WO2013164013A1 - Procédé et appareil de sélection de texte - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil de sélection de texte Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013164013A1
WO2013164013A1 PCT/EP2012/057945 EP2012057945W WO2013164013A1 WO 2013164013 A1 WO2013164013 A1 WO 2013164013A1 EP 2012057945 W EP2012057945 W EP 2012057945W WO 2013164013 A1 WO2013164013 A1 WO 2013164013A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
selection
text
touch
display
row
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2012/057945
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Simon Martin Thorsander
Original Assignee
Research In Motion Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Research In Motion Limited filed Critical Research In Motion Limited
Priority to DE112012000299.7T priority Critical patent/DE112012000299T5/de
Priority to GB1311323.8A priority patent/GB2506956A/en
Priority to PCT/EP2012/057945 priority patent/WO2013164013A1/fr
Priority to CA2821814A priority patent/CA2821814C/fr
Publication of WO2013164013A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013164013A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • G06F3/0487—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
    • G06F3/0488—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
    • G06F3/04883—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • G06F3/0487—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
    • G06F3/0488—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F40/00—Handling natural language data
    • G06F40/10—Text processing
    • G06F40/166—Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to electronic devices, including but not limited to, portable electronic devices having touch-sensitive displays and their control.
  • Portable electronic devices include, for example, several types of mobile stations such as simple cellular telephones (feature phones), smart phones, wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, and laptop computers with wireless 802.1 1 or Bluetooth® capabilities.
  • PDAs personal digital assistants
  • Portable electronic devices such as PDAs or smart telephones are generally intended for handheld use and ease of portability. Smaller devices are generally desirable for portability.
  • a touch-sensitive display also known as a touchscreen display, is particularly useful on handheld devices, which are small and have limited space for user input and output. The information displayed on the touch-sensitive displays, such as text, may be modified based on the functions and operations being performed.
  • Figure 1 is a block diagram of a portable electronic device in accordance with the disclosure
  • Figure 2 is a front view of a smartphone in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Figure 3 is a front view of a tablet computer is accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Figures 4A to 4C illustrate an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment showing the initiation of a paragraph selection mode
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment showing example touch inputs
  • Figures 6A to 6C illustrate a method of switching between row and letter selection in accordance with the disclosure
  • Figures 7A to 7C illustrate an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment showing the movement of content in response to a touch input
  • Figures 8A to 8C show a selection handle in accordance with the disclosure
  • Figures 9A and 9B illustrate an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment showing the extension of a selection handle in response to user input
  • Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of modifying a selection icon in accordance with the disclosure
  • Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of row-by-row selection in accordance with the disclosure.
  • Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of paragraph selection in accordance with the disclosure.
  • the following describes an apparatus for and method of determining a selection of a selection option based on received user input.
  • the present disclosure describes a method comprising detecting a first touch input representing a selection of multiple rows of text displayed on a touch-sensitive display of the electronic device; determining whether a complete row of text has been selected from a start point or to an end point of the selected text; and, displaying a paragraph selection handle proximal to said row, the paragraph selection handle being responsive to a second touch input to place the electronic device in a paragraph selection mode for the selection of text.
  • the present disclosure describes a method comprising detecting a location of a text selection icon on a display of an electronic device; and, detecting touch input representing a selection of text displayed on the display using the text selection icon; wherein: if the detected location of the text selection icon is maintained within a zone adjacent an edge of the display, the displayed text is selected on a row by row basis; and, if the detected location of the text selection icon moves outside said zone, the displayed text is selected on a letter by letter basis.
  • the present disclosure describes a method comprising displaying a content selection icon on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device; detecting touch input at a touch location on the display operable to select a content selection function associated with the content selection icon; and, modifying the displayed content selection icon to display a touch portion at a location on the display corresponding to said detected touch location and a content selection portion operatively coupled to, but spatially separated from, the touch portion.
  • the method further comprises detecting a termination of the first touch input before displaying the paragraph selection handle.
  • the method further comprises detecting a second touch input which is operable to select and then drag the paragraph selection handle in one direction, thereby to highlight text to the end of a current paragraph displayed.
  • the method further comprises detecting a second touch input which is operable to select and then drag the paragraph selection handle in one direction, thereby to highlight text to the start of a current paragraph displayed.
  • the method further comprises detecting a termination of the second touch input and selecting the highlighted text.
  • the method further comprises detecting a reversal in the direction of drag of the paragraph selection handle and terminating the paragraph selection mode.
  • the method further comprises placing the device in a row selection mode after termination of the paragraph selection mode
  • the method further comprises displaying a paragraph selection handle proximal each of a start row and an end row when both a start row and an end row of the text selected by the first touch input are complete. [0018] In some example embodiments, the method further comprises displaying a start point handle and an end point handle at the start point and end point, respectively.
