Abstract: A computer system and method for providing user feedback when creating, modifying, or editing electronic documents. An insertion point icon is placed in a document at a position for insertion and/or deletion of text, graphics, data, etc. Upon receiving a user input indicating movement, the insertion point icon is divided into two icons, one stationary at the position, and one moving with user input. When movement is complete, space contained between the icons may be deleted or inserted. The system may be used to shift handwritten text to subsequent lines on an electronic document containing handwritten text, and may be used to bring two groups of text together, deleting space in between. A connection line may be displayed between the icons to provide feedback regarding the action to be taken.

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.

Abstract: There is presented a system and method for providing a digital multimedia presentation. The system comprises a presentation server and a presentation content database configured to store a plurality of digital multimedia content items, accessible through the presentation server. The system also comprises a presentation control application configured to enable identification of a digital multimedia content item for presentation from among the plurality of digital multimedia content items.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide context menus useful in, e.g., a computing device receiving user input via a stylus. Icons representing actions performable on an object are displayed in a context menu for the object. Additional aspects of the invention include cascading menus that also minimize hand and/or wrist motion, as well as placement of menus based on user handedness and/or stylus orientation.

Abstract: A freeform selection tool for a computer system with a graphical user interface allows a user to draw a freeform selection path so as to select one or more graphical objects. The user is provided with the freedom to input selection ink, in any orientation, and using any desired selection path size provided by the select tool. The selecting tool may change the visual appearance of any graphical object once selected. The selecting tool provides the ability to select ink or graphical object with a particular property to be used for the selection. The selecting tool can recognize various selection gestures coordinated with a semantic relationship of the ink so that the number of selection ink strokes can be minimized. The selecting tool may change for different selection modes depending on the type of graphical object encountered and change of the context for a particular selection.

Abstract: A lasso select tool that allows a user to draw a flexible line of selection ink in order to select one or more graphical objects for manipulation. As the user draws this selection line, the lasso select tool continuously redraws and displays a connection line connecting one end of the selection line with the opposite end of the selection line. This connection line thus graphically demonstrates to the user the area that is presently encompassed by the resulting lasso enclosure. Further, the lasso select tool will change the appearance of any object selected with the lasso enclosure. The lasso select tool also selects objects that are only substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure. For example, the lasso select tool may select ink objects that are only 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

Abstract: A computer system and method for providing user feedback when creating, modifying, or editing electronic documents. An insertion point icon is placed in a document at a position for insertion and/or deletion of text, graphics, data, etc. Upon receiving a user input indicating movement, the insertion point icon is divided into two icons, one stationary at the position, and one moving with user input. When movement is complete, space contained between the icons may be deleted or inserted. The system may be used to shift handwritten text to subsequent lines on an electronic document containing handwritten text, and may be used to bring two groups of text together, deleting space in between. A connection line may be displayed between the icons to provide feedback regarding the action to be taken.

Abstract: A computer system and method for providing user feedback when creating, modifying, or editing electronic documents. An insertion point icon is placed in a document at a position for insertion and/or deletion of text, graphics, data, etc. Upon receiving a user input indicating movement, the insertion point icon is divided into two icons, one stationary at the position, and one moving with user input. When movement is complete, space contained between the icons may be deleted or inserted. The system may be used to shift handwritten text to subsequent lines on an electronic document containing handwritten text, and may be used to bring two groups of text together, deleting space in between. A connection line may be displayed between the icons to provide feedback regarding the action to be taken.

Abstract: A lasso select tool that allows a user to draw a flexible line of selection ink in order to select one or more graphical objects for manipulation. As the user draws this selection line, the lasso select tool continuously redraws and displays a connection line connecting one end of the selection line with the opposite end of the selection line. This connection line thus graphically demonstrates to the user the area that is presently encompassed by the resulting lasso enclosure. Further, the lasso select tool will change the appearance of any object selected with the lasso enclosure. The lasso select tool also selects objects that are only substantially encompassed by the lasso enclosure. For example, the lasso select tool may select ink objects that are only 60% or more encompassed by the lasso enclosure.

