Patent Abstract:
A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided in which displayed text is manipulated using two fingers within an editing application to select a region of text or objects. In an example, two fingers are placed on a touch-sensitive display or touch pad and the region of text between the fingers is selected. The selected text can be manipulated as otherwise selected text is currently manipulated, e.g. cut, paste and copy functions can be performed. The movement of the fingers also performs this manipulation. In one example, if the fingers are brought to together, the selected text is cut, or a split screen could occur. If the fingers are placed together and then parted, the action would be to part the text to make room for a picture or other insert.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to information processing systems and more particularly to a methodology and implementation for utilizing touch-sensitive surface technology in word processing systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Currently available laptop computers and smaller electronic devices such as hand-held PCs, organizers and even cell phone devices, all have some capability to run word processor applications. Such applications are used, for example, in creating and editing documents which may be electronically transmitted to other electronic devices directly from the device upon which they were created. However, many of the word processor applications are difficult to use on smaller devices and other applications are lacking in functionality because the size of the device. 
         [0003]    Many phone and computer devices have either touch sensitive screens or touch sensitive pads with which a user is enabled to perform certain limited functions. Such operations, however, are difficult for users to execute. For example, when using a touch pad for blocking out text for further word processing functions, a user has had to double-touch the touch pad with the user&#39;s finger at a text location marking a beginning of a text section and, without losing contact with the touchpad, drag the finger to the end of the text section desired to comprise a blocked-out portion of text. This operation is relatively difficult for a user to execute. Moreover, changing the blocked-out portion after one has been established is even more difficult and most of the time requires that the initial block be un-done and the entire blocking procedure be re-executed. 
         [0004]    Thus there is a need for an improved methodology and implementing system which enables a user to more easily define and manipulate word processing functions using a touch sensitive pad or display screen. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided in which displayed text is manipulated using two fingers within an editing application to select a region of text or objects. In an example, two fingers are placed on a touch-sensitive display or touch pad and the region of text between the fingers is selected. The selected text can be manipulated as otherwise selected text is currently manipulated, e.g. cut, paste and copy functions can be performed. The movement of the fingers also performs this manipulation. In one example, if the fingers are brought to together, the selected text is cut, or a split screen could occur. If the fingers are placed together and then parted, the action would be to part the text to make room for a picture or other insert. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a laptop computer embodiment in which the present invention may be implemented; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing several of the major components of the laptop computer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are illustrations showing text manipulation and corresponding touch pad finger movements to cause the text manipulation; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are illustrations showing text manipulation and corresponding touch pad finger movements to cause the text manipulation; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are illustrations showing text manipulation and corresponding touch pad finger movements to cause the text manipulation; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are illustrations showing text manipulation and corresponding touch pad finger movements to cause the text manipulation; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are illustrations showing text manipulation and corresponding touch pad finger movements to cause the text manipulation; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating an operational sequence of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The various methods discussed herein may be implemented within a computing system which includes processing means, memory, storage, input means and display means. Since the individual components of a communication system which may be used to implement the functions used in practicing the present invention are generally known in the art and composed of electronic components and circuits which are also generally known to those skilled in the art, circuit details beyond those shown are not specified to any greater extent than that considered necessary as illustrated, for the understanding and appreciation of the underlying concepts of the present invention and in order not to obfuscate or distract from the teachings of the present invention. Although the invention is illustrated in the context of a laptop computer system, it is understood that the principles of the invention may be implemented in any of many available and future communication devices and systems, including but not limited to touch sensitive displays or touch sensitive pads of personal assistant devices, hand-held personal computer devices and cell phone and other wireless communication devices. 
         [0016]    Utilizing the methodology of the present invention, selected text can be manipulated in manners otherwise available in word processing programs. Predetermined text and/or image manipulations are performed using two fingers or other pointing objects such as stencils upon a touch sensitive display screen or touch sensitive pad of, for example, a laptop or hand-held computer device. In an example, if the fingers are brought together, the selected or blocked-out text is cut, or a split screen is created. If the fingers are placed together and then parted, the corresponding text action is to part the text to create space for an insert. After the first finger is placed on the touch pad, the second finger can be placed, re-placed or slid to the correct placement to properly identify and/or change the selected or blocked text. Inadvertent cutting and inserting is avoided since the cutting and parting functions are executed only when both fingers are moved in unison. 
         [0017]    With specific reference to the drawings, in  FIG. 1  there is shown a laptop personal computer or PC  101  which includes a display screen  103 , a keyboard area  105  and a touch pad  107 . The touch pad is arranged to work in a normal manner as an alternative to a mouse device (not shown) to enable a user to provide inputs to accomplish predetermined functions in accordance with whatever application is running on the PC. 
         [0018]    In  FIG. 2 , several of the main components of the PC  101  are illustrated. As shown, the PC includes a processor unit  201  which is connected to a main bus  203 . Also connected to the main bus  203  is a system memory  205 , a storage unit  207 , a display system  209  and a user input interface  211  which, in turn, is configured to receive inputs from a keyboard  213 , a mouse  217  and a touch sensitive pad  215 . 