  • the first touch input must select at least 2 rows of text.
  • the text selection icon is a text selection cursor.
  • the text selection icon is a text selection handle.
  • the method further comprises varying the width of the zone on the basis of an amount of text selected.
  • the touch input is a drag of the text selection icon.
  • the selected text is highlighted on the display.
  • the display is a touch-sensitive display.
  • the touch input is detected on a track pad.
  • the touch input is detected on a touch-sensitive display.
  • the method further comprises detecting a subsequent touch input representing a drag of the content selection handle and further modifying the displayed content selection icon to increase a spatial separation between the touch portion and the content selection portion.
  • the content selection icon is modified to include a neck portion that extends between the touch portion and the content selection portion.
  • the neck portion is extendable.
  • the method further comprises displacing a location of content displayed on the display relative to a display location of the content selection icon.
  • the disclosure generally relates to an electronic device, such as a portable electronic device or non-portable electronic device.
  • portable electronic devices include mobile, or handheld, wireless communication devices such as pagers, feature phones, cellular smart-phones, wireless organizers, personal digital assistants, wirelessly enabled notebook computers, tablet computers, mobile internet devices, electronic navigation devices, and so forth.
  • the portable electronic device may be a portable electronic device without wireless communication capabilities, such as handheld electronic games, digital photograph albums, digital cameras, media players, e-book readers, and so forth.
  • Examples of non portable electronic devices include desktop computers, electronic white boards, smart boards utilized for collaboration, built-in monitors or displays in furniture or appliances, and so forth.
  • FIG. 1 A block diagram of an example of an electronic device 100 is shown in Figure 1.
  • the electronic device 100 includes multiple components, such as a processor 102 that controls the overall operation of the electronic device 100. Communication functions, including data and voice communications, are performed through a communication subsystem 104. Data received by the electronic device 100 is decompressed and decrypted by a decoder 106.
  • the communication subsystem 104 receives messages from and sends messages to a wireless network 150.
  • the wireless network 150 may be any type of wireless network, including, but not limited to, data wireless networks, voice wireless networks, and networks that support both voice and data communications.
  • a power source 142 such as one or more rechargeable batteries or a port to an external power supply, powers the electronic device 100.
  • the processor 102 interacts with other components, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM) 108, memory 1 10, a touch-sensitive display 1 18, one or more actuators 120, one or more force sensors 122, an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem 124, a data port 126, a speaker 128, a microphone 130, short- range communications 132 and other device subsystems 134.
  • the touch- sensitive display 1 18 includes a display 1 12 and touch sensors 1 14 that are coupled to at least one controller 1 16 that is utilized to interact with the processor 102. Input via a graphical user interface is provided via the touch-sensitive display 1 18.
  • Information such as text, characters, symbols, images, icons, and other items that may be displayed or rendered on a electronic device, is displayed on the touch-sensitive display 1 18 via the processor 102.
  • the processor 102 may also interact with an accelerometer 136 that may be utilized to detect direction of gravitational forces or gravity-induced reaction forces.
  • the electronic device 100 may utilize a Subscriber Identity Module or a Removable User Identity Module (SIM/RUIM) card 138 for communication with a network, such as the wireless network 150.
  • SIM/RUIM Removable User Identity Module
  • user identification information may be programmed into memory 1 10.
  • the electronic device 100 includes an operating system 146 and software programs, applications, or components 148 that are executed by the processor 102 and are typically stored in a persistent, updatable store such as the memory 1 10. Additional applications or programs may be loaded onto the electronic device 100 through the wireless network 150, the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124, the data port 126, the short-range communications subsystem 132, or any other suitable subsystem 134.
  • a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or web page download is processed by the communication subsystem 104 and input to the processor 102.
  • the processor 102 processes the received signal for output to the display 1 12 and/or to the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124.
  • a subscriber may generate data items, for example e-mail messages, which may be transmitted over the wireless network 150 through the communication subsystem 104.
  • the speaker 128 outputs audible information converted from electrical signals
  • the microphone 130 converts audible information into electrical signals for processing.
  • the touch-sensitive display 1 18 may be any suitable touch-sensitive display, such as a capacitive, resistive, infrared, surface acoustic wave (SAW) touch-sensitive display, strain gauge, optical imaging, dispersive signal technology, acoustic pulse recognition, and so forth.
  • a capacitive touch-sensitive display includes one or more capacitive touch sensors 1 14.
  • the capacitive touch sensors may comprise any suitable material, such as indium tin oxide (ITO).
  • One or more touches may be detected by the touch-sensitive display 1 18.
