Abstract: A method for reformatting alphanumeric objects displayed on a screen of a pen computer system including the steps of: (a) selecting a plurality of objects to be reformatted; (b) removing object breaks from between the objects; and (c) reformatting the objects without the removed object breaks. The alphanumeric objects typically comprise a number of words separated by object breaks such as carriage returns, tabs, and paragraph breaks. The process of the present invention removes such object breaks and replaces them with spaces prior to reflowing the word objects between a left margin and a right margin. An apparatus for reformatting alphanumeric objects of the present invention includes a digital process (CPU), memory coupled to the CPU, a screen coupled to the CPU, and a plurality of alphanumeric objects stored in the memory and displayed on the screens.

Abstract: A method for correcting textual material recognized on a pen-based computer in accordance with the present invention includes the step of receiving an input on a screen of the computer system. The input is then recognized, and a bounding box defining the bounds of the input is defined. A determination of the intention and placement of the recognized input is then made according to the relationship between the bounding box of the recognized input and the bounding boxes of the already existing textual objects. When a substantial overlap is found of the recognized input with an existing textual object and the number of characters of the recognized input is less than a predetermined number, the recognized input is considered as an overwrite of the existing text. If the conditions are not met, the recognized input is considered as an insertion of a new textual object, i.e., a new word.

Abstract: A method for synchronously sharing data among a plurality of computer systems includes the step of determining the initiation of a shared space session. Upon initiation, a message is transmitted to remote computer systems to announce the initiation. A shared space view is then displayed on a screen of the computer system. The input into the shared space view of data is then determined and this data is shared among the computer systems in the shared space session. The method further includes determining whether a message has been received from remote computer systems and incorporating these messages into the shared space view. A further method of the present invention resynchronizes a participant into communication with a shared space session. The method includes the steps of selecting a close box in the shared space view, closing the view to terminate participation in the session and reinitiating participation to reestablish synchronous communication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting the case of text in a pen-aware computer system is described. In general, the case of one or more letters of a designated text object can be changed with a convenient and simple input gesture. The case resetting gesture takes the form of a substantially vertically extending line that overlies a textual object that includes a character or characters that are intended to have their case reset. The direction and position of the case setting gesture are used to determine which characters are to be affected and whether the designated case is upper or lower case.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises the process and means for receiving input strokes made with a stylus on a screen of a pen-based computer and determining if the strokes comprise a text object. When the strokes do form a text object, a rating for each existing displayed paragraph is assigned to identify a probability level that an insert location is within the paragraph. Determining a rating involves comparing the bounds of the text object to extended bounds of the existing paragraph, and the input strokes of the text object to the input strokes of the preceding text object. When the rating is completed for each paragraph, an insert location within the highest rated or most probable existing paragraph is then identified, and the text object is inserted at this insert location. A new paragraph is formed with the text object at a location based on the input strokes when a most probable paragraph is not identified.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for mapping between an application relational database of arbitrary structure and an application knowledge base in order to permit a user to draw inference through a knowledge base. Also included are procedures for translating knowledge base queries into database queries, for transforming data retrieved from the database into units (structured objects) in the knowledge base and for updating a relational database based on changes made to the application knowledge base. These procedures are supported by general purpose knowledge bases. The method includes providing mapping knowledge bases for storing the mapping between an arbitrary relational database and the application knowledge base. The mapping between classes in the application knowledge base and the relations on a database is stored explicitly in units in a user mapping knowledge base. These units are called class maps.