Abstract:
The current invention discloses a method and apparatus and a computer program for editing the colors in a text line from a rotating color word selector on a personal desktop computer. The current invention comprises a select word button on the rotating color word selector. Activating this button allows the user to select color data from the color library. The color date is shown on the select order bar display apparatus as a visual color image. The order of colors on the select order bar determines the color of the words in the text line.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/173,877 filed Dec. 30, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to data processing systems, and in particular to a user interface for specifying and customizing color word, number &amp; symbol, punctuation mark in a text line. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Personal computers with color displays are the standard of the industry today. Writing a letter on a personal computer or a work station, the user can change a regular font style to another style, such as bold or underline, on the text line. 
     The use of changing the color of background is available to the current invention as well. This technology is for signs, but not document processing. 
     In order to make this invention completely understood and appreciated in its proper context, references are made to two patents. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,872,555, issued to Kolar, discloses a method and apparatus for customizing color in a data processing system with the use of a Quick Color Select and Edit Custom Color Function. This device can create a custom color of text. This allows the user to choose from a greater range of color or to create color by the user. However, it does not allow the user to rotate the color of text on tho text line. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,060, issued to Drew, discloses a system and a method for evaluating sign legibility. 
     Whatever the precise merits, features and advantages or the above cited references, none of the achievements fulfills the purpose of rotating the color of words, numbers, symbols, and punctuation marks in the text line on the personal computer as it does by the present invention. This invention can be used in many applications. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to my present invention, I have provided a graphical user interface for creating rotating color words displayed in a text line on a computer desktop of a data processing system. This graphical user, interlace comprises the followings: 
     Generating a request to change the text line to rotating color words on the computer desktop; 
     Presenting a Rotating Color Word selector on the computer desktop having a color library, the color library having a plurality of colors, a select order bar, a select order button, a random selection button, an ok button and a cancel button, the Rotating Color Word selector disappearing immediately from user viewing upon activating the ok button and immediately activating a Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector; 
     Identifying a color from the plurality of colors in the color library by manipulating a pointing mechanism for identifying the color; 
     Selecting the color by the select order button, the select order bar having a plurality of selections, the plurality of selections being placed in a left to right order, the left to right order determines the order in which the color of words are displayed in the text line; 
     Selecting the random selection button in the Rotating Color Word selector, activates a Rotating Color Word computer program, the Rotating Color Word computer program makes selections for the user, the Rotating Color Word selector disappearing immediately from the user viewing upon activating the random selection button, and immediately activating Rotating Color Number and Symbols selector; and 
     Selecting the ok buttons dismisses the Rotating Color Word selector and immediately activates a Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector. 
     According to my present invention, I have also provided an apparatus for creating rotating color words displayed in a text line on a computer desktop of a data processing, system. This apparatus comprises the followings: 
     Means for generating a request to change the text line to rotating color words on the computer desktop; 
     Means for presenting a Rotating Color Word selector on the computer desktop having a color library, the color library having a plurality of colors, a select order bar, a select order button, a random selection button, an ok button and a cancel button, the Rotating Color Word selector disappearing immediately from user viewing upon activating the ok button and immediately activating a Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector; 
     Means for identifying a color from the plurality of colors in the color library by manipulating a pointing mechanism for identifying the color; 
     Means for selecting the color by the select order button, the select order bar having a plurality of selections, the plurality of selections being placed in a left to right order, the left to right order determines the order in which the color words are displayed in the text line; 
     Means for selecting the random selection button in the Rotating Color Word selector, activating a Rotating Color Word computer program, the Rotating Color Word computer program making the selections for the user, the Rotating Color Word selector disappearing immediately from the user viewing upon activating the random selection button, and immediately activating Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector; aid 
     Means for selecting the ok button, dismissing the Rotating Color Word selector and immediately activating Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector. 
