User interface having a placement and layout suitable for pen-based computers

• US 20040212617A1
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitzmaurice, George, Kurtenbach, Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

The present invention is a system that positions an interface for a pen-based computer at an end of a natural user motion arc, such as an arc a hand travels when an elbow is pivoted. Positioning of the interface in a lower corner of a display or window (left corner for a right-handed person and right corner for a left-handed person) allows easy approach when the user is working in the center of the display, such as when drawing on the pen-based computer display. An arc or curved interface improves approach zones and reduces unintended selections of controls or buttons within the interface. The arc allows the natural motion to be extended by wrist or finger motions to access all the controls in the corner command interface. Controls on the arc are placed to allow any underlying pop-up menus to be completely accessible when an activated. Overflow menu items of activated controls of the interface are located in conformity to the natural arc.

Claims

1. An interface, comprising:

an interface area located responsive to a natural motion by a user and, comprising;

a graphic defining the interface area; and

controls located in the interface area and accessible via the natural motion.

2. An interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the natural motion is a curve associated with movement of a hand of the user when an elbow of the user is pivoted.

3. An interface as recited in claim 2, wherein a location responsive to the natural motion of the user hand is defined by the natural motion passing through a substantial center area of a display area.

4. An interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the natural motion is a curve associated with movement of a hand of the user when an elbow of the user is pivoted and one of a wrist of the user is rotated and fingers of the user are moved.

5. An interface as recited in claim 1, wherein an interface location responsive to the natural motion of the user is a lower corner of a display area.

6. An interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphic is a shape corresponding to an arc shaped curve and the controls are positioned in accordance with the curve.

7. An interface as recited in claim 6, wherein a radius of the arc shaped curve is at least a radius of a menu of one of the controls.

8. An interface as recited in claim 6, wherein a control closest to a display area is positioned along the curve at least a radius of a menu of the control.

9. An interface as recited in claim 1, wherein a menu associated with one of the controls has a layout responsive to the curve.

10. An interface as recited in claim 1, wherein a marking menu associated with one of the controls has a layout where a downward stroke brings up additional tool palettes and/or dialogs.

11. An interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the interface is located in a lower left corner of a display area and the controls of the interface are arranged as one of a convex arc across the corner, a concave arc across the corner, a line across the corner, an array in the corner, a convex corner across the corner, a convex arc with a linear portion across the corner, a sectioned pie in the corner, a sectioned pie in the corner and extending across the display area, and a rotatable circle intersecting both sides of the corner.

12. A graphical user interface, comprising:

an interface having an interface arc shape, located in corner of a display area, having graphics for controls arranged along the interface arc and having control hit zones each with a zone shape responsive to an approach arc defined by a dominant motion arc of a motion of a user with the graphics of the controls being located responsive to one-shot function or menu pop-up function with a pop-up menu radius.

13. An interface as recited in claim 12, wherein the zone shape comprises one of a wedge, a curved sided triangle and a curved sided trapezoid.

14. An interface as recited in claim 12, wherein the zones have non-coincident, dominant arc approach paths.

15. An graphical user interface for a digitizer based drawing application, comprising:

a semicircular graphic located in a corner of a display area of the drawing based application; and

controls located essentially in an arc in the graphic, said controls comprising;

a tool control located adjacent the minimize control and providing a menu for selecting a drawing tool of the application; and

a color control located adjacent the undo control and providing a menu for selecting paint color applied by a drawing tool of the application.

16. An interface as recited in claim 15, wherein said controls further comprise:

a minimize control located on a side edge of the graphic and providing a minimize function for the interface;

a page/file control located adjacent a bottom edge of the graphic and proving a page change function for drawing pages of the application;

an edit control located adjacent to the page control and providing an undo function for the application; and

a tool type control located between the tool control and the color control and providing a menu for selection a tool type of the application

17. An interface as recited in claim 16, wherein the graphic comprises a semicircular band.

18. An interface as recited in claim 16, wherein pop-up menus pop-up in association with the selected control and at a distance from side and bottom edges of the graphic to allow all menu commands to be displayed.

19. An graphical user interface for a tablet personal computer based drawing application using a stylus, comprising:

a semicircular graphic located in a corner of a display area of the drawing based application responsive to a natural motion by a user wherein the natural motion is a curve associated with movement of a hand of the user when an elbow of the user is pivoted; and

controls located essentially in an arc in the graphic and activated by the stylus, said controls comprising;

a minimize control located on a side edge of the graphic and providing a minimize function for the interface;

a page control located adjacent a bottom edge of the graphic and proving a page change function for drawing pages of the application;

an undo control located adjacent to the page control and providing an undo function for the application;

a tool control located adjacent the minimize control and providing a menu for selecting a tool of the application;

a color control located adjacent the undo control and providing a menu for selecting paint color applied by a tool of the application; and

a tool type control located between the tool control and the color control and providing a menu for selection a tool type of the application,

wherein a radius of the arc shaped curve is at least a radius of a menu of one of the controls,

wherein a control closest to a display area is positioned along the curve at least a radius of a menu of the control, and

wherein a marking menu associated with one of the controls has a layout where a downward stroke brings up additional tool palettes and/or dialogs.

20. A method, comprising:

mapping controls of an graphical user interface in an arc shape at a location responsive to an approach arc and with a radius responsive to an underlying menu activatable via one of the controls; and

allowing a user to activate the controls.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the location comprises a display area corner.

22. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the corner is lower right corner for a left-handed person and a lower left corner for a right-handed person.

23. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the mapping maps controls on the arc responsive to a function of the controls.

24. A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising minimizing the interface responsive to activation of a minimize control.

25. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the allowing comprises:

displaying a menu upon a touch input and allowing a user to select an item of the menu;

displaying a menu and performing an interaction upon a dwell input; and

performing a function upon a stroke input.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein if a user is inking from a drawing canvas and the inking crosses into the menu, inking still occurs on the canvas.

27. A computer readable storage for controlling a computer by mapping controls of a graphical user interface in an arc shape at a location responsive to an approach arc and with a radius responsive to an underlying menu activatable via one of the controls and allowing a user to activate the controls.

28. An apparatus, comprising:

a display; and

a processor positioning a graphical user interface of multiple controls in a lower right corner of the display, the interface having an interface arc shape and positioning the controls on the interface arc at positions responsive to a natural motion arc of a user when moving a hand from a center of the display toward the corner.

29. An apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein the processor positions the controls responsive to a function of the controls.

30. An apparatus as recited in claim 28, further comprising a stylus-based input system coupled to the processor and the display, and activating the controls responsive to a tap of a stylus on one of the controls, a dwell of the stylus over one of the control and a stroke of the stylus on one of the controls.