Apparatus and method for a multi-step selection interface

• US 10,296,168 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2015
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peraton, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaehler, Adrian, Hsu, Shi-Ping, Leventer, Sam, Zyda, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Amy M
• Application Number:
  US14/750,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20160378273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method for a multi-step selection interface is provided including receiving a multistep selection indication, causing, using a processing circuitry, a first selection menu extending in a first direction to be rendered on a display, receiving a first selection indication based on the first selection menu, in response to receiving the first selection indication; causing a second selection menu to be rendered on the display, extending in the first direction in substantially the same position of the display as the first selection menu, and causing a rendering of at least a portion of the first menu to be displaced in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to implement a multi-step selection interface, the apparatus comprising processing circuitry configured to cause performance of operations including:

causing a first selection menu extending in a first direction to be rendered on a display, the first selection menu comprising a plurality of first selection menu items;

receiving, from a user input device, a first selection indication associated with a selected one of the first selection menu items;

in response to receiving the first selection indication;

causing a second selection menu to be rendered on the display extending in the first direction, the second selection menu being rendered in the same position of the display as the first selection menu, the second selection menu comprising a plurality of second selection menu items and an execute selector item, wherein the execute selector item is displayed as being unselectable;

causing the rendering of the first selection menu to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the first direction;

causing the plurality of first selection menu items not including the selected one of the first selection menu items to be displayed as non-selected items and differently from the selected one of the first selection menu items;

receiving, from the user input device, a second selection indication associated with one or more of the second selection menu items; and

causing the execute selector to be displayed as being selectable in response to receiving the second selection indication;

wherein an order of the first or second selection menu is based on selection probability of one or more of the first selection menu items or the second selection menu items; and

wherein a highest selection probability menu item of the first or second selection menu is rendered at a position of a selection pointer based on the selection probability of the menu item.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured for:

receiving an execute indication associated with the execute selector.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction is vertical relative to the display.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction is horizontal relative to the display.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction is diagonal relative to the display.

6. A method for a multistep selection interface including:

causing, using a processing circuitry, a first selection menu extending in a first direction to be rendered on a display, the first selection menu comprising a plurality of first selection menu items;

receiving, from a user input device, a first selection indication associated with a selected one of the first selection menu items;

in response to receiving the first selection indication;

causing a second selection menu to be rendered on the display extending in the first direction, the second selection menu being rendered in the same position of the display as the first selection menu, the second selection menu comprising a plurality of second selection menu items and an execute selector item, wherein the execute selector item is displayed as being unselectable;

causing the rendering of the first selection menu to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the first direction;

causing the plurality of first selection menu items not including the selected one of the first selection menu items to be displayed as non-selected items and differently from the selected one of the first selection menu items;

receiving, from the user input device, a second selection indication associated with one or more of the second selection menu items; and

causing the execute selector to be displayed as being selectable in response to receiving the second selection indication;

wherein an order of the first or second selection menu is based on a selection probability of one or more of the first selection menu items or the second selection menu items;

wherein a highest selection probability item is rendered in a substantially center position in the first selection menu or the second selection menu.

7. The method of claim 6 further including receiving an execute indication.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first direction is vertical relative to the display.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first direction is horizontal relative to the display.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first direction is diagonal relative to the display.

11. A method for a multi-step selection interface including:

causing, using a processing circuitry, a first selection menu extending in a first direction to be rendered on a display, the first selection menu comprising a plurality of first selection menu items;

receiving, from a user input device, a first selection indication associated with a selected one of the first selection menu items;

in response to receiving the first selection indication;

causing a second selection menu to be rendered on the display extending in the first direction, the second selection menu being rendered in the same position of the display as the first selection menu, the second selection menu comprising a plurality of second selection menu items and an execute selector item, wherein the execute selector item is displayed as being unselectable;

causing the rendering of the first selection menu to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the first direction;

causing the plurality of first selection menu items not including the selected one of the first selection menu items to be displayed as non-selected items and differently from the selected one of the first selection menu items;

receiving, from the user input device, a second selection indication associated with one or more of the second selection menu items; and

causing the execute selector to be displayed as being selectable in response to receiving the second selection indication;

wherein an order of the second selection menu is based on a selection probability of the plurality of second selection menu items and a highest selection probability menu item of the second selection menu is rendered at a position of a selection pointer based on the selection probability of the menu item.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein causing the plurality of first selection menu items not including the selected one of the first selection menu items to be displayed as non-selected items and differently from the selected one of the first selection menu items includes causing the plurality of first selection menu items not including the selected one of the first selection menu items to be displayed as grayed out.