Patent ID: 6385351
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A user interface high-lighter method, within a computer system, for selecting at least one portion of text comprising the steps of:(a) displaying, on a monitor connected to said computer system, a scanned image containing at least one region of text; (b) receiving a first input in said computer system to activate said user interface high-lighter method; (c) displaying, in said monitor, a high-lighter icon in place of a cursor for a graphical input device, wherein said graphical input device is connected to said computer system; (d) receiving a first button down input from said graphical input device, wherein said first button down input identifies, from a first starting location of said high-lighter icon displayed on said monitor, a first beginning line of at least two pixels within said at least one region of text; (e) receiving a first button drag input from said graphical input device, wherein said first button drag input identifies, from a first interim movement of said high-lighter icon displayed on said monitor, a first interim region of pixels within said at least one region of text; (f) receiving a first button up input from said graphical input device, wherein said first button up input identifies, from a first ending location of said high-lighter icon displayed on said monitor, a first ending line of at least two pixels within said at least one region of text, wherein said first beginning line of at least two pixels, said first interim region of pixels, and said first ending line of at least two pixels comprise a first highlight area; (g) receiving a first select input to select said first highlight area as a first data input for an image processing routine; and (h) processing, by said image processing routine, a first portion of bitmapped data represented by said first data input to determine a first selected bitmapped data area, wherein said at least one portion of text from said at least one region of text within said scanned image is represented by said first selected bitmapped data area.