Lasso select

• US 7,299,424 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jarrett, Robert J., Iwema, Marieke, Dresevic, Bodin, Jones, F. David, Rimas, Emily K., Lui, Charlton E., Bhattacharyay, Subha, Schobbe, Gerhard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Ba
• Application Number:
  US10/146,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 715/859, 715/860, 715821-823, 715863-865, 715/512, 715530-531, 715/541, 715751-759, 382186-189, 382/190, 382/193, 382/194, 382/202, 382/203, 382/199
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32

Abstract

A lasso select tool that allows a user to draw a flexible line of selection ink in order to select one or more graphical objects for manipulation. As the user draws this selection line, the lasso select tool continuously redraws and displays a connection line connecting one end of the selection line with the opposite end of the selection line. This connection line thus graphically demonstrates to the user the area that is presently encompassed by the resulting lasso enclosure. Further, the lasso select tool will change the appearance of any object selected with the lasso enclosure. The lasso select tool also selects objects that are only substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure. For example, the lasso select tool may select ink objects that are only 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

Claims

1. A method of selecting an object graphically represented to a user, comprising:

graphically rendering one or more objects on a display;

receiving input data from a user defining a non-linear selection line having a starting point and an end point;

forming a linear connection line connecting the starting point and the end point to thereby form a lasso enclosure;

selecting each object substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure, such that

only image objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure are selected;

only electronic ink objects that are 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure are selected; and

only text box objects that are 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure are selected.

2. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a processor perform a method of selecting an object, comprising:

graphically rendering one or more objects on a display;

receiving input data from a user defining a non-linear line having a strating point and an end point;

forming a linear connection line connecting the starting point and the end point to form a lasso enclosure;

selecting each image object that is 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure;

selecting each electronic ink object that is 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure; and

selecting each text box object that is 80% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.