Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system, method and medium for receiving and acting upon user input. In one embodiment, the user may only have access to a limited input device, like a stylus. Using the present invention, a user is provided with intuitive responses from the system based on inputs from the limited input device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/627,275, filed on Nov. 30, 2009, which is a continuation Ser. No. 11/202,034, filed Aug. 12, 2005, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,626,580, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/993,357, filed Nov. 22 2004, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,889, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/736,170, filed Dec. 15, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,897,853, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/247,400, filed Nov. 10, 2000, each of which is incorporated by reference herein as to its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Aspects of the present invention are directed generally to apparatus and methods for controlling a graphical user interface (GUI). More particularly, the present invention relates to receiving user input, determining based on the user input what the user wants to do, and performing a function related to the desired input. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Typical computer systems, especially computer systems using graphical user interface (GUI) systems such as Microsoft WINDOWS, are optimized for accepting user input from one or more discrete input devices such as a keyboard and for entering text, and a pointing device such as a mouse with one or more buttons for driving the user interface. Virtually all software applications designed to run on Microsoft WINDOWS are optimized to accept user input in the same manner. For instance, many applications make extensive use of the right mouse button (a “right click”) to display context-sensitive command menus. The user may generate other gestures using the mouse such as by clicking the left button of the mouse (a “left click”), or by clicking the left or right button of the mouse and moving the mouse while the button is depressed (either a “left click drag” or a “right click drag”). 
         [0004]    In some environments, a mouse is not usable or desirable. For example, in a digitizer tablet environment, the primary input device may be a stylus. While a stylus attempts to provide pad and paper-like feel to a computing environment, current systems are limited. For example, the use of a stylus in a graphical user interface is limited to tapping on various items for selection. See, for example, the Palm-series of products using the Palm OS 3.0 operating system. Further, in stylus-based input environments, a user is continually forced to select tools or operations from a remote tool bar, generally on a top or bottom of a screen. While a user can type in letters or have the digitizer recognize handwriting, these operations require selecting a keyboard input mode and writing in a predefined portion of the digitizer, respectively. In short, requiring a user to tell the computer, for every new input, what a user wants to do makes stylus-based computing difficult for the average user. Accordingly, stylus based inputs have been relegated to personal data assistants (PDAs) where significant user input is not possible. Mainstream computing still requires the use of at least a keyboard and mouse (or mouse-based input device, for example, trackballs, touch-pads, and other mouse substitutes) 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a need exists for permitting a user to perform all operations of a mouse-type device using a stylus. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    As discussed in the various copending patent applications incorporated herein by reference, aspects of the present invention are directed to a tablet-like computer that allows users to directly write on a display surface using a stylus. The display surface may physically, optically, and or electro magnetically detect the stylus. The computer may allow the user to write and to edit, manipulate, and create objects through the use of the stylus. Many of the features discussed in these copending applications are more easily performed by use of the various aspects of the present invention discussed herein. 
         [0007]    An aspect of the present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for simulating gestures of a mouse by use of a stylus on a display surface. The present invention determines the operation a user wants to perform based on the user&#39;s input. This determination may include reference to other information including the location of the user&#39;s input on a digitizer (e.g., location on a screen) and the status of other objects or elements as displayed. By using this information, the system determines what the user wants to do and implements the action. 
         [0008]    A number of inputs with a stylus are possible. For example, a user may tap a stylus, stroke the stylus, hold the stylus at a given point, or hold then drag the stylus. Other inputs and combinations are possible as noted by the above-identified applications, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0009]    As to a stroke operation, the system may drag an object, may maintain a current state or operation, or being inking. Inking may include writing, drawing, or adding annotations as described in greater detail in U.S. Ser. No. 60/212,825, filed Jun. 21, 2000, entitled “Methods for Classifying, Anchoring, and Transforming Ink Annotations” and incorporated by reference. 
         [0010]    As to a tap operation, the system may add to existing writing, may select a new object, insert a cursor or insertion point, or may perform an action on a selected object. 
         [0011]    As to a hold operation, the system may simulate a right mouse button click or other definable event. 
         [0012]    As to a hold and drag operation, the system may drag a selected object or perform other functions. 
         [0013]    These and other features of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. Although the invention has been defined using the appended claims, these claims are exemplary in that the invention is intended to include the elements and steps described herein in any combination or subcombination. Accordingly, there are any number of alternative combinations for defining the invention, which incorporate one or more elements from the specification, including the description, claims, and drawings, in various combinations or subcombinations. It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant technology, in light of the present specification, that alternate combinations of aspects of the invention, either alone or in combination with one or more elements or steps defined herein, may be utilized as modifications or alterations of the invention or as part of the invention. It is intended that the written description of the invention contained herein covers all such modifications and alterations. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The foregoing summary of the invention, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example, and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed invention. In the accompanying drawings, elements are labeled with three-digit reference numbers, wherein the first digit of a reference number indicates the drawing number in which the element is first illustrated. The same reference number in different drawings refers to the same element. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a general-purpose digital computing environment that can be used to implement various aspects of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a tablet computer and stylus that can be used in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 3-7  are flowcharts showing a variety of steps for interpreting a user&#39;s input in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The present invention may be more readily described with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic diagram of a conventional general-purpose digital computing environment that can be used to implement various aspects of the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , a computer  100  includes a processing unit  110 , a system memory  120 , and a system bus  130  that couples various system components including the system memory to the processing unit  110 . The system bus  130  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory  120  includes read only memory (ROM)  140  and random access memory (RAM)  150 . 
         [0019]    A basic input/output system  160  (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer  100 , such as during start-up, is stored in the ROM  140 . The computer  100  also includes a hard disk drive  170  for reading from and writing to a hard disk (not shown), a magnetic disk drive  180  for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk  190 , and an optical disk drive  191  for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk  192  such as a CD ROM or other optical media. The hard disk drive  170 , magnetic disk drive  180 , and optical disk drive  191  are connected to the system bus  130  by a hard disk drive interface  192 , a magnetic disk drive interface  193 , and an optical disk drive interface  194 , respectively. The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the personal computer  100 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable media that can store data that is accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like, may also be used in the example operating environment. 
         [0020]    A number of program modules can be stored on the hard disk drive  170 , magnetic disk  190 , optical disk  192 , ROM  140  or RAM  150 , including an operating system  195 , one or more application programs  196 , other program modules  197 , and program data  198 . A user can enter commands and information into the computer  100  through input devices such as a keyboard  101  and pointing device  102 . Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  110  through a serial port interface  106  that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). Further still, these devices may be coupled directly to the system bus  130  via an appropriate interface (not shown). A monitor  107  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  130  via an interface, such as a video adapter  108 . In addition to the monitor, personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers. In a preferred embodiment, a pen digitizer  165  and accompanying pen or stylus  166  are provided in order to digitally capture freehand input. Although a direct connection between the pen digitizer  165  and the processing unit  110  is shown, in practice, the pen digitizer  165  may be coupled to the processing unit  110  via a serial port, parallel port or other interface and the system bus  130  as known in the art. Furthermore, although the digitizer  165  is shown apart from the monitor  107 , it is preferred that the usable input area of the digitizer  165  be co-extensive with the display area of the monitor  107 . Further still, the digitizer  165  may be integrated in the monitor  107 , or may exist as a separate device overlaying or otherwise appended to the monitor  107 . 
         [0021]    The computer  100  can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  109 . The remote computer  109  can be a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer  100 , although only a memory storage device  111  has been illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The logical connections depicted in  FIG. 1  include a local area network (LAN)  112  and a wide area network (WAN)  113 . Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet. 
         [0022]    When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer  100  is connected to the local network  112  through a network interface or adapter  114 . When used in a WAN networking environment, the personal computer  100  typically includes a modem  115  or other means for establishing a communications over the wide area network  113 , such as the Internet. The modem  115 , which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus  130  via the serial port interface  106 . In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the personal computer  100 , or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. 
         [0023]    It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other techniques for establishing a communications link between the computers can be used. The existence of any of various well-known protocols such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, FTP, HTTP and the like is presumed, and the system can be operated in a client-server configuration to permit a user to retrieve web pages from a web-based server. Any of various conventional web browsers can be used to display and manipulate data on web pages. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a tablet PC  201  that can be used in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. Any or all of the features, subsystems, and functions in the system of  FIG. 1  can be included in the computer of  FIG. 2 . Tablet PC  201  includes a large display surface  202 , e.g., a digitizing flat panel display, preferably, a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, on which a plurality of windows  203  is displayed. Using stylus  204 , a user can select, highlight, and write on the digitizing display area. Examples of suitable digitizing display panels include electromagnetic pen digitizers, such as the Mutoh or Wacom pen digitizers. Other types of pen digitizers, e.g., optical digitizers, may also be used. Tablet PC  201  interprets marks made using stylus  204  in order to manipulate data, enter text, and execute conventional computer application tasks such as spreadsheets, word processing programs, and the like. 
