Patent US5621875A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5621875A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for automatic formatting of user selected text
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 1993-10-26
•
Granted: 1997-04-15
•
Expires: 2013-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for automatic formatting of user selected text in a word processing system. A number of format options are displayed to the user and a text format selection is then obtained from the user for a selected format option. An identifier identifying the selected text format is stored in a text format data structure. One or more portions of existing text are thereafter selected by the user. For each selected portion of existing text, the selected portion is formatted with the text format identified by the identifier stored in the data structure. These steps are repeated until canceled by the user or until the user enters new text. In a preferred embodiment, the word processing system provides a conventional mode for performing conventional text formatting in which a text format is specified only after a single portion of existing text is selected by the user to which to apply the specified text format. The word processing system also provides an automatic formatting mode for automatically formatting any number of selected portions of text with a selected text format, as described above. By selecting a text format without first selecting a portion of existing text to which to apply the selected text format, the user places the word processing system in automatic formatting mode. Canceling the selected text format or entering new text converts the word processing system back to the conventional mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher A. Mason
- 👤 Devindra S. Chainani
- 👤 Pamela P. Ho
- 👤 Susan M. Wilkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/12; G06F40/131; G06F40/103; G06F40/166
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of formatting text in a computer system having a display and a pointing device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying text on the display; receiving from a user an indication of a text format to be applied to portions of displayed text; and in response to the user selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed text by using the pointing device to point to each portion, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed text in accordance with the received indication of the text format before receiving from the user any additional indications of text format.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of formatting text in a computer system having a display and a pointing device, the method comprising the steps of: displaying text on the display; receiving from a user an indication of a text format to be applied to portions of displayed text; and in response to the user selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed text by using the pointing device to point to each portion, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed text in accordance with the received indication of the text format before receiving from the user any additional indications of text format.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed text occurs in accordance with the received text format until an indication is received from the user canceling the received indication of the text format.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of: receiving, after the received indication of the text format has been canceled by the user, an indication of a portion of the displayed text selected by the user; receiving, after receiving the indication of the selected portion, an indication of a text format from the user; and formatting and redisplaying the selected portion of the displayed text in accordance with the received indication of the text format.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of formatting and redisplaying each selection of the displayed text occurs in accordance with the received indication of the text format until the user enters text.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the entered text is formatted with the received indication of the text format.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of: receiving, after the text has been entered by the user, an indication of a portion of the displayed text selected by the user; receiving, after receiving the indication of the selected portion, an indication of a text format from the user; and formatting and redisplaying the selected portion of the displayed text in accordance with the received indication of the text format.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of: receiving, after the text has been entered by the user, an indication of a portion of the displayed text selected by the user; receiving, after receiving the indication of the selected portion, an indication of a text format from the user; and formatting and redisplaying the selected portion of the displayed text in accordance with the received indication of the text format.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: receiving an indication of a text format comprises receiving an indication of a character format; and formatting each selected portion of the displayed text comprises formatting each character within the selected portion in accordance with the received indication of the character format.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: receiving an indication of a text format comprises receiving an indication of a paragraph format; and formatting each selected portion of the displayed text comprises formatting each paragraph within the selected portion in accordance with the received indication of the paragraph format.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: receiving an indication of a text format comprises receiving indications of multiple text formats from the user; and formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed text comprises formatting and redisplaying the selected portion of the displayed text in accordance with the received indication of the text formats.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on the display a cursor which indicates that a text format has been received.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on the display a cursor which identifies the received text format.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving an indication of a text format from a user includes the user selecting a portion of the displayed text which is displayed in accordance with the text format the user desires to indicate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer readable storage medium upon which is stored a program for controlling a computer system to perform in accordance with the method of claim 1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
A word processing system for formatting text, the word processing system comprising: a display for displaying text; an input means for receiving an indication of a text format from a user, the text format for being applied to non-contiguous portions of displayed text; means for the user to select a plurality of portions of the displayed text; and means for formatting each of the selected portions of the displayed text in response to the user selecting each portion and in accordance with the indication of the text format received by the input means without receiving from the user any other indication of the text format.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
105 words
A word processing system for formatting text, the word processing system comprising: a display for displaying text; an input means for receiving an indication of a text format from a user, the text format for being applied to non-contiguous portions of displayed text; means for the user to select a plurality of portions of the displayed text; and means for formatting each of the selected portions of the displayed text in response to the user selecting each portion and in accordance with the indication of the text format received by the input means without receiving from the user any other indication of the text format.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The word processing system of claim 15 wherein: the input means is for receiving multiple indications of text formats from the user; and each means for formatting the selected portion of the displayed text comprises means for formatting each selected portion in accordance with the received indications of the text formats.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The word processing system of claim 15, further comprising means for displaying on the display a cursor which indicates that a text format has been received.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of formatting data in a computer system having a display and a user input device, the method comprising: displaying data on the display; displaying a visual button on the display which represents a data format for formatting data; selecting the visual button with the user input device in order to select a data format; after selecting the visual button, selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data by using the user input device to point to the portion; and in response to selecting each of the non-contiguous portions, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data in accordance with the selected data format.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of formatting data in a computer system having a display and a user input device, the method comprising: displaying data on the display; displaying a visual button on the display which represents a data format for formatting data; selecting the visual button with the user input device in order to select a data format; after selecting the visual button, selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data by using the user input device to point to the portion; and in response to selecting each of the non-contiguous portions, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data in accordance with the selected data format.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising after selecting the visual button, displaying a cursor on the display which indicates the selected data format.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of formatting data in a computer system having a display and a user input device, the method comprising: displaying data on the display; receiving from a user a data format to be applied to portions of displayed data; and in response to the user selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data by using the user input device, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data in accordance with the received data format until an additional data format is received from a user to be applied to portions of the displayed data.