The present invention relates to an arrangement which allows images such as camera acquired images to be added to software notes.
Computers are currently used to execute a wide variety of application-programs. Such application programs include, for example, design and manufacturing programs, spread sheet programs, word processing programs, programs to facilitate access to data bases, programs to create graphics, and the like. As the number and kinds of application programs continue to proliferate, as computers become easier to use, and as people become increasingly accustomed to using computers, the types of application programs will continue to grow.
While a computer is executing such application programs, the computer user may be offered many occasions on which it would be desirable to create one or more notes. For example, on one occasion, a computer user may be working on one or more application programs when the computer user receives a telephone call. During that telephone call, the computer user may be presented with information which the computer user may wish to memorialize for later access and use or which may spark ideas which the computer user does not want to forget. On another occasion, the computer user may wish to be reminded of some action which the computer user desires, or is required, to take in the future, such as to make a telephone call or to fill out a time sheet. On yet another occasion, the computer user may want others to take some action, such as to review or revise a document.
On all of these occasions, a computer user would traditionally write down the appropriate information on paper notes. Paper Post-it® notes are very convenient forms of such paper notes. Paper Post-it® notes are simply removed from a dispenser pad of sticky-back paper Post-it® notes, and are applied to various surfaces such as documents, the tops of desks, telephones, or the like. Information can be written on paper Post-it® notes either before or after the paper Post-it® notes are detached from their dispenser pad or attached to their target surfaces. Paper Post-it® notes can be easily moved from one surface to another, such as between documents or between documents and the tops of desks, they can overlap edges or boundaries of documents, they can be layered, and they can be moved with the objects to which they are attached.
However, it is often more convenient for a computer user who is currently using a computer to create a software note on the computer instead of manually writing out a paper note. For example, the note may relate to the contents of one or more documents of the computer's application programs. In such cases, it may be much more convenient to associate the note with a document as the document is saved in the computer's memory, or as the document is displayed on the computer screen. On the other hand, even if the note does not specifically relate to such a document, it still may be more convenient for the computer user to create a note on the computer. For example, if the computer user must take some action while the computer user is using the computer, a reminder note is much more useful if it can be attached to the desktop of the computer display so that the reminder note remains in the computer user's view even while the computer user moves from application program to application program or when all documents are closed.
Application programs currently exist which permit a computer user to generate a software note, and to attach the software note to a document of an application program. Such a note can be created, deleted, edited, saved, and selectively viewed. A computer user may move such a note within a document, or between documents, by cutting the note from a document, storing the note in a clipboard, and then pasting the note to another area of the same document or to a different document. The contents of the note may be entered by use of a keyboard, or by taking a snapshot of a document or of a portion of a document. The background color and size of a note can be selected, the note can be hidden or shown on a selective basis, the note can be stacked with other notes, and the note can be resized. A note can be saved with or without a date and time stamp and, if it is saved with a date and time stamp, the note can be automatically called up as a reminder note on the day and/or at the time stored with the note.
However, current note software programs have a number of problems. For example, many current note software programs must be resident in an application program so that the note software program cannot be interfaced with other application programs installed on the same computer. Therefore, a note for an application program in which the note software is not resident, or moving a note from a document of an application program in which the note software is resident to a document of an application program in which the note software is not resident, is impossible.
Moreover, notes generated by current note software cannot be easily moved. Moving a note between documents in the same application program, between documents of different application programs, between desktops, and between documents and desktops, is cumbersome since the note must be cut from its existing location, saved in a clipboard, and then pasted to its new location.
Notes generated by current note software cannot be easily dispensed, cannot be dispensed from the title bar of a window, cannot overlap the boundary of a window, and cannot be automatically saved without additional user instruction. While notes created by current note software can be attached to a document within a window so that the note moves with the document, notes cannot be attached to an object, such as a character, a word, a sentence, a paragraph, a graphic, a cell, a page, a video, a video frame, a video segment, a sound, or the like, so that the note moves with the object to a new site in the same document or in a different document. Notes created by current note software cannot be attached to a window so that, if the note is attached to a first portion of the window, the note moves with a scrollable section of the window, and so that, if the note is attached to a second portion of the window, the note does not move with a scrollable section of the window.
Icons have been used in connection with computer programs to open documents, to offer a selection of menu options, and to perform functions such as deleting documents. In some instances, icons are automatically saved. To a very limited extent, information, such as icon names, can even be inserted in certain icons which are created either by the computer program author or by the computer program user. However, even though limited information can be added to an icon, an icon is not a note. Unlike a note, an icon is merely a symbol which acts as a connection to an object in order to permit access to that object. For example, an icon permits access to a document, or to options from a menu represented by the icon. By contrast, a note is the object itself. A note can be accessed by way of an icon, and a note contains data. Data can be entered directly into a note, but data cannot be entered directly into an icon. The extent to which an icon can accept information is too limited to make the icon at all useful as a note.
The present invention permits an image such as a camera acquired image to be added to a note.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method performed by a data processing system comprises the following: executing program code in the data processing system so as to display a note; and, executing program code in the data processing system so as to display an image in the note.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method performed by a data processing system comprises the following: executing program code in the data processing system so as to display a note; and, executing program code in the data processing system so as to display a camera acquired image in the note.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable memory has program code stored thereon. Execution of the program code causes the following functions to be performed: displaying a note; and, displaying a camera acquired image in the note.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable memory having program code stored thereon such that execution of the program code causes the following functions to be performed: displaying an image in a non-four-sided shape; and, printing the image on a media having a pre-cut shape matching the shape of the image.
These and other features and advantages will become more apparent from a detailed consideration of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:
Paper Post-it® notes have substantially changed the way that people operate not only in their business environments but also in their personal environments. For example, when a person wishes to annotate a document, create a reminder, provide information to or request an action from another person, or the like, the person fills out a paper Post-it® note and applies the paper note to a document, a top of a desk, a file cabinet, a telephone, or the like. Paper Post-it® notes are convenient because they can be moved from one surface to another, such as between documents or between a document and a top of a desk, they can be edited, they have different attributes such as size, color, and shape, and they have many other useful characteristics. The present invention implements, in a data processing environment, many of these and other attributes of paper Post-it® notes.
An example of a software note 100 according to the present invention is shown in
The hide/show option allows the computer user to hide or to show the note 100. The delete option allows the note 100 to be deleted. The font option allows the computer user to select the font type, size, color, style, alignment, and the like, for the note 100. The color option allows the computer user to change the color of the note 100. The size option allows the size for the note 100 to be specified. Selection of the duplicate option allows the computer user to duplicate the note 100. Selection of the print option allows the computer user to print the note 100. The minimize/maximize option allows the computer user to select the minimum or maximum size of the note in a simple, one step operation. The video/sound option provides tools which can be used to manipulate and edit video and/or sound. The drawings/graphics option provides access to drawing and graphics manipulation features. The cut/paste/copy option provides basic editing tools for editing text, graphics, video, sound, and the like. The help option allows a computer user to ask for help in using the note program 318. Selection of the note information option provides information on the current note, such as creation time, last modification time, name of attached document, index number, etc. The preformatted note option allows preformatted notes, such notes in the format of a business form, notes with a computer user's name printed thereon, or notes having other specialized indicia, to be dispensed. The nonmove option has both a nonmoving state and a moving state so that, if the nonmoving state of the nonmove option is selected, the note does not move with a document being scrolled, and so that, if the moving state of the nonmove option is selected, the note moves with a document being scrolled. The content scrolling option, if selected, allows the contents of a note to be scrolled. The navigation option allows the computer user to navigate from one note to another on a document or between documents of the same or different application programs, and may include the additional functions of next note, previous note, first note, last note, go to a specific note, and the like.
Material, such as text, video, sound, or graphics, can be entered into the notation area 106 of the note 100, and the note 100 can be resized by the use of the sizing control area 108 in order to conform the size of the note 100 with the amount of information contained within the notation area 106, or for any other reason. The note 100 can be resized by positioning an indicator, such as a pointer or a cursor for example, over the sizing control area 108 of the note 100, by activating the cursor, by dragging the cursor to a different location, and by releasing the cursor. Although the term “cursor” is used herein, it should be clear that the term “cursor” is intended to broadly cover any type of indicator or pointer. As the cursor is dragged, an outline of the note 100 follows the cursor in order to indicate the changing size of the note 100. When the cursor is released, the note assumes the last indicated size of the note 100. Alternatively, the cursor can be positioned over the sizing control area 108 of the note 100, activated, and then activated again elsewhere on the viewing screen of a monitor of a display terminal to indicate a new corner location for the note 100. After this second activation, the note is resized. As a further alternative, the sizing control area 108 may comprise different size symbols each indicating a different size which may be selected for the note 100.
The grab area 102, the options area 104, the notation area 106, and the sizing control area 108 of the note 100 may be delineated by graphic design elements such as lines, shadings, color, or the like. The grab area 102 may be accessed, for example, by a cursor under control of a mouse, by arrow keys, or the like, in order to reposition the note 100. Either the grab area 102, or the notation area 106, or both, may be used to render the note active for such subsequent actions as adding information to, deleting information from, or editing information in, the notation area 106. A part of the display, when the options area 104 is accessed, may be a tool bar. Alternatively or in addition to the options area 104, the note 100 may contain a tool area which is always visible to the computer user.
The note 100 may be dispensed in a number of ways. One convenient way of dispensing the note 100 is from a note dispenser, an example of which is shown in
An index or directory listing of some or all of the notes may also be provided as a note option, a note dispenser option, an application program option, or otherwise.
One possible operating environment of the present invention is a data processing system such as a data processing system 300 shown in
The processor 302 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 308 which communicates with the display terminals 304 and the input devices 306 through an input/output controller 310, and which processes program code stored in a memory 312. The program code stored in the memory 312 includes, at least in part, an operating system 314, various application programs 316, and a note program 318. The application programs 316 may include word processing programs, spread sheet programs, and the like. The note program 318 is executed by the processor 302 in order to perform the functions of the present invention.
The note program 318 may contain a default size and shape for the note 100. The note program 318 may also contain a default color for the note 100 when the note is first created, i.e. dispensed. The default characteristics of the note 100 may be configured by the data processing system 300 and/or by the computer user. Furthermore, the color of the note 100 may change based on its state. For example, the note 100 positioned on a currently active window may have a different color or shade of color from a note positioned on an inactive window. An active window is a window which has been selected by a computer user for some action. An active window may have a different appearance to indicate that it is active and that inactive window are not active. The color of an individual note may also be changed by the computer user after it is created.
The note program 318 can provide more than one note dispenser 200. Each such note dispenser 200 may have a different size and shape. The notes of such note dispensers can have different functions. The computer user may dispense a note from a note dispenser dependent upon the desired function of the note.
A note dispenser 418, which may be identical to the note dispenser 200 shown in
A note 430 is attached to the document 408 within the active window 404, and a note 432 is attached to the document 410 within the inactive window 406 so that it overlaps a right-hand edge of a boundary 434 of the inactive window 406. The notes 430 and 432 are saved so that they appear whenever their corresponding documents 408 and 410 appear, and the notes 430 and 432 appear on the viewing screen of a monitor of the display terminals 304 only when their corresponding documents 408 and 410 appear on the viewing screen of the monitor of the display terminals 304. The notes 420, 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, and 432, and the note dispenser 418, are created in response to execution of the note program 318.
A note can be dispensed, for example, from the note dispenser 418 by positioning a cursor (e.g., by appropriately controlling a mouse) over a note dispensing area 436 of the note dispenser 418. By activating the cursor (e.g., by depressing the control button of the mouse), a note can be dragged from the note dispenser 418 to a desired location where it can be attached by deactivating the cursor (e.g., by releasing the control button of the mouse). Alternatively, by positioning a cursor over the note dispensing area 436 of the note dispenser 418 and by merely activating the cursor, note can be caused to appear at locations of the display 400 as determined by the note program 318 and/or by the computer user. The notes can be moved from these locations by dragging the note to a desired attachment site.
Notes can be attached to an attachment site by selecting a note and by positioning the note on the attachment site to which the note is to be attached. For example, a cursor may be moved to the grab area of a note, such as the grab area 102 of the note 100. The cursor is activated, and the note is dragged to a desired attachment site. The note is then attached to the attachment site which is located under the cursor at the time that the cursor is deactivated. Alternatively, an attachment area can be provided on a note so that the note is attached to whatever attachment site is located beneath the attachment area of the note at the time that the cursor is deactivated. As another alternative, a note can be moved by clicking a mouse on the grab area of the note, and by then clicking the mouse again at a new attachment site.
If a note is attached so that the note is entirely within the boundary of a window, the attachment site of the note is easily discerned. However, when a note, such as the note 432, overlaps a boundary of a window, the attachment site of the note may be ambiguous. Thus, without any further indication, the note 432 could be attached either to the document 410 or to the desktop 402. Therefore, an indication may be provided to indicate the attachment site of the note. For example, a note attached to a window may have a different color, texture, border, or the like, than a note attached to a desktop. Alternatively, the options, tool, and size graphics can be removed from notes that are not attached to the top layered document. As another alternative, an attachment point on each note can be used to indicate the point to which the note is attached. Thus, a thumb tack graphic, or the like, can be used such that the point of the tack indicates the precise attachment point. Drop shadowing and/or border highlighting can be also used.
A note may or may not be attached to another note, as desired. In either event, however, notes can be layered with other notes so that the notes overlap parts of other notes, as illustrated by the notes 424, 426, and 428 of
When a new note is dispensed, the note can be displayed with an insert symbol (for example, a blinking vertical bar) at an insert point in the notation area of the note, such as in the notation area 106 of the note 100. Text or other material can be entered from a keyboard or other input device 306. If text is to be entered, for example, the computer user simply begins typing at the insert symbol within the newly dispensed (i.e., created) note. When an existing note is to be edited, a computer user positions an insert symbol within the notation area of the existing note and modifies the desired information as desired. In either case, the insert symbol moves with information entry to indicate the current insert point.
Preferably, although not necessarily, automatic word wrap is provided if text is entered into a note, or if a note having existing text is resized. When the entered text reaches the bottom right extent of the note, further entry of text is possible but is not seen by the computer user unless the computer user subsequently resizes the note, or makes the font size of the entered text smaller. Alternatively, additional text entry can be disallowed, and a beep can be sounded to indicate that the note is full. In another alternative, additional entry of text automatically expands the visible size of the note to accommodate the new text until the viewing screen of the data processing system is filled. Thereafter, text is scrolled up in the note as each new line of text is entered. Additional alternatives will be readily apparent.
The end of text entry can be invoked, for example, by clicking a mouse outside of the notation area of the note, which removes the insert symbol from the note. The end of text entry can also be invoked by pressing a key (such as the escape key) or a combination of keys. The amount of information that can be entered into a single note can be limited by the amount of memory provided by the system at the time that the note is created. Alternatively, a specific limit can be imposed on the amount that can be entered.
Drawings, video, and/or sound information can be added to the notation area of a note by copying them from another document and pasting them into the note. Alternatively, such information can be added to a note by using drawing, video, and/or sound tools available from the options area of a note or from a tool bar.
As mentioned previously and as shown in
Also, as shown in
As shown in
Accordingly, the display 600, which may, for example, be presented on a viewing screen of a monitor of the display terminals 304, may contain regions such as a first window 602, a second window 604, and a desktop 606. The first and second windows 602 and 604 may appear in the display 600 as a result of execution of one or more of the application programs 316, and the desktop 606 may appear in the display 600 as a result of execution of the operating system 314. A note 608, which initially resides at a first location on the desktop 606 of the display 600, is moved directly from this first location on the desktop 606 to a document 610 in the first window 602. The note 608 may then be moved directly from the document 610 in the first window 602 to a document 612 in the second window 604. The note 608 may then be moved directly from the document 612 in the second window 604 to a second location on the desktop 606.
Since pre-existing notes can obscure potential attachment sites for a note being created or moved, all other visible notes may be changed to just outlines as soon as a selected note is in a moving state. Thus, anything under the note outlines becomes visible. Alternatively, only those notes under, or in the vicinity of, a moving cursor are changed to outline form only. A further alternative is to make either all notes, or the notes under a moving cursor, entirely transparent or translucent when any note is in a moving state so that a computer user can see through the non-moving notes to the material below.
As shown by a display 700 in
If an attempt is made to move the note 702 to the noncompliant window 708, an immediate feedback may be provided to the computer user that the program controlling the noncompliant window 708 will not, and cannot, accept the note 702 from the note program 318. This feedback may be provided by changing the cursor to a symbol, such as a symbol 710, which appears whenever the note 702 is dragged over a noncompliant region. Alternatively, this feedback may be provided simply by the disappearance of the note 702 from the noncompliant window 708 and the reappearance of the note 702 at its original location when the cursor moving the note 702 over the noncompliant window 708 is released. Moreover, instead of providing a visual feedback of an attempt to attach a note to an illegal attachment site, such as the noncompliant window 708, an auditory feedback, such as a beep or continuous sound, may be provided when the note is over the illegal attachment site. Another alternative is for the outline of the note, which appears while the note is being moved, to simply zoom back to its original location when an attempt is made to attach the note to an illegal attachment site.
Also, a note 712 is currently attached to a compliant window 714, i.e. a window which results from a program, such as one of the application programs 316, which is compliant with the note program 318. The note 712 cannot be moved to the document 706 contained within the noncompliant window 708. If an attempt is made to move the note 712 to the noncompliant window 708, an immediate feedback may be provided to the computer user that the program controlling the noncompliant window 708 will not, and cannot, accept the note 712.
Moreover, if the note program 318 is arranged so that a note dispenser 716, which may be similar to the note dispenser 513, appears in a title bar 718 of the compliant window 714, the computer user will understand that the compliant window 714 is a compliant window. On the other hand, if the note dispenser 716 appears in the title bar 718 of the compliant window 714 but a similar note dispenser does not appear in a title bar 720 of the noncompliant window 708, the computer user will understand that, while the compliant window 714 is a compliant window, the noncompliant window 708 is a noncompliant window.
As shown by a display 800 in
A first note 816 is attached to the first document 802 and is fully within the first window 808. A second note 818 is attached to the first document 802 but overlaps a right-hand edge 820 of a boundary of the first window 808. A third note 822 is attached to the second document 804 and is fully within the second window 810. A fourth note 824 is attached to the third document 806 but overlaps a right-hand edge 826 of a boundary of the third window 812. A fifth note 828 is attached to the desktop 814.
A note which is attached to a document appears as a layer over the document to which the note is attached. Thus, the content of the document underneath the note is occluded. Accordingly, for example, the first note 816 occludes that portion of the first document 802 which is underneath the first note 816. In order to access the information of the first document 802 underneath the first note 816, the first note 816 may be moved aside, or the options area of the first note 816, such as the options area 104 of the note 100, may be activated to reveal the hide/show option such that the hide option may be selected in order to hide the first note 816. Alternatively, a cursor may be activated over the grab area of the first note 816 in order to make the first note 816 invisible or translucent except for its outline, or in order to make the first note 816 entirely invisible or translucent.
As shown in
The layering of notes is affected by the layering of windows. Thus, since the third window 812 is layered over the second window 810, the third window 812 is also layered over any notes which are attached to the second window 810 and which are underneath the third window 812. As shown in
When there are several notes on one window, the layering of these notes upon each other is based preferably, but not necessarily, on the recency of creation, editing, or selection of notes. That is, the topmost note of a plurality of layered notes is the note which was most recently created, edited, or selected. Accordingly, the selection of a note for creation, editing, or moving moves the note to the top layer of the notes and pushes all other notes down.
A note is associated with its attachment window so that the note becomes active when its attachment window becomes active. Moreover, if a window in a plurality of layered windows changes layers, any notes attached to that window which changes layers move along with that window which changes layers.
Furthermore, when a note attached to an inactive window is selected, the inactive window becomes active. In addition to the inactive window becoming active, if the selected note is among a plurality of layered notes on this window, the selected note moves to the top layer of the plurality of layered notes if the selected note is below the topmost note of the plurality of layered notes. (Alternatively, if the selected note is below the topmost note of a plurality of layered notes, the selected note need not move to the top layer of notes.)
A note can be moved to a window without affecting the existing layer of that window and without changing the active/inactive state of that window; however, as an alternative, the window may change its layer or state if a note is attached to it.
As shown by a display 900 in
A first note 914, which is originally inactive and which is originally attached to the desktop 910 at a first location, is moved to the active window 906, then to the inactive window 908, and finally back to the desktop 910 at a second location.
When a note is attached to an active window, the note becomes active if it was previously inactive, or remains active if it was previously active. When a note is attached to an inactive window, the note becomes inactive if it was previously active, or remains inactive if it was previously inactive. Thus, when the first note 914 is attached to the active window 906, the first note 914 becomes active, and when the first note 914 is attached to the inactive window 908, the first note 914 becomes inactive. When the first note 914, which is inactive on the inactive window 908, is reattached to the desktop 910, the first note 914 remains inactive.
A second note 916 is originally inactive because it is attached to the inactive window 908. When the second note 916 is moved to the active window 906, the second note 916 becomes active. A third note 918, which is inactive and which is originally attached to a third location of the desktop 910, is moved to a fourth location on the desktop 910 where the third note 918 remains inactive.
As shown in
The first portion 1006 of the window 1002 may have one or more fixed note sections and one or more moving note sections. Accordingly, if a note is attached to one of these fixed note sections, this note does not move as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 is scrolled; however, if a note is attached to one of these moving note sections, this note does move with the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 as the document 1008 is scrolled.
Similarly, although the contents of the second portion 1010 generally are nonscrollable, the second portion 1010 of the window 1002 may have one or more fixed note sections and one or more moving note sections. Accordingly, if a note is attached to one of these fixed note sections, this note does not move as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 is scrolled; however, if a note is attached to one of these moving note sections, this note does move as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 is scrolled.
It should also be understood that, even though a note is attached to a fixed note section of the window 1002, the note will move as the contents within the window 1002 are scrolled if the moving state of the note's nonmove option is selected, and that, even though a note is attached to a moving note section of the window 1002, the note will not move as the contents of the window 1002 are scrolled if the nonmoving state of the note's nonmove option is selected.
These actions of a note are illustrated by
A note which is attached to a moving note section of a window moves with the scrollable contents of the window, and a note which is attached to a fixed note section of a window does not move with the scrollable contents of the window. Thus, as shown by the window 1002 at the end of an arrow 1024, since the first note 1012 is attached to a moving note section of the first portion 1006 of the window 1002, the first note 1012 moves up with the document 1008 as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 is scrolled up. The second note 1016, which is attached to a fixed note section of the second portion 1010 of the window 1002, does not move up as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 is scrolled up. And, since the third note 1020 is attached to a fixed note section of the first portion 1006 of the window 1002, the third note 1020 does not move up with the document 1008 as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 is scrolled up.
Moreover, since no part of the grab area 1014 of the first note 1012 now overlies a part of the document 1008 which is within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002, a portion of the first note 1012, commensurate with that part of the document 1008 which underlies the first note 1012 and which is no longer within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002, is also not visible.
Finally, as shown by the window 1002 at the end of an arrow 1026, no part of the first note 1012 is visible since the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 has been scrolled up sufficiently that none of the document 1008 underlying the first note 1012 is within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002. However, since the second note 1016, which is attached to a fixed note section of the second portion 1010 of the window 1002, does not move up as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 is scrolled up, all of the second note 1016 is still visible; and, since the third note 1020, which is attached to a fixed note section of the first portion 1006 of the window 1002, does not move up as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 is scrolled up, all of the third note 1020 is still visible.
On the other hand, as shown by the window 1002 at the end of an arrow 1028, since the first note 1012 is attached to a moving note section of the first portion 1006 of the window 1002, the first note 1012 moves down as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 is scrolled down. However, the second note 1016, which is attached to a fixed note section of the second portion 1010 of the window 1002, does not move down as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 is scrolled down, and the third note 1020, which is attached to a fixed note section of the first portion 1006 of the window 1002, does not move down as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 is scrolled down.
Moreover, since the grab area 1014 of the first note 1012 still overlies a part of the document 1008 which is within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002, all of the first note 1012 is visible.
Finally, as shown by the window 1002 at the end of an arrow 1030, no part of the first note 1012 is visible since the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 has been scrolled down sufficiently that none of the document 1008 underlying the first note 1012 is within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002. However, since the second note 1016, which is attached to a fixed note section of the second portion 1010 of the window 1002, does not move down as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 is scrolled down, all of the second note 1016 is still visible; and since the third note 1020, which is attached to a fixed note section of the first portion 1006 of the window 1002, does not move down as the document 1008 within the first portion 1006 of the window 1002 is scrolled down, all of the third note 1020 is still visible.
A note, which has been scrolled out of a window, returns to view whenever any part of the document underlying the note is scrolled back into the window, provided that, whenever any part of the grab area of the note reappears in the window, the entire note is made visible.
As shown in
As shown in
A second note 1112 is attached to a second document 1114 within a second window 1116. As shown at the end of an arrow 1118, the second note 1112, but not the second window 1116, has been resized. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second note 1112 cannot be resized so that it is no longer attached to the second window 1116. Thus, as the second note 1112 is resized, for example, from its right lower corner, there is a limit placed on the resizing operation to prevent the second note 1112 from being resized off of the second window 1116, e.g. so that a right-hand edge 1120 of the second note 1112 is prevented from being moved across a left-hand edge 1122 of a boundary of the second window 1116.
As shown by a display 1200 in
As indicated by an arrow 1208, a note 1210 may be moved between the first and second desktops 1202 and 1204 as long as the operating system(s), the execution of which results in the first and second desktops 1202 and 1204, is/are compliant with the note program 318. As indicated by an arrow 1212, the note 1210 may also be moved between the first and third desktops 1202 and 1206 as long as the operating system(s), the execution of which results in the first and third desktops 1202 and 1206, is/are compliant with the note program 318. The note 1210 may also be moved between the second and third desktops 1204 and 1206 as long as the operating system(s), the execution of which results in the second and third desktops 1204 and 1206, is/are compliant with the note program 318. (The third desktop 1206 may be a simple backdrop instead of a desktop.)
As shown in
Activating the cursor while the cursor is over the grab area 1306 causes an outline of the note dispenser 1302 to appear in the display 1300 while the note dispenser 1302 is being dragged to the second location. On deactivating the cursor, the note dispenser 1302 is removed from the first location and appears at the second location. Alternatively, the cursor may be activated and deactivated (such as by clicking a mouse) over the note dispenser 1302, and then reactivated and re-deactivated at the second location. A further alternative is to access a dispenser option from an options area of the note dispenser 1302 and to select a new-coordinate option in order to designate new coordinates for the note dispenser 1302.
