Method and apparatus for interaction with a user interface

• US 20030206199A1
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IoT Innovations LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kekki, Jussi-Pekka, Leinonen, Katja, Pusa, Juha
• Granted Patent: US 7,694,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/794
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72472 wherein the items are sorted according to specific criteria, e.g. frequency of use

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for providing functions, to be performed in a electronic device, for a user on a display of the device. The device (300) provides said functions in a menu layer structure (201-204) comprising a top menu layer (201) and at least one lower menu layer (202-204) wherein one of said at least one lower menu layer being as a bottom menu layer (204). The top menu layer is at least partially overlapping said lower menu layers (202-204). The user selects a menu layer to be provided as a top menu layer from said at least one lower menu layer by giving a first command, and selects a function to be performed from said top menu layer by giving a second command.

Claims

1. A method for using menu functions, in an electronic device, characterized by the method comprising:

providing on a display of the electronic device said menu functions in a menu structure comprising at least a first menu layer comprising first menu functions, the first menu layer being on the front on the display and at least one further menu layer comprising second menu functions and being at least partially covered by said first menu layer, the method further comprising at least one of the following steps;

the user selecting one of said at least one further menu layer to be moved to the front on the display instead of said first menu layer by giving a first command, said first menu layer thus being at least partially covered by said selected one of said at least one further menu layer, and

the user selecting a menu function presented on that menu layer, which is on the front on the display by giving a second command.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the menu layer that is on the front is completely visible on the display.

3. A method according to claim 2, characterized by, the menu structure further comprising at least one menu layer between said first menu layer and said at least one further menu layer.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of said at least one further menu layer or said at least one menu layer between said first and said at least one further menu layer is at least partially covered by the first menu layer.

5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that said first command causes the device to scroll forward the menu structure by moving the next menu layer behind said first menu layer to the front on the display and by moving the first menu layer to the lowest at least partially covered menu layer of the menu structure.

6. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that said first command causes the device to scroll backwards the menu structure by moving the lowest menu layer of the at least partially covered menu layers of the menu structure to the front on the display and by moving the first menu layer to the next menu layer behind the menu layer on the front on the display.

7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that said first command is one of the following;

a voice command, a touch of a button of the device or a movement of a controller device of the device.

8. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said second command causes the device to execute the selected function.

9. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that said second command is one of the following;

a voice command and a touch of the device, and is corresponding a function on the selected menu layer.

10. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that said second command is a touch of the display of the device, said touch corresponding a location of a function on the menu layer.

11. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that said second command is a movement of a controller device to a direction corresponding a direction of a function on the menu layer from the center of the menu layer.

12. A method according to claim 1, characterized by, the method further comprising editing said menu structure by moving a symbol representing a particular menu function from a location on one of said menu layers to a location another one of said menu layers.

13. A method according to claim 12, characterized by, said editing is executed manually by the user.

14. A method according to claim 12, characterized by, said editing is executed automatically by the device on the basis of the usage frequency of said function symbol.

25. A device according to claim 14, characterized by, the device further comprising editing means (301, 302, 303, 306, 307, 308) for editing said menu structure by moving a symbol representing a particular menu function from a location on one of said menu layers to a location another one of said menu layers.

15. An electronic device (300) for using menu functions in said electronic device comprising a display for displaying information to the user characterized by the device comprising:

a menu structure (301, 302, 303, 307) for providing on the display said menu functions in a menu structure comprising at least a first menu layer comprising first menu functions, the first menu layer being on the front on the display and at least one further menu layer comprising second menu functions and being at least partially covered by said first menu layer,

a user interface controller (301, 302, 303, 306, 307, 308) for controlling one of said at least one further menu layer to be moved to the front on the display instead of said first menu layer in response to a first command given by the user, said first menu layer thus being at least partially covered by said selected one of said at least one further menu layer,

the user interface controller (301, 302, 303, 306, 307, 308) for controlling a function of a menu function presented on that menu layer, which is on the front on the display in response to a second command given by the user.

16. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that said menu structure is arranged to provide the first menu layer, being on the front, completely visible on the display.

17. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that said menu structure is further arranged to provide at least one menu layer between said first menu layer and said at least one further menu layer.

18. A device according to claim 17, characterized in that said menu structure is arranged to provide at least one of said at least one menu layer between said first menu layer and said at least one further menu layer at least partially covered by the first menu layer.

19. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that said first command causes the user interface controller to scroll forward the menu structure by moving the next menu layer behind said first menu layer to the front on the display and by moving the first menu layer to the last at least partially covered menu layer of the menu structure.

20. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that said first command causes the selecting means to scroll backwards the menu structure by moving the last menu layer of the at least partially covered menu layers of the menu structure to the front on the display and by moving the first menu layer to the next menu layer behind the menu layer on the front on the display.

21. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that said second command causes the device to execute the selected function.

22. A device according to claims 19-21, characterized in that said device further comprises a joystick controller device and said first command and said second command is a movement of the joystick to a direction corresponding the selected function.

23. A device according to claims 19-21, characterized in that said device further comprises a touch sensitive display and said first command and said second command is a touch of the display at a location corresponding the selected function.

24. A device according to claim 19-21, characterized in that said device further comprises a rocker switch controller device and said first command and said second command is a touch of an area of the controller corresponding the selected function.

26. A device according to claim 23, characterized in that said function symbol is selected by the user.

27. A device according to claim 23, characterized in that said function symbol is automatically selected by the device.

28. A computer program product for an electronic device for using menu functions, in said electronic device the device comprising a display, characterized by the computer program product comprising;

computer program means for providing on the display said menu functions in a menu structure comprising at least a first menu layer comprising first menu functions, the first menu layer being on the front on the display and at least one further menu layer comprising second menu functions and being at least partially covered by said first menu layer,

computer program means for causing the device to control one of said at least one further menu layer to be moved to the front on the display instead of said first menu layer in response to a first command given by the user, said first menu layer thus being at least partially covered by said selected one of said at least one further menu layer,

computer program means for causing the device to control a function of a menu function presented on that menu layer which is on the front on the display in response to a second command given by the user.