Automatic height adjustment for electronic highlighter pens and mousing devices

Methods and systems provide for automatic adjustment of electronic highlighter cursor height in response to a determined height of images or typed or handwritten text to be highlighted. The highlighter thickness or cursor height of an electronic highlighter, such as an electronic pen or mousing device, automatically adjusts based on the text or images the user is highlighting. When the user focuses the electronic highlighter on text or images to be highlighted, the height of the text or images is determined, and the height or thickness of the highlighter cursor is automatically adjusted.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for entering and manipulating data in a computing environment. More particularly, the present invention relates to automatically adjusting the cursor height for electronic input modes such as electronic pens and electronic mousing devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Since the advent of the computer age, hardware and software systems have been developed for allowing users to efficiently enter and manipulate text and data that is displayed on a computer-generated display. In the early days of computing, users were primarily restricted to manipulating displayed text and data through a variety of keyboard strokes. The advent of mousing devices, including keyboard touch pads, gave users enhanced access to displayed data by allowing users to freely move a mouse pointer or cursor about displayed information for selecting data for manipulation or input. Recently, a variety of pen and ink systems have been developed that allow users to select and manipulate displayed text and data, as well as allow users to write electronically in free-form fashion by touching an electronic pen to the computer display screen.

Many modern computer systems are hybrids between tablets allowing only pen input and traditional computers allowing only keyboard or mouse input. Such hybrid systems allow data input and manipulation via keyboards, mousing devices, and electronic pen devices. Among the data input and manipulation enabled by such systems is highlighting. That is, many such systems allow mousing devices or electronic pens to act as highlighting pens so that a user may highlight text or images of an electronic document by dragging a mouse cursor or electronic pen tip across desired text and images. Unfortunately, prior systems do not account for the varying sizes of typed text, handwritten text or images. For example, a document may contain typed text that varies in font size, handwritten text of various sizes and images of varying sizes. If the user desires that the highlighter color height match the height of the text or images to be highlighted, the user must manually change the cursor height for the mouse cursor or electronic pen for each text or image selection to be highlighted. Accordingly, there is a need for a method and system for automatically adjusting the cursor height for electronic highlighters to a desirable height relative to typed or handwritten text or images to be highlighted. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention solve the above and other problems by providing for automatic adjustment of electronic highlighter ink or cursor height in response to a determined height of typed or handwritten text or images to be highlighted. Generally described, the highlighter ink height or cursor height of an electronic highlighter, such as an electronic pen or mousing device, automatically adjusts based on the text or images the user is highlighting. When the user focuses the electronic highlighter on text or images to be highlighted, the height of the text or image is determined, and the height of the highlighter cursor is adjusted.

According to aspects of the invention, a user selects a highlighting function so that the user's electronic pen or mousing device will function as an electronic highlighter. When the user touches the electronic pen to a particular text or image, or hovers the mousing device cursor over a particular text or image selection, the height of the text or image selection is determined. According to one aspect of the invention, the height is determined from the font size of typed text or from the height of handwritten text. According to another aspect of the invention, the highlighter height is determined from the average height of typed or handwritten characters without including the length of ascending or descending character segments. According to another aspect of the invention, the highlighter height is determined from the maximum height of typed or handwritten characters including the length of ascending or descending character segments. According to yet another aspect of the invention, if the user's display screen is in rule line mode, the distance between rule lines is adopted as the highlighter cursor height.

Once the highlighter cursor height is determined, that height is set for the highlighter cursor so that highlighter color or ink is drawn onto the computer-generated page during the duration of a given highlighter (electronic pen or mousing device) stroke. If the user lifts the electronic pen from the page, or otherwise disengages the highlighter device, the determined height is discarded. If the user begins a subsequent highlighting action, determination of the highlighter cursor height is repeated for the subsequent highlighting action.

These and other features and advantages, which characterize the present invention, will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As briefly described above, embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for providing automatic adjustment of electronic highlighter cursor height in response to a determined height of typed or handwritten text or in response to a determined height of a computer-displayed object. In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustrations specific embodiments or examples. These embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements through the several figures, aspects of the present invention and the exemplary operating environment will be described.FIG. 1and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which the invention may be implemented. While the invention will be described in the general context of program modules that execute in conjunction with an application program that runs on an operating system on a personal computer, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may also be implemented in combination with other program modules.

