Directional Focus Navigation

• US 20060206832A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Pettit, Bradley R., Celik, Tantek, Chan, Ada Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/767
• 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

Abstract

A rendering engine that supports directional focus navigation, in response to a directional input, shifts the focus to an appropriate focusable element. The rendering engine determines one or more focusable elements that are candidates to receive the focus based on the received directional input and based on the relative display locations of the focusable elements. The rendering engine selects the most appropriate candidate focusable element based on each candidate element'"'"'s display location in relation to the display location of the element that currently has focus.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a first element associated with a rendered document, the first element having focus;

when a first indication of a directional input is received, identifying a second focusable element that is closest to the first element along a first direction that corresponds to the first indication of the directional input; and

when a second indication of a directional input is received after the first indication and while the second focusable element has focus, identifying a third focusable element that is closest to the first element along a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the first element, the second focusable element and the third focusable element define a hierarchical tree structure that represents the document.

3. A method as described in claim 2, wherein:

the hierarchical tree structure includes a plurality of levels, each of which being successively further away from the first element along the first direction;

the first element resides in a first said level;

the second focusable element resides in a second said level; and

the third focusable element resides in a third said level.

4. A method as described in claim 2, wherein the hierarchical tree structure includes a plurality of levels, each of which having one or more elements arranged to coincide with the second direction.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the identifying of the second focusable element includes determining whether a midpoint of the second s focusable element is below a midpoint of the first element.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the first direction is vertical and the second direction is horizontal.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the third focusable element is also closest to the second element along the first direction

8. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising when a third indication of the directional input is received after the second indication and while the third focusable element has focus, identifying a fourth focusable element that is closest to the first element along the second direction.

17. A method as described in claim 2, wherein:

the hierarchical tree structure includes a plurality of levels, each of which being successively further away from the first element along the first direction;

the first element resides in a first said level;

the second focusable element resides in a second said level; and

the third focusable element resides in a third said level.

9. A method comprising:

identifying a first element associated with a rendered document, the first element having focus;

when a first indication of a directional input is received, identifying a second focusable element that is closest to the first element along a first direction that corresponds to the first indication of the directional input; and

when a second indication of a directional input is received after the first indication and while the second focusable element has focus, identifying a third focusable element that is closest to the second element along the first direction and is closest to the first element along a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction.

10. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the first element, the second focusable element and the third focusable element define a hierarchical tree structure that represents the document.

11. A method as described in claim 10, wherein:

the hierarchical tree structure includes a plurality of levels, each of which being successively further away from the first element along the first direction;

the first element resides in a first said level;

the second focusable element resides in a second said level; and

the third focusable element resides in a third said level.

12. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the identifying of the second focusable element includes determining whether a midpoint of the second focusable element is below a midpoint of the first element.

13. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the first direction is vertical and the second direction is horizontal.

14. A method as described in claim 9, further comprising when a third indication of the directional input is received after the second indication and while the third focusable element has focus, identifying a fourth focusable element that is closest to the first element along the second direction.

15. A method comprising:

identifying a first element associated with a rendered document, the first element having focus;

when a first indication of a vertical directional input is received, identifying a second focusable element that is closest to the first element along a vertical direction; and

when a second indication of the vertical directional input is received after the first indication and while the second focusable element has focus, identifying a third focusable element that is closest to the second element along the vertical direction and is closest to the first element along a horizontal direction.

16. A method as described in claim 15, wherein the first element, the second focusable element and the third focusable element define a hierarchical tree structure that represents the document.

18. A method as described in claim 15, wherein the identifying of the second focusable element includes determining whether a midpoint of the second focusable element is below a midpoint of the first element.

19. A method as described in claim 15, wherein the third focusable element is also closest to the second element along the vertical direction

20. A method as described in claim 15, further comprising when a third indication of the directional input is received after the second indication and while the third focusable element has focus, identifying a fourth focusable element that is closest to the first element along the horizontal direction.