Snipping tool

Abstract

Systems and methods for capturing content and performing operations associated with the content are described. A stylus or other pointing device may be used to designate content to be captured. After content is designated, a new window is generated that includes the designated content and user interface elements for annotating, conveying or otherwise acting upon the designated content.

1 . A method comprising:
 displaying content, by a computing device, in a first window on a display device;   receiving, by the computing device, a designation input that designates a portion of the content to capture; and   displaying, by the computing device, a second window in addition to the first window, at least partly, in response to receiving the designation input, the second window including the portion of the content designated by the designation input.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the designation input is received via an input device. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the input device includes a mouse, a stylus, a finger of a user of the computing device, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is a tablet computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited  claim 4 , wherein the display device includes a touch-sensitive digitizing display surface, a proximity-sensitive digitizing display surface, an optical digitizer, a capacitive digitizer, an electromagnetic digitizer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computing device, annotation content; and   resizing, by the computing device, the second window when the annotation content approaches an edge of the second window.   
     
     
         7 . At least one computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processing unit perform operations comprising:
 displaying content in a window on a display device;   receiving an activate command to activate a snipping tool configured to capture at least a portion of the content displayed in the window;   displaying a floating toolbar in addition to the window, at least partly, in response to receiving the activate command, the floating toolbar including a plurality of menu elements related to designating certain content of the window to capture;   receiving a designation input designating particular content of the window to capture;   removing the floating toolbar, at least partly, in response to receiving the designation input; and   displaying an additional window including the particular content of the window designated by the designation input.   
     
     
         8 . The at least one computer-readable storage as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the additional window includes a menu having a plurality of options selectable to perform operations with respect to the particular content of the window designated by the designation input. 
     
     
         9 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the floating toolbar includes a particular menu element selectable to indicate a type of snipping tool. 
     
     
         10 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving input indicating selection of the particular menu element of the floating toolbar; and   displaying a drop-down menu including a plurality of options for specifying a form to designate the particular portion of the content displayed in the window.   
     
     
         11 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of options include free form selection, rectangular selection, window selection, full screen, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the activate command is received in response to selection of a key combination, selection of an icon from a menu, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 7 , wherein the content displayed in the window includes designated content and non-designated content, the designated content including the particular content displayed in the window designated by the designation input and the non-designated content including a portion of the content displayed in the window that is not designated by the designation input. 
     
     
         14 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise altering an appearance of the non-designated content by applying a white overlay to the non-designated content, changing a brightness of the non-designated content, changing color content of the non-designated content to black and white content, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A device comprising:
 a display device;   a processing unit; and   a memory comprising computer storage media including instructions that when executed by the processing unit:
 display content on the display device; 
 receive a designation input via the display device, the designation input designating at least a portion of the content to capture; and 
 display a window on the display device, at least partly, in response to receiving the designation input, the window including the at least a portion of the content, a first menu, and a second menu, the first menu including one or more first menu options selectable to perform operations with respect to the at least a portion of the content and the second menu including a plurality of second menu options, each of the second menu options being selectable to annotate the at least a portion of the content or convey the at least a portion of the content. 
   
     
     
         16 . The device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the designation input is received via selection of a menu element of a browser application. 
     
     
         17 . The device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the content displayed on the display device is a webpage displayed via the browser application. 
     
     
         18 . The device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the computer storage media include additional instructions that when executed by the processing unit obtain uniform resource locator (URL) information associated with the webpage from the browser application. 
     
     
         19 . The device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the URL information is obtained from the browser application via one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) specific to a type of the browser. 
     
     
         20 . The device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the URL information is obtained by identifying one or more nodes of a tree including a link fingerprint indicating a URL, the tree including information about the webpage.