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of formatting data in a computer system having a display and a user input device, the method comprising: displaying data on the display; receiving from a user a data format to be applied to portions of displayed data; and in response to the user selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data by using the user input device, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data in accordance with the received data format until an additional data format is received from a user to be applied to portions of the displayed data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 20 wherein formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data occurs in accordance with the received data format until an indication is received from the user canceling the received data format.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 20 wherein formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data occurs in accordance with the received data format until the user enters data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 20 wherein: receiving an indication of a data format comprises receiving indications of multiple data formats from the user; and formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data comprises formatting and redisplaying the selected portion of the displayed data in accordance with all of the multiple received data formats.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising displaying on the display a cursor which indicates that a data format has been received.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the displayed cursor indicates that a character format or a paragraph format has been received.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising displaying on the display a cursor which identifies the received data format.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the step of receiving an indication of a data format from a user includes the user selecting a portion of the displayed data which is displayed in accordance with the data format the user desires to indicate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer readable storage medium upon which is stored a program for controlling a computer system to perform in accordance with the method of claim 20.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
172 words
A method in a computer system for selecting a mode for formatting data displayed on a display, the method comprising: when a user selects a first data format without a portion of the displayed data being currently selected, entering an automatic formatting mode for formatting the displayed data, the automatic formatting mode including, in response to the user selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data, formatting each selected portion in accordance with the selected first data format without the user selecting any other data format; and when the user enters data to be displayed on the display, entering a manual formatting mode for formatting the data displayed on the display, the manual formatting mode including: the user selecting a portion of the data displayed on the display; after the user selects the portion of the data displayed on the display, the user selecting a second data format; and formatting the selected portion of the data displayed on the display in accordance with the selected second data format.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
172 words
A method in a computer system for selecting a mode for formatting data displayed on a display, the method comprising: when a user selects a first data format without a portion of the displayed data being currently selected, entering an automatic formatting mode for formatting the displayed data, the automatic formatting mode including, in response to the user selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data, formatting each selected portion in accordance with the selected first data format without the user selecting any other data format; and when the user enters data to be displayed on the display, entering a manual formatting mode for formatting the data displayed on the display, the manual formatting mode including: the user selecting a portion of the data displayed on the display; after the user selects the portion of the data displayed on the display, the user selecting a second data format; and formatting the selected portion of the data displayed on the display in accordance with the selected second data format.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising when the user cancels a currently selected data format, entering the manual formatting mode.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 29 wherein: the automatic formatting mode further includes displaying a cursor on the display which indicates the selected first data format; and the manual formatting mode further includes displaying a cursor on the display which indicates the selected second data format.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the automatic formatting mode further includes displaying a cursor on the display which indicates that the automatic formatting mode has been entered.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
111 words
A method in a computer system for indicating that the computer system has entered an automatic formatting mode for formatting data displayed on a display, the method comprising: displaying data on the display; entering the automatic formatting mode, the automatic formatting mode including, in response to a user selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion in accordance with a data format selected by the user and without the data format being re-selected by the user for each of the plurality of portions; and displaying on the display a pointer which indicates that the computer system has entered the automatic mode.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
111 words
A method in a computer system for indicating that the computer system has entered an automatic formatting mode for formatting data displayed on a display, the method comprising: displaying data on the display; entering the automatic formatting mode, the automatic formatting mode including, in response to a user selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion in accordance with a data format selected by the user and without the data format being re-selected by the user for each of the plurality of portions; and displaying on the display a pointer which indicates that the computer system has entered the automatic mode.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer system to format data in a computer system having a display and a user input device, by: displaying data on the display; displaying a visual button on the display which represents a data format for formatting data; selecting the visual button with the user input device in order to select a data format; after selecting the visual button, selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data by using the user input device to point to each portion; and in response to selecting each of the non-contiguous portions, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data in accordance with the selected data format.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer system to format data in a computer system having a display and a user input device, by: displaying data on the display; displaying a visual button on the display which represents a data format for formatting data; selecting the visual button with the user input device in order to select a data format; after selecting the visual button, selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data by using the user input device to point to each portion; and in response to selecting each of the non-contiguous portions, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data in accordance with the selected data format.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 34 further comprising after selecting the visual button, displaying a cursor on the display which indicates the selected data format.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer system to format data, the computer system having a display and a user input device, by: displaying data on the display; receiving from a user a data format to be applied to portions of displayed data; and in response to the user selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data by using the user input device, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data in accordance with the received data format without receiving from the user any additional data format.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer system to format data, the computer system having a display and a user input device, by: displaying data on the display; receiving from a user a data format to be applied to portions of displayed data; and in response to the user selecting each of a plurality of non-contiguous portions of the displayed data by using the user input device, formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data in accordance with the received data format without receiving from the user any additional data format.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data occurs in accordance with the received data format until an indication is received from the user canceling the received data format.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data occurs in accordance with the received data format until the user enters data.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein: receiving an indication of a data format comprises receiving indications of multiple data formats from the user; and formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data comprises formatting and redisplaying each selected portion of the displayed data in accordance with all of the multiple received data formats.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 36 further comprising displaying on the display a cursor which indicates that a data format has been received.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 40 wherein the displayed cursor indicates that a character format or a paragraph format has been received.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 36 further comprising displaying on the display a cursor which identifies the received data format.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5079724A
Cited
US5070478A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-04-14 | 2000-10-14 | 2001-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-14 | 2004-10-14 | 2005-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-14 | 2008-10-14 | 2009-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |