Linked text boxes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10650184-B2
Application number	US-201816007815-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2018
Priority date	Jun 13, 2018
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to linking text boxes and features associated with linked text boxes. A user interface feature in a document authoring application program for creating text boxes may include a text box creation graphical menu item presented on a display of an electronic device. In response to receiving user input indicative of a selection of the text box graphical menu item, the application program is configured to cause the electronic device to render a text box that includes a bounding edge in the document on the display. Additionally, the user interface feature includes a selectable visual indicator displayed as an integral part of the text box. The selectable visual indicator is indicative of a thread of text boxes in which the text box is included.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A user interface (UI) feature in a document authoring application program for creating text boxes, comprising:
a text box creation graphical menu item presented on a display of an electronic device, wherein, in response to receiving user input indicative of a selection of the text box creation graphical menu item, the application program is configured to cause the electronic device to render a text box in the document on the display, wherein the text box comprises a bounding edge; and
a selectable visual indicator displayed as an integral part of the text box, wherein the selectable visual indicator is indicative of a thread of text boxes in which the text box is included, wherein text included in a first text box of the thread flows into a second text box of the thread when an amount of the text is larger than a displayable area of the first text box, wherein the selectable visual indicator comprises an order indicator indicative of a position of the text box within the thread, wherein the position of the text box is indicative of a reading order of the text in the thread.

2. The UI feature of claim 1 , wherein the selectable visual indicator comprises a color associated with the thread.

3. The UI feature of claim 1 , wherein the bounding edge comprises the selectable visual indicator.

4. The UI feature of claim 1 , wherein the text box comprises a linking affordance that is configured to indicate the thread before the text box is included in the thread.

5. The UI feature of claim 1 , wherein, in response to receiving a second user input indicative of a selection of the text box creation graphical menu item, the application program is configured to cause the electronic device to render the second text box in the document on the display, wherein the second text box comprises a second selectable visual indicator displayed as an integral part of the second text box, wherein the second selectable visual indicator is indicative of the second text box being included in the thread.

6. The UI feature of claim 5 , comprising a thread order option menu presented on the display, wherein the thread order option menu provides a plurality of positions within the thread, wherein selection of a new position changes the selectable visual indicator from indicating an old position to indicating the new position.

7. The UI feature of claim 1 , comprising a text box option menu presented on the display in response to receiving an option menu selection inputted, wherein the presented option menu provides a listing of a plurality of threads that includes the thread, wherein selection of a second thread different from the thread changes the text box from being associated with the thread to being associated with the second thread.

8. The UI feature of claim 7 , wherein the selectable visual indicator comprises a second color associated with the second thread.

9. A method for linking text boxes on one or more pages of an electronic document, the method comprising:
receiving a first user input corresponding to an indication to create a first text box on the one or more pages;
in response to the first user input, presenting the first text box on the one or more pages, the first text box having an associated first location on the one or more pages;
receiving a second user input corresponding to an indication to create a second text box on the one or more pages;
in response to the second user input, presenting the second text box on the one or more pages, the second text box having an associated second location on the one or more pages;
detecting a relative arrangement of the first text box and the second text box on the one or more pages;
based on the relative arrangement and a language specification, linking the first and second text boxes by assigning an order to each of the first text box and the second text box within a thread, wherein text within the thread flows from one text box of the thread to another text box of the thread based on the assigned order when an amount of text is larger than an area of the one text box; and
displaying the assigned order via selectable visual indicators included in the first and second text boxes, wherein the assigned order is indicative of a reading order of the text in the thread.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
before displaying the second text box, determining whether the second text box will overlap with text in the first text box;
determining whether there is space in another text box for at least a portion of the text; and
presenting the second text box and rearranging the text such that the second text box does not overlap with the text.

11. The method of claim 10 , comprising displaying a text overflow indicator on the second text box or the other text box that indicates that a portion of the text is not being displayed.

12. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
receiving a third user input to add text to the first text box;
displaying the text in the first text box; and
displaying a portion of the text in the second text box when the portion of the text will not fit in the first text box.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising displaying a text overflow indicator that indicates that some of the portion of the text is not being displayed when the portion of the text will not fit in the second text box.

14. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions configured to cause processing circuitry to:
receive a first user input corresponding to an indication to create a first text box on one or more pages of an electronic document;
in response to the first user input, display the first text box on the one or more pages;
receive a second user input corresponding to an indication to create a second text box on the one or more pages;
in response to the second user input, display the second text box on the one or more pages;
link the first text box and the second text boxes by assigning an order to each of the first text box and the second text box within a thread; and
display the assigned order of each of the first text box and the second text box within the thread via a first selectable visual indicator of the first text box and a second selectable visual indicator of the second text box, respectively, wherein text within the thread flows from one text box of the thread to another text box of the thread based on the assigned order when an amount of text in the one text box is larger than an area of the one text box, wherein the first selectable indicator indicates a first position of the first text box within the thread, wherein the second selectable indicator indicates a second position of the second text box within the thread, wherein the first and second positions are indicative of a reading order of the text in the thread.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
display one or more thumbnails that are each associated with one of the one or more pages; and
provide an indication in at least a portion of the one or more thumbnails associated with a portion of the one or more pages that include the first text box or the second text box that the first text box or second text box is included in the portion of the one or more pages.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
receive a third user input indicative of a request to change the assigned order associated with the second text box;
change the assigned order base

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Frazer Katherine Elizabeth
• Lucas Allen Wayne
• Cho Jonathan
• Lindsey Michael Scott
• Smyth Kevin R

Classifications

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• G06F40/166

  Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting · CPC title

• G06F40/114 Primary

  Pagination · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title