         [0025]    A stylus could be equipped with buttons or other features to augment its selection capabilities. In one embodiment, a stylus could be implemented as a “pencil” or “pen”, in which one end constitutes a writing portion and the other end constitutes an “eraser” end, and which, when moved across the display, indicates portions of the display are to be erased. Other types of input devices, such as a mouse, trackball, or the like could be used. Additionally, a user&#39;s own finger could be used for selecting or indicating portions of the displayed image on a touch-sensitive or proximity-sensitive display. Consequently, the term “user input device”, as used herein, is intended to have a broad definition and encompasses many variations on well-known input devices. 
         [0026]    Region  205  shows a feed back region or contact region permitting the user to determine where the stylus as contacted the digitizer. In another embodiment, the region  205  provides visual feedback when the hold status of the present invention has been reached. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 3-7  show various flowcharts for determining what a user wants to do based on a user&#39;s interaction with the digitizer. As will be discussed below, the user contacts the digitizer where the user wants to begin writing, tapping, annotating, dragging, etc. In the case where the digitizer is superimposed over a display, the user&#39;s contact with the digitizer is directed at operating at (or near) the contact point between the user&#39;s stylus and the currently displayed information at or near the contact point. 
         [0028]    In step  301 , the system senses a contact or other indication of an action. In one embodiment the contact may be the stylus contacting the surface of the digitizer. In another embodiment, the action may be bringing the tip of the stylus near the digitizer&#39;s surface. Further, if the stylus includes another signaling method (for example, a radio transmitter transmitting a signal to the digitizer signaling a user&#39;s input), the digitizer (or related input mechanism or mechanisms) interpret the received signal as a user&#39;s input. Other methods of starting an operation or writing or contact with a digitizer are known in the art. For purposes of illustration and description, the system and method reference physical contact with the digitizer. All other ways of providing signals to a processor are considered within the scope of the invention and are not mentioned here for simplicity. 
         [0029]    In step  302 , the system determines the contact position and what lies beneath the contact position (for example, an object, a drawing, blank space, ink, and the like). In step  303 , the system determines if the stylus has moved beyond a first threshold (time, distance, rate, or acceleration, and the like). In one embodiment, the threshold is set to the minimum resolvable movement. In another embodiment, the threshold is set higher to account for shaky hands, vibrations of the digitizer or tablet pc (for example, if trying to use the system while driving in a car over a bumpy road). It is noted that objects may have all the same threshold. Alternatively, objects may have different thresholds. This may be dependent on the object, the size of the object, the state of the system, the state of the object, and the like. 
         [0030]    If the first threshold has been exceeded, then the system proceeds to step  304  where the user&#39;s input is classified as a stroke and the system steps to point A  305 . If the first threshold has not been exceeded, the system determines if the stylus was still in contact with the digitizer when a time threshold had expired in step  306 . If no (meaning that the stylus was still in contact with the digitizer surface), the system classifies the input as a tap in step  307  and proceeds to point B  308 . 
         [0031]    If the stylus was still in contact with the surface after the time threshold in step  306 , the system determines if a second move threshold was exceeded in step  309 . The first and second move thresholds may be identical or different. For example, both may be 0.25 mm. Or, the first may be 0.5 mm or one mm and the second be 0.3 mm. Further, the first may be 1.2 mm or more and the second may be 0.5 mm or more. In short, any values may be used as long as they are not obtrusive to the user. The second threshold may be determined only after the time threshold of step  306  has expired. In this example, the second threshold may be higher than the first threshold (or it may be the same or smaller). 
         [0032]    If the second move threshold was not exceeded, then the system classifies the input as a hold in step  310  and proceeds to point C  311 . If the second move threshold was exceeded, then the system classifies the input as a ‘hold and drag’ in step  312  and moves to point D  313 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows point A as starting point  401 . Here, the system classified the input as a stroke and begins stroke processing in step  402 . In step  403 , the system determines if the stroke started on a draggable object. If yes, the system determines in step  404  whether drag threshold was exceeded (for example, 0.25 inches, 0.25 inches per second and the like). If so, the system classifies the stroke as a drag in step  405  and performs a function that is dependent on the object. For example, the drag may extend a selection as described in greater detail in “Selection Handles in Editing Electronic Documents,” filed concurrently with the present application (attorney docket 03797.00069), and expressly incorporated by reference. Also, the drag may operate a bungee tool as described in Serial No. (Atty docket 3797.00070), entitled “Insertion Point Bungee Space Tool”, and filed concurrently with the present application, and expressly incorporated herein. 
