Multi-page content selection technique
A multi-page content selection mode is provided for devices and systems having display capability. The content may be any type (e.g., text, images, files, etc). In some cases, the user can engage the mode with a combination of gestures and touch points on a touch screen. The combination may include, for example, one or more initial touch points at a desired starting location of target content, followed by a dragging gesture moving from that location to a desired end location of that content. Content between the starting and end locations is selected. Input devices other than touch screens can be used to engage the selection process. During a multi-page selection process, content of a second page can be previewed in a preview area on a first displayed page. In some such cases, content from the second page scrolls into the preview area and displaces content from the first displayed page.
1. A device, comprising:
a display for displaying content to a user, the content being organized in a multi- column format having a plurality of pages with each page having at least a left column and a right column; and
a user interface including a content selection mode configured to cause selection of all content between a first piece of content on a first displayed page and a second piece of content on a second page,
wherein the content selection mode is further configured to preview selected content of the second page in a preview area within the right column on the first displayed page during a multipage selection process such that the left column of the first displayed page remains stationary while content from the second page scrolls upward from below into the right column preview area, displacing content from the right column of the first displayed page, and
wherein the selected content remains selected until the content selection mode is affirmatively terminated.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the content selection mode is further configured to treat a touch screen display touch point or a drag-and-hold cursor that rests on a page break area as a preview prompt gesture that causes provisioning of the preview area.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the content selection mode is further configured to provide a selection action user interface feature to be displayed to the user, the selection action user interface feature being executable on the selected content.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the content selection mode is further configured to activate in response to user contact via a touch screen of the display, the user contact including an initial touch point targeting the first piece of content and that transitions into a dragging touch point targeting the second piece of content, wherein parameters of at least one of the initial touch point and/or the dragging touch point is user-configurable.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the content selection mode is further configured to cause a selection page count to be displayed on each selected page of the content when multiple pages are selected, the selection page count corresponding to the number of pages included in the selected content and starting at page one.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the content selection mode is further configured to cause the first piece of displayed content to be highlighted after a brief delay from application of an initial touch point, or once multiple dragging touch points are applied, or once a dragging touch point or cursor begins to move.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the initial touch point includes a press-and-hold gesture, a diagonal gesture, and/or a circular gesture.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is an eReader device or a tablet computer or a smartphone or a laptop or a desktop computer or a television.
9. A mobile electronic device, comprising:
a touch screen display for displaying content to a user, the content being organized in a multi-column format having a plurality of pages with each page having at least a left column and a right column; and
a user interface including a content selection mode configured to cause selection of all content between a first piece of content on a first displayed page and a second piece of content on a second page,
wherein the content selection mode is further configured to preview selected content of the second page in a preview area within one of the columns on the first displayed page during a multipage selection process,
wherein content from the second page scrolls upward from below into the preview area, displacing content from the column of the first displayed page having the preview area, while other content of the first displayed page outside the preview area remains stationary, and
wherein the selected content remains selected until the content selection mode is affirmatively terminated;
wherein the content selection mode is further configured to activate in response to user contact via the touch screen display, the user contact including an initial touch point targeting the first piece of content and that transitions into a dragging touch point targeting the second piece of content.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein the content selection mode is further configured to provide a selection action user interface feature to be displayed to the user, the selection action user interface feature being executable on the selected content.
11. The device of claim 9 wherein parameter of at least one of the initial touch point and/or the dragging touch point is user-configurable.
12. The device of claim 9 wherein the content selection mode is further configured to cause a selection section count to be displayed on the preview area when multiple content sections are selected, the selection section count corresponding to the number of sections included in the selected content and starting at section one.
13. The device of claim 9 wherein the initial touch point includes a press-and-hold gesture, a diagonal gesture, and/or a circular gesture.
14. A non-transient computer readable medium encoded with instructions that when executed by one or more processors, cause a content selection process to be carried out, the process comprising:
during a multi-page content selection process with respect to content that is organized in a multi-column format having a plurality of pages with each page having at least a left column and a right column,
previewing selected content of a second page in a preview area within one of the columns on a first displayed page, wherein content from the second page scrolls upward from below into the preview area, displacing content from the first displayed page column having the preview area, while other content of the first displayed page outside the preview area remains stationary; and
selecting all content between a first piece of selected content on the first displayed page and a second piece of selected content on the second page,
wherein the selected content remains selected until the content selection mode is affirmatively terminated.
15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the process is activated in response to user contact via a touch screen display, the user contact including an initial touch point targeting the first piece of content and that transitions into a dragging touch point targeting the second piece of content, wherein parameters of at least one of the initial touch point and/or the dragging touch point is user-configurable.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the process is further configured to display a selection page count on each selected page of the content when multiple pages are selected, the selection page count corresponding to the number of pages included in the selected content and starting at page one.