     According to my present invention, I have further provided a computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for a graphical user interface for creating rotating color words displayed on a computer desktop of a data processing system. This computer program product comprises the followings: 
     Computer readable means for generating a request to change the text line to rotating color words on the computer desktop; 
     Computer readable means for presenting a Rotating Color Word selector on the computer desktop having a color library, the color library having a plurality of colors, a select order bar, a select order button, a random selection button, an ok button and a cancel button, the Rotating Color Word selector disappearing immediately from a user viewing upon activating the ok button and immediately activating a Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector; 
     Computer readable means for identifying a color from the plurality of colors in the color library by manipulating a pointing mechanism for identifying the color; 
     Computer readable means for selecting the color by the select order button, the select order bar having a plurality of selections, the plurality of selections being placed in a left to right order, the left to right order determines the order in which the color of words are displayed in the text line; 
     Computer readable means for selecting the random selection button in the Rotating Color Word selector, activating a Rotating Color Word computer program, the Rotating Color Word computer program making the selections for the user, the Rotating Color Word selector disappearing immediately from the user viewing upon activating the random selection button, and immediately activating Rotating Number and Symbol selector; and 
     Computer readable means for selecting the ok button dismissing the Rotating Color Word selector and immediately activating Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features of my invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following detailed description of my patent drawings, as follows: 
     FIG. 1 is shown a structure layout of the Rotating Color Word; 
     FIG. 2 is shown a structure layout of the Rotating Color Numbers and Symbols; 
     FIG. 3 is shown a structure layout of the Rotating Color Punctuation; 
     FIG. 4 is shown a procedure of an application of the Rotating Color Word; 
     FIG. 5 is shown a procedure of an application of the Rotating Color Numbers and Symbols; and 
     FIG. 6 is shown a procedure of an application of the Rotating Color Punctuation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Refer now to FIG. 1, which is an overall drawing of a preferred embodiment of the current invention. Rotating Color Word selector  1  is displayed in a dialog box on the desktop of a computer. The Rotating Color Word  1  Selector contains a color library with 40 color selections  2 . In addition, a select order bar  3  is directly below said color library  2  for color selections from said color library  2 . The color selections  2  appearing in a left to right order on the select order bar  3 . As appreciated by those skilled in the art, a user indicates the desired color by selecting the sample containing the color choice by manipulating a pointing mechanism for identifying said color selection. The select word order button  4  is invoked by said user and the sample is stored from left to right on the select order bar  2 . This dialog box is short lived with the select order bar  3 , which contains  8  selections. Random selection button  5 , when activated, causes Rotating Color Word Selector  1  to activate the Rotating Color Word. When the random selection button  5  is activated, the window closes and Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector  9  opens. Below tho random selection button  5  is a cancel button  7  for dismissing Rotating Color Word  1 . As soon as said cancel button  7  is activated, the Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector  8  will then come up on the displayer immediately. OK button  6 , when activated, dismisses Rotating Color Word  1 . The OK button  6  will then open Rotating Color Number &amp; Symbol selector  8 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a Rotating Color Number and Symbol  8  displayed in a dialog box on the desktop of a computer. The Rotating Number and Symbol  8  contains a color library with 40 color selections  9 . In addition, a select order bar  10  is directly below said library  9  for color selections from said library  9 . The color selections appear in a left to right order on the select order bar  10 . As appreciated by those skilled in the art, a user indicates, the desired color by selecting the sample contains the color choice. The select number and symbols button  11  is invoked by said user and the sample is stored to the select order bar  10  in an order from left to right. Random selection button  12 , when activated, causes Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector  8  of the random selection computer program to immediately start. This allows the computer program to choose the order of color number and symbols in the text line. This dialog box is short lived. When the random selection button is activated, the Rotating Number and Symbol selector  8  closes, and Rotating Color Punctuation  15  immediately opens. Below the random selection button  12  is a cancel button  14  for dismissing Rotating Number and Symbol selector  8 , and the dismissing of Rotating Number and Symbol selector  8  immediately opens Rotating Color Punctuation selector  15 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, which is an overall drawing of a preferred embodiment of the current invention. Rotating Color Punctuation Selector  15  is displayed in a dialog box on the desktop of a computer. The Rotating Color Punctuation Selector  15  contains a color library with 40 color selections  16 . In addition, a select order bar  17  is directly below said color library  16  for color selections from said library  16 . The color selections appear in a left to right order on the select order bar  17 . As appreciated by those skilled in the art, a user indicates the desired color by selecting the sample containing the color choice. The select punctuation button  18  is invoked by said user and the sample is stored on the select order bar  17  in a left to right order. Random selection button  19 , when activated, causes Rotating Color Punctuation Selector  15  of the random selection computer program immediately to start. This allows the computer program to choose the order of color punctuation in the text line. This dialog box is short lived. When the random selection button  19  is activated, the selector is immediately dismissed and program is fully activated. Below the random selection button  19  is a cancel button  21  for dismissing Rotating Color Punctuation selector  15 . The OK button  20 , when activated, dismisses Rotating Punctuation, and the program is then fully activated. The control tool check box  22  is located below the OK button  20 . When selected, it displays a x in the center of the box  22 . This box, when invoked, activates rotating punctuation computer program that allows matching punctuation marks, such as quotation marks, the same color on the text line. This allows said user more control and uniformity in handling the color selections. This also allows the use of some color with one selector or all 3 selectors. The default of an empty selector is the black color. 
     Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a flow diagram for defining rotating color word using this invention from the top of the figure at the start block, and proceeds immediately to block  23 , where a check is conducted to determine if an application request has been detected. If Yes, the procedure opens the Rotating Color Word selector at block  24 ; if No, the procedure contains looping awaiting application request. Processing proceeds to block  25 , the procedure checks to determine if a color is selected from the color library. If Yes, processing proceeds to block  27 , where a check determines if the select order button has been selected. If Yes, at block  30 , the procedure updates the select order bar. Returning to block  26 , the procedure displays Rotating Color Word Selector. At block  27 , a check determines if the cancel button has been activated. If Yes, the processing returns to block  23 , where a check is determined if an application request has been detected. If NO, the processing refers to insertion point B. At block  31 , a check to determine if the random select button has been selected. If Yes, at block  34  the rotating color word computer program is selected. At block  33 , a check is done to see if the OK button has been selected to activate the rotating color word program. If NO, at block  32 , Rotating Color Word is displayed. Procedure proceeds to block  33 , where a check determines if the OK button has been selected. If YES, program follows insertion point C. If NO, the program follows insertion point B at block  34 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that Rotating Color Word dialog is relatively transient. At block  35 , Rotating Color Word immediately disappears, after random select button block  31  and the OK button block  33  are selected. Referring now to FIG. 5, immediately after Rotating Color Word is dismissed, Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector opens block  36 . Processing proceeds to block  37  where the procedure determines if a color has been selected from the color library. Processing goes to block  40  where a check determines if the select order button has been selected. If YES, at block  42  the procedure updates the select order bar. Returning to block  37 , if there is no color choice selected processing continues to block  38  displaying Rotating Color Number and Symbol selector. At block  39 , a check determines if the cancel button has been activated. If YES, the processing returns to block  23 , where a check is determined it application request has been detected. If NO, the processing returns to insertion point E. At block  43 , a check to determine if the random select button has been selected. If YES, the Rotating Color Number and Symbol program is activated. If NO, as block  44  Rotating Color Number and Symbol is displayed. Procedure proceeds to block  45 , where a check determines if the OK button has been selected. If YES, program follows insertion point F. If NO, the program follows insertion point E. At block  47 , one skilled in the art will appreciates that Rotating Color Number and Selector immediately disappears. After random select button block  43  is selected, OK button block  45  is selected. Processing continues and immediately opens Rotating Color Punctuation selector block  48 . Referring now to FIG. 6, the process proceeds immediately to block  49 , where the procedure checks to determine if a color is selected from the color library. If the check determine, that a choice has, been selected, the process then proceeds to block  52 , where a check determines if the select order button has been selected. At block  54 , the procedure updates the select order bar. Returning to block  49 , if there is no color choice selected, the procedure continues to block  50  and displaying Rotating Color punctuation selector. At block  51 , a check determines if the cancel button has been activated. If YES, the processing returns to insertion point A, block  23 , where a check is determined if an application request has been detected. If NO, the processing returns to insertion point G. At Block  55 , a check to determine if the random select button has been selected. If YES, at block  58  the rotating color punctuation symbol program is activated. If NO, Rotating Color Number and Symbol is displayed  56 . The procedure then proceeds to block  57 , where a check determines if the OK button has been selected. If YES, the procedure follows insertion point H. If NO, the procedure follows insertion point G. At block  59 , there is a check to determine if the control tool check box has been selected. If YES, the matching punctuation program is invoked. That matches colors of matching punctuation marks, such as “quotations” marks. At block  62 , the procedure terminates Rotating Color Punctuation, and exits the procedure at block  63 .