Pop-up menu system

• US 20030011638A1
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Chung, Sun-Woo
• Application Number:
  US09/903,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20030011638A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/808
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

An operator interface is disclosed for a computer system having a relatively small display screen such as a PDA or pocket PC. The interface is adapted to replace the function of a menu bar to free up additional display space on the display screen normally dedicated to the menu bar. The operator interface includes a menu system that is normally hidden from view and is invoked on the display means in response to an action initiated by the operator, such as pressing a stylus, against the display screen or clicking and holding a button associated with a pointing device such as a mouse or trackball.

Claims

1. An operator interface for a computer system having a display means, said interface being adapted to replace the function of a conventional menu bar to free up additional display space on said display means normally dedicated to the menu bar, said interface including a menu system that is normally hidden from view and is invoked on said display means in response to an action initiated by said operator.

2. An operator interface according to claim 1 wherein said display means includes a display screen and said action includes pressing a stylus against a position on said display screen.

3. An operator interface according to claim 2 wherein said menu system is displayed on said screen in the vicinity of said position.

4. An operator interface according to claim 1 wherein said action includes clicking and holding a button associated with a pointing device such as a mouse or trackball.

5. An operator interface according to claim 1 wherein said menu system is displayed on said display means for a predetermined period of time after said action.

6. An operator interface according to claim 1 wherein said menu system includes at least four menu cells arranged in an array.

7. An operator interface according to claim 6 wherein each menu cell is at least 20×

20 pixels in size.

8. An operator interface according to claim 6 wherein said array is two menu cells wide and two menu cells high.

9. An operator interface according to claim 6 wherein said array is three menu cells wide and three menu cells high.

10. An operator interface according to claim 1 wherein said menu system is at least 20 pixels×

20 pixels in size.

11. An operator interface according to claim 10 wherein said menu system is 60×

60 pixels in size.

12. An operator interface according to claim 1 wherein said menu system includes at least one context sensitive menu item.

13. An operator interface according to claim 1 further including a conventional menu bar.

14. An operator interface according to claim 1 wherein said computer system includes a PDA.

15. An operator interface according to claim 1 wherein said computer system includes a portable PC.

16. An operator interface according to claim 1 wherein said computer system includes a pocket PC.