Spiraling radial menus in computer systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9383897-B2
Application number	US-36209909-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2009
Priority date	Jan 29, 2009
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

The present invention is generally related to graphical user interfaces (GUIs), and more specifically to displaying items in a radial menu. The radial menu may include a first number of locations for displaying radial menu items. Embodiments of the invention facilitate displaying a second number of radial menu items in the radial menu, the second number being greater than the first number. For example, in some embodiments, performing a radial gesture may allow the second number of radial menu items to spiral through the locations of the radial menu.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer implemented method for displaying a radial menu, comprising:
receiving an event to display the radial menu, the radial menu comprising a first number of locations for displaying a first number of radial menu items from a predefined sequential list of radial menu items, the predefined sequential list comprising a second number of radial menu items, wherein the second number is greater than the first number;
in response to receiving the event, displaying the radial menu, wherein each location of the first number of locations comprises a radial menu item from the predefined sequential list of radial menu items;
receiving a gesture of a screen pointer, wherein the gesture activates a radial menu item displayed in the radial menu; and
in response to the activation of the radial menu item, displaying at least a plurality of a predefined number of radial menu items located before the activated radial menu item in the predefined sequential list of radial menu items and at least a plurality of a predefined number of radial menu items located after the activated radial menu item in the predefined sequential list of radial menu items at a plurality of the locations for displaying radial menu items.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the radial menu comprises displaying radial menu items having the highest probability of being selected at the locations for displaying radial menu items.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gesture activates a plurality of radial menu items displayed in the radial menu, wherein the plurality of radial menu items are activated in a sequential order corresponding to the sequence of radial menu items in the predefined sequential list of radial menu items.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a first list of radial menu items in a display screen comprising the radial menu, the first list comprising sequential radial menu items from the predefined sequential list that are before the radial menu items displayed in the radial menu, and the radial menu items of the first list appear in the same order as they do in the predefined sequence.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising displaying a second list of radial menu items in the display screen, the second list comprising sequential radial menu items from the predefined sequential list that are after the radial menu items displayed in the radial menu, and the radial menu items of the second list appear in the same order as they do in the predefined sequence.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising updating the first list and the second list each time the radial menu items displayed in the radial menu are changed.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the screen pointer is one of a mouse pointer, a stylus pen, and a human finger.

8. A computer readable storage medium comprising a program product which, when executed by a processor is configured to perform an operation for displaying a radial menu, comprising:
receiving an event to display the radial menu, the radial menu comprising a first number of locations for displaying a first number of radial menu items from a predefined sequential list of radial menu items, the predefined sequential list comprising a second number of radial menu items, wherein the second number is greater than the first number;
in response to receiving the event, displaying the radial menu, wherein each location of the first number of locations comprises a radial menu item from the predefined sequential list of radial menu items;
receiving a gesture of a screen pointer, wherein the gesture activates a radial menu item displayed in the radial menu; and
in response to the activation of the radial menu item, displaying at least a plurality of a predefined number of radial menu items located before the activated radial menu item in the predefined sequential list of radial menu items and at least a plurality of a predefined number of radial menu items located after the activated radial menu item in the predefined sequential list of radial menu items at a plurality of the locations for displaying radial menu items.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein displaying the radial menu comprises displaying radial menu items having the highest probability of being selected at the locations for displaying radial menu items.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the gesture activates a plurality of radial menu items displayed in the radial menu, wherein the plurality of radial menu items are activated in a sequential order corresponding to the sequence of radial menu items in the predefined sequential list of radial menu items.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises displaying a first list of radial menu items in a display screen comprising the radial menu, the first list comprising sequential radial menu items from the predefined sequential list that are before the radial menu items displayed in the radial menu, and the radial menu items of the first list appear in the same order as they do in the predefined sequence.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the operation further comprises displaying a second list of radial menu items in the display screen, the second list comprising sequential radial menu items from the predefined sequential list that are after the radial menu items displayed in the radial menu, and the radial menu items of the second list appear in the same order as they do in the predefined sequence.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the operation further comprises updating the first list and the second list each time the radial menu items displayed in the radial menu are changed.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the screen pointer is one of a mouse pointer, a stylus pen, and a human finger.

15. A system, comprising:
a memory comprising a program; and
a processor which, when executing the program is configured to:
receive an event to display the radial menu, the radial menu comprising a first number of locations for displaying a first number of radial menu items from a predefined sequential list of radial menu items, the predefined sequential list comprising a second number of radial menu items, wherein the second number is greater than the first number;
in response to receiving the event, display the radial menu, wherein each location of the first number of locations comprises a radial menu item from the predefined sequential list of radial menu items;
receive a gesture of a screen pointer, wherein the gesture activates a radial menu item displayed in the radial menu; and

in response to the activation of the radial menu item, displaying at least a plurality of a predefined number of radial menu items located before the activated radial menu item in the predefined sequential list of radial menu items and at least a plurality of a predefined number of radial menu items located after the activated radial menu item in the predefined sequential list of radial menu items at a plurality of the locations for displaying radial menu items.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to display radial menu items having the highest probability of being selected at the locations for displaying radial menu items in response to receiving the event.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the gesture activates a plurality of radial menu items displayed in the radial menu, wherein the plurality of radial menu items are activated in

Assignees

• Cragun Brian J
• Fork Michael J
• IBM

Inventors

• Cragun Brian J
• Fork Michael J

Classifications

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• G06F3/0482 Primary

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

• G06F3/04886

  by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus · CPC title

• G06F3/048

  Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title