Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for invoking an electronic ink or handwriting interface

• US 7,561,145 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Schultz, Tracy Dianne, Clow, Josh A., Jones, F. David, Tandog, Judy C., Garside, Adrian J., Keely, Leroy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang; Regina
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leiby; Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US11/083,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20060209040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-157, 345/160, 345168-169, 345172-175, 345/183, 715764-773, 715780-867
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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

User interfaces, methods, systems, and computer-readable media for activating and/or displaying text input systems on display devices may include: (a) displaying a text input system activation target at a user changeable location on a display device; (b) receiving user input directed to the activation target; and (c) activating a text input system in response to the user input. Such user interfaces, methods, and systems further may include (d) displaying a pre-interaction condition of the activation target; (e) receiving user input directed to the activation target in this pre-interaction condition; and (f) changing an appearance of the activation target from the pre-interaction condition to a larger size and/or a different visual appearance in response to this user input. Additional aspects of this invention relate to computer-readable media for providing user interfaces, systems, and methods as described above.

Claims

1. A user interface for activating and displaying a text input system on a display device, comprising:

a first display mode displaying a text input system activation target, wherein the first display mode is displayed at a first size and with a first appearance characteristic at least when an input device hovers proximate to a location of the text input system activation target, wherein the location of the text input system activation target on the display device is selectable in response to input from the input device;

a second display mode displaying the text input system, wherein the second display mode is activated at least when the input device interacts in a predetermined manner with the text input system activation target in the first display mode, location of the text input system is based at least in part on the location of the text input system activation target at the time of interaction by the input device; and

a third display mode displaying a pre-interaction condition of the text input system activation target, wherein the pre-interaction condition includes a display condition in which the text input system activation target is invisible.

2. The user interface of claim 1,

wherein the third display mode is displayed at least when absence of a user input device is sensed by a digitizer associated with the display device, wherein the first size of the text input system activation target is larger than the second size in at least one manner or dimension, and wherein the first display mode is activated at least when a user input device hovers proximate to the text input system activation target in the pre-interaction condition.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the location of the text input system activation target is selectable as one or more predetermined locations.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the text input system includes an electronic ink entry area.

5. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the text input system includes a soft keyboard.

6. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the second display mode displays the text input system as a floating interface above other display areas visible on the display device.

7. A method for activating and displaying a text input system on a display device, comprising:

displaying a text input system activation target at a first location on the display device, wherein the text input system activation target is displayed at a first size and with a first appearance characteristic at least when an input device hovers proximate to the first location, wherein the first location is changeable in response to input by the input device;

receiving a first input from the input device directed to the text input system activation target;

activating a text input system in response to the first input from the input device;

and location of the text input system is based at least in part on the location of the text input system activation target at the time interaction by the input device;

and displaying a pre-interaction condition of the text input system activation target, wherein the pre-interaction condition includes a display condition in which the text input system activation target is invisible.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a second input from the input device directed to the text input system activation target in the pre-interaction condition; and

changing an appearance of the text input system activation target from the pre-interaction condition to at least one of the first size or the first appearance characteristic in response to the second input from the input device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second input from the input device is a hover action proximate to the first location and the first input from the input device is a tap or click of the text input system activation target by the input device on the display device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the pre-interaction condition of the text input system activation target is displayed at least when the input device is absent as sensed by a digitizer associated with the display device, wherein the first size of the text input system activation target is larger than the second size of the text input system activation target, and wherein the appearance of the text input system activation target changes at least when the input device hovers proximate to the text input system activation target in the pre-interaction condition.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the changing the appearance of the text input system activation target at least changes the activation target from the second size to the first size.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the first location and size of the text input system activation target are selectable while displaying the text input system activation target.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the text input system includes an electronic ink entry area.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the text input system includes a soft keyboard.

15. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying the text input system as a floating interface above other display areas visible on the display device.

16. A system for activating and displaying a text input system, comprising:

a display device; and

a processor system programmed and adapted to;

(a) display a text input system activation target at a first location on the display device, wherein the text input system activation target is displayed at a first size and with a first appearance characteristic at least when an input device hovers proximate to the first location, wherein the first location is changeable in response to input by the input device;

(b) recognize a first input from the input device directed to the text input system activation target;

(c) activate the text input system in response to the first input from the input device; and

(d) location of the text input system is based at least in part on the location of the text input system activation target at the time interaction by the input device and display a pre-interaction condition of the text input system activation target, wherein the pre-interaction condition includes a display condition in which the text input system activation target is invisible.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor system further is programmed and adapted to:

(e) recognize a second input from the input device directed to the text input system activation target in the pre-interaction condition; and

(f) change an appearance of the text input system activation target from the pre-interaction condition to at least one the first size or the first appearance characteristic in response to the second input from the input device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the second input from the input device is a hover action proximate to the first location and the first input from the input device is a tap or click of the text input system activation target on the display device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the text input system allows entry of electronic ink.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor system further is programmed and adapted to display the text input system in a floating manner above other display areas visible on the display device.