Tapping to create writing

• US 7,358,965 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Simmons, Alex J., Urata, Kentaro, Barabe, Benoit
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US10/782,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 382181-189, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 715/541
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for tapping to create document structure, such as writing. A tapping gesture received from the user is interpreted by a writing application to indicate that the user is about to write in a certain location on the page. While in pen mode, the user taps the pen, the gesture recognizer tells the writing application that a “tap” has occurred, and the writing application creates a new paragraph with an active writing guide attached to it at that location. A tap below text creates a new paragraph. The new paragraph may be located at any available indent level depending on the location of the tap. The tapping gesture may also be used for clearing or moving selections.

Claims

1. A method for indicating writing on a screen, comprising:

receiving a gesture from a user;

determining whether the gesture is a tap; and

when the gesture is a tap;

determining a location on the screen associated with the tap;

classifying the tap as a non-tap when there is content at the location on the screen that is associated with the tap;

determining whether the location on the screen is without content; and

when the location on the screen is without content;

determining that the tap indicates to create a document structure on the screen; and

inserting a handwriting guide based on the location of the screen that is associated with the tap.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the tap indicates to create the document structure on the screen further comprises determining that the tap indicates to create a drawing on the screen.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising creating a first level of writing approximately at the location of the tap when the tap indicates writing on the screen.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the gesture is the tap, further comprises determining a speed and a dimension associated with the gesture.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising creating a second level of writing when the tap location is within a predetermined distance of the first level of writing.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising calculating an indent distance based on the tap location relative to a location of the start of the first level of writing.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising indenting the second level of writing when the tap location is near the indent distance.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising indenting the second level when the tap location is approximately near a predetermined indent level.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for determining writing on a screen, the instructions comprising:

receiving a gesture;

determining a location on the screen associated with the gesture;

classifying the gesture as a non-tap when there is content at the location on the screen that is associated with the tap;

determining whether the location on the screen is without content when the gesture is a tap; and

when the location on the screen is without content;

determining tat the tap indicates to create a document structure on the screen; and

starting a new line of text near the location of the screen that is associated with the tap.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining that the tap indicates to create the document structure further comprises determining that the tap indicates to create writing on the screen.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising creating a first level of writing approximately at the location of the tap when the tap indicates writing on the screen.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising determining whether the gesture is the tap by determining a speed and a dimension associated with the gesture.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising creating a second level of writing when the tap location is within a predetermined distance of the first level of writing.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising calculating an indent distance based on the tap location relative to a location of the start of the first level of writing.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising indenting a second level of writing when the tap location is near the indent distance and below the first level of writing.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising indenting the second level when the tap location is approximately near a predetermined indent level.

17. A system for determining writing on a screen, comprising:

a screen configured to receive pen input;

a gesture recognizer configured to receive a gesture and determine when the gesture is a tap; and

an application configured to perform actions, including;

receiving the tap from the gesture recognizer;

determining a location on the screen associated with the tap;

classify the tap as a non-tap when there is content at the location on the screen that is associated with the tap;

determining whether the location on the screen is without content; and

when the location on the screen is without content;

determining that the tap indicates to create a document structure on the screen; and

placing a writing guide near the location on the screen that is associated with the tap.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein determining that the tap indicates to create the document structure on the screen further comprises determining that the tap indicates to create writing on the screen.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising creating a first level of writing approximately at the location of the tap when the tap indicates writing on the screen.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the gesture recognizer is further configured to determine whether the gesture is the tap by determining a speed and a dimension associated with the gesture.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising creating a second level of writing when the tap location is within a predetermined distance of the first level of writing.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising calculating an indent distance based on the tap location relative to a location of the start of the first level of writing.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising indenting a second level of writing when the tap location is near the indent distance and below the first level of writing.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising indenting the second level when the tap locution is approximately near a predetermined indent level.