The functions described above are executed by the data processing system 300 based upon the note program 318 according to the flow chart shown in
As shown in
Once the block 1402 initializes the note program 318, the data processing system 300 waits for an event to be chosen by the computer user, as illustrated by a block 1404. If a block 1406 determines that the chosen event to be processed by the data processing system 300 is not a note program event (i.e., is not an event to be executed by the note program 318), the data processing system 300 processes the event as indicated by a block 1408. If a block 1410 determines that, as a result of processing of the event in accordance with one or more of the application programs 316, further processing of the event by the note program 318 is required, a block 1412 further processes the event. The block 1412 is shown in additional detail in
If the block 1406 determines that the event to be processed is a note program event, a block 1414 processes that note program event in a manner to be described more fully in connection with
A block 1604 determines whether a desktop note dispenser event is selected by the computer user, such as by determining whether a-changed cursor is activated while the changed cursor is over a desktop note dispenser. If the block 1604 determines that an event associated with a desktop note dispenser, such as the note dispenser 200, is to be processed, the subroutine A2 is executed by the data processing system 300. The subroutine A2 is shown in
A block 1606 determines whether a note event is selected by the computer user, such as by determining whether a changed cursor is activated while the changed cursor is over a note. If a note event is selected, the subroutine A3 is executed by the data processing system 300. The subroutine A3 is shown in
A block 1608 determines whether a title bar note dispenser event is selected by the computer user. If a title bar note dispenser event is selected, then the subroutine A4 is executed by the data processing system 300. The subroutine A4 is shown in
If a cursor of the data processing system 300 is not over a note, or if a desktop note dispenser event is not selected by the computer user, or if a note event is not selected by the computer user, or if a title bar note dispenser event is not selected by the computer user, or after execution of the appropriate subroutine A1, A2, A3, or A4, the program returns to the block 1404 shown in
As a cursor is passed over a note as determined by the block 1602 of
A block 1704 determines whether the cursor is over a grab area of a note. If the cursor is over the grab area of a note, a block 1706 changes the cursor to a move cursor (which may have any desired appearance) so that, if the cursor is activated, the note under the cursor may be repositioned.
A block 1708 determines whether the cursor is over an options area of a note. If the cursor is over the options area, a block 1710 changes the cursor to an options selection cursor (which may have any desired appearance) so that, if the cursor is activated, options are displayed, and so that a computer user may select one of the displayed options.
A block 1712 determines whether the cursor is over another control area, if any, of a note. If the cursor is over another control area of a note, a block 1714 changes the cursor to a control cursor (which may have any desired appearance).
After operation of any of the blocks 1702, 1706, 1710, and 1714, or if the cursor is not over the notation area, the grab area, the options area, or another control area of the note, the program returns to the block 1404 of
If the block 1604 of
A block 1804 determines whether a note dispensing area, such as the note dispensing area 202 of the note dispenser 200, is selected by a computer user, such as by clicking a mouse while the mouse cursor is over the note dispensing area. If the note dispensing area is selected by a computer user, a block 1806 dispenses a note. The block 1806 is shown in more detail in
A block 1808 determines whether an options area, such as the options area 206 of the note dispenser 200, is selected by the computer user. If the options area is selected by the computer user, a block 1810 selects an option as determined by the computer user. The block 1810 is shown in more detail in
The Position Dispenser block 1802 of
However, if the new attachment site is not a legal attachment site as determined by the block 1902, a block 1910 causes a display or other indication to be provided to the computer user indicating that the selected new attachment site is not a legal attachment site.
After the block 1908 stores the desktop note dispenser at its new attachment site, or after the block 1910 causes a display or other indication to be provided to the computer user indicating that the selected new attachment site is not a legal attachment site, the program returns to the block 1404 of
The Dispense Note block 1806 of
A note which is dispensed by a means other than a note dispenser on a desktop or in the title bar is dispensed to the window from which the note is dispensed and at an attachment site which may be determined by the note program 318 or by the computer user. Accordingly, a block 2004 initially attaches this note to the window from which the note was dispensed. The note may then be move from that initial attachment site, if desired.
If the note is dispensed from a desktop note dispenser as determined by the block 2000, or if the note is dispensed from a title bar note dispenser as determined by the block 2002, a block 2006, which is shown in more detail in
If the block 2008 determines that the site flag indicates that the potential attachment site for a note dispensed from a note dispenser is legal, or if the block 2004 attaches a new note to the window from which the new note is dispensed, a block 2010 creates a note by forming the outline and areas as shown by the note 100 in
If the block 2008 determines that the site flag indicates that the potential attachment site is illegal, or after the block 2014 edits the contents of the note attached to a legal attachment site, the program returns to the block 1404 of
The Get ATTACHMENT block 2006 of
If the cursor is over an invalid potential attachment site, a block 2104 indicates to the computer user that the potential attachment site is an invalid attachment site. For example, the block 2104 may cause a symbol, such as the symbol 710 shown in
On the other hand, if the cursor is over is a valid potential attachment site, a block 2106 indicates to the computer user that the potential attachment site is a valid potential attachment site. For example, instead of displaying a symbol indicating to the computer user that the site is an invalid potential attachment site, the block 2306 may cause an outline of a note to be displayed to the computer user to indicate to the computer user that the potential attachment site is a valid attachment site.
After the block 2104 indicates that the cursor is over an invalid potential attachment site, or after the block 2106 indicates that the cursor is over a valid potential attachment site, a block 2108 determines whether the computer user has selected the potential attachment site as the attachment site, for example by determining whether the computer user released the control button of a mouse. If the block 2108 determines that an attachment site has not been selected by the computer user yet, the routine returns to the block 2102 so that the computer user may move the cursor over other potential attachment sites.
On the other hand, if the block 2108 determines that the potential attachment site has been selected by the computer user as the attachment site, a block 2110 determines whether the selected attachment site is a valid attachment site. If the selected attachment site is not a valid attachment site, a block 2112 sets a site flag to null which indicates that the potential attachment site is not a valid attachment site. If, instead, the block 2110 determines that the selected attachment site is a valid attachment site, the site flag is not set to null. After the block 2112 sets the site flag to null, or if the block 2110 determines that the selected attachment site is a valid attachment site so that the site flag is not set to null, the program returns to the block 2008 which, as discussed above, determines whether the site flag has been set to null.