Turning now toFIG. 1, an illustrative computer architecture for a personal computer2for practicing the various embodiments of the invention will be described. The computer architecture shown inFIG. 1illustrates a conventional personal computer, including a central processing unit4(“CPU”), a system memory6, including a random access memory8(“RAM”) and a read-only memory (“ROM”)10, and a system bus12that couples the memory to the CPU4. A basic input/output system containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer, such as during startup, is stored in the ROM10. The personal computer2further includes a mass storage device14for storing an operating system16, application programs, such as the application program205, and data.

The mass storage device14is connected to the CPU4through a mass storage controller (not shown) connected to the bus12. The mass storage device14and its associated computer-readable media, provide non-volatile storage for the personal computer2. Although the description of computer-readable media contained herein refers to a mass storage device, such as a hard disk or CD-ROM drive, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the personal computer2.

According to various embodiments of the invention, the personal computer2may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to remote computers through a TCP/IP network18, such as the Internet. The personal computer2may connect to the TCP/IP network18through a network interface unit20connected to the bus12. It should be appreciated that the network interface unit20may also be utilized to connect to other types of networks and remote computer systems. The personal computer2may also include an input/output controller22for receiving and processing input from a number of devices, including a keyboard or mouse (not shown). Similarly, an input/output controller22may provide output to a display screen, a printer, or other type of output device.

As mentioned briefly above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in the mass storage device14and RAM8of the personal computer2, including an operating system16suitable for controlling the operation of a networked personal computer, such as the WINDOWS operating systems from MICROSOFT CORPORATION of Redmond, Wash. The mass storage device14and RAM8may also store one or more application programs. In particular, the mass storage device14and RAM8may store an application program205for creating and editing an electronic document24. For instance, the application program205may comprise a word processing application program, a spreadsheet application, a contact application, and the like. Other applications illustrated inFIG. 1and applicable to embodiments of the present invention include the word processing application220, the calendar application225and the electronic mail application26.

As briefly described above, embodiments of the present invention allow for automatic adjustment of electronic highlighter cursor or ink height in response to a determined height of typed or handwritten text or in response to a determined height of a computer-displayed object. Referring toFIG. 2, a computer screen display200is illustrative of a computer screen display for a conventional personal computer, a tablet type computer, a personal digital assistant, or any other electronic device that allows for the display of text or data and that allows for interaction between a user and the screen via an electronic pen210. As shown inFIG. 2, an electronic pen210is illustrated touching the surface of the screen205. As is known to those skilled in the art, electronic pen and ink systems such as illustrated inFIG. 2allow a user to utilize the electronic pen210to write in free-form text on the screen205, allow the user to markup text previously entered using a keyboard or an electronic pen, and allow the user to select data displayed on the screen205for applying some type of functionality. Mechanisms for operation of electronic pen and ink systems with computer screen displays, such as illustrated inFIG. 2, are well known to those skilled in the art.

In addition to the electronic pen210, a keyboard215and an associated mouse225are illustrated. Mousing devices such as the mouse225are well known to those skilled in the art for allowing a user to move a cursor about the computer display screen205, select and searching points for inserting text and data, select text or data for applying formatting or other functionality, and the like. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the electronic pen210and the mousing device220may be selectively placed into highlighter mode for allowing a user to highlight text or images on the screen205by dragging the tip of the electronic pen210across the screen205or by moving a mouse cursor across the screen205by movement of the mouse220. Accordingly, the electronic pen210and the mousing device220may be used electronically in a fashion similar to the use of a manual highlighting pen where a user may drag the tip of a highlighting pen across a sheet of paper to distribute highlighting ink across the paper and onto text or images that the user wishes to highlight.

Referring still toFIG. 2, a first text selection225is illustrated including a typed sentence that is typed in 12-point font. The highlighter pen210is illustrated in highlighter mode and is illustrated as highlighting the words “selection in”230contained in the text selection225. A second text selection235is illustrated typed in 14-point type, and the electronic pen210is illustrated as highlighting the words “selection in”240of the text selection235. A handwritten text selection245is illustrated, and the electronic pen210is illustrated as highlighting the word “selection”250of the text selection245. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the text selections225and235are both typed text selections, but are of varying heights because the text selection235has been entered in 14-point type. The text selection245is also of a varying height relative to the text selections225and235because the text selection245has been entered by handwriting on the screen205using the electronic pen210in pen mode.