  • the processor 102 may determine attributes of the touch, including a location of the touch.
  • Touch location data may include data for an area of contact or data for a single point of contact, such as a point at or near a center of the area of contact.
  • the location of a detected touch may include x and y components, e.g., horizontal and vertical components, respectively, with respect to one's view of the touch-sensitive display 1 18.
  • the x location component may be determined by a signal generated from one touch sensor
  • the y location component may be determined by a signal generated from another touch sensor.
  • a touch may be detected from any suitable input member, such as a finger, thumb, appendage, or other objects, for example, a stylus (active or passive), pen, or other pointer, based on the nature of the touch-sensitive display 1 18. Multiple simultaneous touches may be detected.
  • a suitable input member such as a finger, thumb, appendage, or other objects, for example, a stylus (active or passive), pen, or other pointer, based on the nature of the touch-sensitive display 1 18. Multiple simultaneous touches may be detected.
  • One or more gestures may also be detected by the touch-sensitive display 1 18.
  • a gesture such as a swipe, also known as a flick, is a particular type of touch on a touch-sensitive display 1 18 and may begin at an origin point and continue to an end point, for example, a concluding end of the gesture.
  • a gesture may be identified by attributes of the gesture, including the origin point, the end point, the distance travelled, the duration, the velocity, and the direction, for example.
  • a gesture may be long or short in distance and/or duration. Two points of the gesture may be utilized to determine a direction of the gesture.
  • a gesture may also include a hover.
  • a hover may be a touch at a location that is generally unchanged over a period of time or is associated with the same selection item for a period of time.
  • the optional actuator(s) 120 may be depressed or activated by applying sufficient force to the touch-sensitive display 1 18 to overcome the actuation force of the actuator 120.
  • the actuator(s) 120 may be actuated by pressing anywhere on the touch-sensitive display 1 18.
  • the actuator(s) 120 may provide input to the processor 102 when actuated. Actuation of the actuator(s) 120 may result in provision of tactile feedback.
  • Optional force sensors 122 may be disposed in conjunction with the touch- sensitive display 1 18 to determine or react to forces applied to the touch-sensitive display 118.
  • the force sensor 122 may be disposed in line with a piezo actuator 120.
  • the force sensors 122 may be force-sensitive resistors, strain gauges, piezoelectric or piezoresistive devices, pressure sensors, quantum tunneling composites, force-sensitive switches, or other suitable devices
  • the touch-sensitive display 1 18 includes a display area in which information may be displayed, and a non-display area extending around the periphery of the display area. The display area generally corresponds to the area of the display 1 12.
  • Non-display area is utilized to accommodate, for example, electronic traces or electrical connections, adhesives or other sealants, and/or protective coatings around the edges of the display area.
  • the non-display area may be referred to as an inactive area and is not part of the physical housing or frame of the electronic device.
  • no pixels of the display are in the non- display area, thus no image can be displayed by the display 1 12 in the non- display area.
  • a secondary display not part of the primary display 112, may be disposed under the non-display area.
  • Touch sensors may be disposed in the non-display area, which touch sensors may be extended from the touch sensors in the display area or distinct or separate touch sensors from the touch sensors in the display area.
  • a touch including a gesture, may be associated with the display area, the non-display area, or both areas.
  • the touch sensors may extend across substantially the entire non-display area or may be disposed in only part of the non-display area.
  • Example Smartphone Electronic Device Referring now to Figure 2, a front view of an example electronic device 100 which is a smartphone 201 is illustrated.
  • the smartphone 201 is a mobile phone which offers more advanced computing capability than a basic non- smartphone cellular phone.
  • the smartphone 201 may have the ability to run third party applications which are stored on the smartphone.
  • the smartphone 201 may include the components discussed above with reference to Figure 1 or a subset of those components.
  • the smartphone 201 includes a housing which houses at least some of the components discussed above with reference to Figure 1.
  • the example smartphone 201 also includes other input interfaces such as one or more buttons, keys or navigational input mechanisms. In the example illustrated, at least some of these additional input interfaces are disposed for actuation at a front side of the smartphone.
  • FIG. 3 a front view of an example electronic device 100 which is a tablet computer 301 is illustrated.
  • the tablet computer 301 may include many of the same features and components of the smartphone 201 of Figure 2. However, the tablet computer 301 of Figure 3 is generally larger than the smartphone 201.
  • the tablet computer 301 may include the components discussed above with reference to Figure 1 or a subset of those components.
  • the tablet computer 301 includes a housing which houses at least some of the components discussed above with reference to Figure 1.
