User interface for computing device

• US 20070118814A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Greer, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

System, method and program for user selection of a menu option. A multiplicity of menu options are automatically and sequentially displayed, one at a time, in a display window of a computing device. A user selection is received at a time during the automatic and sequential display of the menu options. A determination is made which of the menu options corresponds to the user selection based on the time that the user selection was received in relation to time periods during which the menu options were displayed. Optionally, there is a two step process to selecting a menu option. Display of a corresponding menu option is temporarily frozen in the window. A predetermined time period is waited for receipt of confirmation from the user that the user wants to select the corresponding menu option which is frozen in the window. If, within the predetermined time period, the user confirms that the user wants to select the corresponding menu option, a determination is made that the user has selected the corresponding menu option. However, if, within the predetermined time period, the user does not confirm that the user wants to select the corresponding menu option, a determination is made that the user has not selected the corresponding menu option, and sequential display of the multiplicity of menu options is resumed.

Claims

1. A method for user selection of a menu option, said method comprising the steps of:

automatically and sequentially displaying a multiplicity of menu options, one at a time, in a display window of a computing device;

receiving a user selection at a time during the automatic and sequential display of said menu options; and

determining which of said menu options corresponds to said user selection based on the time that said user selection was received in relation to time periods during which said menu options were displayed.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises the step of:

determining that said user selection corresponds to one of said menu options which was displayed at said time that said user selection was received.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises the steps of:

determining that said user selection was received within a predetermined period after one of said menu option in said sequence ceased to be displayed in said display window, and in response, determining that said user selection corresponds to said one menu option.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said user selection was received during display of a next one said menu options in said sequence.

5. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said user selection was received during a blank period after said one menu option ceased to be displayed and before a next one of said menu options in said sequence was displayed.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

adjusting respective time periods during which respective menu options of said multiplicity are displayed based on relative frequency with which the respective menu options have been selected.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the menu option of said multiplicity which has been selected most frequently has a longer display time than other menu options which have been selected less frequently.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein in response to said determining step, further comprising the steps of:

temporarily freezing display of a corresponding menu option in said window and waiting up to a predetermined time period for receipt of confirmation from the user that said user wants to select said corresponding menu option which is frozen in said window, and

if, within said predetermined time period, said user confirms that said user wants to select said corresponding menu option, determining that said user has selected said corresponding menu option, and

if, within said predetermined time period, said user does not confirm that said user wants to select said corresponding menu option, determining that said user has not selected said corresponding menu option, and resuming sequential display of said multiplicity of menu options.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein within said predetermined time period, said user confirms that said user wants to select said corresponding menu option, and further comprising the step of performing an action, intended by said user when selecting said corresponding menu option.

10. A system for user selection of a menu option, said system comprising:

means for automatically and sequentially displaying a multiplicity of menu options, one at a time, in a display window of a computing device;

means for receiving a user selection at a time during the automatic and sequential display of said menu options; and

means for determining which of said menu options corresponds to said user selection based on the time that said user selection was received in relation to time periods during which said menu options were displayed.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the means for determining comprises:

means for determining that said user selection corresponds to one of said menu options which was displayed at said time that said user selection was received.

12. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the means for determining comprises:

means for determining that said user selection was received within a predetermined period after one of said menu option in said sequence ceased to be displayed in said display window, and in response, determining that said user selection corresponds to said one menu option.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said user selection was received during display of a next one said menu options in said sequence.

14. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said user selection was received during a blank period after said one menu option ceased to be displayed and before a next one of said menu options in said sequence was displayed.

15. A system as set forth in claim 10 further comprising:

means for adjusting respective time periods during which respective menu options of said multiplicity are displayed based on relative frequency with which the respective menu options have been selected.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the menu option of said multiplicity which has been selected most frequently has a longer display time than other menu options which have been selected less frequently.

17. A system as set forth in claim 10 further comprising means, responsive to the determining means, for temporarily freezing display of a corresponding menu option in said window and waiting up to a predetermined time period for receipt of confirmation from the user that said user wants to select said corresponding menu option which is frozen in said window, and

if, within said predetermined time period, said user confirms that said user wants to select said corresponding menu option, determining that said user has selected said corresponding menu option, and

if, within said predetermined time period, said user does not confirm that said user wants to select said corresponding menu option, determining that said user has not selected said corresponding menu option, and resuming sequential display of said multiplicity of menu options.

18. A system as set forth in claim 17 wherein within said predetermined time period, said user confirms that said user wants to select said corresponding menu option, and further comprising means for performing an action, intended by said user when selecting said corresponding menu option.

19. A computer program product for user selection of a menu option, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable media;

first program instructions to automatically and sequentially display a multiplicity of menu options, one at a time, in a display window of a computing device;

second program instructions to receive a user selection at a time during the automatic and sequential display of said menu options; and

third program instructions to determine which of said menu options corresponds to said user selection based on the time that said user selection was received in relation to time periods during which said menu options were displayed; and

wherein

said first, second and third program instructions are stored on said media in functional form.

20. A computer program product as set forth in claim 19 further comprising fourth program instructions, responsive to said third program instructions, to temporarily freeze display of a corresponding menu option in said window and wait up to a predetermined time period for receipt of confirmation from the user that said user wants to select said corresponding menu option which is frozen in said window, and

if, within said predetermined time period, said user confirms that said user wants to select said corresponding menu option, then determine that said user has selected said corresponding menu option, and

if, within said predetermined time period, said user does not confirm that said user wants to select said corresponding menu option, then determine that said user has not selected said corresponding menu option, and resume sequential display of said multiplicity of menu options.