Two-dimensional radial user interface for computer software applications

• US 20060069603A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jensen, Stephen D., Keohane, Robert F., Leukart, Richard H., Williams, Cheryl L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

An improved user interface is provided for allowing the application of two properties or pieces of metadata to an object with a single user action. A two-dimensional radial menu (user interface) is provided. The radial menu is a generally pie-shaped user interface that is divided into two or more slices associated with two or more corresponding types of a first property that may be applied to a selected object. The menu is further divided to two or more circular sections so that each slice of the pie-shaped radial menu is further divided into two or more sections. Each circular section is associated with a type of a second property that may be applied to the object. By selection of a given section in a given slice of the radial menu, one type of the first property associated with the given slice and a one type of the second property associated with the given circular section of the slice are applied to the selected object with a single user action.

Claims

1. A method of applying two properties to a selected object in response to a single action, comprising:

dividing a generally pie-shaped user interface into two or more slices, where each of the two or more slices is associated with a different type of a first property;

further dividing the generally pie-shaped user interface into two or more circular sections by dividing the user interface with at least one concentric circular divider disposed between a center of the user interface and an outer edge of the user interface, where each of the two or more circular sections is associated with a different type of a second property;

creating a plurality of bounded areas in the user interface by a intersection of the two or more slices with the at least one concentric circular divider; and

designating each of the plurality of bounded areas as a selectable control which when selected causes an application of one type of the first property and one type of the second property to a selected object.

2. The method of claim 1, prior to designating each of the plurality of bounded areas as a selectable control which when selected causes an application of one type of the first property and one type of the second property to a selected object, further comprising determining the first property and different types of the first property and determining the second property and different types of the second property for association with each of the plurality of bounded areas created in the user interface based on a context of the selected object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating with each of the plurality of bounded areas one type of the first property and one type of the second property, whereby each of the plurality of bounded areas is associated with a different combination of types of the first property and types of the second property.

4. The method of claim 3, upon receiving a selection of a given selectable control, simultaneously applying to a selected object a first type of the first property and a first type of the second property associated with the given selectable control.

5. The method of claim 3, whereby associating with each of the plurality of bounded areas one type of the first property and one type of the second property includes associating with each of the plurality of bounded areas one type of a start date property for application to a task item and one type of a category property for application to the task item where each of a plurality of bounded areas is associated with a different combination of a type of the start date property and a type of the category property.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising coding each of the plurality of bounded areas with a unique color associated with each associated category property type whereby upon selection of a given selectable control, applying a color associated with the bounded area containing the given selectable control to the selected object.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising launching the user interface adjacent to the selected object.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising causing the user interface to be translucent to allow objects over which the launched user interface is displayed to be visible through the launched user interface.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising launching the user interface in response to receiving a primary selection of the selected object followed by a secondary selection of the selected object whereby receiving the secondary selection of the selected object causes the launching of the user interface.

10. The method of claim 9, whereby receiving a primary selection of the selected object includes receiving a left mouse click of the selected object, and whereby receiving the secondary selection of the selected object includes receiving a hold of the left mouse click for a set period of time.

11. The method of claim 2, in response to receiving a cursor focus on a given one of the plurality of bounded areas, displaying a tool tip dialog showing a given type of the first property and a given type of the second property associated with the given one of the plurality of bounded areas.

12. A two-dimensional radial menu for applying two properties to a selected object in response to a single action, comprising:

a generally pie-shaped user interface divided into two or more slices, where each of the two or more slices is associated with a different type of a first property;

the generally pie-shaped user interface further divided into two or more circular sections by at least one concentric circular divider disposed between a center of the user interface and an outer edge of the user interface, where each of the two or more circular sections is associated with a different type of a second property;

a plurality of bounded areas in the user interface formed by a intersection of the two or more slices with the at least one concentric circular divider; and

whereby each of the plurality of bounded areas is designated as a selectable control which when selected causes an application of one type of the first property and one type of the second property to a selected object.

13. The two-dimensional radial menu of claim 12, whereby each of the plurality of bounded areas is associated with one type of a start date property for application to a task item and one type of a category property for application to the task item where each of a plurality of bounded areas is associated with a different combination of a type of the start date property and a type of the category property.

14. The two-dimensional radial menu of claim 13, whereby each of the plurality of bounded areas is coded with a unique color associated with each associated category property type whereby upon selection of a given selectable control, a color associated with the bounded area containing the given selectable control is applied to the selected object.

15. The two-dimensional radial menu of claim 12, whereby the two-dimensional radial menu is translucent to allow objects over which the two-dimensional radial menu is displayed to be visible through the two-dimensional radial menu.

16. The two-dimensional radial menu of claim 12, further comprising tool tip dialog displayable over the two-dimensional radial menu showing a given type of the first property and a given type of the second property associated with a focused on one of the plurality of bounded areas.

17. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method of applying two properties to a selected object in response to a single action, comprising:

dividing a generally pie-shaped user interface into two or more slices, where each of the two or more slices is associated with a different type of a first property;

further dividing the generally pie-shaped user interface into two or more circular sections by dividing the user interface with at least one concentric circular divider disposed between a center of the user interface and an outer edge of the user interface, where each of the two or more circular sections is associated with a different type of a second property;

creating a plurality of bounded areas in the user interface by a intersection of the two or more slices with the at least one concentric circular divider; and

designating each of the plurality of bounded areas as a selectable control which when selected causes an application of one type of the first property and one type of the second property to a selected object.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, prior to designating each of the plurality of bounded areas as a selectable control which when selected causes an application of one type of the first property and one type of the second property to a selected object, further comprising determining the first property and different types of the first property and determining the second property and different types of the second property for association with each of the plurality of bounded areas created in the user interface based on a context of the selected object.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising associating with each of the plurality of bounded areas one type of the first property and one type of the second property, whereby each of the plurality of bounded areas is associated with a different combination of types of the first property and types of the second property.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, upon receiving a selection of a given selectable control, simultaneously applying to a selected object a first type of the first property and a first type of the second property associated with the given selectable control.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, whereby associating with each of the plurality of bounded areas one type of the first property and one type of the second property includes associating with each of the plurality of bounded areas one type of a start date property for application to a task item and one type of a category property for application to the task item where each of a plurality of bounded areas is associated with a different combination of a type of the start date property and a type of the category property.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising coding each of the plurality of bounded areas with a unique color associated with each associated category property type whereby upon selection of a given selectable control, applying a color associated with the bounded area containing the given selectable control to the selected object.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising launching the user interface adjacent to the selected object.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising causing the user interface to be translucent to allow objects over which the launched user interface is displayed to be visible through the launched user interface.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising launching the user interface in response to receiving a primary selection of the selected object followed by a secondary selection of the selected object whereby receiving the secondary selection of the selected object causes the launching of the user interface.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, whereby receiving a primary selection of the selected object includes receiving a left mouse click of the selected object, and whereby receiving the secondary selection of the selected object includes receiving a hold of the left mouse click for a set period of time.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, in response to receiving a cursor focus on a given one of the plurality of bounded areas, displaying a tool tip dialog showing a given type of the first property and a given type of the second property associated with the given one of the plurality of bounded areas.