Enhanced on-object context menus

• US 20040021647A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Iwema, Marieke, Switzer, David, Keely, Leroy B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,058,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention provide context menus useful in, e.g., a computing device receiving user input via a stylus. Icons representing actions performable on an object are displayed in a context menu for the object. Additional aspects of the invention include cascading menus that also minimize hand and/or wrist motion, as well as placement of menus based on user handedness and/or stylus orientation.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a display screen, a graphical user interface, and a user interface selection device, a method of selecting actions performable with regard to an object having an associated representation on the screen, comprising:

receiving a user request for a display of menu choices corresponding to the actions performable with regard to the object;

displaying the menu choices, wherein

each action performable with regard to the object is identified by a unique icon,

the icons are displayed in an array of at least two columns and two rows, and

the icons are displayed in a menu which is positioned on the screen based upon the location of the screen representation of the object;

receiving a user selection of an icon; and

performing the action identified by the selected icon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu choices comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device, and wherein receiving a user selection comprises receiving a selection made with the stylus.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons spaced such that any of the icons can be selected without substantial movement of the hand or wrist of the user holding the stylus.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a portion of the menu is positioned in a display screen location nearest to the position of the stylus tip when the request for a display of menu choices was received.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving an indication of the handedness of the user, and wherein displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons in a menu positioned on the screen based upon the indication of the handedness of the user.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving an indication of the orientation of the stylus with respect to the display screen, and wherein displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons in a menu positioned on the screen based upon the indication of the stylus orientation.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising;

continuing to display the icons after selection of an icon;

receiving an identification by the user of a second object;

receiving a second selection of an icon; and

performing the action identified by the second selected icon.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

moving the displayed icons across the display screen in response to a corresponding movement of the stylus with respect to the display screen.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying, in response to a user selection of an initial icon, a second level menu of additional icons, wherein receiving a user selection of an icon with the stylus comprises receiving a selection of an icon in the second level menu, and wherein performing the action identified by the selected icon comprises performing the action identified by the icon selected from the second level menu.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

displaying, in response to a user selection of an initial icon, a second level menu of additional icons cascaded from the initial icon;

receiving a selection of an icon from the second level menu; and

displaying, in response to selection of the icon from the second level menu, a third level menu of additional icons cascaded from the second level menu icon, wherein

the second and third level menus are cascaded in substantial alignment from the initial icon,

receiving a user selection of an icon with the stylus comprises receiving a selection of an icon in the third level menu, and

performing the action identified by the selected icon comprises performing the action identified by the icon selected from the third level menu.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving a user request for a display of menu choices corresponding to actions performable with regard to an object, wherein the object has a representation upon a display screen of a computer system having a graphical user interface;

displaying the menu choices, wherein

each action performable with regard to the object is identified by a unique icon,

the icons are displayed in an array of at least two columns and two rows, and

the icons are displayed in a menu which is positioned on the screen based upon the location of the screen representation of the object;

receiving a user selection of an icon; and

performing the action identified by the selected icon.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu choices comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device, and wherein receiving a user selection comprises receiving a selection made with the stylus.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons spaced such that any of the icons can be selected without substantial movement of the hand or wrist of the user holding the stylus.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein a portion of the menu is positioned in a display screen location nearest to the position of the stylus tip when the request for a display of menu choices was received.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, comprising further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of receiving an indication of the handedness of the user, and wherein displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons in a menu positioned on the screen based upon the indication of the handedness of the user.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, comprising further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of receiving an indication of the orientation of the stylus with respect to the display screen, and wherein displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons in a menu positioned on the screen based upon the indication of the stylus orientation.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, comprising further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

continuing to display the icons after selection of an icon;

receiving an identification by the user of a second object;

receiving a second selection of an icon; and

performing the action identified by the second selected icon.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, comprising further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of moving the displayed icons across the display screen in response to a corresponding movement of the stylus with respect to the display screen.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, comprising further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of displaying, in response to a user selection of an initial icon, a second level menu of additional icons, wherein receiving a user selection of an icon with the stylus comprises receiving a selection of an icon in the second level menu, and wherein performing the action identified by the selected icon comprises performing the action identified by the icon selected from the second level menu.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, comprising further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

displaying, in response to a user selection of an initial icon, a second level menu of additional icons cascaded from the initial icon;

receiving a selection of an icon from the second level menu; and

displaying, in response to selection of the icon from the second level menu, a third level menu of additional icons cascaded from the second level menu icon, wherein

the second and third level menus are cascaded in substantial alignment from the initial icon,

receiving a user selection of an icon with the stylus comprises receiving a selection of an icon in the third level menu, and

performing the action identified by the selected icon comprises performing the action identified by the icon selected from the third level menu.