  • the display 112 of an electronic device 100 is primarily used for displaying content. Through the use of user input means on the electronic device 100, such as touch sensors 1 14, the user can select content to perform actions on. User interfaces should provide a user with a way of efficiently and intuitively selecting which content they wish to select.
  • Text-based content type will be used for illustrating improved methods of selecting content.
  • the proposed solutions can be implemented with content types other than text.
  • Text is used to illustrate the methods as it is a good example of a content type that would benefit from such methods, particularly because there are a number of ways it can be grouped.
  • Textual content may be treated as individual letters, or it may be considered as grouping of letters in the form of words, or groupings of words in the form of sentences, or other groupings such as by row, paragraph, column and page.
  • a user interface may enable a user to perform both fine tuned and larger selections, allowing the user intuitively to switch between the different granularities for text selection.
  • Figures 4A to 4C illustrate a method of switching between granularities of selection. In these examples, the method provides a way of performing letter-by- letter selection as well as paragraph selection.
  • Figure 4A shows an electronic device 100 with a touch-sensitive-display 1 18, the touch-sensitive display 1 18 displaying four paragraphs of text 405, 410, 420 and 430, a selected portion of text 450 and selection handles at the start 440 and end 460 of the selected text 450.
  • the selected portion of text 450 may have been selected in response to a touch input representing a selection of text.
  • the device receives a user input indicating that the end selection handle 460 should be moved (for example a touch and drag of the selection handle 460), the end of the text selection 450 may move with it.
  • a small movement of the end selection handle 460 to the right may cause the end of the text selection 450 to move onto the next letter, snapping to the nearest letter to the moved end selection handle 460.
  • small movements of the start selection handle 440 may cause the start of the text selection 450 to snap to the letter nearest to the start selection handle 440.
  • This described modification of the text selection 450 by snapping to whatever letter is closest to a selection handle will be referred to as a letter- by- letter selection.
  • the user may have to drag the end selection handle 460 down to the bottom of the display 1 12, then scroll the screen (either by initiating a scrolling gesture or by allowing the screen to 'creep' up in response to the selection handle's 460 close proximity to the bottom), and, once the end of the fourth paragraph 430 comes into view, continue moving the end selection handle 460 to the end of the fourth paragraph 430. This results in a cumbersome, time consuming user interaction.
  • the method reduces the burden on the user by providing a paragraph selection mode and determining when to make it available. It may do so by determining whether the selected portion of text 450 has been modified such that either the first or last row of the selection 450 is a complete row of text. If the top or bottom ends of the selected text 450contains a complete row, then either the end selection handle 460 has been moved to the end of a row, or the start selection handle 440 has been moved to the start of a row, or both events have occurred. In such an instance, as a selection handle has been moved to an outer edge of a row, there may be a possibility that the user intends to start selecting whole paragraphs. Therefore, in response to detecting a selection handle selecting a complete a row, a paragraph selection handle is displayed so that a user can then perform paragraph selection.
  • Figure 4B illustrates a paragraph selection handle 470 being displayed in response to a user input.
  • the selected text 450 of Figure 4A has been expanded to the selected text 451.
  • This expansion is the result of a movement of the end selection handle 460 to the end of the row, thereby selecting the whole end row of the selected portion of text 451 and thus providing the device 100 with an indication that a paragraph selection mode may be required.
  • the paragraph selection handle 470 may be positioned on the same row as the complete row just selected. In this example, the paragraph selection handle 470 appears on the bottom row, as that is the complete row just selected by movement of the end selection handle 460.
  • paragraph selection handle 470 may also be positioned this way because the most likely direction of further paragraph selection may be downwards if the end selection handle 460 has been moved to the end of the row.
  • a paragraph selection handle 480 may be displayed on a first row of the newly expanded selected text 452.
  • paragraph selection handles are displayed both on the top 480 and bottom 470 of the selected text 452, as both start 440 and end 460 handles have been moved to completely select a row. If only one of the start 440 or end 460 handles have moved to completely select a row, then the paragraph selection handle may appear only on the completed row and not the other (as shown previously in Figure 4B).
  • the paragraph selection handles themselves may allow the user to select text in a paragraph aware manner. For example, if the paragraph selection handle 470 shown in Figure 4B were dragged down a small amount, the selected portion of text 451 may expand so as to extend to the end of the current paragraph. This may be displayed by showing the bottom of the selection area move down to the end of the current paragraph, along with the handles 470 and 460. However, this may result in the paragraph selection handle 470 moving away from the original location of the user's touch that was dragging the paragraph selection handle 470. Therefore, if the user wished to continue with paragraph selection, the user would have to reselect the now moved paragraph selection handle. This would be especially problematic if the end of the selected paragraph was not visible on the display.