FIG. 2Billustrates an actual operation of embodiments of the present invention for varying the highlighter cursor or ink height relative to the height of an object such as typed or handwritten text. A typed text selection265comprising the word “Text” is highlighted with highlighter ink270at a height adjusted for the height of the text selection265. When the user moves the pen210to the handwritten text selection275, the highlighter cursor or ink height automatically adjusts so that the ink280covers the height of the handwritten text selection275. As illustrated inFIG. 2B, the electronic pen210acts in a similar manner as a manual highlighter pen with ink that matches the height of text or objects being highlighted. For example, ink flowing from a manual highlighter pen may be “wavy” according to the user's pen stroke. Likewise, the electronic highlighting ink270,280rendered by stroke of the electronic pen210is displayed according to the user's pen stroke, including “waviness” associated with the user's natural pen stroke. That is, the electronic ink flows wherever the user drags the electronic pen, but importantly, the height of the ink is adjusted to the height of the text or object being highlighted. As will be discussed below, according to an embodiment of the invention, the adjusted ink height remains at an adjusted height until the user finishes a given pen stroke and lifts the pen or otherwise disengages the highlighting action.

Referring toFIG. 3, a computer screen display300is illustrated wherein a user has selected the display in rule line mode. That is, by selecting rule line mode, a plurality of rule lines312are displayed on the computer screen display300for giving the computer screen300an appearance of a rule lined notepad page or paper. A typed text selection310is illustrated having a highlighted section315wherein the words “a text” have been highlighted by the electronic pen210. A handwritten text selection320is illustrated having a highlighted section325wherein the word “handwriting” has been highlighted by the electronic pen210after the electronic pen210has been selectively placed into highlighter mode. As will be described below with reference toFIG. 4, the highlighter cursor height may be set to the distance between the given pair of rule lines312.

Referring back to the handwritten text selection245, illustrated inFIG. 2, the general height255of the handwritten text selection is illustrated. According to embodiments of the present invention, the general height255of the handwritten text selection is determined by ignoring the lengths of ascending and descending character segments such as the looped tail of the character “g” in the word “handwriting.” As will be described with reference toFIG. 4below, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the proper highlighter cursor height for use with a handwritten text selection such as the selection245may be adjusted to the general height255of the handwritten text selection. Alternatively, the highlighter cursor height may be adjusted to the maximum height260of the handwritten text selection, including the lengths of ascending and descending character segments such as the looping tail of the character “g” of the word “handwriting.” For determining the general height255of a handwritten text selection245, methods may be used whereby a determination is made as to the height associated with the statistically significant text input. For example, for the text selection245, the general height255of the word “handwriting” may be determined by considering the maximum height of text input for writing the word “handwriting” without consideration of ascending and descending character segments such as the top of the letter “t” and the looping tail of the letter “g”. For a detailed discussion of methods and systems for determining the general height255of handwritten text such as the handwritten text selection245, see U.S. patent application entitled “Writing Guide For A Free-Form Document Editor, Ser. No. 10/186,388, File Jun. 28, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set out herein.

FIG. 4is a flow diagram showing an illustrative routine for automatically adjusting an electronic highlighter cursor height relative to computer-displayed objects, such as typed or handwritten text or images, to be highlighted. The routine400begins at start block405and proceeds to block410where a user selects a highlighting functionality for utilizing the electronic pen210or mousing device220as an electronic highlighter. For purposes of illustration, consider for example that the user desires to highlight a portion of the 12-point type text selection225, a portion of the 14-point type text selection235, a portion of the handwritten text selection245, illustrated inFIG. 2, and the user also desires to highlight a portion of the text selection310illustrated inFIG. 3. At block415, the user places the tip of the highlighter pen210or places the mouse cursor of the mouse220over the desired text to be highlighted. For example, referring toFIG. 2, the user may place the tip of the electronic pen210at the beginning of the words “selection in” contained in the text selection225for purposes of dragging the tip of the electronic pen across the words “selection in” for highlighting those words. At block420, a determination is made as to the line height of the portion of the text selection to be highlighted. For example, at block420, the line height of the words “selection in” is determined for automatically adjusting the cursor height of the highlighter ink to be distributed onto the display205as the user drags the tip of the electronic pen210across the words “selection in.”

