Method and apparatus for formatting paragraphs

• US 5,671,438 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Capps, Stephen P., Beernink, Ernest H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US08/485,095
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 395/144-148, 395/155, 395/161, 395/117, 395/358, 395/761, 395/804, 395/802, 345/156-184, 364/419.17, 364/419.1, 364/715.03, 382/173, 382/200, 382/181
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/189 Automatic justification

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.

Claims

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;

conducting an automatic search for a paragraph that the word can be associated with, said automatic search being conducted without receiving an explicit command to associate said word with a paragraph, and designating a paragraph to be an associated paragraph of the word if the word meets a criteria for inclusion in said associated paragraph; and

adding the word to said associated paragraph, if one was found by said automatic search.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said criteria for inclusion includes the step of determining whether said word contacts an existing paragraph on said screen.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said step of determining whether said word contacts an existing paragraph on said screen comprises the step of comparing the amount of overlap of a bounding box of said word with the bounding boxes of existing paragraphs on said screen.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of adding the word to an associated paragraph comprises the steps of:

determining whether said word overlaps an existing word of said associated paragraph; and

adding said word next to said existing word.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of adding a word to an associated paragraph comprises the steps of:

determining whether said word is aligned with an existing line of said associated paragraph; and

adding said word to said existing line if it is aligned with said existing line.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of adding a word to an associated paragraph comprises the steps of:

determining whether said word is above said associated paragraph;

forming a new first line for said associated paragraph; and

adding said word to said new first line.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of adding a word to an associated paragraph comprises the steps of:

determining whether said word is below said associated paragraph;

forming a new last line for said associated paragraph; and

adding said word to said new last line.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of adding a word to said associated paragraph comprises the step of:

repositioning text within said associated paragraph after said word is added.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of repositioning text comprises the step of:

reflowing words within said associated paragraph in accordance with a left margin and a right margin of said associated paragraph.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of repositioning text comprises the steps of:

recognizing a format type by examining a plurality of lines of said associated paragraph;

and

aligning said plurality of lines in accordance with said format type.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein said format type is selected from the group of left-justified, right-justified, and centered.

12. A method for displaying text in a pen-based computer system comprising the steps of:

entering a word comprising at least one character into a pen-based computer system by a stylus;

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.

13. A method for displaying text as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of:

reflowing a plurality of words of said associated paragraph to fit within a left margin and a right margin of said paragraph after said step of incorporating said word into said paragraph.

14. A method for displaying text as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of:

formatting a plurality of lines of said associated paragraph such that said plurality of lines are either left-justified, right-justified, or centered after said step of incorporating said word into said paragraph.

15. A method for displaying text as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of incorporating said word comprises inserting said word between two existing words of said associated paragraph.

16. A method for displaying text as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of incorporating said word comprises adding said word to an end of a line of said paragraph.

17. A method for displaying text as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of incorporating said word comprises adding a new line to said paragraph.

18. A method for displaying text as recited in claim 17 wherein said new line is added to one of the top and the bottom of said paragraph.

19. A pen-based word processing system comprising:

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; and

means for adding said word to said associated paragraph.

20. A pen-based word processing system as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

means for creating a new paragraph with said word if said word does not belong to an associated paragraph.

21. A pen-based word processing system as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

means for reflowing words of said associated paragraph between a left margin and a right margin after said word is added to said associated paragraph.

22. A pen-based word processing system as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

means for formatting a plurality of lines of said associated paragraph such that said plurality of lines are either left-justified, right-justified, or centered after said word is added to said paragraph.

23. 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;

conducting an automatic search for a existing paragraph that the word can be associated with, said automatic search being conducted without receiving an explicit command to associate said word with a paragraph, and designating a paragraph to be an associated paragraph of the word if the word meets a criteria for inclusion in said associated paragraph; and

adding the word to said associated paragraph, if one was found by said automatic search, wherein said word can be added to any position within said associated paragraph as indicated by a position of said word relative to said associated paragraph.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein adding said word includes adding said word at a position in said paragraph based on overlap of said entered word with an existing word of said paragraph.

25. A method as recited in claim 24 wherein said entered word is added to said paragraph at a position after said existing word in said paragraph when a right edge of said entered word is to the right of said overlapped word.

26. A method as recited in claim 25 wherein said entered word is added to said paragraph at a position before said existing word in said paragraph when a right edge of said entered word in said is not to the right of said overlapped word.