Abstract: An improved approach to highlighting a graphical object in a graphical user interface is disclosed. A body of a highlighted graphical object may, upon selection or highlighting, be changed to a transparent color, and a graphical outline, or “halo,” is added surrounding the original graphical object's body. The halo may be in the same color as the graphical object originally was, preserving any meaning attributed to the color of the graphical object and simplifying the user's ability to identify the selected object(s), as well as the ability to select the highlighted object for further processing. The highlighted graphical object may also be displayed with a bounding box to further identify the selected object(s). A moving version of the highlighted graphical object may be drawn during a moving process, in which the moving version has an appearance distinct from the original object.

Abstract: A space tool that inserts space into or deletes space from a document is described. The space tool provides the user with feedback as to which objects will be moved when space is inserted into or deleted from a document. To provide the user with this feedback, the space tool identifies the objects that will be moved when space is inserted or deleted, and changes the appearance of these objects. For example, the space tool may gray out or fade identified electronic ink objects that will be moved. Alternatively, or additionally, the space tool may move identified objects in real time, so that their location continually corresponds with what their location will be after space has been inserted or deleted.

Abstract: A user is provided with guidelines that are temporarily displayed with content, in order to assist the user in accurately writing electronic ink. The guidelines may appear when the user moves a writing tool close to a display and writing surface. Alternately, the guidelines may appear after the user has begun to write electronic ink, so that the guidelines can correspond to the angle at which the user is writing, the size of the user's handwriting, or both. As the user writes the electronic ink onto the writing surface, the handwritten electronic ink is added to the content being rendered on the display. After the user has finished writing electronic ink and moves the writing tool away from the writing surface, the guidelines may be deleted. Accordingly, the user can employ the temporary guidelines without the guidelines themselves becoming a permanent part of the content.

Abstract: A file system shell is provided. One aspect of the shell provides virtual folders which expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. Users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation (e.g., clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc.). Filters are provided for narrowing down sets of items. Quick links are provided which can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. Libraries are provided which consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together, along with functions and tools related to the items. A virtual address bar is provided which comprises a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a filter for selecting content. A shell browser is provided with which users can readily identify an item based on the metadata associated with that item.

Abstract: A method, a computer system and a computer-readable medium having instructions for a processor stored thereon are provided for growing a page on a display. Input indicating a first position or designation of content on a page of an electronic document and an amount of white space to be inserted in the page is received. Responsive to the received input, at least some of the content of the page of the electronic document is moved to insert white space. The moving starts from a point based on the first position. The portion of the content being moved is moved a distance based on the amount of white space indicated in the received input. The page is grown by an amount based on the amount of the white space indicated in the received input. A respective size of other pages of the electronic document remains unchanged. Also provided are a method, a computer system and a computer-readable medium having instructions for a processor stored thereon for deleting a portion of a page and reducing a size of the page.

Abstract: A method, a computer system and a computer-readable medium having instructions for a processor stored thereon are provided for growing a page on a display. Input indicating a first position or designation of content on a page of an electronic document and an amount of white space to be inserted in the page is received. Responsive to the received input, at least some of the content of the page of the electronic document is moved to insert white space. The moving starts from a point based on the first position. The portion of the content being moved is moved a distance based on the amount of white space indicated in the received input. The page is grown by an amount based on the amount of the white space indicated in the received input. A respective size of other pages of the electronic document remains unchanged. Also provided are a method, a computer system and a computer-readable medium having instructions for a processor stored thereon for deleting a portion of a page and reducing a size of the page.

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.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide context menus useful in, e.g., a computing device receiving user input via a stylus. Icons representing actions performable on an object are displayed in a context menu for the object. Additional aspects of the invention include cascading menus that also minimize hand and/or wrist motion, as well as placement of menus based on user handedness and/or stylus orientation.