User interface for stylus-based user input

1. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for providing a user interface for use with a stylus, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:

re-routing stylus-based user input to a first application that is executing under an operating system (OS), the input being re-routed such that the input is not received by the operating system for distribution to any second application that is executing under the OS;

analyzing the input to determine whether the input should be treated as mouse input; and

responsive to determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse input, displaying a menu comprising selectable items to allow a user to direct the computer system to interpret one or more subsequent stylus-based user inputs as right-mouse button input, hover cursor input, keyboard input, or handwriting input by selecting one of the selectable items.

2. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second application is designed to receive user input from the operating system.

3. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instructions for analyzing the input further comprise instructions for determining that the input should be treated as a mouse event when the event is a single quick touch or a double quick touch.

4. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1 , wherein analyzing the input further comprise instructions for determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse event when the input is a continuous touch input.

5. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1 , further comprising instructions responsive to determining that the event should be treated as a mouse event, the instructions communicating the input to the operating system for subsequent distribution to any other applications such as the second application.

6. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1 , further comprising instructions for:

determining whether an item of the selectable items has been selected within a predetermined amount of time since presenting the menu; and

responsive to determining that the item has not been selected within the predetermined amount, dismissing the menu.

7. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1 , wherein the selectable items are displayed in an action area, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for:

identifying stylus-based user input outside of the action area; and

responsive to identifying the stylus-based user input, dismissing the menu.

8. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1 , further comprising instructions for:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detection the selection:

(a) hiding the menu; and

(b) performing a task corresponding to the item.

9. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8 , wherein the task comprises: (a) communicating right mouse click input the second application; (b) moving a cursor over a display screen; (c) generating keyboard input; or (d) generating and interpreting handwritten data.

10. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instructions for allowing a user to specify that the computer system is to interpret a subsequent stylus-based user input event as a mouse-right-button click event, a hover cursor event, keyboard event, or a handwriting event further comprise instructions for:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detecting the selection:

(a) hiding the menu;

(b) performing a task that corresponds to the item, the task having a result; and

(c) communicating the result as input to the second application.

11. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor for:

re-routing stylus-based user input to a first application that is executing under an operating system (OS), the input being re-routed such that the input is not received by the operating system for distribution to any second application that is executing under the OS;

analyzing the input to determine whether the input should be treated as mouse input; and

responsive to determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse input, displaying a menu comprising selectable items to allow a user to direct the computer system to interpret one or more subsequent stylus-based user inputs as right-mouse button input, hover cursor input, keyboard input, or handwriting input by selecting one of the selectable items.

12. A computing device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second application is designed to receive user input from the operating system.

13. A computing device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the instructions for analyzing the input further comprise instructions for determining that the input should be treated as a mouse event when the event is a single quick touch or a double quick touch.

14. A computing device as recited in claim 11 , wherein analyzing the input further comprise instructions for determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse event when the input is a continuous touch input.

15. A computing device as recited in claim 11 , further comprising instructions responsive to determining that the event should be treated as a mouse event, the instructions communicating the input to the operating system for subsequent distribution to any other applications such as the second application.

16. A computing device as recited in claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:

determining whether an item of the selectable items has been selected within a predetermined amount of time since presenting the menu; and

responsive to determining that the item has not been selected within the predetermined amount, dismissing the menu.

17. A computing device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the selectable items are displayed in an action area, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for:

identifying stylus-based user input outside of the action area; and

responsive to identifying the stylus-based user input, dismissing the menu.

18. A computing device as recited in claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detection the selection:

(a) hiding the menu; and

(b) performing a task corresponding to the item.

19. A computing device recited in claim 18 , wherein the task comprises: (a) communicating right mouse click input to the second application; (b) moving a cursor over a display screen; (c) generating keyboard input; or (d) generating and interpreting handwritten data.

20. A computing device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the instructions for allowing a user to specify that the computer system is to interpret a subsequent stylus-based user input event as a mouse-right-button click event, a hover cursor event, keyboard event, or a handwriting event further comprise instructions for:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detecting the selection:

(a) hiding the menu;

(b) performing a task that corresponds to the item, the task having a result; and

(c) communicating the result as input to the second application.

21. A method comprising:

re-routing stylus-based user input to a first application that is executing under an operating system (OS), the input being re-routed such that the input is not received by the operating system for distribution to any second application that is executing under the OS;

analyzing the input to determine whether the input should be treated as mouse input; and

responsive to determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse input, displaying a menu comprising selectable items to allow a user to direct the computer system to interpret one or more subsequent stylus-based user inputs as right-mouse button input, hover cursor input, keyboard input, or handwriting input by selecting one of the selectable items.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 , wherein the second application is designed to receive user input from the operating system.

23. A method as recited in claim 21 , wherein analyzing the input further comprises determining that the input should be treated as a mouse event when the event is a single quick touch or a double quick touch.

24. A method as recited in claim 21 , wherein analyzing the input further comprises determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse event when the input is a continuous touch input.

25. A method as recited in claim 21 , further comprising, responsive to determining that the event should be treated as a mouse event, communicating the input to the operating system for subsequent distribution to any other applications such as the second application.

26. A method as recited in claim 21 , further comprising:

determining whether an item of the selectable items has been selected within a predetermined amount of time since presenting the menu; and

responsive to determining that the item has not been selected within the predetermined amount, dismissing the menu.

27. A method as recited in claim 21 , wherein the selectable items are displayed in an action area, and further comprising:

identifying stylus-based user input outside of the action area; and

responsive to identifying the stylus-based user input, dismissing the menu.

28. A method as recited in claim 21 , further comprising:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detection the selection:

(a) hiding the menu; and

(b) performing a task corresponding to the item.

29. A method as recited in claim 28 , wherein the task comprises: (a) communicating right mouse click input to the second application; (b) moving a cursor over a display screen; (c) generating keyboard input; or (d) generating and interpreting handwritten data.

30. A method as recited in claim 21 , wherein allowing a user to specify that the computer system is to interpret a subsequent stylus-based user input event as a mouse-right-button click event, a hover cursor event, keyboard event, or a handwriting event further comprises:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detecting the selection:

(a) hiding the menu;

(b) performing a task that corresponds to the item, the task having a result; and

(c) communicating the result as input to the second application.