System and method for automatically switching between writing and text input modes

• US 6,833,827 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lui, Charlton E., Parker, Kathryn L., Altman, Dan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/420,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/173, 345/179, 345/771, 345/773, 345/864, 345/866, 715/531, 341/22
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A method and system for automatically determining when an application should switch from a writing mode to a text entry mode, and vice-versa. When a soft input panel (SIP) or input method (IM) is selected, the application is notified and enters a text entry mode. Inputting via the IM while in this mode causes a character to be sent to the application, while pen events in the application window enable text editing and the selection of text and ink data in the application widow. When the SIP is deselected, the application is notified and enters a pen (writing) mode, whereby the pen events are interpreted as digital ink strokes instead of characters. Sub-modes of the pen mode are also available, via which the pen events are used to manipulate existing ink in the application window. Visual feedback may be provided to remind the user of the current mode and/or sub-mode.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a method comprising:

receiving a request to select an input panel, the request received external to an executing application program;

selecting the input panel, including displaying a representation thereof;

notifying the executing application program that the input panel was selected, and in response, the application program enabling a text entry mode and having at least a first displayed area corresponding to the application program that is visible while the representation of the input panel is displayed;

receiving input data in the input panel, passing the input data to an input method, receiving text from the input method, and passing the text to the application program; and

receiving input data comprising pen events directed to the first displayed area, passing the input data to the application program, the application program handling the pen events as text editing commands while the application program has the text entry mode enabled.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the application program further disables a digital ink mode in conjunction with enabling the text entry mode.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying visual feedback indicative of the text entry mode including resizing a text display window of the application program.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the representation of the input panel is displayed in the application program based on the resizing of the text display window.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying visual feedback indicative of the text entry mode including removing horizontal lines from a window of the application program.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling a text entry mode comprises setting a caret in the first area corresponding to the application program.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying the text editing commands at the application program to edit text displayed in the first area.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein applying the text editing commands includes setting a caret position.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein applying the text editing commands includes selecting at least some text displayed in the first area.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising, receiving a further request to deselect the input panel, disabling the text entry mode in response to the request, including removing the displayed input panel, enabling a pen mode in response to the request, receiving input as pen events directed to the application program, and interpreting at least some of the pen events as digital ink in the application program.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising, displaying visual feedback indicative of the pen mode, including resizing a window of the application program based on removing the displayed input panel.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising, displaying visual feedback indicative of the pen mode, including drawing horizontal lines in a window of the application program.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein interpreting at least some of the pen events as digital ink comprises storing digital ink based on the pen events.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising, interpreting at least some of the pen events based on the state of at least one sub-mode.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein a sub-mode comprises a select sub-mode in an enabled state, and wherein interpreting at least some of the pen events based on the state of at least one sub-mode comprises selecting an area of a window of the program.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein interpreting at least some of the pen events based on the state of at least one sub-mode comprises performing an action on digital ink displayed in the selected area.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein a sub-mode comprises an insert space sub-mode in an enabled state, and wherein interpreting at least some of the pen events based on the state of at least one sub-mode comprises inserting space in a window of the program.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

19. In a computer system, a system for providing data to a program, comprising:

an input panel having a selected state and a deselected state;

an input method corresponding to the input panel;

an input mechanism that receives input data;

an operating system connected to an input panel manager to determine the state of the input panel and, when selected, to further determine whether received input data was directed to the input panel, the operating system and input panel manager further configured to;

1) pass the received input data to the input method when the input panel is in the selected state and the input data is directed to the input panel, receive text from the input method, and pass the text to the program;

2) pass the received input data to the program when the input panel is in the selected state and the input data is directed to an input display area of the program and not directed to the input panel, the program interpreting the input data as text editing commands for editing text; and

3) pass the received input data to the program when the input panel is in the deselected state and the input data is directed to the program, the program interpreting at least some of the input data as digital ink data.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising, displaying visual feedback indicative of when the input panel is in the selected state with respect to the deselected state.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein displaying visual feedback indicative of when the input panel is in the selected state includes removing horizontal lines from a window of the application program.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the input panel is in the selected state, and wherein received input data that is not directed to the input panel is passed to the program and is interpreted by the program as the text editing data to edit displayed text.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the text editing data is interpreted to select at least some of the displayed text.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein the input panel is in the deselected state, and wherein at least some of the input data passed to the program is interpreted by the program as data for editing digital ink.

25. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components that implement the system of claim 19.

26. In a computer system, a method for providing data to a program, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an input panel having a selected state and a deselected state;

(b) receiving input data;

(c) if the input panel is in the selected state and the input data is directed to the input panel,

(1) passing the input data to an input method,

(2) receiving text from the input method, and

(3) passing the text to the program as received data;

(d) if the input panel is in the deselected state, passing the input data to the program as the received data such that the program interprets the received data in a pen mode, and

(e) if the input panel is in the selected state and the user input data is directed to a visible text display area corresponding to the program and not to the input panel, passing the input data to the program as the received data such that the program interprets the received data in a text editing mode.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the input panel is a separate program selected and deselected external to the program, and further comprising, notifying the program when the input panel is selected, and notifying the program when the input panel is deselected.

28. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 26.

29. A computer implemented method, comprising:

displaying a representation of an input panel when in a selected state;

receiving a first request to change the selected state of the input panel to a deselected state;

removing the representation of the input panel when in the deselected state;

notifying a program of the first request, and in response, the program enabling a digital ink entry mode without requiring further manual input directed to a mode change, and providing visual feedback indicative of the digital ink entry mode;

receiving a second request to change the deselected state of the input panel to the selected state;

notifying a program of the second request, and in response, the program enabling a text entry mode in which at least some input data events received outside the input panel and in a visible area that displays entered text are passed to the program and interpreted by the program as text editing events.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the text entry mode is enabled, and wherein at least some input data events received in an area corresponding to the displayed input panel are converted to text and passed to the program.

31. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 29.