According to embodiments of the present invention, it is desirable that the cursor height or the height of the electronic ink that is distributed onto the display screen205by the highlighter pen210be automatically adjusted to the height of the typed or handwritten text selection to be highlighted. That is, as shown inFIG. 2, the height of the typed text selection230is smaller than the height of the text selection240. Similarly, the height of the handwritten text selection245also varies relative to the two typed text selections. It is desirable that the cursor height or height of the electronic pen highlighter ink be adjusted so that the user is able to highlight the full height of the typed or handwritten text as the user drags the tip of the electronic pen210across the text selection to be highlighted.

Referring still toFIG. 4, the determination of the line height of the text selection to be highlighted at block420may be determined according to a number of alternative embodiments. According to a first embodiment, the routine moves to block425and the height of a typed text selection such as the text selection230,240may be determined from the font size used for displaying the text selection. For example, the text selection225illustrated inFIG. 2is displayed in a 12-point type. The text selection235illustrated inFIG. 2is displayed in a 14-point type. Because the font sizes (12 point versus14point) of the two text selections may be readily determined, the line height of those text selections may likewise be readily determined for adjusting the height of the highlighter cursor for use in highlighting a portion of the text selection.

After a determination of the height of the typed text selection is performed, the routine moves to block430, and a determination is made of the height of a handwritten text selection such as the handwritten text selection245. That is, if the user places the tip of the electronic pen210onto a handwritten text selection245, a determination of the general height255of the handwritten selection may be performed, as described above. Accordingly, the determined general height255of the handwritten text selection to be highlighted may be adopted as the height of the highlighter cursor for use in highlighting the handwritten selection, such as the highlighted portion250of the handwritten selection245illustrated inFIG. 2.

According to an alternative embodiment, the cursor height for highlighting the handwritten text selection245may be determined by calculating the maximum height of the handwritten selection to be highlighted, including the height of ascending and descending character segments such as the looping tail of the character “g” of the word “handwriting” illustrated inFIG. 2. Accordingly, a cursor height calculated in this manner will be slightly higher than many of the characters in a given text selection such as the word “selection” illustrated in the text selection245ofFIG. 2, but the cursor height will be high enough to ensure the user that the electronic ink flowing from the electronic highlighter pen210may cover all of the handwritten text selection to be highlighted.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the electronic cursor height may be determined from the distance between rule lines displayed on a computer screen display300displayed in rule line mode. According to this embodiment, the routine400proceeds to block435, and a determination is made as to the distance between rule lines312of the display screen300between which a text selection has been entered where the text selection contains a portion of text to be highlighted by the user. That is, if the user touches the tip of the electronic pen210to a portion of the text selection310illustrated between the rule lines312of the computer screen display300, a determination is made as to the distance between the rule lines containing the text selection to be highlighted. Accordingly, the distance between the rule lines is adopted as the height of the cursor height, and the cursor height is automatically adjusted to that distance. When the user drags the tip of the electronic pen210across the text selection310, the height of the highlighter cursor is automatically adjusted to a height equal to the distance between the rule lines so that the user may highlight a portion of the text such as the portion315containing the words “a text” illustrated inFIG. 3. As should be understood by those skilled in the art, the methods described herein are equally applicable to highlighting an image drawn on or copied to the display screen205by determining the height of the drawn or copied image and by automatically adjusting the highlighter cursor height to the height of the image to allow the user to distribute highlighter ink onto the image at a height equal to the height of the image.

Once the desired cursor height is determined, as described above for one of the alternative embodiments, the routine proceeds to block445, and the cursor height is set to the determined height. At block450, the user is free to draw highlighter ink at the determined height across the display screen205and across desired typed or handwritten text selections in order to highlight those selections. Once the user has highlighted all desired typed or handwritten text, the user may disengage the highlighting action by lifting the electronic pen210from the display screen205, or by selectively placing the electronic pen210or the mousing device220out of highlighter mode. If the electronic pen210or mousing device220is still in highlighter mode, the user may begin a second highlighting action by placing the tip of the electronic pen210or the mouse cursor onto or over a different text selection, and an automatic adjustment of the cursor height will be performed to adjust the cursor height to the height of the second text selection to be highlighted. That is, if the second text selection to be highlighted by the user is higher than the previous text selection, the cursor height is automatically adjusted to the height of the second text selection, as described herein. The user may disengage from the highlighting mode by lifting the electronic pen210from the display screen205, or by selectively placing the electronic pen210or mousing device220out of highlighter mode. The routine ends at block495.

As described herein, methods and systems are provided for automatically adjusting electronic highlighter cursor height in response to a determined height of typed or handwritten text or to a determined height of images to be highlighted on a computer-generated display screen. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.