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US4924433A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Word processor with attribute functions

Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1987-07-13
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Granted: 1990-05-08
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Expires: 2007-07-13
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Abstract

Abstract A word processor having attribute functions such as underline, boldface, superscript, etc., can produce or cancel those attribute effects on the display device by simple operations. The word processor with an attribute mode can either produce the attribute effect which is selected by an attribute key in response to the rightward or downward movement of the cursor, or cancel it in response to the leftward or upward movement. The word processor with an attribute cancel mode in addition to an attribute mode can set a mode among a non-attribute mode, an attribute mode and an attribute cancel mode independent of the direction of the cursor's movement.

Inventors

  • 👤 Keiichi Hirata
  • 👤 Yoshinari Morimoto
  • 👤 Tomohiro Ban
  • 👤 Tokihito Furushima
  • 👤 Tomoko Miura
  • 👤 Yoshie Ikeda
  • 👤 Yasushi Kawakami

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 09:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/103

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 301 words
A word processor comprising: input means having at least a character key for inputting character data and two or more cursor keys for inputting cursor position data, said cursor keys including a first cursor key group for providing an attribute and a second cursor key group for deleting an attribute; display means responsive to the input means for displaying a character corresponding to the character data and a cursor corresponding to the cursor position data; attribute selection means having an attribute selection key for selecting attribute data; control means, responsive to the attribute selection means and to a cursor key of the first cursor key group, for adding an attribute to a character within a display range and for adding the attribute data to the character data in the memory means in response to cursor movement controlled by cursor position data input by the key of the first cursor key group, the display range being delimited by an initial position of the cursor prior to its movement and a final position of the cursor after its movement in a predetermined direction, the initial position being the cursor position when the attribute selection means selects the attribute data; and deletion means, responsive to the attribute selection means and a key of the second cursor key group, for deleting an attribute from a character that has the attribute within the display range in response to the cursor movement controlled by cursor position data input by the key of the second cursor key group, the display range being delimited by an initial position of the cursor prior to its movement and a final position of the cursor after its movement in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the initial position being the cursor position when the attribute selection means selects the attribute data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 301 words
A word processor comprising: input means having at least a character key for inputting character data and two or more cursor keys for inputting cursor position data, said cursor keys including a first cursor key group for providing an attribute and a second cursor key group for deleting an attribute; display means responsive to the input means for displaying a character corresponding to the character data and a cursor corresponding to the cursor position data; attribute selection means having an attribute selection key for selecting attribute data; control means, responsive to the attribute selection means and to a cursor key of the first cursor key group, for adding an attribute to a character within a display range and for adding the attribute data to the character data in the memory means in response to cursor movement controlled by cursor position data input by the key of the first cursor key group, the display range being delimited by an initial position of the cursor prior to its movement and a final position of the cursor after its movement in a predetermined direction, the initial position being the cursor position when the attribute selection means selects the attribute data; and deletion means, responsive to the attribute selection means and a key of the second cursor key group, for deleting an attribute from a character that has the attribute within the display range in response to the cursor movement controlled by cursor position data input by the key of the second cursor key group, the display range being delimited by an initial position of the cursor prior to its movement and a final position of the cursor after its movement in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the initial position being the cursor position when the attribute selection means selects the attribute data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The word processor according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined direction is rightward and downward.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
The word processor according to claim 1, wherein the opposite direction is leftward and upward.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The word processor according to claim 1, wherein the attribute data is selected from the group consisting of underline, boldface, strikeout, superscript and subscript.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 54 words
The word processor according to claim 1, wherein the character data comprises plural bits with at least one bit being reserved for attribute data, each attribute bit being set in order to add the attribute data to the character data and being reset in order to delete the attribute data from the character data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
The word processor according to claim 1, wherein attribute control codes surround a queue of characters so as to determine a range of characters in which the attribute data are to be provided.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
The word processor according to claim 1, in which the character with the attribute added is displayed on said display means as it is with that attribute.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 286 words
A word processor comprising: input means having at least a character key for inputting character data and a cursor key for inputting cursor position data; memory means for storing the character data and the cursor position data from the input means; display means reponsive to the input means for displaying a character corresponding to the character data and a cursor corresponding to the cursor position data; mode setting means having a mode setting key for setting an attribute addition mode and a mode deletion key for setting an attribute deletion mode; attribute selection means having an attribute selection key for selecting an attribute data; and control means, responsive to the mode setting means, the attribute selection means, and to the cursor key, for adding an attribute to a character within a display range and adding the attribute data to the character data in the memory means in response to cursor movement controlled by the cursor position data in the attribute addition mode, and for deleting an attribute from a character that has the attribute within the display range and deleting the attribute data from the character data in the memory means in response to cursor movement controlled by the cursor position data in the attribute deletion mode, wherein the display range is delimited by an initial position of the cursor prior to its movement and a final position of the cursor after its movement in a predetermined direction, the initial position being the cursor position when the attribute mode is set and the attribute data is selected using the attribute selection means, and said control means can add or delete two or more attributes simultaneously within the display region determined by the initial and final positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 286 words
A word processor comprising: input means having at least a character key for inputting character data and a cursor key for inputting cursor position data; memory means for storing the character data and the cursor position data from the input means; display means reponsive to the input means for displaying a character corresponding to the character data and a cursor corresponding to the cursor position data; mode setting means having a mode setting key for setting an attribute addition mode and a mode deletion key for setting an attribute deletion mode; attribute selection means having an attribute selection key for selecting an attribute data; and control means, responsive to the mode setting means, the attribute selection means, and to the cursor key, for adding an attribute to a character within a display range and adding the attribute data to the character data in the memory means in response to cursor movement controlled by the cursor position data in the attribute addition mode, and for deleting an attribute from a character that has the attribute within the display range and deleting the attribute data from the character data in the memory means in response to cursor movement controlled by the cursor position data in the attribute deletion mode, wherein the display range is delimited by an initial position of the cursor prior to its movement and a final position of the cursor after its movement in a predetermined direction, the initial position being the cursor position when the attribute mode is set and the attribute data is selected using the attribute selection means, and said control means can add or delete two or more attributes simultaneously within the display region determined by the initial and final positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 16 words
The word processor according to claim 8, wherein the cursor moves upward, downward, leftward, and rightward.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
The word processor according to claim 8, wherein the attribute data is selected from the group consisting of underline, boldface, strikeout, superscript and subscript.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 52 words
The word processor according to claim 8, wherein the character data comprises plural bits with at least one bit being reserved for attribute data, each attribute bit being set in order to add attribute data to the character data and being reset in order to delete attribute data from the character data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 34 words
The word processor according to claim 8, in which attribute control does surround a queue of characters so as to determine a range of characters in which the attribute data are to be provided.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 27 words
The word processor according to claim 8, in which the character with the attribute added is displayed on said display means as it is with that attribute.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 236 words
A word processor comprising: input means having at least a character key for inputting character data and a plurality of cursor key means for inputting cursor position data; memory means for storing the character data and the cursor position data from the input means; display means responsive to the input means for displaying a character corresponding to the character data and a cursor corresponding to the cursor position data; attribute selection means having an attribute selection key for selecting attribute data; control means, responsive to the attribute selection means and to one of the plurality of cursor key means, for adding an attribute data to a character within a display region and for adding the attribute data to the character data in the memory means in response to at least one of rightward and downward cursor movement controlled by the cursor position data; and deletion means, responsive to the attribute selection means and one of the plurality of cursor key means, for deleting an attribute from a character that has the attribute within the display range in response to at least one of leftward and upward cursor movement, the display range being delimited by an initial position of the cursor prior to its movement and a final position of the cursor after its movement in one of the above directions, the initial position being the cursor position when the attribute selection means selects the attribute data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 236 words
A word processor comprising: input means having at least a character key for inputting character data and a plurality of cursor key means for inputting cursor position data; memory means for storing the character data and the cursor position data from the input means; display means responsive to the input means for displaying a character corresponding to the character data and a cursor corresponding to the cursor position data; attribute selection means having an attribute selection key for selecting attribute data; control means, responsive to the attribute selection means and to one of the plurality of cursor key means, for adding an attribute data to a character within a display region and for adding the attribute data to the character data in the memory means in response to at least one of rightward and downward cursor movement controlled by the cursor position data; and deletion means, responsive to the attribute selection means and one of the plurality of cursor key means, for deleting an attribute from a character that has the attribute within the display range in response to at least one of leftward and upward cursor movement, the display range being delimited by an initial position of the cursor prior to its movement and a final position of the cursor after its movement in one of the above directions, the initial position being the cursor position when the attribute selection means selects the attribute data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 31 words
The word processor according to claim 14, wherein only characters in the state of attribute addition can be changed to a state of attribute deletion within a region of attribute deletion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4495490A Cited
US4686649A Cited
US4491933A Cited
EP0165442A2 Cited
US4742485A Cited
US4806916A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-05-07 1993-11-06 1994-05-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-05-07 1997-11-06 1998-05-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-05-07 2001-11-06 2002-05-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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