Setting control using edges of a user interface

• US 20070240074A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Banks, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0606 Manual adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A setting control may be mapped to an edge of a user interface to facilitate control of various settings and access thereto. The mapping may be implemented based on a number of setting values associated with the setting control and a size of a specified edge of the user interface. Additionally, multiple edges of a user interface may be mapped to a variety of setting controls. The edge-mapped setting controls may also be automatically reconfigured according to user preferences and interaction with the interface. Indicators are also generated to provide visual indications about the setting controls and/or a current setting. The appearance of indicators may be altered to convey a variety of information such as the current setting of a control or the type of setting control.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a processor to perform a method for adjusting a setting control of a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a size of an edge of the user interface;

determining a scale of setting values associated with a setting control, wherein the scale of setting values is determined based on the determined size of the edge of the user interface;

mapping the scale of setting values to the edge of the user interface; and

displaying an indicator located at a position along the edge of the user interface, wherein the position of the indicator corresponds to a current value of the setting control, and wherein changing the current value of the setting to another value alters the position of the indicator.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the appearance of the indicator changes in accordance with the current value of the setting control.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the size of the indicator changes in accordance with the current value of the setting control.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the setting control includes a volume control.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a scale of setting values includes determining a number of setting values that fit on the edge of the user interface.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

associating the setting control with a first application, wherein a current focus of the user interface corresponds to the first application;

receiving user input corresponding to interaction with a second application;

changing the current focus of the user interface to the second application; and

in response to changing the current focus, associating the setting control with the second application.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising generating a plurality of indicators, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a different application associated with the user interface.

8. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a processor to perform a method for mapping a setting control to a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a user interface, wherein the user interface includes a first edge and a second edge;

mapping a first setting control to the first edge and a second setting control to the second edge, wherein the first and second setting controls correspond to at least one application; and

generating a first and a second indicator, wherein the first indicator corresponds to the first setting control and the second indicator corresponds to the second setting control.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first edge and the second edge are portions of a third edge of the user interface.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the step of mapping a second setting control to the second edge depends on a setting of the first setting control.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further including the step of remapping the second setting control to the second edge in response to detecting a change in a current setting value of the first setting control.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further including the step of modifying the appearance of the first indicator in response to a change in a current setting value of the first setting control.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further including the step of generating a third indicator associated with the first setting control in response to detecting user interaction with the first setting control.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the first edge and the second edge are adjoined and wherein a first portion of the first setting control is mapped to the first edge and a second portion of the first setting control is mapped to the second edge.

15. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a processor to perform a method comprising the steps of:

mapping a setting control to an edge of a user interface screen, wherein the setting control includes

a plurality of setting values, and

a first and a second indicator;

displaying a first indicator at a position along the edge of the user interface in accordance with a current value of the setting control;

detecting user interaction with the setting control; and

in response to detecting the user interaction, displaying the second indicator.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

associating the setting control with a first application, wherein a current focus of the user interface corresponds to the first application;

receiving user input corresponding to interaction with a second application;

changing the current focus of the user interface to the second application; and

in response to changing the current focus, associating the setting control with the second application.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the step of detecting user interaction with the setting control further includes determining whether a user controlled cursor is within a predefined proximity to at least one of the edge of the user interface, the first indicator and the second indicator.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the step of mapping the setting control to the edge of the user interface includes determining a size of the edge of the user interface.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the setting control further includes a setting selection element, wherein the setting selection element includes a plurality of settings.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further including the steps of:

receiving user input corresponding to a selection, from the setting selection element, of a new setting, wherein the setting control is associated with a current setting; and

mapping a new plurality of setting values associated with the selected new setting to the edge of the user interface in response to the user selection.