MULTIPLE MENUS FOR USE WITH A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
First Claim
1. A method for allowing a user to select a particular menu item, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- receiving a request from the user for a menu, wherein the menu includes a plurality of menu items;
displaying the menu to the user, wherein one menu item from among the plurality of menu items is highlighted to differentiate the one menu item from the other menu items of the plurality of menu items;
receiving input from the user, wherein the input indicates that the user wants to select the one menu item, and wherein the input from the user is not received in response to the user selecting the menu item that is highlighted in the display of the menu; and
causing the one menu item to be executed.
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Abstract
An approach for using multiple menus with a graphical user interface is disclosed. A multiple menu comprises a menu panel with two or more selection regions, each of which is associated with a base menu. A user requests the menu panel without selecting a menu object displayed on a display unit, such as by right-clicking. The menu panel is displayed along with one base menu, and other base menus are displayed by the user moving the cursor to another selection region. The user selects a menu item from a base menu to cause the application to execute the function associated with the menu item. The selection regions of the menu panel do not include information describing the content of the associated base menus. By arranging the base menus around the menu panel, cursor movement is minimized to improve user efficiency in using the application.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for allowing a user to select a particular menu item, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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receiving a request from the user for a menu, wherein the menu includes a plurality of menu items;
displaying the menu to the user, wherein one menu item from among the plurality of menu items is highlighted to differentiate the one menu item from the other menu items of the plurality of menu items;
receiving input from the user, wherein the input indicates that the user wants to select the one menu item, and wherein the input from the user is not received in response to the user selecting the menu item that is highlighted in the display of the menu; and
causing the one menu item to be executed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for generating menus for display on a display unit with a graphical user interface, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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creating and storing first data that describes a first plurality of menu items;
receiving, from a first user, second data that specifies a second plurality of menu items from among the first plurality of menu items;
storing the second data;
in response to a request for a menu from a second user, generating the menu by;
retrieving the first data and the second data, and selecting a third plurality of menu items from the first plurality of menu items based on the first data and the second data; and
displaying the menu on the display unit, wherein the menu includes the third plurality of menu items. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for allowing a user to select a particular menu item, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
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receiving a request from the user for a menu, wherein the menu includes a plurality of menu items;
displaying the menu to the user, wherein one menu item from among the plurality of menu items is highlighted to differentiate the one menu item from the other menu items of the plurality of menu items;
receiving input from the user, wherein the input indicates that the user wants to select the one menu item, and wherein the input from the user is not received in response to the user selecting the menu item that is highlighted in the display of the menu; and
causing the one menu item to be executed.
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13. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for rating menus for display on a display unit with a graphical user interface, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
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creating and storing first data that describes a first plurality of menu items;
receiving, from a first user, second data that specifies a second plurality of menu items from among the first plurality of menu items;
storing the second data;
in response to a request for a menu from a second user, generating the menu by;
retrieving the first data and the second data, and selecting a third plurality of menu items from the first plurality of menu items based on the first data and the second data; and
displaying the menu on the display unit, wherein the menu includes the third plurality of menu items.
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Specification