User interfaces and methods to create electronic documents with forms implementing content input fields

• US 8,448,061 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Linburn, Carol
• Primary Examiner(s): STORK, KYLE R
• Application Number:
  US11/731,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20130124961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,244 Days
• Field of Search: 715/221, 715/222, 715/223, 715/224, 715/225, 715/226, 715/268
• US Class Current: 715/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computing devices and systems, software, computer programs, applications, and user interfaces, and more particularly, to implementing content input fields in forms to create electronic documents, among other things.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying, on a display of an electronic device, an electronic form comprising one or more text input fields simultaneously displayed with a content capture input field;

in response to receiving a selection of the content capture input field in the electronic form, activating a content capture unit of the electronic device comprising a camera or microphone;

presenting, within the selected content capture input field, a representation of content captured by the content capture unit of the electronic device; and

integrating the representation of content into the electronic form such that the electronic form includes a form layer and a content layer, the form layer configured to present at least a portion of the representation of content included in the content layer, and the content layer being configured to translate the representation of content relative to the content input field.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the representation of content captured by the content capture unit prior to presenting the representation of content in the selected content input field.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the representation of content includes an image, and the method further comprises translating the image relative to a boundary of the selected content input field to include a characteristic of a subject of the image in the selected content input field.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein integrating the representation of content excludes importing a file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content capture unit is an image capture unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the representation of content includes an image, and the integrating comprises:

capturing at least a portion of a subject in the image within the selected content input field.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating a preview of an electronic document file that includes the representation of the captured image.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

editing the captured image within the selected content input field; and

generating an edited image.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising editing the captured image within the selected content input field without transitioning from the electronic form to an editor application.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating whether content data representing the representation of content meets a first threshold, wherein the validating indicates whether the content data includes a specified characteristic.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising testing whether content data representing the representation of content meets a second threshold, wherein the validating indicates whether the content data complies with one or more requirements.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the selected content input field with at least a portion of the representation of content.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising presenting information, in an interface, that indicates the association between the portion of the representation of content and the selected content input field.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising validating whether the portion of the representation of content includes a specified characteristic.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected content input field is substantially transparent, and wherein the integrating further comprises:

translating the representation of content during presentation of the representation of content within the substantially transparent selected content input field.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a content editor for editing the representation of content, wherein the content editor is configured to accept user input to edit the representation of content in-situ in the electronic form.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein presenting the content editor further comprises presenting the edited content in association with the selected content input field while presenting the electronic form in an interface.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising previewing the representation of content, wherein the previewing comprises:

presenting either an image or a sound, or both, in the content capture input field.

19. An electronic device, comprising:

a content capture unit configured to capture digitized image or audio content;

a memory configured to store instructions executable to display, on a display of the electronic device, an electronic form, wherein the electronic form comprises one or more text input fields simultaneously displayed with a content capture input field;

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

in response to receiving a selection of the content capture input field in the electronic form, activate the content capture unit of the electronic device;

present a representation of content captured by the content capture unit within the selected content capture input field; and

integrate the representation of content into the electronic form such that the electronic form includes a form layer and a content layer, the form layer configured to present at least a portion of the representation of content included in the content layer, and the content layer being configured to translate the representation of content relative to the content input field.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to validate whether the representation of content includes a specified characteristic.

21. A computer readable storage medium, excluding signals per se, comprising executable instructions to:

display, on a display of an electronic device, an electronic form comprising one or more text input fields simultaneously displayed with a content capture input field;

in response to receiving a selection of the content capture input field, activate a content capture unit of the electronic device comprising a camera or microphone;

present a representation of content captured by the content capture unit within the selected content capture input field; and

integrate the representation of content into the electronic form such that the electronic form includes a form layer and a content layer, the form layer configured to present at least a portion of the representation of content included in the content layer, and the content layer being configured to translate the representation of content relative to the content input field.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, further comprising executable instructions to associate one or more additional content capture input fields with the content capture input field.