Loop menu navigation apparatus and method

• US 20030043206A1
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Danger Research
• Inventors: Duarte, Matias
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A curved-listing file hierarchy and a preview window for more efficiently displaying file hierarchy information on a data processing device. Curved-listing file hierarchies may allow more elements of a file hierarchy to be displayed in a smaller space. This may be especially useful for the smaller screens of some data processing devices like Personal Digital Assistants and cellular phones. A preview screen may allow a user to view preview information on a file in the hierarchy without actually opening the file.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a data processing device;

a screen coupled to said data processing device;

a plurality of computer files accessible by said data processing device;

a plurality of identifiers related to said plurality of computer files for use by said data processing device; and

a curved listing of said identifiers displayed on said screen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an identifier displayed inside said curved listing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein identifier text is displayed next to an identifier when a user selects said identifier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said identifiers is a heading for use by said data processing device to organize another identifier.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein preview information associated with an identifier in said curved listing and selected by a user is displayed on said screen with said curved listing of identifiers.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said preview information is an image.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved listing is in a circle.

8. A method comprising:

displaying a curved listing of identifiers related to a plurality of computer files on a data processing device screen.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising displaying a new curved listing of identifiers related to a user-selected identifier wherein said user-selected identifier represents a heading.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising displaying said user-selected identifier inside said new curved listing.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising displaying preview information related to a user-selected identifier on said data processing device screen with said curved listing of identifiers.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said preview information is an image.

13. The method of claim 12 further including displaying more detail on said image the longer a user selects an identifier associated with an image file.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising executing a set of instructions when a user selects an identifier representing the computer file associated with said set of instructions.

15. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause said processor to perform operations comprising:

displaying a curved listing of identifiers related to a plurality of computer files for use by a data processing device;

displaying an identifier related to the curved listing of identifiers inside the curved listing; and

displaying preview information related to a user-selected identifier in the curved listing on a screen with the curved listing.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising displaying a new curved listing of identifiers related to a user-selected identifier wherein said user-selected identifier represents a heading.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising executing a set of instructions when a user selects an identifier associated with the computer file associated with said set of instructions.

18. A system comprising:

a data processing device;

a machine-readable medium coupled to said data processing device;

a processor coupled to said data processing device;

a screen coupled to said data processing device;

a plurality of computer files accessible by said data processing device;

a plurality of identifiers associated with said plurality of computer files for use by said data processing device; and

a curved listing of said identifiers displayed on said screen.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein one of said identifiers is a heading for use by said data processing device to organize another identifier.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising an identifier displayed inside said curved listing.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein a preview of information associated with an identifier in said curved listing and selected by a user is displayed on said screen with said curved listing of identifiers.

22. The system of claim 18 further comprising a communication apparatus coupled to said data processing device to allow data processing device to communicate with a network.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said communication apparatus is selected from a list comprising an antenna, a modem, and a infrared sensor.