Constrained digital text reader

摘要

A text display system provides a restricted copy-and-paste operation such that only a limited percentage less than 100% of a source text can be copied. The strategy assumes that a document contains a plurality of words and sentences that a restriction can be placed upon. While it is possible to highlight any amount of text via a typical select function (e.g., mouse drag over text), depending on the number of words at the sentence, paragraph or document level, the present invention limits how much of the selected text can be copied. The system provides the user with instant feedback via visual, tactile or other means, when a selection exceeds the system-imposed limit. The restriction permits the copy-and-paste operation of key ideas from the source text, potentially for further elaboration upon in future writing, and yet discourages indiscriminant copying leading to plagiarism.

主权项

1. A method of modifying a digital text reader to constrain text copying, the digital text reader being a system comprising a processor running software for displaying digital text to a user, the method comprising incorporating additional software in the digital text reader to:
(a) receive a set of rules limiting the amount of text in a document that may be copied, the amount of text being specified by a function of one or more of: (i) a maximum total number of words; (ii) a maximum percentage of words in a sentence for sentences having at least a specified length; (iii) a maximum percentage of words in a paragraph; and (iv) a maximum percentage of words in the document; (b) receive requests from the user to select portions of the text that is being displayed, the selected text comprising a plurality of noncontiguous blocks; (c) if the selected text conforms to the rules, then in response to the selection of the selected text automatically highlight the selected text in a first manner; (d) if the selected text does not conform to the rules, then in response to the selection of the selected text, identify a sub-portion of the selected text that contains an amount of text that conforms to the rules, and automatically highlight the sub-portion of the selected text in the first manner and provide feedback to the user indicating that the selected text contains an amount of text that violates the rules; and (e) if the user enters a copy request, concatenate the noncontiguous blocks in the portion of the text highlighted in the first manner, automatically adding separation markers between the noncontiguous blocks, and if the user further enters a paste command, paste the concatenated blocks separated by the added separation markers to a computer-readable memory as instructed by the user.