  • the method may instead ensure that the paragraph selection handle 470 being moved is always coupled to the location of the touch input moving it.
  • the paragraph selection handle is dragged 470, the underlying content itself moves in the display so that the end of the current paragraph lies under the touch input position.
  • the display may automatically scroll to the end of the paragraph being selected.
  • the user will be able to see how the end point of the selection changes because the display scrolls so as to always show the end point.
  • dragging the top paragraph selection handle 480 upwards results in the selection extending to the starts of the paragraphs above, the size of the drag determining how many paragraphs above the current one to extend to. As long as the user drags the paragraph selection handle 470, the device will remain in paragraph selection mode.
  • the selection area may expand downwards to the end of the paragraph. Further dragging the bottom paragraph selection handle 470 downwards may cause the selection area 452 to expand to the end of a lower paragraph (such as paragraph 430). Similarly, the extent of the drag upwards of a top paragraph selection handle 480 may determine how many paragraphs up the selection area 452 is extended to.
  • Dragging the selection handles in the opposite direction may result in different behaviour. For example, dragging a bottom selection handle 470 upwards may cause the selection area 452 to return to what it was prior to being modified by the bottom paragraph selection handle 470. Optionally, dragging the bottom selection handle 470 upwards may cause the selection area 452 to contract in discrete amounts such that for each drag upwards, the selection area 452 contracts so that it covers one less full paragraph. Once the selection area 452 only covers one whole or paragraph, a further movement upward of the bottom selection handle 470 upwards may have no effect on the selection area 452.
  • FIG. 10 A flowchart illustrating a method of performing paragraph selection is shown in Figure 10.
  • the method may be carried out by software executed, for example, by the processor 102. Coding of software for carrying out such a method is within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art given the present description.
  • the method may contain additional or fewer processes than shown and/or described, and may be performed in a different order.
  • Computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the portable electronic device to perform the method may be stored in a computer-readable medium, which may be a non-transitory or tangible storage medium.
  • a first touch input representing a selection of multiple rows of text displayed on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device is detected 1210.
  • a determination is made as to whether a complete row of text has been selected from a start point or to an end point of the selected text 1220.
  • a paragraph selection handle proximal to the row is displayed, the paragraph selection handle being responsive to a second touch input to place the electronic device in a paragraph selection mode for the selection of text 1230.
  • Figures 5A and 5B illustrate possible sources of deviations.
  • Figure 5A shows an electronic device 100 with a touch-sensitive display 1 18, displaying on the touch-sensitive display some text 510 and a selection of the text 520.
  • a user may start the gesture at point 530 and begin to drag a selection handle straight down, this drag movement 540 begins to curve into the text and away from the edge because of the natural curvature of a thumb's movement,. This may lead to text selection by letter rather than by row.
  • Figure 5B the natural curvature of movement of a user's right thumb may result in a gesture 570 starting at point 560 to deviate from a straight line path and a curve into the text. This curvature may be further exaggerated by performing the gesture quickly.
  • a dedicated row-by- row selection mode such as is illustrated in Figures 6A to 6C.
  • Figure 6A shows a portion of a display 1 14 containing text 610, a selection area 620, and a selection handle 630.
  • the selection handle 630 has been dragged to the side of the text, and in doing so has enabled a row-by-row selection mode.
  • moving the selection handle 630 up and down 660 results in the same behavior as the letter- by- letter based row-by-row implementation. This is because moving the selection handle 630 up and down 660 snaps the corresponding end of the selection area 620 to the row closest to the selection handle 630.
  • this row selection mode there may be a threshold area 640 provided, such that when a selection handle 630 is moved outside of this threshold area 640, the selection mode returns to letter- by- letter selection mode. For example, moving the selection handle 630 into the text region (or 'letter-by- letter selection mode' region) 650 may cause row-by-row mode to end.
  • Figure 6B shows the resulting selection area 621 from such a movement 665 of the selection handle 630 into the text region.
  • Continuing to move the selection handle 630 within the threshold area may result in row-by-row selection mode to be maintained, as shown in Figure 6C, where the selection area 622 has been extended by row.
  • the threshold area 640 may vary in width to compensate for the aforementioned curvature of thumb movement. By causing the threshold area to increase with area 640 at regions further from the start point of the selection handle 630, it may allow for more horizontal variation in the movement of the selection handle.
  • the width of the threshold area 640 at various points along its length may be controlled dynamically, such that it varies according to various factors. One such factor may be the number of rows already selected, since there is a higher chance that the user will continue to remain in row-by-row selection mode if a large number of rows have already been selected.
  • the width of the threshold area 640 may be increased so as to require a larger, more deliberate movement of the selection handle 630 into the text area 650 before letter-by-letter mode is activated instead of row-by-row selection.
