Method and apparatus for inserting text on a pen-based computer system

A method for inserting text into a pen-based computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving input strokes inputted by a stylus onto a screen of the pen-based computer system;
• determining whether said input strokes comprise a text object;
• examining each existing displayed paragraph in an active portion of said screen to determine whether said text object is associated with an existing paragraph when said input strokes are determined to be a text object and assigning a rating to each existing paragraph to identify a level of probability that said text object is associated with that existing paragraph, wherein said step of examining further comprises the substeps of,
• determining whether a baseline of said text object is beyond a leading edge of a bounding box of an existing paragraph,
• determining whether a designated percentage of said text object is within the bounding box of said existing paragraph, and
• wherein when the baseline of said text object is beyond the leading edge of the bounding box and the designated percentage of the text object is within the bounding box, a determination is made that there is a first level probability that said insert location is within said existing paragraph;
• forming a new paragraph with said text object when said text object is determined not to be associated with any of said existing paragraphs:
• and
• determining an insert location within a highest rated existing paragraph when said text object is determined to be associated with an existing paragraph and inserting said text object at said insert location.

A method for inserting text into a pen-based computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a best matched paragraph for a text object input with a stylus on a screen of said pen-based computer system based at least in part on the location of a baseline of the text object;
• identifying a line within said best matched paragraph when there is a determined best matched paragraph based at least in part on the location of the baseline;
• determining whether said text object substantially completely overlies open space within said identified line;
• setting an insert location on the identified line based on a leading edge of said text object;
• and
• inserting said text object at said insert location.

A method for inserting text into a pen-based computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a best matched paragraph for a text object input with a stylus on a screen of said pen-based computer system;
• identifying a line within said best matched paragraph when there is a determined best matched paragraph:
• determining whether said text object substantially completely overlies open space within said identified line;
• setting an insert location on the identified line based on a leading edge of said text object;
• inserting said text object at said insert location;
• and
• wherein when said text object does not substantially completely overlie open space, the method further comprises placing an appropriate separator before said leading edge in said identified line, and inserting said text object after said separator.

A method for inserting text into a pen-based computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a best matched paragraph for a text object input with a stylus on a screen of said pen-based computer system;
• identifying a line within said best matched paragraph when there is a determined best matched paragraph:
• determining whether said text object substantially completely overlies open space within said identified line;
• setting an insert location on the identified line based on a leading edge of said text object;
• inserting said text object at said insert location;
• and
• wherein when said text object does substantially completely overlie open space, the method further comprises removing space characters within the open space that are positioned between the leading edge and a trailing edge of the text object, the removed space characters being equal in width to the width of said text object.

A method for inserting text into a pen-based computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a best matched paragraph for a text object input with a stylus on a screen of said pen-based computer system;
• identifying a line within said best matched paragraph when there is a determined best matched paragraph and setting an insert location on the identified line based on a leading edge of said text object;
• forming a new paragraph with said text object when there is no determined best matched paragraph and identifying an insert location for said new paragraph based on a baseline and leading edge of input strokes forming the text object, wherein when a guideline is present and said baseline is within a predetermined distance of said guideline, said new paragraph is inserted on said guideline at said leading edge:
• and
• inserting said text object at said insert location.

A computer system including a processing means for controlling operation of said computer system, a touch-sensitive display screen, a stylus for inputting data to said processing means by engaging said stylus with said screen and moving said stylus across said screen, said computer system comprising:

• means for receiving strokes made with said stylus on said screen;
• means for determining whether said strokes comprise a text object;
• means for rating a plurality of existing paragraphs displayed on an active portion of said screen when said strokes comprise a text object to determine whether an association exists between said text object and said existing paragraphs;
• means for determining an insert location for said text object wherein when it is determined that there is an association between the text object and at least one of the existing paragraphs the insert location is within one of the existing paragraphs and when it is determined that no association exists between the text object and the existing paragraphs, the insert location is not within one of the existing paragraphs;
• and
• means for inserting said text object at said insert location.