Enhanced on-object context menus

• US 20060200780A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• 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 7,581,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• 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 options corresponding to the actions performable with regard to the object;

displaying a first context menu;

successively displaying second and third context menus, the first, second and third context menus forming a cascade, wherein

each of the context menus has a set of menu options, at least one of the menu options in at least one of the context menus corresponding to an action performable with regard to the object,

each of the context menus in the cascade remains at least partially visible,

the second context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the first context menu,

the second context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the first context menu option selected to cause display of the second context menu,

the third context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the second context menu,

the third context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the second context menu option selected to cause display of the third context menu,

at least one of the second and third context menus obscures options in the immediately preceding context menu;

receiving a repeat selection of an option from the first or second context menu; and

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

2. The method of claim 1, 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.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the repeat selection is made from the second context menu, and further comprising:

redisplaying the third context menu;

receiving a selection of an option from the third context menu, the selected third context menu option not having an associated succeeding context menu;

in response to selection of the option from the third context menu, discontinuing display of the third context menu while continuing display of the second context menu.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the repeat selection is received in the second context menu, and further comprising:

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

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

5. The method of claim 3, 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.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a repeat selection is made by selecting an indicator having a changed appearance.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein each cascaded context menu appears below and substantially aligned with the menu option selected from the previous context menu in the cascade.

8. A computer readable storage 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 a first context menu;

successively displaying second and third context menus, the first, second and third context menus forming a cascade, wherein

each of the context menus has a set of menu options, at least one of the menu options in at least one of the context menus corresponding to an action performable with regard to the object,

each of the context menus in the cascade remains at least partially visible,

the second context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the first context menu,

the second context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the first context menu option selected to cause display of the second context menu,

the third context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the second context menu,

the third context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the second context menu option selected to cause display of the third context menu,

at least one of the second and third context menus obscures options in the immediately preceding context menu;

receiving a repeat selection of an option from the first or second context menu; and

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

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, 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.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the repeat selection is made from the second context menu, and further comprising:

redisplaying the third context menu;

receiving a selection of an option from the third context menu, the selected third context menu option not having an associated succeeding context menu;

in response to selection of the option from the third context menu, discontinuing display of the third context menu while continuing display of the second context menu.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the repeat selection is received in the second context menu, and comprising further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

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

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

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, 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.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein a repeat selection is made by selecting an indicator having a changed appearance.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein each cascaded context menu appears below and substantially aligned with the menu option selected from the previous context menu in the cascade.

15. A computer-readable storage 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, and wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu choices comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device;

displaying the menu choices in a first level menu, wherein

each of the actions 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,

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

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;

receiving a user selection of an initial icon, wherein the selection is made with the stylus;

displaying, in response to a user selection of an initial icon, a second level menu of additional icons, wherein

the second level menu is cascaded from, and overlaps a portion of the icons arrayed in, the first level menu, and

the second level menu does not overlap the initial icon;

receiving a user selection, made with the stylus from the second level menu, of a second icon; and

performing the action identified by the second icon.