Pen-based interface for a notepad computer

• US 7,032,187 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Keely, Jr., Leroy Bertrand, Young, Douglas Alan, Palay, Andrew James
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US10/011,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 715/834, 715/810, 715/808, 715/809, 715/863, 715/764, 715/765, 715/866, 715/779, 715/776, 715/835, 715/837, 715/846, 715/856, 715/862, 715/840, 345/179, 345/180, 345/182
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A notepad computer is disclosed with a page display region displaying a page of a document on which a user can write using a pen. Associated with the page is an interface useable with the pen including a core task tool region where tool icons are partially visible until the pen is brought near a tool icon. A radial menu pops up at an edge of the document where menu choices are located in a semi-circle away from the edge. A page flipping tool is also provided. A page scrolling tool is further provided that, when activated, includes an implicit button allowing scrolling in one implied direction. A stack region adjacent to the page display region has stack icons each representing a stack of documents. A typing tool is also provided overlaying a portion of the page and including a writing zone and a page zone.

Claims

1. A display, comprising:

a page display region in the display including a page of a document having an edge and a corner;

a core task tool region in the display adjacent to said page display region having tool icons partially visible in the tool region and partially obscured by the page when inactive and fully displayed in the tool region and over the page when active where bringing a pen within a predetermined distance of a tool icon activates the tool, where one of said task tools comprises a radial marking menu located at the edge of the document, having menu choices in a semi-circle away from the edge;

a page flipping tool located in the corner comprising a two-stroke menu allowing selection of a next or previous page and displaying a page menu activated by raising an input device away from the flipping tool when the flipping tool is activated;

a page scrolling tool located along the edge, the scrolling tool when activated comprising a button allowing scrolling in one direction;

a stack region in the display adjacent to said page display region having a stack icon representing a stack of documents and comprising a two-stroke radial pop-up menu having forward and backward choices for selecting documents in the stack and a stack document list display displaying a list of documents in the stack when the input device is lifted without choosing one of the choices; and

a typing tool overlaying a portion of the page and comprising a writing zone where a user handwrites strokes, a page zone comprising part of the page where typed text corresponding to the handwritten strokes is displayed as the handwriting occurs, and a movable typed text cursor indicating where a next written text will be added to the typed text.

2. A display, comprising:

a first region in the display including a page of a document having an edge;

a second region in the display adjacent to said first region having tool icons each representing a tool, where one of said tools comprises a radial marking menu located at the edge of the document and having menu, choices in a semi-circle away from the edge;

a page flipping tool comprising a two-stroke menu allowing selection of a next or previous page of the document and displaying a page menu activated by raising an input device away from the flipping tool when the flipping tool is activated;

a page scrolling tool located along the edge, the scrolling tool when activated comprising a button allowing scrolling in one direction;

a third region in the display adjacent to said page display region having a stack icon representing a stack of documents and comprising a two-stroke radial pop-up menu having forward and backward choices for selecting documents in the stack and a stack document list display displaying a list of documents in the stack; and

a typing tool overlaying a portion of the page and comprising a fourth region where input strokes are received, a fifth region comprising part of the page where typed text corresponding to the strokes is displayed, and a cursor indicating where a next written text will be added to the typed text.

3. A display, comprising:

a first region in the display including a page of a document having a corner;

a second region in the display adjacent to said first region having tool icons each representing a tool, where one of said tools comprises a radial marking menu having menu choices in a semi-circle;

a page flipping tool located in the corner and comprising a two-stroke menu allowing selection of a next or previous page of the document and displaying a page menu activated by raising an input device away from the flipping tool when the flipping tool is activated;

a page scrolling tool, the scrolling tool when activated comprising a button allowing scrolling in one direction;

a third region in the display adjacent to said page display region having a stack icon representing a stack of documents and comprising a two-stroke radial pop-up menu having forward and backward choices for selecting documents in the stack and a stack document list display displaying a list of documents in the stack; and

a typing tool overlaying a portion of the page and comprising a fourth region where input strokes are received, a fifth region comprising part of the page where typed text corresponding to the strokes is displayed, and a cursor indicating where a next written text will be added to the typed text.

4. A display, comprising:

a page of a document;

tool icons each representing a tool, where one of said tools comprises a radial marking menu having menu choices in a semi-circle;

a page flipping tool comprising a two-stroke menu allowing selection of a next or previous page of the document and displaying a page menu activated by raising an input device away from the flipping tool when the flipping tool is activated;

a page scrolling tool allowing scrolling in one direction;

a stack icon representing a stack of documents;

a two-stroke radial pop-up menu having forward and backward choices for selecting documents in the stack;

a stack document list display displaying a list of documents in the stack; and

a typing tool receiving input strokes, displaying typed text corresponding to the strokes, and indicating a location where a next written text will be added to the typed text.

5. A display, comprising:

a page of a document;

a radial marking menu having menu choices in a semi-circle;

a page flipping tool comprising a menu allowing selection of a next or previous page of the document;

a page scrolling tool allowing scrolling in one direction;

a stack icon representing a stack of documents;

a radial pop-up menu having forward and backward choices for selecting documents in the stack;

a list of documents in the stack; and

a typing tool that, responsive to receiving input strokes, displays text corresponding to the strokes.