  • the threshold area 640 may increase as more rows are selected .
  • the selection area 620 is reduced, the likelihood of returning to letter- by- letter mode increases, and so the threshold area 640 may decrease as a result.
  • Another possible factor may be the speed of the movement of the selection handle 630. For example, if it is moved quickly, there is a higher chance of deviation from a straight line, and so the width of the threshold area 640 may be increased to compensate for this.
  • This method may be applied to column-by-column selection rather than row-by-row selection, depending on the orientation of the text. For example, in certain language systems, the text may be arranged in vertical lines rather than horizontal lines.
  • a flowchart illustrating a method of performing row-by-row selection is shown in Figure 1 1. The method may be carried out by software executed, for example, by the processor 102. Coding of software for carrying out such a method is within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art given the present description. The method may contain additional or fewer processes than shown and/or described, and may be performed in a different order. Computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the portable electronic device to perform the method may be stored in a computer-readable medium, which may be a non-transitory or tangible storage medium.
  • the location of a text selection icon on a display of an electronic device is detected 1 110. Detect touch input representing a selection of text displayed on the display using the text selection icon 1 130. If the detected location of the text selection icon is maintained within a zone adjacent an edge of the display, the displayed text is selected on a row-by-row basis 1 130. If the detected location of the text selection icon moves outside this zone, the displayed text is selected on a letter-by-letter basis 1 140.
  • Selection handles may be used for controlling selection areas on a display. Examples of the use of said selection handles have been previously. Methods are now described which improve on existing selection handle technology, and may be used in any combination with the methods previously described or may be implemented independently.
  • Figure 7A shows an electronic device with a touch-sensitive screen, and displayed on that screen is a first paragraph of text 710, a second paragraph of text 71 1 , and a picture 712.
  • a selection 720 has already been made and a start selection handle 730 and end selection handle 740 are displayed in connection with the start and end points of the selection 720.
  • This selection 720 may have been made by an earlier touch input.
  • Figure 7B shows a user 760 touching the selection handle 730, and in doing so obscuring the selection handle 730 and also letters near to the touch area 750. A problem therefore arises, in that the user is unable to see the current location of the selection handle 730 will not be able to accurately determine what is currently selected, when adjusting the selection area 720.
  • FIG. 7C One proposed solution is illustrated in Figure 7C.
  • the contents of the display may move 780 such that the text in close proximity to the touched selection handle 730 is not obscured by the touch input object 760. In this way, the user may be able to view the content just selected.
  • an extended selection handle 777 may appear.
  • This extended selection handle 777 may provide a graphical link between the point of touch on the touch-sensitive display 1 18 and the corresponding end of a selection area 720.
  • the touch point may not only be graphically coupled to the end of the selection area 720 by the extended selection handle 777, but may also be operatively coupled to it. Therefore, if the touch point moves (for example, because the user 760 performs a drag while still touching on the selection handle 777), the corresponding end of the selection area 720 may move as well.
  • FIG 8A shows a more detailed view of the extended selection handle 777.
  • this extended selection handle 777 there may be a touch portion 830 (also referred to as a 'handle'), a neck portion 820 (also referred to as a 'cursor neck') and a content selection portion 810 (also referred to as a 'content selection portion').
  • the touch portion 830 may be the portion of the selection handle 777 that responds to user input and can be touched and dragged to cause the rest of the selection handle 777to be moved. If a touch input is used to drag the selection handle 777, the touch portion may remain coupled to the location on the display corresponding to the detected touch location such that it always remains under the user's finger as the selection handle 777 is moved.
  • the content selection portion 810 may be coupled to a selection area 720.
  • the content selection portion 810 is coupled to a start end of the selection area 720 such that as the selection handle 777 moves, as does the start of the selection area 720.
  • This may be represented graphically in a different way, such as shown in Figure 8C, where the content selection portion 810 is also coupled to the start end of the selection area 720, but is displayed to reach the top left portion of the selection area 720.
  • the neck portion 820 graphically connects the touch portion 830 to the content selection portion 810.
  • While the touch portion 830 may be obscured by a user's touch, the user may be able to see the neck portion 820 extending from the touch portion 830 (under the user's finger) to the content selection portion 810. This may indicate to the user that the touch portion 830 and content selection portion 810 are connected, and that by dragging the touch portion 830, the content selection portion 810 will also be moved.
  • the part of the selection area 720 that the user touched has moved away, because the extended selection handle 777 has been displayed the user will see a connection between where they originally pressed and where the corresponding selection area 720 has now moved to.
