Systems and methods for handwriting to a screen

• US 7,692,636 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, J. Brian, Eason, Natalie M, Wang, Simin, Cupala, Shiraz J., Sommer, Peter D., Kim, Jane T
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Henry N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leiby; Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US10/955,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,014 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345173-179, 382187-189, 178/18.3, 715/780
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Systems and methods are described that enable handwriting into a data-entry field on a screen without independently selecting that data-entry field. These systems and methods can also provide a handwriting guide geographically associated with a data-entry field into which a user is intending to write that permits substantially all of a computing device'"'"'s screen to be viewed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving handwriting made to a screen showing two or more data-entry fields, wherein at least a portion of the handwriting overlaps two or more data-entry fields; and

entering text converted from the received handwriting into one of the data-entry fields without independently receiving a non-writing-based selection of that data-entry field.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of receiving comprises receiving handwriting made over the screen with a stylus.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the data-entry field into which to enter the converted text using a bounding-type algorithm.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the act of determining comprises determining a geographic relation between a first stroke or character of the received handwriting and the data-entry field.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a handwriting guide in geographical association with the received handwriting.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the handwriting guide both guides a user'"'"'s handwriting and permits features that lie underneath the guide to be viewed by the user.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the handwriting guide is capable of receiving additional handwriting made to the screen and guiding an angle and size of the additional handwriting while leaving features of the screen generally unobscured, and wherein the act of entering text comprises entering text converted from the additional handwriting into the data-entry field.

8. A computing device having a screen computer-readable media, and a processor capable of executing computer code stored on the computer-readable media, comprising of:

Presenting one or more data-entry fields on the screen;

Receiving handwriting made to the screen, wherein at least a portion of the handwriting overlaps two or more data-entry fields;

Entering text converted from the handwriting into one of the data-entry fields without interaction independent of the handwriting received.

9. The device of claim 8 embodied as a hand-held computer.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the screen comprises a tablet screen capable of receiving handwriting made over the tablet screen.

11. The device of claim 8, further capable of presenting a handwriting guide on the screen in geographical association with the selected data-entry field.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the handwriting guide is capable of receiving additional handwriting made to the screen and guiding a size and angle of the additional handwriting while leaving features of the screen substantially unobscured.

13. The device of claim 8, further capable of selecting a data-entry field based on the location on the screen of the handwriting received and the data-entry field.

14. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions that, when executed, implement a method comprising:

receiving handwriting made to a screen showing two or more data-entry fields, wherein at least a portion of the handwriting overlaps the two or more data-entry fields; and

entering text converted from the received handwriting into one of the data-entry fields without independently receiving a non-writing-based selection of that data-entry field.

15. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 14, further comprising displaying a handwriting guide in geographical association with the received handwriting, wherein the handwriting guide is capable of permitting content of the data-entry fields and other features that lie 5 underneath the handwriting guide to be viewed.

16. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the handwriting guide is capable of guiding an angle and size of the user'"'"'s handwriting.

17. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the handwriting guide is capable of receiving additional handwriting made to the screen and guiding an angle and size of the additional handwriting while leaving features of the screen generally unobscured.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the screen comprises a tablet screen and the act of receiving comprises receiving handwriting made over the tablet screen.

19. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 14, further comprising selecting, responsive to the handwriting received, a data-entry field that is viewable on the screen.