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

• US 5,694,151 A
• Filed: 04/01/1996
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• 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): LIANG, REGINA
• Application Number:
  US08/626,295
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 345/121, 345/122, 345/124, 345/125, 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 method 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, the control device having a button having a first position and a second position, the method comprising the steps of:

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

1) creating a text object from 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 value utilized to generate incremental steps between a starting point and an ending point;

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

d) 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 adjusted by the interpolation factor;

e) with the button in the second position, incrementing the interpolation factor if it has not reached a maximum value, and repeating steps c) through e);

f) if the button is in the first 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.

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

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

highlighting on the display device the selected text.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of 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.

4. 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 on the display device, the control device having a button having a first position and a second position, the device comprising:

a) a first means for creating a text object from the selected text, the first means responsive to the button being in the second position while the visible symbol is over the selected text at a 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 second position, said interpolation factor comprising a value 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 second 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 adjusted by the interpolation factor, the fourth means responding to the button being in the second 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 a 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.

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

a) a computer system including;

1) a central processing unit for executing instructions to perform a plurality of processes;

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 of the plurality of processes, said first process creating a text object from the highlighted text when the button is in the second position while the visible symbol is over the highlighted text at a source location;

c) a second process of the plurality of processes, said second process initializing an interpolation factor and incrementing the interpolation factor;

d) a third process of the plurality of processes, the 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 when the button is in the second position;

e) a fourth process of the plurality of processes, said fourth 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, said interpolation factor incremented after each move if the interpolation factor has not reached a maximum, the fourth process executed when the button is in the second position; and

f) a zooming process of the plurality of processes, said zooming process causing a 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.