The Attach Note block 2012 of
After the block 2202 stores the note information concerning a note which is to be attached to a desktop, or if the block 2200 determines that the new attachment site is not a desktop, a block 2204 adds appropriate note information to an index. The index is discussed more fully in connection with
If the block 2206 determines that a new note is not being created, e.g. a note is being moved from an old attachment site to a new attachment site, a block 2212 determines whether the new attachment site is active. If the new attachment site is not active, a block 2214 makes the note inactive. Thus, a note, which is moved to an inactive attachment site, is made inactive.
If a new note is to be created as determined by the block 2206 and if the attachment site for this newly created note is not active as determined by the block 2208 and after the block 2210 makes this attachment site active, or if a new note is to be created as determined by the block 2206 and if the attachment site for this newly created note is already active as determined by the block 2208, or if the block 2206 determines that a new note is not being created and if the block 2212 determines that the new attachment site is active, a block 2216 makes the note active. After the block 2216 makes the note active, or after the block 2214 makes the note inactive, a block 2218 displays the note at the new attachment site, and a block 2220 appropriately notifies the application program, which controls the new attachment site, that an attachment change has occurred. That is, the application program which controls the new attachment site is either notified that a new note has been created and has been attached to the new attachment site, or that an existing note has been moved from an old attachment site to the new attachment site. Accordingly, the note is attached to the new attachment site. After the block 2220 appropriately notifies an application program that a change has occurred, the program returns to the block 2014 of
A note can be attached to window, to a desktop, to a document generally, to an object such as a character, a word, a sentence, a paragraph, a graphic, a cell, a page, a video, a video frame, a video segment, a sound, or to the like. If the note is attached to an object, special highlighting, pointers, or the like, may be used to indicate the object to which the note is attached.
The Edit Note Contents block 2014 of
If the note is attached to a desktop, as determined by a block 2302, a block 2304 causes the updated contents to be stored immediately (i.e., without a specific save instruction from the computer user) as data is added to the contents of the note or as the existing contents in the note are edited. On the other hand, if the note is not attached to a desktop as determined by the block 2302, a block 2306 appropriately notifies the application program of the updated contents. Either the note program 318 or an application program may be responsible for saving the updated contents. After the updated contents have been stored by the block 2304 for a note attached to a desktop, or after the block 2306 appropriately notifies the application program of the updated contents, the program returns to the block 1404 of
The Select Option block 1810 of
If the block 1606 of
A block 2504 determines whether the cursor is over the notation area of a note, such as the notation area 106 of the note 100, when the cursor is activated. If the cursor is over the notation area of a note at the time the cursor is activated, a block 2506, the details of which are shown in
A block 2508 determines whether the cursor is over the options area of a note, such as the options area 104 of the note 100, at the time that the cursor is activated. If so, a block 2510, the details of which are shown in
A block 2512 determines whether the cursor is over the sizing control area, such as the sizing control area 108 of the note 100, at the time that the cursor is activated. If so, a block 2514, the details of which are shown in
If the cursor is not over the grab area of a note, or if the cursor is not over the notation area of a note, or if the cursor is not over the options area of a note, or if the cursor is not over the sizing control area of a note, at the time that the cursor is activated, or after the block 2502 repositions the note, or after the block 2506 edits the contents of the note, or after the block 2510 selects an option, or after the block 2514 resizes the note, the program returns to the block 1404 of
The Reposition Note block 2502 of
The Remove Attachment block 2604 of
The Resize note block 2514 of
Thereafter, a block 2802 determines whether the note, due to its new size as selected by the computer user, would be off of its attachment, such as off the window to which the note is attached. For example, as shown in
If the new size is not less than a minimum allowable size as determined by the block 2806, a block 2810 determines whether the new size is greater than a maximum allowable size. If the new size for the note is greater than a maximum allowable size, a block 2812 sets the size of the note to the maximum allowable size. The maximum allowable size may be user selectable, or not, or may not be provided at all.
After the block 2804 sets the size of the note so that the note is kept on its attachment, or after the block 2808 sets the size of the note to the minimum allowable size, or after the block 2812 sets the size of the note to the maximum allowable size, a block 2814 indicates to the computer user that the size of the note, as selected by the computer user, is inappropriate. For example, the note can be shaded, the note can be color changed, or the note program 318 can simply refuse to change the outline in a nonallowable method, so that the computer user is notified that the computer user has attempted an illegal operation.
After the block 2814 indicates that the selected size of the note is inappropriate, or if the block 2810 determines that the new size of the note is not greater than the maximum allowable size for a note, a block 2816 determines whether the size of the note has been selected by the computer user. For example, if the sizing control area 108 of the note 100 is being operated by a cursor under control of a mouse, the size is selected when the mouse button is released. If the block 2816 determines that the size of the note has not been selected, the routine shown in
If the block 1608 of
A block 3002 determines whether a window has been moved. If the block 3002 determines that a window has been moved, a subroutine C2 is executed by the data processing system 300. The subroutine C2 is shown in
A block 3004 determines whether a window has just been opened as a result of execution of one of the application programs 316 or the operating system 314. If the block 3004 determines that a window has just been opened, a subroutine C3 is executed by the data processing system 300. The subroutine C3 is shown in
A block 3006 determines whether a window has been selected, i.e. made active. If the block 3006 determines that a window has been selected, a subroutine C4 is executed by the data processing system 300. The subroutine C4 is shown in
A block 3008 determines whether a window has been de-selected, i.e. made inactive. If the block 3008 determines that a window has been de-selected, a subroutine C5 is executed by the data processing system. The subroutine C5 is shown in
A block 3010 determines whether a window has been closed. If the block 3010 determines that a window has been closed, a subroutine C6 is executed by the data processing system 300. The subroutine C6 is shown in
A block 3012 determines whether the contents of a window are being saved. For example, a computer user can select a save option. If the block 3012 determines that the contents of a window are being saved, a subroutine C7 is executed by the data processing system 300. The subroutine C7 is shown in
A block 3014 determines whether a window has been resized by a computer user. If a window has been resized, a subroutine C8 is executed by a data processing system 300. The subroutine C8 is shown in
A block 3016 determines whether an object within a window is being moved by the computer user. If the block 3016 determines that an object within a window is being moved by a computer user, a subroutine C9 is executed by the data processing system 300. The subroutine C9 is shown in
A block 3018 determines whether a window is being scrolled by a computer user. If the block 3018 determines that a window is being scrolled by a computer user, a subroutine C10 is executed by the data processing system 300. The subroutine C10 is shown in
If an application program has not just been started, or is a window has not been moved, or if a window has not just been opened, or if a window has not been selected, or if a window has not been de-selected, or if a window has not been closed, or if the contents of a window are not being saved, or if a window has not been resized by a computer user, or if an object within a window is not being moved by the computer user, or if a window is not being scrolled by a computer user, or after execution of the appropriate subroutine C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, or C10, the program returns to the block 1404 shown in
When the block 3000 determines that an application program is just started so that the subroutine C1 shown in
If the block 3100 determines that the application program just started is compliant with the note program 318, a block 3102 registers the fact that the application program just started is compliant with the note program 318. For example, a flag may be set indicating that the application program is compliant with the note program 318. On the other hand, if the block 3100 determines that the application program just started is not compliant with the note program 318, a block 3104 registers the fact that the application program just initiated is not compliant with the note program 318. For example, a flag may be set indicating that the application program is not compliant with the note program 318. After the block 3102 registers that the application program just started is compliant with the note program 318, or after the block 3104 registers that the application program just started is not compliant with the note program 318, the subroutine C1 returns to the block 1404 shown in
When the block 3002 determines that a window has been moved so that the subroutine C2 shown in
If the block 3200 determines that there are notes attached to the moved window, a block 3202 determines whether there are any notes attached to the moved window remaining to be offset, i.e. to be moved to the new position of the moved window. If there are any such notes, a block 3204 removes a first of these notes remaining to be offset from the old position of the window, and a block 3206 determines the new coordinates for this first note. The new coordinates of this first note are those coordinates which maintain the original attachment site of this first note relative to the window when the window is at its new position.
