Method and apapratus for text selection

• US 9,195,386 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2012
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Thorsander, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Shih, Haoshian
• Application Number:
  US13/564,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 715/702, 715/863, 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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 includes, detecting a first touch input representing a selection of multiple rows of text displayed on a touch-sensitive display of the electronic device, determining whether a complete row of text has been selected from a start point or to an end point of the selected text, and, displaying a paragraph selection handle proximal to said row, the paragraph selection handle being responsive to a second touch input to place the electronic device in a paragraph selection mode for the selection of text.

Claims

1. A method for an electronic device comprising:

detecting a first touch input representing a selection of text in a first selection mode, the text being displayed on a touch-sensitive display of the electronic device;

determining whether the selected text meets or exceeds a predetermined size, wherein the predetermined size comprises at least one complete row of displayed text; and

responsive to the determination that the selected text comprises at least one complete row, enabling a second selection mode and displaying a paragraph selection handle proximate to the selected text.

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

determining that the at least one complete row begins from a start point or ends at an end point.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined size is at least three complete rows.

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

detecting a gesture input to drag the selection handle in a direction on the display; and

highlighting additional text based on the dragging of the selection handle.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

detecting a reversal in the direction of the dragging of the selection handle; and

terminating the second selection mode based on the detection of the reversal.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

detecting a termination of the gesture input; and

selecting the highlighted additional text.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the selection handle proximal to the selected text comprises displaying a start point handle proximal to a first row of selected rows and an end point handle proximal to a last row of the selected rows.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch inputs;

at least one processor configured to;

detect a first touch input representing a selection of text displayed on the display;

determine whether the selected text meets or exceeds a predetermined size, wherein the predetermined size comprises at least one complete row of displayed text; and

responsive to the determination that the selected text comprises at least one complete row, enable a second selection mode and displaying a paragraph selection handle proximate to the selected text.

9. The electronic device accordingly to claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine that the at least one complete row begins from a start point or ends at an end point.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined size is at least three complete rows.

11. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect a gesture input to drag the selection handle in a direction on the display; and

highlight additional text based on the dragging of the selection handle.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect a reversal in the direction of the dragging of the selection handle; and

terminate the second selection mode based on the detection of the reversal.

13. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect a termination of the gesture input; and

select the highlighted additional text.

14. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the selection handle comprises a start point handle proximal to a first row of selected rows and an end point handle proximal to a last row of the selected rows.