Method and apparatus for providing visual feedback during manipulation of text on a computer screen

• US 20040085368A1
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Robert G. Jr., Jenson, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,499,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/860
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

A method and apparatus providing visual feedback to a computer user while dragging selected text is described. As its first step, the processing logic creates a text object from the selected text once the computer user has initiated a drag. Simultaneously, the selected text is visually de-emphasized. Secondly, the processing logic snaps the text object to the cursor so that the text object follows the cursor without obscuring text at the insertion point. Finally, when the computer user selects the final insertion point, the selected text is visually zoomed from the source location to the final insertion point.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of providing visual feedback to a computer user during manipulation of selected text on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a cursor control device for interactively positioning a cursor and an insertion caret on the display device, the computer also having a signal generation device for signaling an active state and an inactive state, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) in response to an active state of the signal generation device while the cursor is over the selected text at a source location on said display device;

1) creating and displaying a text object of the selected text;

2) de-emphasizing the selected text at the source location;

b) in a finite series of steps moving the text object on the display device along a line between the source location and the cursor until the text object reaches the cursor;

c) displaying the insertion caret near the cursor;

d) in response to an inactive state of the signal generation device while the cursor is over a destination location;

1) on the display device zooming from a first bounding rectangle for the selected text at the source location to a second bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the destination location; and

2) displaying on screen the selected text at the destination location.

2. The method claim 1 further comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) while the cursor is located over the selected text displaying the cursor on the display device as an arrow; and

b) while the cursor is not located over the selected block text displaying the cursor on the display device as an I-beam.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the text object depicts only a portion of the selected text.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the text object has a maximum size.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected text is removed from the source location after the selected text is displayed at the destination location.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected text remains displayed at the source location after the selected block of text has been displayed at the destination location.

7. A computer implemented method of providing visual feedback to a computer user while manipulating selected text displayed on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a mouse for interactively positioning a cursor and an insertion caret on the display device, the mouse having a mouse button having an up position and a down position, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) in response to the mouse button being in the down position while the cursor is over a selected text at a source location;

1) creating a text object from the selected text;

2) displaying on the display device the text object over the selected text at the source location;

3) visually de-emphasizing on the display device the selected text at the source location;

b) initializing an interpolation factor;

c) incrementing the interpolation factor if it has not reached a maximum value;

d) computing a distance between the text object and a first point associated with the pointer;

e) moving the text object along an imaginary line between the source location and the first point to a point on the display device determined by the distance multiplied by the interpolation factor;

f) with the mouse button is in the down position repeating steps b) through e);

g) if the mouse button is in the up position over a destination location;

1) computing a first bounding rectangle for the selected text at the source location;

2) computing a second bounding rectangle for the selected text at the destination location; and

3) zooming from the first bounding rectangle at the source location to the second bounding rectangle at the destination location.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) selecting the selected text at the source location from available text, displayed on the display device; and

b) highlighting on the display device the selected text.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the computer implemented step of:

a) offscreen inserting the selected text at the destination location after computing the first bounding rectangle.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the computer implemented step of:

a) performing an intelligent paste when the selected text is inserted at the destination location.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

a) displaying on the display device the selected text at the destination location after zooming from the first bounding rectangle at the source location to the second bounding rectangle at the destination location.

12. The method claim 7 further comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a) while the cursor is located over the selected text displaying the cursor on the display device as an arrow; and

b) while the cursor is not located over the selected text displaying the cursor on the display device as an I-beam.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the text object depicts only a portion of the selected text.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the text object has a maximum size.

15. The method of claim 7 further comprising the computer implemented step of:

a) removing the selected text from the source location after the selected text is displayed at the destination location.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

a) performing an intelligent cut at the source location when the selected text is removed from the source location.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the selected block of text remains displayed at the source location after the selected block of text has been displayed at the destination location.

18. A device for providing visual feedback to a computer user while manipulating selected text displayed on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a mouse for interactively positioning a cursor and an insertion caret on the display device, the mouse having a mouse button having an up position and a down position, the device comprising:

a) a first means for creating a text object from the selected text, the first means responding to the mouse button being in the down position while the cursor is over the selected text at the source location;

b) a second means for visually de-emphasizing on the display device the selected text at the source location, the second means responding to the mouse button being in the down position;

c) a third means for initializing an interpolation factor and incrementing the interpolation factor if the interpolation factor has not reached a maximum value, the third means responding to the mouse button being in the down position;

d) a fourth means for computing a distance between the text object and a first point associated with the pointer, the fourth means responsive to the mouse button being in the down position;

e) a fifth means for moving the text object along an imaginary line between the source location and the first point to a point on the display device determined by the distance multiplied by the interpolation factor, the fifth means responding to the mouse button being in the down position; and

f) a zooming means for zooming from a first bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the source location to a second bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the destination location.

19. An apparatus providing visual feedback while manipulating highlighted text, the apparatus comprising:

a) a computer system including;

1) a central processing unit;

2) a display device for displaying images, text and the highlighted text, the display device being coupled to the central processing unit;

3) a mouse for interactively positioning a cursor and an insertion caret on the display device, the mouse having a mouse button having an up position and a down position, the mouse being coupled to the central processing unit;

b) a first means coupled to the central processing unit, the first means creating a text object from the highlighted text, the first means responding to the mouse button being in the down position while the cursor is over the highlighted text at a source location;

c) a second means coupled to the central processing unit, the second means visually de-emphasizing on the display device the highlighted text at the source location, the second means responding to the mouse button being in the down position;

d) a third means coupled to the central processing unit, the third means initializing an interpolation factor and incrementing the interpolation factor if it has not reached a maximum value, the third means responding to the mouse button being in the down position;

e) a fourth means coupled to the central processing unit, the fifth mean computing a distance between the text object and a first point associated with the pointer, the fourth means responsive to the mouse button being in the down position;

f) a fifth means coupled to the central processing unit, the fifth means moving the text object along an imaginary line between the source location and the first point to a point on the display device determined by the distance multiplied by the interpolation factor, the fifth means responding to the mouse button being in the down position; and

g) a zooming means coupled to the central processing unit, the zooming means zooming from a first bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the source location to a second bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the destination location.