entering a word on a screen of a computer system using a pointing device of said computer system; automatically finding an associated paragraph, if any, that the word is to be associated with, wherein said associated paragraph is automatically found without receiving an explicit command to associate said word with said paragraph, said associated paragraph being found by determining whether said word contacts an existing paragraph on said screen by comparing the amount of overlap of a bounding box of said word with the bounding boxes of existing paragraphs on said screen; automatically adding the word to said associated paragraph, if one exists, wherein said word is automatically added to said paragraph without receiving an explicit command to add said word, wherein text within said associated paragraph is repositioned after said word is added, including reflowing words within said associated paragraph in accordance with a left margin and a right margin of said associated paragraph; and starting a new paragraph with said word when no associated paragraph exists, wherein said steps of finding an associated paragraph, adding a word, and starting a new paragraph are performed by a computer system. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification