Method, system, and computer-program product for the customization of drop-down list boxes using hot lists

• US 20020167548A1
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Murray, La Tondra
• Application Number:
  US09/855,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20020167548A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/825
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

The invention is a customizable “hot list” used in connection with drop-down list boxes on web-based forms. The customizable hot list appears on the user'"'"'s screen when activated, e.g., when a drop-down list box is clicked with the right mouse button. This hot list presents a subset of the items contained within the drop-down list box, as selected by the user. The contents of the hot list may be determined entirely by the user via configuration of a “Preferences” menu option.

Claims

1. An improved graphical user interface (GUI) having a GUI selection box capable of displaying a selection set of items when a selection button is manipulated in a first manner, the improvement comprising:

a hot list box displaying a subset of items from said selection set of items when said selection button is manipulated in a second manner.

2. An improved GUI as set forth in claim 1, wherein said subset of items displayed in said hotlist box is selectable by a user of said GUI.

3. An improved GUI as set forth in claim 2, wherein said subset of items displayed in said hot list is displayed in an order selectable by the user.

4. An improved GUI as set forth in claim 2, wherein a quantity of items displayed in said hot list box is selectable by the user.

5. An improved GUI as set forth in claim 2, wherein a method of determining which of said items from said selection set are to be displayed in said hot list is selectable by the user.

6. An improved GUI as set forth in claim 5, wherein said method of determining which of said items from said selection set are to be displayed in said hot list comprises listing the most recently selected items.

7. An improved GUI as set forth in claim 5, wherein said method of determining which of said items from said selection set are to be displayed in said hot list comprises listing the frequently selected items.

8. An improved GUI as set forth in claim 5, wherein said method of determining which of said items from said selection set are to be displayed in said hot list is applied to said hot list only after a predetermined number of items are to be displayed in said hot list.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said hot list box is selected by right-clicking a button on said selection box using said pointing device.

9. A method of providing a computer graphical user interface, utilizing a screen interface and a pointing device controlling a pointer, to perform a plurality of related functions, comprising:

selecting a selection box through the appropriate positioning and manipulation of the pointer by way of said pointing device, said selection box configured to display a selection set of items;

selecting a hot list box through the appropriate positioning and manipulation of said pointer with respect to said selection box, said hot list box configured to display a subset of the items displayable in said selection set; and

selecting at least one of said items from said subset using said pointing device.

11. A computer program product including a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer readable program code means comprising;

computer instruction means for displaying a selection set of items when a selection button is manipulated in a first manner; and

a hot list box displaying a subset of items from said selection set of items when said selection button is manipulated in a second manner.

12. A computer program product as set forth n claim 11, wherein said subset of items displayed in said hotlist box is selectable by a user of said GUI.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein said subset of items displayed in said hotlist box is selectable by a user of said GUI.

13. A data processing system comprising:

a display area;

a pointing device; and

a graphical user interface (GUI) further comprising;

means for displaying a selection set of items when a selection button is manipulated in a first manner; and

a hot list box displaying a subset of items from said selection set of items when said selection button is manipulated in a second manner.