A block 3208 determines if this note is to be displayed. For example, the block 3208 may determine whether a note is to be hidden or shown. If the block 3208 determines that this note is to be displayed, a block 3210 displays the note at its new position, i.e. at its new coordinates. After the block 3210 displays the note at its new position, or if the block 3208 determines that the note is not to be displayed, the subroutine C2 returns to the block 3202 to determine whether there are any more notes remaining to be moved to the new position of the window. If there are, the blocks 3204-3210 process each of the remaining notes as above. If the block 3200 determines that there are no notes attached to the moved window, or when the block 3202 determines that there are no more notes to be moved to the new position of the moved window, the subroutine C2 returns to the block 1404 shown in
When a window is opened as determined by the block 3004 so that the subroutine C3 shown in
If the block 3006 determines that a window has been selected so that the subroutine C4 shown in
If the block 3008 determines that a window is de-selected so that the subroutine C5 shown in
If the block 3010 determines that a window has been closed so that the subroutine C6 shown in
If the block 3012 determines that contents of a window are being saved by a computer user so that the subroutine C7 shown in
If the block 3014 determines that a window has been resized by a computer user so that the subroutine C8 shown in
Notes are processed by the block 3804 in accordance with the routine shown in
On the other hand, if no portion of the grab area of the note currently being processed is within the viewable region of the resized window, a block 3906 determines whether any portion of the note currently being processed is within the viewable region of the resized window. If some portion of the note currently being processed is within the viewable region of the resized window, a block 3908 displays only that portion of the note currently being processed which is within this viewable region. If the block 3900 determines that the note currently being processed is to be hidden, or after the block 3904 displays the entire note currently being processed, or if the block 3906 determines that no portion of the note currently being processed is within the viewable region of the resized window, or after the block 3908 displays that portion of the note currently being processed which is within the viewable region of the resized window, the routine shown in
If the block 3016 determines that an object within a window is being moved so that the subroutine C9 shown in
If the block 4004 determines that this first note is not attached to an object being moved, or after the block 4008 displays this first note which is attached to an object being moved, the block 4002 determines whether there are any other notes which have not been processed by the blocks 4004, 4006 and 4008. If so, the next note is processed by these blocks. When the block 4002 determines that all notes, which are attached to this window within which an object is being moved, have been processed, or if the block 4000 determines that there are no notes attached to the window within which an object is being moved, the subroutine C9 returns to the block 1404 shown in
If the block 3018 determines that a window is being scrolled so that the subroutine C10 shown in
If the block 4104 determines that the first of these notes which have not yet been processed is a moving note, a block 4106 determines whether this note is attached to a moving note section of the window. For example, if the note is attached to a fixed note section of a window, the note is not moved as the scrollable contents of the window are scrolled.
If the block 4106 determines that the note is attached to a moving note section of a window, a block 4108 causes the coordinates of the note to be adjusted as the attachment site to which the note is attached scrolls with the contents of the scrolled window. Thereafter, a block 4110 causes the note to be displayed at the new coordinates. The block 4110 is executed in accordance with the routine shown in
If the block 4104 determines that the note currently being processed by the blocks 4104-4110 is not a moving note, or if the block 4106 determines that this note is not attached to a moving note section of the scrolled window, or after this note is displayed by the block 4110, the block 4102 determines whether all of the notes attached to the scrolled window have been processed by the blocks 4104-4110. If all of the notes have not as yet been processed, the blocks 4104-4110 process another of the notes yet to be processed. When the block 4102 determines that all notes attached to the scrolled window have been processed, or if the block 4100 determines that there are no notes attached to this scrolled window, the subroutine C10 returns to the block 1404 shown in
The index window 4202 may include scroll controls 4204 so that a computer user may scroll through the note listings contained in the index 4200. The size of the index window 4202 for the index 4200 determines how many note listings are visible at one time within the index window 4202. However, the size of the index window 4202 may be adjustable by the computer user, if desired. If only a portion of the contents of a note is contained in a note listing, a series of periods may be used to indicate that the contents of the note are more extensive than shown in the index window 4202 of the index 4200.
Navigation controls can also be integrated into the index window 4202. For example, a Go To button 4206 may be used to go to a particular note after the computer user has selected a note from the list shown in the index window 4202. As shown in
The index 4200 as shown in
As described above, material, such as text, video, sound, or graphics, can be entered into the note 100. Also, a frame or cell of video and/or an image can be entered into the note 100. The image may be acquired by a camera such as photographic camera, a digital camera, a video camera, or other camera. For example, as shown in
The image 4300 can be inserted into the note 4302 using a variety of methods. For example, the image 4300 can be dragged as an image file from an application, such as a photo processing application, and can be dropped into the note 4302. Alternatively, the image 4300 can be copied from an application and can be pasted into the note 4302. As another alternative, a file browse dialog box can be opened and an image file can be located on a disk or other memory device and either dragged and dropped into the note 4302, or copied (or cut) and pasted into the note 4302, or otherwise duplicated into the note 4302.
When the image 4300 is dropped or pasted or otherwise inserted into the note 4302, the size of the image is calculated by the note program 318 based on information that is typically stored with the image. Assuming that the image has a size greater than 4×6, the image is scaled so it correctly fills up the note 4302 having a size of 4×6. That is, when such an image is first inserted into a note, it is automatically scaled to a size of 4×6. The image can thereafter be scaled to different sizes. A 4×6 image taken at 300 dpi contains 1200×1800 pixels that would fill up most monitors. However, instead of displaying all 1200×1800 pixels, the resolution is scaled down so that the image is displayed at its correct 4×6 size.
