Glom widget

• US 20050183029A1
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Simmons, Alex J., Urata, Kentaro, Barabe, Benoit
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/779
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

The present invention provides a glom widget to the pen user of a PC that allows them to access contextual tools near a location where they are writing. If the user selects the glom widget, a context menu drops down that contains several of the most common tools and/or commands that a user creating handwriting might want to access. The glom widget menu can also contain contextual commands that are easier to comprehend and use since they are presented directly next to the content on the page to which they relate.

Claims

1. A method for receiving input in a writing window from a user on a display, comprising:

placing a glom widget near a current writing location such that the user may select the glom widget with reduced movement as compared to accessing a toolbar associated with the writing window; and

displaying a glom widget menu when the glom widget is selected.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the current writing location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein placing the glom widget near the current writing location further comprises placing the glom widget based on an input language being written.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein placing the glom widget near the writing location further comprises placing the glom widget on a left side of the current writing location.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the glom widget menu comprises a set of contextual commands associated with writing.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the glom widget menu may be customized.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising changing an appearance of the glom widget when a user hovers over the glom widget for a predetermined period of time.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising changing an appearance of the glom widget when the glom widget is hovered over for a predetermined period of time.

8. A system for receiving input from a user on a display, comprising:

a display screen configured to receive user input from a pen; and

an application configured to perform actions, including;

determining a current writing location;

placing a glom widget near the current writing location that provides access to commands associated with writing; and

displaying a glom widget menu when the glom widget is selected.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein placing the glom widget near the current writing location further comprises placing the glom widget such that user movement to access the glom widget is decreased as compared to accessing a corresponding command contained within a fixed menu.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein placing the glom widget near the writing location further comprises placing the glom widget based on an input language being written.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the glom widget menu may be customized.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising changing an appearance of the glom widget when a user hovers over the glom widget for a predetermined period of time.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for receiving input on a display, the instructions comprising:

determining a current writing location;

placing a glom widget near the current writing location; and

displaying a glom widget menu when the glom widget is selected.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein placing the glom widget near the current writing location further comprises placing the glom widget such that user movement to access the glom widget is decreased as compared to accessing a corresponding command contained within a fixed menu.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein placing the glom widget near the writing location further comprises placing the glom widget based on an input language being used.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the glom widget menu comprises a set of commands associated with writing.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the glom widget menu may be customized.