Area frequency radial menus

• US 20070180392A1
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Russo, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,644,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

System and method of adjusting selection areas of menu options in a radial menu utilize the frequency of selection of each of the menu options to adjust the size of various selection areas over time. The sizes of menu options or selection areas with relatively high frequency of use may increase, while the sizes of the selection areas of the remaining menu options may decrease. In addition, the size of the menu options may be further adjusted to return to the original arrangement, e.g., in which the size of each of the selection areas is equal or occupies some predetermined area. The user may hold an electronic pen over the radial menu or select an icon from the radial menu to resize the selection areas to return to the original arrangement.

Claims

1. A display process comprising:

displaying a radially configured user interface having at least a first selection area having a first size and a second selection area having a second size, wherein the first size may be the same as or different from the second size;

monitoring a first frequency of use of the first selection areas;

monitoring a second frequency of use of the second selection area; and

changing the first size to a third size and the second size to a fourth size based, at least in part, on the first frequency and the second frequency.

2. The display process of claim 1, wherein the third size is greater than the fourth size when the first frequency is greater than the second frequency.

3. The display process of claim 1, wherein the third size is less than the fourth size when the first frequency is less than the second frequency.

4. The display process of claim 1, further comprising activating a resize action wherein each of the selection areas is returned to its respective first size.

5. The display process of claim 1, further comprising displaying a resize icon on the user interface.

6. The display process of claim 5, wherein the resize icon is displayed in the center of the radially configured user interface.

7. The display process of claim 5, wherein the resize icon is one of the selection areas of the user interface.

8. The display process of claim 1, wherein the first or second selection area is removed to a submenu when the frequency drops below a preset frequency.

9. A display process comprising:

activating a first radially configured user interface having a first plurality of selection areas, each of the first plurality of selection areas having a first respective size;

monitoring a frequency of use of each of the first plurality of selection areas;

changing the first size of at least one of the first plurality of selection areas to a second size based, at least in part, on the frequency of use of each of the first selection areas;

upon activation of at least one of the selection areas, activating a second radially configured user interface having a second plurality of selection areas, each of the second plurality of selection areas having a first respective size;

monitoring a frequency of use of each of the second plurality of selection areas; and

changing the first size of at least one of the second plurality of selection areas to a second size based, at least in part, on the frequency of use of each of the second selection areas.

10. The display process of claim 9, wherein the second size of a first of the plurality of selection areas of the second radially configured interface is greater than its respective first size based, at least in part, on a high frequency of use of the first selection area as compared to at least one other selection area of the second radially configured interface.

11. The display process of claim 9, wherein the second size of a first of the plurality of selection areas of the second radially configured interface is less than its respective first size based, at least in part, on a low frequency of use of the first selection area as compared to at least one other selection area of the second radially configured interface.

12. The display process of claim 9, further comprising activating a resize action wherein each of the selection areas of the second radially configured interface is returned to its respective first size.

13. The display process of claim 9, further comprising displaying a resize icon on the second radially configured user interface.

14. The display process of claim 13, wherein the resize icon is displayed in a center of the second radially configured user interface.

15. The display process of claim 13, wherein the resize icon is one of the selection areas of the second radially configured user interface.

20. The display process of claim 15, wherein the sizes of the menu options of the first and second radially configured user interfaces may be returned to its respective first size using an electronic pen.

16. A display process on a notebook type computer system comprising:

using an electronic pen to activate a first radially configured user interface having a plurality of menu options, each of the menu options having a respective first size;

monitoring a frequency of use of each of the menu options; and

changing the first size of at least one of the plurality of menu options to a second size based, at least in part, on a frequency of use of each menu option.

17. The display process of claim 16, further comprising activating a second radially configured user interface using the electronic pen, the second radially configured user interface having a second plurality of menu options.

18. The display process of claim 17, wherein the second radially configured user interface is activated by selection of one of the menu options.

19. The display process of claim 18, further comprising selecting one of the menu options of the second radially configured user interface using the electronic pen.