If the size of the note into which such an image is first inserted is smaller than 4×6, the note will be resized to 4×6 to accommodate this 4×6 image.
If the image to be inserted into a note has a size that is smaller than 4×6, the image is not scaled as it is first inserted into the note, and instead the note is sized as necessary to fit this image. For example, if the image is a 3×5 image, the note into which the image is inserted will be sized (expanded or shrunk) to a 3×5 size to accommodate the image.
Alternatively, instead of the image filling the entire note 4302, the image can be automatically sized so that it fills up only a portion of the note 4302. Other alternatives are possible. For example, when images are first inserted into notes, the images can be automatically scaled to sizes other than 4×6. Also, smaller images can be automatically sized up to a predetermined size when they are first inserted into notes.
Text can also be added to the note as shown in
Once the image 4300 is in the note 4302, there are several editing functions that can be applied to the image. The user can access these editing functions by left clicking on a control button 4304 to expose a control panel 4306 which is shown by way of example in
As can be seen in
The editing functions appear in editing bars 4308 and 4310 of the control panel 4306. The editing functions in the editing bar 4308 include a first button (down-right arrow) that permits the note to be sized to fit any text and/or image or other content that has been added to the note, a second button (up-left arrow) that permits the note to be sized to fit just the first line of any text that has been added to the note, a third button (bottom line) that permits the note to be minimized, and a selection that permits the note to remain on top of any documents or windows that happen to be displayed regardless of which document or window has the focus.
The editing functions in the editing bar 4310 include a first button that permits an image to be opened and added to a note, a second button that permits contents such as an image within the note to be scaled, a third button that permits contents such as an image within the note to be cropped, a fourth button that permits contents such as an image within the note to be rotated, a fifth button that permits contents such as an image within the note to be cut from the note, and a sixth button that permits contents such as an image to be copied from the note, and a seventh button that permits contents such as an image to be pasted into the note.
The control panel 4306 can have other bars 4312, 4314, and 4316. The bar 4312 is an alarm bar which may be used to set alarms. The bar 4314 has a first button permitting a note to be printed, a second button permitting a note to be moved to a memo board, a third button permitting a note to be trashed, a fourth button permitting information to be accessed, and a fifth button permitting a the color of a note to be selected. The bar 4316 has a first button that can be activated to pull down various note functions, a second button that can be activated to pull down various editing functions, a third button that can be activated to pull down various system functions, a fourth button that can be activated to trash a note, and a close button.
The note functions can include, for example, image functions such as adding an image, cutting an image, copying an image, pasting an image, aligning an image, resizing an image, cropping an image, and can also include access to image properties. The note functions can further include, for example, selecting a note color, sizing a note, setting an alarm, selecting the note to be always on top regardless of what window or application has the focus, printing the note, moving the note to a memo board, trashing the note, and can provide access to note information.
The system functions can include, for example, finding notes, displaying an alarm list, creating a new note, creating a new memo board, opening an existing memo board, accessing tools such as show trash, show template, import memo board, show all desktop notes, hide all desktop notes, print desktop notes, and accessing system preference settings.
Also, as shown in
As the image 4500 is resized in this fashion, its resolution is proportionally changed. However, the original resolution of the image 4500 is retained in memory so that, at a later time, the image 4500 can be enlarged without loss of resolution, or so that the image 4500 can be printed at its full resolution.
In one embodiment, when the image 4500 is scaled up, the note 4502 will expand to accommodate the larger image, and, when the image 4500 shrinks, the note 4502 does not shrink with the image. In other embodiments, when the image 4500 is scaled up, the note 4502 need not expand to accommodate the larger image, and/or, when the image 4500 shrinks, the note 4502 may shrink with the image. Also, although scaling control handles are not shown in
The cursor can also be made to change to an intersecting crossbars with a line through it indicating the direction of the crop action. The line will face either vertical, horizontal, or at an angle for proportional cropping. Such a cursor is known in other software applications, but not in a note application.
As the image 4700 is cropped in this fashion, its resolution is not changed. Instead, portions of image 4700 are removed or added as the cropping handles are moved. The original size of the image 4700 is retained in memory so that, while the image is being manipulated, the image 4700 can be displayed in full, or so that the image 4700 can be printed in full. However, once the focus is shifted away from the note, any portions of the image that are cropped out are lost. As alternative, such portions could be retained in memory so that they can be later recovered.
Although cropping control handles are shown in
As shown in
If a user has selected to scale an image in a note as determined at 5104, the scaling box and handles are added to the selected image and the image is scaled according to the movement of these scaling handles by the user at 5106.
If a user has selected to crop an image in a note as determined at 5108, the cropping box and handles are added to the selected image and the image is cropped according to the movement of these cropping handles by the user at 5110. The cursor can also be made to change to an intersecting crossbars with a line through it as discussed above.
If a user has selected to rotate an image in a note as determined at 5112, the image is rotated according to the rotating function selected by the user at 5114.
If a user has selected to perform any of the other functions described above as determined at 5116, the selected other function is performed at 5118. One such other function, for example, may be displaying or printing an image to a shape. Thus, an image in a note may be displayed or printed in a non-rectangular. For example, the shape may be determined by closed curves or polygons having less than or more than four sides. Thus, the other shape can be that of a heart, a diamond, a circle, shapes having themes such as holiday themes, etc. For example,
Printing an image to shape is particularly advantageous in connection with media such as those disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Applications Serial Nos. (61232US003) and (61269US003), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, such that an image in a selected shape can be printed on a pre-cut section of that media having a corresponding shape.
Many alternatives and modifications have been described above. Many other alternatives and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, instead of displaying notes and windows in two dimensional regions on a conventional monitor, notes and windows may be displayed holographically, or otherwise, in three dimensional regions. Also, although “window” has been used herein in a conventional sense, the present invention is useful with windows having any number of shapes, sizes, colors, etc. Moreover, although the note 100 is shown as having a grab area 102 separate from the notation area 106, the grab area 102 and the notation area 106 may be coextensive.
Furthermore, as described above, editing functions can be applied to the image in a note. These editing functions can also be applied to the text or other content in the note.
Additionally, a photograph as used herein can be an image acquired by a digital camera or other similar device.
All such alternatives and modifications are covered by the present invention.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/172,934 filed Jun. 17, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/674,082 filed Jul. 1, 1996, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/188,219 filed Jan. 27, 1994. Also, this application contains subject matter related to that disclosed in U.S. Application Serial No. (61232US003) filed on even date with this application and in U.S. Application Serial No. (61269US003) also filed on even date with this application.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 08674082 | Jul 1996 | US |
Child | 10172934 | Jun 2002 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 08188219 | Jan 1994 | US |
Child | 08674082 | Jul 1996 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10172934 | Jun 2002 | US |
Child | 11271380 | Nov 2005 | US |