LAYERED CONTENT SELECTION

• US 20180136795A1
• Filed: 11/14/2016
• Published: 05/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Won, Sung Joon
• Granted Patent: US 10,216,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure describe functionality for content selection that efficiently enables block copying of content from an executing application even when content is traditionally non-selectable in the executing application. An application may be executing, for example, on a computing device. Input may be received that triggers activation of a user interface for content selection. A layered view of the application and the user interface may be presented based on the received input. As an example, the layered view presents the user interface layered over the application. A block portion of content from the application may be selected based on a single action. Among other examples, the single action may be a non-continuous device click or a non-continuous touch input processed through the user interface. Additional action(s) for the selected block portion of content may be accessible through the user interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

executing, by a computing device, an application that comprises content;

receiving, by the computing device, an input that triggers activation of a user interface for content selection;

displaying, based on the received input, a layered view that presents the user interface layered over the application; and

in response to a single action processed through the user interface, selecting a block portion of the content from the application, wherein the block portion of the content comprises at least two snippets of content.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the computing device, the single action.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the single action is one selected from a group consisting of:

a non-continuous device click and a non-continuous touch input.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an input for copying the selected block portion of the content, and copying the selected block portion of the content.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving input to paste the selected block portion of the content, and pasting the block portion of the content in another application based on the received input to paste the selected block portion of the content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least two snippets of content are non-selectable in the application.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, through the user interface, a selection of a user interface feature that identifies one or more block portions of the content of the application, and identifying the one or more block portions of the content as selectable based on the selection of the user interface feature.

8. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory operatively connected with the at least one processor storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to execute a method that comprises;

executing a first application,

receiving an input that triggers activation of a second application,

displaying, based on the received input, a layered view that presents the second application layered over the first application, and

in response to a single action processed through the second application, selecting a block portion of content from the first application, wherein the block portion of content comprises at least two snippets of content.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the executed method further comprises:

receiving, through the system, the single action.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the single action is one selected from a group consisting of:

a non-continuous device click and a non-continuous touch input.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the executed method further comprises:

receiving an input for copying the selected block portion of content, and copying the selected block portion of content.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the executed method further comprises:

receiving input to paste the selected block portion of content, and pasting the block portion of content in a third application based on the received input to paste the selected block portion of content.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein one or more of the at least two snippets of content are non-selectable in the first application.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the executed method further comprises:

receiving, in the second application, a selection of a user interface feature that identifies one or more block portions of content of the first application, and identifying the one or more block portions of content as selectable based on the selection of the user interface feature.

15. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to execute a method comprising:

executing, by the at least one processor, a first application;

receiving an input that triggers activation of a second application;

displaying, based on the received input, a layered view that presents the second application layered over the first application; and

in response to a single action processed through the second application, selecting a block portion of content from the first application, wherein the block portion of content comprises at least two snippets of content.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprising receiving, by the at least one processor, the single action, and wherein the single action is one selected from a group consisting of:

a non-continuous device click and a non-continuous touch input.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprising receiving an input for copying the selected block portion of content, and copying the selected block portion of content.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprising receiving input to paste the selected block portion of content, and pasting the block portion of content in a third application based on the received input to paste the selected block portion of content.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein one or more of the at least two snippets of content are non-selectable in the first application.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprising receiving, in the second application, a selection of a user interface feature that identifies one or more block portions of content of the first application, and identifying the one or more block portions of content as selectable based on the selection of the user interface feature.