Method and apparatus for text selection

• US 8,543,934 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2012
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Thorsander, Simon Martin, Kuo, Margaret Elizabeth, Andersson Reimer, Nils Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, TUYETLIEN T
• Application Number:
  US13/564,687
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 715/781, 715/773, 715/863, 715/864
• US Class Current: 715/773
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

A method includes, displaying a content selection icon on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detecting touch input at a touch location on the display operable to select a content selection function associated with the content selection icon, and, modifying the displayed content selection icon to display a touch portion at a location on the display corresponding to said detected touch location and a content selection portion operatively coupled to, but spatially separated from, the touch portion.

Claims

1. A method for an electronic device comprising:

detecting a location of a text selection icon on a touch-screen display of the electronic device;

detecting touch input reflecting a selection of text displayed on the display using the text selection icon;

determining a zone adjacent an edge of the display, which comprises determining that a width of the zone is narrower at a starting point in a movement of the text selection icon than the width of the zone at a later point in the movement; and

selecting displayed text in a row selection mode responsive to a determination that the detected location of the text selection icon is within the zone adjacent the edge of the display or selecting displayed text in a letter selection mode responsive to a determination that the detected location of the text selection icon is outside the zone adjacent the edge of the display.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a movement of the text selection icon, wherein the determination that the detected location of the text selection icon is within or outside the zone adjacent the edge of the display is made throughout the movement.

3. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-screen display configured to receive touch input;

at least one processor configured to;

detect a location of a text selection icon on the display;

detect a touch input reflecting a selection of text displayed on the display using the text selection icon,

determine a zone adjacent an edge of the display, wherein a width of the zone is narrower at a starting point in a movement of the text selection icon than the width of the zone at a later point in the movement; and

select displayed text in a row selection mode responsive to a determination that the detected location of the text selection icon is within the zone adjacent the edge of the display or selecting displayed text in a letter selection mode responsive to a determination that the detected location of the text selection icon is outside the zone adjacent the edge of the display.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a movement of the text selection icon, wherein the determination that the detected location of the text selection icon is within or outside the zone adjacent the edge of the display is made throughout the movement.