Display menu allowing better accessibility in a limited space

• US 20070247394A1
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyan, Corydon
• Application Number:
  US11/407,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20070247394A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A parent menu in the display of an electronic device includes a conditional branch key. The conditional branch key is associated with an action and a branch menu. When the conditional branch key is selected a first time, the action is performed by the electronic device and a visual characteristic of the conditional branch key is visually altered. When the conditional branch key is selected a second time, the branch menu replaces the parent menu in the display.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising

a display for an electronic device;

a parent menu in the display; and

a conditional branch key in the parent menu having a visual characteristic that indicates an action and a branch menu are associated with the conditional branch key, such that,

when the conditional branch key is selected a first time, the action is performed by the electronic device and the visual characteristic is visually altered.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein

when the conditional branch key is selected a second time, the branch menu replaces the parent menu in the display.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein

the visual characteristic is a first symbol on the conditional branch key.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein

when the conditional branch key is selected a first time, the first symbol changes into a second symbol that resembles the first symbol in appearance.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the first symbol is a hollow arrow symbol and the second symbol is a solid arrow symbol.

6. An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising

a physical button in the electronic device, proximate to the conditional branch key, for selecting the conditional branch key.

7. An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising

at least one additional conditional branch key in the parent menu, wherein the conditional branch key and the additional conditional branch key are mutually exclusive selections.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the second selection of the conditional branch key must occur consecutive to the first selection of the conditional branch key for the branch menu to replace the parent menu in display.

9. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the electronic device is a spectrum analyzer.

10. An apparatus, comprising

a display for an electronic device;

a parent menu having a conditional branch key in the display;

a conditional branch indicator corresponding to the conditional branch key, indicating that an action and a branch menu are associated with the conditional branch key, such that,

when the conditional branch key is selected a first time, the action is performed by the electronic device and the conditional branch indicator changes into an active branch indicator.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein

when the conditional branch key is selected a second time, the branch menu replaces the parent menu in the display.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the conditional branch indicator is a symbol on the conditional branch key.

13. An apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising

a physical button in the electronic device proximate to the conditional branch key for selecting the conditional branch key, wherein the conditional branch indicator is located on the physical button.

14. A method for operating the display of an electronic device, comprising

displaying a conditional branch key in a parent menu in the display;

associating an action of the electronic device and a branch menu with the conditional branch key;

performing the action and altering a visual characteristic of the conditional branch key when the conditional branch key is selected a first time;

15. A method as in claim 14, further comprising

replacing the parent menu in a display with the branch menu when the conditional branch key is selected a second time.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein

the visual characteristic is a symbol on the conditional branch key.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein

the visual characteristic is a hollow arrow symbol that is visually altered into a solid arrow symbol.

18. A method as in claim 15, further comprising

selecting a physical button in the electronic device to select the conditional branch key, wherein the button is proximate to the conditional branch key.

19. A method as in claim 15, further comprising

displaying at least one additional conditional branch key in the parent menu, wherein the conditional branch key and the additional conditional branch key are mutually exclusive selections.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein the second selection of the conditional branch key must occur consecutive to the first selection of the conditional branch key for the branch menu to replace the parent menu in display.