21. A computer system, comprising:

a display screen;

a user interface selection device; and

a processor in communication with the display screen and the user interface selection device, and configured to;

provide a graphical user interface,

receive a user request for a display of menu choices corresponding to actions performable with regard to an object,

display the menu choices, wherein

each action performable on the object is identified by a unique icon,

the icons are displayed in an array of at least two columns and two rows, and

the icons are displayed in a menu which is positioned on the screen based upon a location of a screen representation of the object,

receive a user selection of an icon, and

perform the action identified by the selected icon.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the user interface selection device comprises a stylus, wherein the processor is configured to receive a user request for a display of menu choices by receiving a request initiated with the stylus, and wherein the processor is configured to receive a user selection by receiving a selection made with the stylus.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to display the menu choices by displaying the icons spaced such that any of the icons can be selected without substantial movement of the hand or wrist of the user holding the stylus.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to position a portion of the menu in a display screen location nearest to the position of the stylus tip when the request for a display of menu choices is received.

25. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to receive an indication of the handedness of the user, and wherein the processor is configured to display the menu choices by displaying the icons in a menu positioned on the screen based upon the indication of the handedness of the user.

26. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to receive an indication of the orientation of the stylus with respect to the display screen, and wherein the processor is configured to display the menu choices by displaying the icons in a menu positioned on the screen based upon the indication of the stylus orientation.

27. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to:

continue to display the icons after selection of an icon,

receive an identification by the user of a second object,

receive a second selection of an icon, and

perform the action identified by the second selected icon.

28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to move the displayed icons across the display screen in response to a corresponding movement of the stylus with respect to the display screen.

29. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to display, in response to a user selection of an initial icon, a second level menu of additional icons, wherein the processor is configured to receive a user selection of an icon with the stylus by receiving a selection of an icon in the second level menu, and wherein the processor is configured to perform the action identified by the selected icon by performing the action identified by the icon selected from the second level menu.

30. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to:

display, in response to a user selection of an initial icon, a second level menu of additional icons cascaded from the initial icon,

receive a selection of an icon from the second level menu, and

display, in response to selection of the icon from the second level menu, a third level menu of additional icons cascaded from the second level menu icon, wherein

the second and third level menus are cascaded in substantial alignment from the initial icon,

the processor is configured to receive a user selection of an icon with the stylus by receiving a selection of an icon in the third level menu, and

the processor is configured to perform the action identified by the selected icon by performing the action identified by the icon selected from the third level menu.

31. In a computer system having a display screen, a graphical user interface, and a user interface selection device, a method of selecting actions performable with regard to an object having an associated representation on the screen, comprising:

receiving a user request for a display of menu options corresponding to the actions performable with regard to the object;

displaying an initial context menu having a set of menu options;

displaying successive cascaded context menus, the initial context menu and the successive cascaded context menus forming a cascade, wherein

each context menu has a set of menu options,

each context menu in the cascade remains at least partially visible

each cascaded context menu is displayed upon selection of a menu option from a preceding menu in the cascade, and

each cascaded context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the option selected to cause display of the cascaded context menu;

receiving a repeat selection of an option from a context menu in the cascade;

discontinuing, in response to the repeat selection, display of all context menus cascaded from the context menu in which the repeat selection was made.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein:

receiving a user request for a display of menu options comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device, and

receiving a repeat selection of an option comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein each option selected to cause display of a context menu in the cascade is visible.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the cascade comprises at least three context menus, wherein the repeat selection is received in an intermediate context menu, and further comprising:

receiving, in the intermediate context menu, selection of an option distinct from the repeat selection option; and

displaying one or more successive context menus cascaded from the intermediate context menu.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

displaying, for each option that can be selected to display a cascaded context menu, an indicator;

changing, upon selection of an option having an indicator, the appearance of the indicator.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein a repeat selection is made by selecting an indicator having a changed appearance.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein each cascaded context menu appears below and substantially aligned with the menu option selected from the previous context menu in the cascade.

38. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving a user request for a display of menu options corresponding to actions performable with regard to an object, wherein the object has a representation upon a display screen of a computer system having a graphical user interface;

displaying an initial context menu having a set of menu options;

displaying successive cascaded context menus, the initial context menu and the successive cascaded context menus forming a cascade, wherein

each context menu has a set of menu options,

each context menu in the cascade remains at least partially visible

each cascaded context menu is displayed upon selection of a menu option from a preceding menu in the cascade, and

each cascaded context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the option selected to cause display of the cascaded context menu;

receiving a repeat selection of an option from a context menu in the cascade;

discontinuing, in response to the repeat selection, display of all context menus cascaded from the context menu in which the repeat selection was made.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein:

receiving a user request for a display of menu options comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device, and

receiving a repeat selection of an option comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein each option selected to cause display of a context menu in the cascade is visible.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the cascade comprises at least three context menus, wherein the repeat selection is received in an intermediate context menu, and comprising further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

receiving, in the intermediate context menu, selection of an option distinct from the repeat selection option; and

displaying one or more successive context menus cascaded from the intermediate context menu.

42. The method of claim 40, comprising further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

displaying, for each option that can be selected to display a cascaded context menu, an indicator;

changing, upon selection of an option having an indicator, the appearance of the indicator.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein a repeat selection is made by selecting an indicator having a changed appearance.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein each cascaded context menu appears below and substantially aligned with the menu option selected from the previous context menu in the cascade.