Method and apparatus for providing visual feedback during manipulation of text on a computer screen

• US 5,561,444 A
• Filed: 08/22/1994
• Issued: 10/01/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Jenson, Scott, Johnston, Robert G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US08/294,195
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 345/122, 345/124, 345/125, 345/121, 345/127, 345/130, 345/145, 345/146, 345/157
• US Class Current: 715/860
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

A method and apparatus providing visual feedback to a computer user while dragging selected text is described. As its first step, the processing logic creates a text object from the selected text once the computer user has initiated a drag. Simultaneously, the selected text is visually de-emphasized. Secondly, the processing logic snaps the text object to the cursor so that the text object follows the cursor without obscuring text at the insertion point. Finally, when the computer user selects the final insertion point, the selected text is visually zoomed from the source location to the final insertion point.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of providing visual feedback to a computer user during manipulation of selected text on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a control device for interactively positioning a visible symbol and an insertion caret on the display device, the computer also having a signal generation device for signaling an active state and an inactive state, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) in response to an active state of the signal generation device while the visible symbol is over the selected text at a source location on said display device;

1) creating and displaying a text object of the selected text, the text object including a visible portion of the selected text that is less than all of the selected text;

2) de-emphasizing the selected text at the source location;

b) in a finite series of steps, moving the text object on the display device along a line between the source location and the visible symbol until the text object reaches the visible symbol;

c) displaying the insertion caret near the visible symbol to indicate a point of insertion of the selected text;

d) moving the visible symbol in response to the control device and moving the text object in response to movement of the visible symbol;

e) in response to an inactive state of the signal generation device while the visible symbol is over a destination location;

1) on the display device zooming from a first bounding rectangle for the selected text at the source location to a second bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the destination location such that the movement of the first bounding rectangle to the size and location of the second bounding rectangle at the destination location is animated; and

2) displaying on screen the selected text at the destination location.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) while the visible symbol is located over the selected text displaying the visible symbol on the display device as an arrow; and

b) while the visible symbol is not located over the selected block text displaying the visible symbol on the display device as an I-beam.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the text object has a maximum size.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected text is removed from the source location after the selected text is displayed at the destination location.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected text remains displayed at the source location after the selected block of text has been displayed at the destination location.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein in response to an active state of the signal generation device while the visible symbol is over the selected text at a source location on said display device, said method further comprising the step of de-emphasizing the selected text at the source location.

7. A computer implemented method of providing visual feedback to a computer user while manipulating selected text displayed on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a control device for interactively positioning a visible symbol and an insertion caret on the display device, the control device having a button having an up position and a down position, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) in response to the button being in the down position while the visible symbol is over a selected text at a source location;

1) creating a text object from the selected text, the text object including a visible portion of the selected text that is less than all of the selected text;

2) displaying on the display device the text object over the selected text at the source location;

b) initializing an interpolation factor, said interpolation factor comprising a multiplicand utilized to generate incremental steps between a starting point and an ending point;

c) incrementing the interpolation factor if it has not reached a maximum value;

d) computing a distance between the text object and a first point on the display device associated with the location of the visible symbol;

e) moving the text object along an imaginary line between the source location and the first point to a point on the display device determined by the distance multiplied by the interpolation factor;

f) with the button is in the down position repeating steps c) through e);

g) if the button is in the up position over a destination location;

1) computing a first bounding rectangle for the selected text at the source location;

2) computing a second bounding rectangle for the selected text at the destination location; and

3) zooming from the first bounding rectangle at the source location to the second bounding rectangle at the destination location such that the movement of the first bounding rectangle to the size and location of the second bounding rectangle at the destination location is animated.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) selecting the selected text at the source location from available text, displayed on the display device; and

b) highlighting on the display device the selected text.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the computer implemented step of:

a) offscreen inserting the selected text at the destination location after computing the first bounding rectangle.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the computer implemented step of:

a) performing an intelligent paste when the selected text is inserted at the destination location.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

a) displaying on the display device the selected text at the destination location after zooming from the first bounding rectangle at the source location to the second bounding rectangle at the destination location.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the selected block of text remains displayed at the source location after the selected block of text has been displayed at the destination location.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) while the visible symbol is located over the selected text displaying the visible symbol on the display device as an arrow; and

b) while the visible symbol is not located over the selected text displaying the visible symbol on the display device as an I-beam.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the text object has a maximum size.

15. The method of claim 7 further comprising the computer implemented step of:

a) removing the selected text from the source location after the selected text is displayed at the destination location.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

a) performing an intelligent cut at the source location when the selected text is removed from the source location.

17. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein in response to the button being in the down position while the visible symbol is over a selected text at a source location, said method further comprising the step of visually de-emphasizing on the display device the selected text at the source location.

18. A device for providing visual feedback to a computer user while manipulating selected text displayed on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a control device for interactively positioning a visible symbol and an insertion caret on the display device, the control device having a button having an up position and a down position, the device comprising:

a) a first means for creating a text object from the selected text, the text object including a visible portion of the selected text that is less than all of the selected text, the first means responding to the button being in the down position while the visible symbol is over the selected text at the source location;

b) a second means for initializing an interpolation factor and incrementing the interpolation factor if the interpolation factor has not reached a maximum value, the second means responding to the button being in the down position, said interpolation factor comprising a multiplicand utilized to generate incremental steps between a starting point and an ending point;

c) a third means for computing a distance between the text object and a first point on the display device associated with the visible symbol, the third means responsive to the button being in the down position;

d) a fourth means for moving the text object along an imaginary line between the source location and the first point to a point on the display device determined by the distance multiplied by the interpolation factor, the fourth means responding to the button being in the down position; and

e) a zooming means for zooming from a first bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the source location to a second bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the destination location such that the movement of the first bounding rectangle to the size and location of the second bounding rectangle at the destination location is animated.

19. The device as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a fifth means for visually de-emphasizing on the display device the selected text at the source location, the fifth means responding to the button being in the down position.

20. An apparatus providing visual feedback while manipulating highlighted text, the apparatus comprising:

a) a computer system including;

1) a central processing unit;

2) a display device for displaying images, text and the highlighted text, the display device being coupled to the central processing unit;

3) a control device for interactively positioning a visible symbol and an insertion caret on the display device, the control device having a button having an up position and a down position, the control device being coupled to the central processing unit;

b) a first process coupled to the central processing unit, the first process creating a text object from the highlighted text, the text object including a portion of the selected text that is less than all of the selected text, the first process responding to the button being in the down position while the visible symbol is over the highlighted text at a source location;

c) a second process coupled to the central processing unit, the third process initializing an interpolation factor and incrementing the interpolation factor if it has not reached a maximum value, the second process responding to the button being in the down position;

d) a third process coupled to the central processing unit, the fourth third process computing a distance between the text object and a first point on the display device associated with the location of the visual symbol, the third process responsive to the button being in the down position;

e) a fourth process coupled to the central processing unit, the fifth process moving the text object along an imaginary line between the source location and the first point to point on the display device determined by the distance multiplied by the interpolation factor, the fourth process responding to the button being in the down position; and

f) a zooming process coupled to the central processing unit, the zooming process causing the zooming from a first bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the source location to a second bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the destination location such that the movement of the first bounding rectangle to the size and location of the second bounding rectangle at the destination location is animated.

21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20, further comprising a fifth process coupled to the central processing unit, the second process visually de-emphasizing on the display device the highlighted text at the source location, the fifth process responding to the button being in the down position.