Handwritten file names

• US 7,634,729 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Pettiross, Jeffrey W., Lerner, Matthew, Schobbe, Gerhard A., Bernstein, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUTLEDGE, AMELIA L
• Application Number:
  US10/690,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20040093568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,245 Days
• Field of Search: 715/512, 715/230, 715/256, 715/268
• US Class Current: 715/268
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/171 by use of digital ink

Abstract

Computer systems and methods allow users to receive, save, access, and/or display handwritten information as electronic ink in objects managed by an operating system and/or that are accessible by the operating system. Such systems and methods may allow the operating system to receive, save, access, and/or display electronic ink file names, author identifiers, keywords or comments, and the like. Some examples of such systems and methods include: (a) receiving electronic ink data associated with a document or file; (b) storing the electronic ink data; and (c) providing operating system access to the stored electronic ink data. Then, whenever the file name (or other information) is displayed in an object managed by the operating system, it will be displayed in electronic ink format. Additionally, aspects of the invention relate to computer-readable media including instructions stored thereon for performing the methods and operating the systems described above.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

an input system that receives a file save command;

a rendering system for rendering a file save interface in response to the input system that receives the file save command, the input system is configured to receive in electronic ink format a property value of a document or file as well as a format policy of the property value on or accessible by the computer system in the file save interface, the format policy regulates a manner of rendering for the property value with regard to machine-generated text or electronic ink;

a storage system that stores the property value and format policy of the document or file; and

an access system that allows the operating system to access the stored property value and policy,

wherein the rendering system renders the stored property value in accordance with the format policy as part of a file preview operation, the rendering system converts the property value into a machine-generated text when the format policy dictates rendering of the property value should be of a machine-generated text, the file review discloses a limited information portion of the document or file, and the property value in electronic ink format includes an electronic ink filename for the document or file.

2. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the input system is activated in response to a command from an application program requesting activation of electronic ink input with respect to at least one document or file in the application program.

3. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the input system is further configured to receive from a user a change to the property value associated with the document or file.

4. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the property value includes an electronic ink author identification.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising disclosing the file preview in accordance with the policy.

6. The method of claim 5, the file preview includes at least two functions.

7. The method of claim 6, one of the functions includes expanding the file preview into the file.

8. The method of claim 1, the format policy dictates rendering in a machine-generated text in one instance and rendering in electronic ink format in another instance.

9. The method of claim 1, the rendering system collects a user preference that is used to manipulate the format policy in at least one instance.

10. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the input system is configured to receive the property value from a touch-sensitive display or a proximity-sensitive display that receives user input by detecting a user'"'"'s finger.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving a file save command;

displaying a file save interface responsive to receiving the file save command;

receiving in electronic ink format in the file save interface a property value of a document or file on or accessible by a computer;

storing the property value of the document or file in electronic ink format for a later display on a display-interface in electronic ink format;

providing operating system access to the stored property value in electronic ink format;

obtaining a request to render the stored property value, the request originates from a user and includes an appeal for a rendering manner that comprises an appeal to render the property value in electronic ink format or an appeal to render the property value in machine-generated text;

determining a format manner upon how to render the stored property value, wherein determining the format manner includes evaluating the request to appreciate the appeal concerning how to render the stored property value; and

rendering the stored property value in accordance with the determined format manner as part of a file preview operation, the file preview operation filters information of the document or file such that a portion less than a whole of the document or less than a whole of the file is part of the file preview,

wherein the property value in electronic ink format includes an electronic filename for the document or file.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving input from an application program activating an electronic ink input system for receiving the property value in electronic ink format associated with the document or file.

13. A method according to claim 11, further including receiving from a user changes to the property value in electronic ink format associated with the document or file.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the property value in electronic ink format includes an electronic ink author identification, and an electronic ink comment.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising disclosing the file preview in accordance with the format manner.

16. The method of claim 15, the file preview includes at least two functions.

17. The method of claim 16, one of the functions includes expanding the file preview into the file or document.

18. The method of claim 11, the manner is automatically determined.

19. A method according to claim 11, wherein the property value is received from a touch-sensitive display or a proximity-sensitive display that receives user input by detecting a user'"'"'s finger.

20. A system, comprising:

means for receiving a file save command;

means for displaying a file save interface responsive to means for receiving the file save command;

means for receiving in electronic ink format in the file save interface a property value of a document or file on or accessible by a computer;

means for determining a format for retention of the electronic ink format, the format is a first format of electronic ink format or a second format of machine-generated format;

means for storing the property value of the document or file in the determined format for a later display on a display-interface in electronic ink format and retaining metadata pertaining to conversion of the format to the first format if saved in the second format or conversion of the format to the second format if saved in the first format;

means for providing operating system access to the stored property value;

means for obtaining a request to render the stored property value;

means for establishing a format upon how to render the stored property value based upon the request;

means for determining if the established format is the same as the saved format and converting the format upon a negative determination; and

means for rendering the stored property value in accordance with the determined format as part of a file preview operation, the file preview operation filters information of the document or file such that a portion less than a whole of the document or less than a whole of the file is part of a file preview, the property value in electronic ink format includes an electronic filename for the document or file.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the means for receiving in electronic ink format in the file save interface a property value is configured to receive the property value from a touch-sensitive display or a proximity-sensitive display that receives user input by detecting a user'"'"'s finger.