System and method for generating place holders to temporarily suspend execution of a selected command

A graphic editing system in which execution of a selected command may be suspended during selection and execution of other commands, comprising:

• a data interface surface having identifiable coordinates;
• a first application program including means for displaying data on said surface;
• first means interacting with said surface for inputting data on said surface and for inputting commands at given coordinates on said surface to control said first application program and to modify said data displayed on said surface;
• second means for storing coordinates of at least once command input through said first means, for providing on said surface a visual identification of said stored coordinates of said at least one command, and for suspending execution of said at least one command during selection and execution of one or more other commands in said first application program or in a second application program;
• and
• third means responsive to subsequent interaction of said first means with said surface at said stored coordinates for removing said visual identification from said surface and for enabling execution, clarification or cancellation of said at least one suspended command.

A graphic editing system comprising:

• a data interface surface having identifiable coordinates;
• means for displaying data on said surface and interacting with said data;
• first means for inputting commands at given coordinates on said surface to modify all or some of said data displayed on said surface;
• second means for storing coordinates of at least one command input through said first means and for providing a visual identification of said stored coordinates such that said coordinates remain stored and said visual identification is maintained during the input of subsequent commands at coordinates other than said stored coordinates;
• and
• means responsive to subsequent interaction with said surface at said stored coordinates for removing said visual identification.

A computer system in which execution of a selected command in a first application program may be suspended to perform one or more commands in a second application program, the system comprising:

• a data interface surface having identifiable coordinates;
• first and second application programs including means for selectively displaying first and second data, respectively, on said surface;
• input means interacting with said surface for inputting data on said surface and for inputting commands at given coordinates on said surface to control one of said first and second application programs currently displaying said first or second data, respectively, on said surface and to modify said first or second data, respectively, on said surface;
• place holder means for storing coordinates of at least one command in said first application program input through said input means and for providing a visual display of the location of said coordinates or a visual display of said at least one command;
• said place holder means further comprising means for enabling interaction of said input means with said surface in said second application program at coordinates different than said stored coordinates while retaining said stored coordinates of said at least one command input in said first application program.

A system in which multiple commands may be selected in a first order and executed in a second order, said system comprising:

• (a) first means responsive to a first user action for selecting a first command,
• (b) second means responsive to a second user action for executing said first command,
• (c) third means responsive to a third user action taken immediately following the first user action for suspending execution of said first command, preserving said first command, and allowing a user to select and execute one or more different commands, and
• (d) fourth means responsive to a fourth user action for restoring said first command and allowing the user to take said second action to execute said first command.

A graphic editing system capable of operating in first and second command selected modes, in which commands are selected but unexecuted in said first command selected mode and commands are both selected and executed in said second command selected mode, the system comprising:

• means for executing a selected command in response to a first user action;
• place holder means responsive to a second user action for creating a virtual place holder for maintaining the condition of the system in said first command selected mode while allowing operation in said second command selected mode and for indicating said condition;
• and
• means for terminating said virtual place holder.

In a system including a data interface surface having identifiable coordinates, input means interacting with said surface, and a first application program including means for displaying data on said surface, a method for suspending execution of a selected command to allow selection and execution of other commands, comprising:

• interacting with said surface using said input means to select at least one command at given coordinates on said surface to control said first application program or to modify all or some of said data displayed on said surface;
• storing coordinates of said at least one command;
• suspending execution of said at least one command;
• allowing further interacting with said surface to select and execute one or more other commands while said at least one command remains suspended;
• and
• selectively enabling execution, clarification and cancellation of said at least one command in response to subsequent interacting of said input means with said surface at said stored coordinates.

A computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing said computer to perform method steps for suspending execution of a selected command to allow selection and execution of other commands, said method steps comprising:

• interacting with a data interface surface connected to said computer to select at least one command to control a first application program operating on said computer or to modify data displayed on said surface;
• storing information identifying said at least one command;
• suspending execution of said at least one command;
• allowing further interacting with said surface to select and execute one or more other commands while said at least one command remains suspended;
• and
• in response to subsequent interacting with said surface, retrieving said information identifying said at least one command and selectively enabling execution, clarification and cancellation of said at least one command.