  • the extended selection handle 777 may be displayed as an animation, showing a transformation of the original selection handle 730 to the extended selection handle 777.
  • FIG. 9A shows an electronic device 100 with a touch-sensitive display 1 18 displaying a first and second paragraph 910 and 911 , a selection area 930 and an extended selection handle 777 coupled to the start of the selection area 930. If a user touches 940the touch portion of the extended selection handle 777 and drags 950 it to a different location, the user's finger (or other touch object) may not obscure the start area of the selection area 930, because the start of the selection area 930 is spatially separated from the touch portion of the extended selection handle 777.
  • the user may adjust the selection area 930 while still being able to see where the start of the selection area 930 is being moved.
  • the end of the selection area 930 may be moved through use of an extended selection handle coupled to the end of the selection area 930.
  • the user performs a drag to move the extended selection handle 777 there may be a delay between the receipt of the touch input indicating a drag and the updating of the display to show the new position of the extended selection handle 777 and selection area 930.
  • a result of such a delay may be that the user's finger (or other touch object) does obscure a part of the selection area 930 or nearby text as the drag is performed.
  • the selection area 930 may not be able to move as fast as the drag motion and may become obscured as a result. Also, as a user's finger changes position on the touch-sensitive display 1 18, the angle the finger makes to the display may change and there may be a difference between location where the touch is registered and the location the user thinks they are touching.
  • Figure 9B provides a possible solution to this problem.
  • the neck portion may extend 977 to increase the distance between the touch portion and the content selection portion.
  • the neck portion extends faster than the finger moves.
  • This extension may also cater for a changed angle of the user's finger.
  • the length of the neck portion may change dynamically depending on factors including the speed of the drag, position of the selection area with respect to the edges of the screen, the detected angle of the user's finger and the size of the font of the content being selected.
  • the neck portion may have a maximum length and it may have a minimum length.
  • FIG. 10 A flowchart illustrating a method of modifying a selection handle is shown in Figure 10.
  • the method may be carried out by software executed, for example, by the processor 102. Coding of software for carrying out such a method is within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art given the present description.
  • the method may contain additional or fewer processes than shown and/or described, and may be performed in a different order.
  • Computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the portable electronic device to perform the method may be stored in a computer-readable medium, which may be a non- transitory or tangible storage medium.
  • a content selection icon is displayed on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device 1010.
  • a touch input is detected at a location operable to select a content selection function associated with the content selection icon 1020.
  • the content selection icon is modified to display a touch portion at location on the display corresponding to the detected touch location, and a content selection portion operatively couple to, but spatially separated from the touch portion 1030.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Computational Linguistics (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Audiology, Speech & Language Pathology (AREA)
  • Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
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  • Position Input By Displaying (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé qui comprend la détection d'un emplacement d'une icône de sélection de texte sur un écran d'un dispositif électronique et la détection d'une saisie tactile représentant une sélection de texte affichée sur l'écran à l'aide de l'icône de sélection de texte. Si l'emplacement détecté de l'icône de sélection de texte est maintenu au sein d'une zone adjacente à un bord de l'écran, le texte affiché est sélectionné ligne par ligne et, si l'emplacement détecté de l'icône de sélection de texte sort de ladite zone, le texte affiché est sélectionné lettre par lettre.
PCT/EP2012/057945 2012-04-30 2012-04-30 Procédé et appareil de sélection de texte WO2013164013A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE112012000299.7T DE112012000299T5 (de) 2012-04-30 2012-04-30 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Textauswahl
GB1311323.8A GB2506956A (en) 2012-04-30 2012-04-30 Method and apparatus for text selection
PCT/EP2012/057945 WO2013164013A1 (fr) 2012-04-30 2012-04-30 Procédé et appareil de sélection de texte
CA2821814A CA2821814C (fr) 2012-04-30 2012-04-30 Procede et appareil de selection de texte

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2012/057945 WO2013164013A1 (fr) 2012-04-30 2012-04-30 Procédé et appareil de sélection de texte

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WO2013164013A1 true WO2013164013A1 (fr) 2013-11-07

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CA (1) CA2821814C (fr)
DE (1) DE112012000299T5 (fr)
GB (1) GB2506956A (fr)