         [0019]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a touch pad  301  and a corresponding screen display  304 , respectively. The touch pad  301  shows points of contact  302  and  303  where a user has placed his or her fingers on the touch pad  301 . As shown on the display  304 , a portion of the text has been highlighted or emboldened to indicate the portion of the text that has been selected by the placement of the fingers on the touch pad  301 . Once the selected text has been blocked out, the block or highlighted text can be cut or deleted, or cut and pasted or copied and pasted or moved as part of a word processing application. The processing disclosed herein establishes a new and more easily practiced method for enabling a user to select text or document sections for further word processing manipulation. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a touch pad  401  and a corresponding screen display  404 , respectively. The touch pad  401  shows points of contact  402  and  403  where a user has placed his or her fingers on the touch pad  401 . As shown on the display  404 , a portion of the text has been highlighted or emboldened to indicate the portion of the text that has been selected by the placement of the fingers on the touch pad  401 . In  FIG. 4A , one of the fingers corresponding to touch point  403  has been moved downwardly while the other touch point  402  has remained at the same point as shown in  FIG. 3A . This action results in the expansion of the blocked text downwardly for one additional line to now include the text “conceived in Liberty,”. In this manner, by moving only one finger while maintaining the other finger in place, a selected block can be easily expanded or contracted to suit the user&#39;s needs. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a touch pad  501  and a corresponding screen display  504 , respectively. The touch pad  501  shows points of contact  502  and  503  which represent points of contact with the touch pad  501 . As shown, point  502  was established by moving point  402  to the right from the position shown in  FIG. 4A  and point  503  was established by moving point  403  to the left from the position shown in  FIG. 4A . It is important to note that, in this example, the finger movements to the positions  502  and  503  are accomplished sequentially and not in unison, i.e. the fingers are moved one at a time to the positions shown in  FIG. 5A . This action results in changing the blocked text to now include the text “our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived”. Again, these finger movements are done sequentially and not in unison. In this manner, by moving only one finger while maintaining the other finger in place, a selected block can be easily expanded or contracted to suit the user&#39;s needs. 
         [0022]    To create spaces in text for the insertion of additional text or graphic images, the process illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  may be used.  FIG. 6A  shows a touch pad  601  including points  607  and  611  and  FIG. 6B  shows a screen display  603  including a text portion of a document. In  FIG. 6A , when the fingers are parted in unison, i.e. when a finger is moved from an initial position  605  to position  607  in unison with a movement of a second finger from  609  to  611 , that concurrent movement or parting of the fingers causes the text shown in  FIG. 6B  to part  613  thereby creating a space in the text which may be used for the insertion of additional text or graphic images. 
         [0023]    To merge text together, the process illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  may be used.  FIG. 7A  shows a touch pad  701  including points  707  and  711  and  FIG. 7B  shows a screen display  703  including a text portion of a document. In  FIG. 7A , when the fingers are merged toward each other in unison, i.e. when a finger is moved from an initial position  705  to position  707  in unison with a movement of a second finger from  709  to  711 , that concurrent movement or closing of the fingers causes the text shown in  FIG. 7B  to merge  713  thereby effectively deleting text from the document. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , in an exemplary operation of a system implementing the present invention, when it is detected that two points of contact have been established  801  on a touch pad, the text between those two point is highlighted or emboldened as selected text for manipulation. Thereafter, one of four actions may occur depending upon the action of the user. If the user removes both fingers from the pad  817 , the selected text remains highlighted for subsequent manipulation until two new points are detected  801  or the program is closed  819 . If the user moves only one finger  805 , the extent of the blocked or selected text is changed accordingly  807  and the process returns to monitor the next user action. If the user parts both fingers in unison  809 , the text content is parted to create space in the document  811  and the process again returns to monitor the next action of the user. If the user closes fingers or moves both fingers in unison toward each other  813 , corresponding text content is cut  815  and moved to a clipboard for further processing or simply cut from the document. In all cases, when the user removes both fingers from the touch pad  817 , the process either closes if the word processor application is closed  819  or returns to await another detection of two contact points on the touch pad  801 . 
         [0025]    The method and apparatus of the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment as disclosed herein. The disclosed methodology may be implemented in a wide range of sequences, and screen designs to accomplish the desired results as herein illustrated. Although an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail herein, along with certain variants thereof, many other varied embodiments that incorporate the teachings of the invention may be easily constructed by those skilled in the art, and even included or integrated into a processor or CPU or other larger system integrated circuit or chip. The disclosed methodology may also be implemented solely or partially in program code stored in any media, including portable or fixed, volatile or non-volatile memory media device, including CDs, RAM and “Flash” memory, or other semiconductor, optical, magnetic or other memory storage media from which it may be loaded and/or transmitted into other media and executed to achieve the beneficial results as described herein. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6