System and method for multifunction menu objects
First Claim
1. A method of providing secondary functions from a menu item graphical control, said method comprising:
- including a plurality of graphical components with the menu item graphical control, each of the graphical components corresponding to a different programmed function;
displaying the menu item graphical control with the included graphical components;
receiving a selection from a user corresponding to one of the graphical components; and
invoking the programmed function corresponding the selected graphical component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and Method for Multifunction Menu Objects A system and method for providing multiple functions from a menu item is provided. A menu item is configurable to include graphical components, such as icons, that can be selected by a user to launch specific functions. In a word processing example, a word processing menu item, such as a menu item displayed from a “start programs” menu, can include icons corresponding to functions such as search for documents and list recently edited documents directly from the menu item. Another icon is used to display functions in a sub-menu that is displayed to the user. Menu items can be configured to include both functions that are invoked directly from the menu item as well as a sub-menu that can include additional functions. A configuration tool is provided to allow the user to customize a menu item by including certain functions on the menu item and certain functions in a sub-menu.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of providing secondary functions from a menu item graphical control, said method comprising:
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including a plurality of graphical components with the menu item graphical control, each of the graphical components corresponding to a different programmed function;
displaying the menu item graphical control with the included graphical components;
receiving a selection from a user corresponding to one of the graphical components; and
invoking the programmed function corresponding the selected graphical component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An information handling system comprising:
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one or more processors;
a memory accessible by the processors;
a nonvolatile storage area accessible by the processors;
a display screen accessible by the processors;
an input device capable of a receiving input from a user corresponding to data displayed on the display screen; and
a secondary function menu item tool to include secondary functions with a menu item graphical control, the secondary function menu item tool including;
display logic for displaying a plurality of graphical components with the menu item graphical control on the display device, each of the graphical components corresponding to a different programmed function;
menu item logic for displaying the menu item graphical control with the included graphical components;
input processing logic for receiving a selection from a user corresponding to one of the graphical components; and
task scheduling logic for invoking the programmed function corresponding the selected graphical component. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer program product stored on a computer operable medium for providing secondary functions from a menu item graphical control, said computer program product comprising:
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means for including a plurality of graphical components with the menu item graphical control, each of the graphical components corresponding to a different programmed function;
means for displaying the menu item graphical control with the included graphical components;
means for receiving a selection from a user corresponding to one of the graphical components; and
means for invoking the programmed function corresponding the selected graphical component. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of providing secondary functions from a menu item graphical control, said method comprising:
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configuring one or more secondary functions to include in a sub-menu;
modifying the menu item graphical control to include a sub-menu graphical component corresponding to the sub-menu, wherein the menu item graphical control further includes one or more graphical components corresponding to one or more programmed functions; and
displaying the sub-menu in response to a user selecting the sub-menu graphical component.
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22. A method of providing secondary functions from a menu item graphical control, said method comprising:
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configuring a plurality of programmed functions using a configuration tool;
identifying a plurality of graphical components for each of the programmed functions;
modifying the menu item graphical control to include the graphical components corresponding to the configured programmed functions;
displaying the menu item graphical control with the included graphical components;
receiving a selection from a user corresponding to one of the graphical components; and
invoking the programmed function corresponding the selected graphical component.
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23. An information handling system comprising:
- one or more processors;
a memory accessible by the processors;
a nonvolatile storage area accessible by the processors;
a display screen accessible by the processors;
an input device capable of a receiving input from a user corresponding to data displayed on the display screen; and
a secondary function menu item tool to include secondary functions with a menu item graphical control, the secondary function menu item tool including;
means for configuring one or more secondary functions to include in a sub-menu;
means for modifying the menu item graphical control to include a sub-menu graphical component corresponding to the sub-menu, wherein the menu item graphical control further includes one or more graphical components corresponding to one or more programmed functions; and
means for displaying the sub-menu in response to a user selecting the sub-menu graphical component.
- one or more processors;
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24. An information handling system comprising:
- one or more processors;
a memory accessible by the processors;
a nonvolatile storage area accessible by the processors;
a display screen accessible by the processors;
an input device capable of a receiving input from a user corresponding to data displayed on the display screen; and
a secondary function menu item tool to include secondary functions with a menu item graphical control, the secondary function menu item tool including;
means for configuring a plurality of programmed functions using a configuration tool;
means for identifying a plurality of graphical components for each of the programmed functions;
means for modifying the menu item graphical control to include the graphical components corresponding to the configured programmed functions;
means for displaying the menu item graphical control with the included graphical components;
means for receiving a selection from a user corresponding to one of the graphical components; and
means for invoking the programmed function corresponding the selected graphical component.
- one or more processors;
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25. A computer program product stored on a computer operable medium for providing secondary functions from a menu item graphical control, said computer program product comprising:
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means for configuring one or more secondary functions to include in a sub-menu;
means for modifying the menu item graphical control to include a sub-menu graphical component corresponding to the sub-menu, wherein the menu item graphical control further includes one or more graphical components corresponding to one or more programmed functions; and
means for displaying the sub-menu in response to a user selecting the sub-menu graphical component.
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26. A computer program product stored on a computer operable medium for providing secondary functions from a menu item graphical control, said computer program product comprising:
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means for configuring a plurality of programmed functions using a configuration tool;
means for identifying a plurality of graphical components for each of the programmed functions;
means for modifying the menu item graphical control to include the graphical components corresponding to the configured programmed functions;
means for displaying the menu item graphical control with the included graphical components;
means for receiving a selection from a user corresponding to one of the graphical components; and
means for invoking the programmed function corresponding the selected graphical component.
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Specification