On-screen menu buttons including multiple modes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9304658-B2
Application number	US-96721807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2007
Priority date	Dec 30, 2007
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

Menu items are displayed on a screen, for example in the form of user-activatable on-screen buttons. A root menu is displayed, including a “more” button that allows the user to navigate to one or more sub-menus. Each menu can contain function buttons, menu buttons, or any combination thereof. Function buttons provide direct access to functions. Menu buttons provide access to sub-menus, which may be provided in a hierarchical arrangement. In some sub-menus, a menu title button replaces the “more” button and provides access to a previously displayed menu. The user can activate a displayed function button in any menu or sub-menu to perform an action associated with the function button. In one aspect, all menus are displayed in the same area of the screen. When a menu is to be displayed, it replaces the previously displayed menu.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of successively displaying a root menu and a plurality of sub-menus in a menu region of a display screen, the method comprising:
a) displaying a workspace for a software application in a work region of the display screen;
b) concurrently with continued and unobstructed display of the workspace in the work region, displaying a root menu in a menu region of the display screen, the root menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons arranged in a single row;
c) receiving user input activating one of the on-screen buttons;
d) responsive to user input activating an on-screen button of the root menu corresponding to a navigation operation, dismissing the root menu and displaying, in the menu region previously occupied by the root menu, and concurrently with continued and unobstructed display of the workspace in the work region, a sub-menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons arranged in a single row;
e) responsive to user input activating an on-screen button of a sub-menu corresponding to a navigation operation, dismissing the displayed sub-menu and displaying, in the menu region previously occupied by the sub-menu, and concurrently with continued and unobstructed display of the workspace in the work region, a menu other than the displayed sub-menu, the menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons arranged in a single row; and
f) responsive to user input activating an on-screen button corresponding to a function, performing the function.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein step e) comprises dismissing the displayed sub-menu and displaying the root menu in the menu region previously occupied by the sub-menu, and concurrently with continued and unobstructed display of the workspace.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein step e) comprises dismissing the displayed sub-menu and displaying a second sub-menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons in the menu region previously occupied by the sub-menu, and concurrently with continued and unobstructed display of the workspace.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
g) repeating steps b) through g).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving user input activating one of the on-screen buttons comprises detecting physical contact with a region of the display screen corresponding to the on-screen button.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying each menu comprises displaying the menu on a display screen of a device, and wherein the device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:
a personal digital assistant;
a handheld computing device;
a cellular telephone;
a personal computer;
a laptop computer;
a kiosk;
a consumer electronic device;
a navigation system; and
a media player.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each menu is scrollable.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
g) responsive to activation of an on-screen button corresponding to a pop-up menu:
displaying the corresponding pop-up menu comprising a plurality of menu items;
receiving user input activating one of the menu items; and
performing an action corresponding to the activated menu item.

9. A computer program product for successively displaying a root menu and a plurality of sub-menus in a menu region of a display screen, the computer program product comprising:
a computer-readable medium; and
computer program code, encoded on the medium, for causing a processor to perform the steps of:
a) displaying a workspace for a software application in a work region of the display screen;
b) concurrently with continued and unobstructed display of the workspace in the work region, displaying a root menu in a menu region of the display screen, the root menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons arranged in a single row;
c) receiving user input activating one of the on-screen buttons;
d) responsive to user input activating an on-screen button of the root menu corresponding to a navigation operation, dismissing the root menu and displaying, in the menu region previously occupied by the root menu, and concurrently with continued and unobstructed display of the workspace in the work region, a sub-menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons arranged in a single row;
e) responsive to user input activating an on-screen button of a sub-menu corresponding to a navigation operation, dismissing the displayed sub-menu and displaying, in the menu region previously occupied by the sub-menu, and concurrently with continued and unobstructed display of the workspace in the work region, a menu other than the displayed sub-menu, the menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons arranged in a single row; and
f) responsive to user input activating an on-screen button corresponding to a function, performing the function.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer program code for performing step e) comprises computer program code for dismissing the displayed sub-menu and displaying the root menu in the menu region previously occupied by the sub-menu, and concurrently with continued and unobstructed display of the workspace.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer program code for performing step e) comprises computer program code for dismissing the displayed sub-menu and displaying a second sub-menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons in the menu region previously occupied by the sub-menu, and concurrently with continued and unobstructed display of the workspace.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising computer program code for:
g) repeating steps b) through g).

13. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer program code for receiving user input activating one of the on-screen buttons comprises computer program code for detecting physical contact with a region of the display screen corresponding to the on-screen button.

14. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer program code for displaying each menu comprises computer program code for displaying the menu on a display screen of a device, and wherein the device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:
a personal digital assistant;
a handheld computing device;
a cellular telephone;
a personal computer;
a laptop computer;
a kiosk;
a consumer electronic device;
a navigation system; and
a media player.

15. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein each menu is scrollable.

16. The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising computer program code for:
g) responsive to activation of an on-screen button corresponding to a pop-up menu:
displaying the corresponding pop-up menu comprising a plurality of menu items;
receiving user input activating one of the menu items; and
performing an action corresponding to the activated menu item.

17. A system for successively displaying a root menu and a plurality of sub-menus in a menu region of a display screen, the system comprising:
an input device for receiving user input activating an on-screen button in a displayed menu;
a display screen for:
displaying a workspace for a software application in a work region of the display screen;
concurrently with continued and unobstructed display of the workspace in the work region, displaying a root menu in a menu region of the display screen, the root menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons arranged in a single row;
responsive to user input activating an on-screen button of the root menu corresponding to a navigation operation, dismissing the root menu and displayi

Assignees

• Mercer Paul
• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Mercer Paul

Classifications

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/0482 Primary

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title