         [0034]    If, in step  404 , the drag threshold has not been exceeded, the system maintains the current state (with the object being selected or not) in step  407 . If the stroke was not over a draggable object in step  403 , the system determines if the area under the contact point is inkable in step  408 . For example, inkable may mean an area capable of receiving ink (including drawings, annotations, or writing) as detailed in Ser. No. 60/212,825, filed Jun. 21, 2000, and expressly incorporated herein by reference for essential subject matter. By contrast, a control button (for copy, save, open, etc.) may not be inkable. If inkable in step  408 , the system permits inking (drawing, writing, annotating and other related functions) in step  409 . If not inkable, the system maintains the current state (objects selected or not) in step  407 . 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 5A , the system starts at point B  501  and operates on the input as a tap  502 . The system determines whether the tap was on an area or object that is inkable in step  503 . If yes, the system determines whether any ink was recently added or “wet” (for example, less than 0.5 or 1 second old) in step  504 . If so, the system considers the tap as a dot to be added to the ink in step  505  (and adds the dot). If no wet ink exists, then the system determines if the tap was over a selectable object in step  506 . It is noted that steps  503  and  504  may be combined. If the tap was over a selectable object, then the system determines if the object was already selected in step  507 . If it was not, then the system selects the tapped object in step  508 . If a previous object had been selected, the system cancels the previous or old selection in step  509 . If the object was previously selected as determined by step  507 , the system performs an action relevant to the object in step  510 . This action may include editing the object, performing a predefined operation (for example, enlarge, shrink and the like). From step  506 , if the tap was not on a selectable object, then the system proceeds to point BB  512 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 5B  shows additional processing to  FIG. 5A . As point BB  512 , the system determines if the tap was in a space between text (referred to herein as an inline space) in step  513 . If yes, the system places an insertion point at the tap point in step  514 . As shown in a broken lined box, the system may also cancel any old or previous selections in step  515 . If no, then the system determines if the tap point has ink nearby in step  518 . If the system determines that the tap was nearby ink, then the system adds a dot to the ink in step  516 . If there was an old selection, then the system cancels the old selection in step  517  (as shown by a broken line box). 
         [0037]    If not nearby ink in step  518 , the system determines if the tap is on an active object in step  519 . If the tap was not on an active object, the system places an insertion point at the tap point or performs some other definable action in step  520 . Again, if there was an old selection, then the system cancels the old selection in step  521  (as shown by a broken line box). If the tap was on an active object as determined by step  519 , the system performs an action in step  522 . The action may be definable by the user or relate to any function desirable. In one embodiment, the action may be to perform a function to operate a selection handle or bungee space tool as described in Ser. No. 60/247,973 (Attorney docket 3797.00069), “Selection Handles in Editing Electronic Documents,” filed concurrently with the present application and expressly incorporated by reference. Also, the drag may operate a bungee tool as described in Ser. No. 60/247,842 (Atty. docket 3797.00070), entitled “Insertion Point Bungee Space Tool”, and filed concurrently with the present application, and expressly incorporated herein. Other operations are known in the art and incorporated herein. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  relates to holding a stylus beyond a time threshold. Starting from point C  601 , the system classifies the user input as a hold operation in step  602 . Next, the system simulates a right mouse button click or other definable event in step  603 . The functions associated with step  603  are described in greater detail in U.S. application Ser. No. 60/247,844 (Atty. docket 3797.00072), entitled “Simulating Gestures of a Mouse Using a Stylus and Providing Feedback Thereto”, filed Nov. 10, 2000, whose contents are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  relates to holding a stylus beyond a time threshold and moving the stylus. Starting from point D  701 , the system classifies the user input as a hold and drag operation in step  702 . Next, in step  703  the system drags the selected object as directed by the user. 
         [0040]    There are a number of alternatives associated with dragging. If the hold and drag relates to an inline space, the system may use this hold and drag function to select text. Similarly, one may use this function to select a drawing encountered by the dragged stylus. Further, one may select both text and drawings in this manner. Also, the cursor&#39;s point may become a selection tool that leaves a trail behind it. In this regard, the user may loop a number of objects, drawing or text in this regard. The looping of the objects may result in the selecting of the objects. 
         [0041]    An alternate embodiment of the present invention relates to modifying ink drawings or annotations. For example, if one added an annotation (from step  409 ) to text, one may manipulate the text (for example, by inserting new text) and have the annotation track the manipulation of the text. So, if one circled text then added text to the circled text, the annotation would expand to include the added text as well. This is described in relation to in U.S. Ser. No. 60/212,825, filed Jun. 21, 2000, entitled “Methods for Classifying, Anchoring, and Transforming Ink Annotations” and incorporated by reference. 
         [0042]    While exemplary systems and methods embodying the present invention are shown by way of example, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, each of the elements of the aforementioned embodiments may be utilized alone or in combination with elements of the other embodiment.