Insertion point bungee space tool

• US 6,941,507 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, David F., Iwema, Marieke, Lui, Charlton E., Jarrett, Rob, Cazzanti, Susanne Alysia Clark, Keely, Leroy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Basehoar, Adam L.
• Application Number:
  US09/813,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500, 715/517, 715/518, 715/530, 715/531, 715/541, 345/179, 345/863
• US Class Current: 715/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A computer system and method for providing user feedback when creating, modifying, or editing electronic documents. An insertion point icon is placed in a document at a position for insertion and/or deletion of text, graphics, data, etc. Upon receiving an user input indicating movement, the insertion point icon is divided into two icons, one stationary at the position, and one moving with user input. When movement is complete, space contained between the icons may be deleted or inserted. The system may be used to shift handwritten text to subsequent lines on an electronic document containing handwritten text, and may be used to bring two groups of text together, deleting space in between. A connection line may be displayed between the icons to provide feedback regarding the action to be taken.

Claims

1. A method for editing documents on a computer system, comprising the steps of:

placing an insertion point icon at a first position in an electronic document;

receiving one or more user inputs indicating movement from said first position to a second position;

responsive to said one or more user inputs, displaying an origin icon at said first position, and displaying a moving icon at said second position;

displaying a connection line between said origin icon and a point on a margin of said electronic document at a third position different from said second position, wherein the first, second, and third positions are not collinear; and

moving one or more portions of said electronic document responsive to said one or more user inputs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said insertion point icon includes one or more directional indicators.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said origin icon and said moving icon include one or more directional indicators.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more of said user inputs is generated using a stylus.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying a connection line between said origin icon and said moving icon as said moving icon moves.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of moving said moving icon responsive to said one or more user inputs, and keeping said origin icon stationary while said moving icon moves.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of moving said one or more portions of said electronic document further comprises the step of inserting or deleting space between said first position and said second position.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said electronic document is a text document having a directional flow, and said moved portion of said electronic document is located downstream, in said directional flow, from said first position prior to said step of moving said one or more portions of said electronic document.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of moving said moving icon further comprises the step of terminating movement of said moving icon when said one or more user inputs attempt to move said moving icon beyond an end of said electronic document.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for carrying out the steps recited in claim 1.

11. A method for editing documents on a computer system, comprising the steps of:

placing an insertion point icon at a first position in an electronic document;

receiving one or more user inputs indicating movement from said first position to a second position;

responsive to said one or more inputs, displaying an origin icon at said first position, displaying a moving icon at second position in a text line and displaying a margin dynamic connector connecting the origin icon to a point on the margin corresponding to the text line associated with the second position; and

moving one or more portions of said electronic document responsive to said one or more user inputs.

12. The method of claim 11, further including displaying a bungee line connecting the origin icon and the moving icon.