WO (1) WO2013164013A1 (fr)

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US9032322B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2015-05-12 Blackberry Limited Touchscreen keyboard predictive display and generation of a set of characters
US9063653B2 (en) 2012-08-31 2015-06-23 Blackberry Limited Ranking predictions based on typing speed and typing confidence
US9116552B2 (en) 2012-06-27 2015-08-25 Blackberry Limited Touchscreen keyboard providing selection of word predictions in partitions of the touchscreen keyboard
US9122672B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2015-09-01 Blackberry Limited In-letter word prediction for virtual keyboard
US9152323B2 (en) 2012-01-19 2015-10-06 Blackberry Limited Virtual keyboard providing an indication of received input
US9201510B2 (en) 2012-04-16 2015-12-01 Blackberry Limited Method and device having touchscreen keyboard with visual cues
US9207860B2 (en) 2012-05-25 2015-12-08 Blackberry Limited Method and apparatus for detecting a gesture
US9310889B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2016-04-12 Blackberry Limited Touchscreen keyboard predictive display and generation of a set of characters
US9524290B2 (en) 2012-08-31 2016-12-20 Blackberry Limited Scoring predictions based on prediction length and typing speed
US9557913B2 (en) 2012-01-19 2017-01-31 Blackberry Limited Virtual keyboard display having a ticker proximate to the virtual keyboard
US9652448B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2017-05-16 Blackberry Limited Methods and systems for removing or replacing on-keyboard prediction candidates
US9715489B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2017-07-25 Blackberry Limited Displaying a prediction candidate after a typing mistake
EP3260967A1 (fr) * 2016-06-23 2017-12-27 Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. Procédé et appareil de sélection de texte
US9910588B2 (en) 2012-02-24 2018-03-06 Blackberry Limited Touchscreen keyboard providing word predictions in partitions of the touchscreen keyboard in proximate association with candidate letters

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WO2011098925A1 (fr) * 2010-02-13 2011-08-18 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab Procédé de sélection d'article destiné à des dispositifs à écran tactile
EP2420925A2 (fr) * 2010-08-20 2012-02-22 Sony Corporation Dispositif de traitement d'informations, produit de programme informatique et procédé de contrôle d'affichage pour le contrôle du curseur

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US20090125848A1 (en) * 2007-11-14 2009-05-14 Susann Marie Keohane Touch surface-sensitive edit system
US20100235726A1 (en) * 2009-03-16 2010-09-16 Bas Ording Methods and Graphical User Interfaces for Editing on a Multifunction Device with a Touch Screen Display
WO2011098925A1 (fr) * 2010-02-13 2011-08-18 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab Procédé de sélection d'article destiné à des dispositifs à écran tactile
EP2420925A2 (fr) * 2010-08-20 2012-02-22 Sony Corporation Dispositif de traitement d'informations, produit de programme informatique et procédé de contrôle d'affichage pour le contrôle du curseur

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9310889B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2016-04-12 Blackberry Limited Touchscreen keyboard predictive display and generation of a set of characters
US9715489B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2017-07-25 Blackberry Limited Displaying a prediction candidate after a typing mistake
US9652448B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2017-05-16 Blackberry Limited Methods and systems for removing or replacing on-keyboard prediction candidates
US9122672B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2015-09-01 Blackberry Limited In-letter word prediction for virtual keyboard
US9032322B2 (en) 2011-11-10 2015-05-12 Blackberry Limited Touchscreen keyboard predictive display and generation of a set of characters
US9557913B2 (en) 2012-01-19 2017-01-31 Blackberry Limited Virtual keyboard display having a ticker proximate to the virtual keyboard
US9152323B2 (en) 2012-01-19 2015-10-06 Blackberry Limited Virtual keyboard providing an indication of received input
US9910588B2 (en) 2012-02-24 2018-03-06 Blackberry Limited Touchscreen keyboard providing word predictions in partitions of the touchscreen keyboard in proximate association with candidate letters
US9201510B2 (en) 2012-04-16 2015-12-01 Blackberry Limited Method and device having touchscreen keyboard with visual cues
US9207860B2 (en) 2012-05-25 2015-12-08 Blackberry Limited Method and apparatus for detecting a gesture
US9116552B2 (en) 2012-06-27 2015-08-25 Blackberry Limited Touchscreen keyboard providing selection of word predictions in partitions of the touchscreen keyboard
US9524290B2 (en) 2012-08-31 2016-12-20 Blackberry Limited Scoring predictions based on prediction length and typing speed
US9063653B2 (en) 2012-08-31 2015-06-23 Blackberry Limited Ranking predictions based on typing speed and typing confidence
EP3260967A1 (fr) * 2016-06-23 2017-12-27 Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. Procédé et appareil de sélection de texte
RU2668736C1 (ru) * 2016-06-23 2018-10-02 Бейджинг Сяоми Мобайл Софтвэр Ко., Лтд. Способ и устройство для выбора текста

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2506956A (en) 2014-04-16
CA2821814A1 (fr) 2013-10-30
GB201311323D0 (en) 2013-08-14
DE112012000299T5 (de) 2014-04-10
CA2821814C (fr) 2017-01-10

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