Electronic text manipulation and display

Abstract

Information is presented to a user by accessing a library of electronic publications that includes a first publication, generating a representation of the first publication in an electronic bookshelf, determining a state for the first publication and modifying the representation of the first publication to reflect the state of the first publication.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 at an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface:
 displaying, on the display, an electronic representation of a page of an electronic book; 
 providing functionality for a user to select a word or phrase from the page of the electronic book via the touch-sensitive surface; and 
 displaying, on the display in response to user selection of the word or phrase, a user interface overlaid over the page that provides functionality for the user to search for the selected word or phrase in a designated universe of content. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the designated universe of content is a dictionary or an encyclopedia. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the designated universe of content is a search engine. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the designated universe of content is the electronic book or content stored on the electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface overlaid over the page further provides functionality to highlight the selected word or phrase. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface overlaid over the page further provides functionality to copy the selected word or phrase to a clipboard. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein providing functionality for the user to search for the selected word or phrase in the designated universe of content comprises searching for the selected word or phrase in the designated universe of content in response to user selection of the word or phrase. 
     
     
         9 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a display;   a touch-sensitive surface;   one or more processors; and   memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 displaying, on the display, an electronic representation of a page of an electronic book; 
 providing functionality for a user to select a word or phrase from the page of the electronic book via the touch-sensitive surface; and 
 displaying, on the display in response to user selection of the word or phrase, a user interface overlaid over the page that provides functionality for the user to search for the selected word or phrase in a designated universe of content. 
   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the designated universe of content is a dictionary or an encyclopedia. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the designated universe of content is a search engine. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the designated universe of content is the electronic book or content stored on the electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface overlaid over the page further provides functionality to highlight the selected word or phrase. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface overlaid over the page further provides functionality to copy the selected word or phrase to a clipboard. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein providing functionality for the user to search for the selected word or phrase in the designated universe of content comprises searching for the selected word or phrase in the designated universe of content in response to user selection of the word or phrase. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (CRSM) storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 displaying, on the display, an electronic representation of a page of an electronic book;   providing functionality for a user to select a word or phrase from the page of the electronic book via the touch-sensitive surface; and   displaying, on the display in response to user selection of the word or phrase, a user interface overlaid over the page on the display that provides functionality for the user to search for the selected word or phrase in a designated universe of content.   
     
     
         17 . The CRSM of  claim 16 , wherein the designated universe of content is a dictionary, an encyclopedia, or a search engine. 
     
     
         18 . The CRSM of  claim 16 , wherein the designated universe of content is the electronic book or content stored on the electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . The CRSM of  claim 16 , wherein the user interface overlaid over the page further provides functionality to highlight the selected word or phrase. 
     
     
         20 . The CRSM of  claim 16 , wherein the user interface overlaid over the page further provides functionality to copy the selected word or phrase to a clipboard. 
     
     
         21 . The CRSM of  claim 16 , wherein providing functionality for the user to search for the selected word or phrase in the designated universe of content comprises searching for the selected word or phrase in the designated universe of content in response to user selection of the word or phrase.