PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

• US 20080016465A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Foxenland, Eral Denis
• Application Number:
  US11/457,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20080016465A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/828
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A portable electronic device and a method for accessing information in the electronic device, which includes a display and a graphical user interface for presentation of information on the display. The electronic device comprises a set of information items presentable in an item list on the display, such as a menu list, which set includes a first subset and a second subset. A user input interface is operable to select list items for activation, and a control unit is configured to present only the first subset responsive to a command on the user input interface to present the item list. The list is typically a vertical list which is longer than the display, and the first subset is a number of most important items within the list. Moving a highlight beyond an endpoint item of the first subset may trigger the control unit to unfold the full list. The list may be a menu in which the first subset contains the most frequently used items, or the list may be a text of which the first subset is an abstract or an introduction.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device including a display and a graphical user interface for presentation of information on the display, comprising:

a set of information items presentable in an item list on the display, which set includes a first subset and a second subset;

a user input interface;

a control unit configured to present only the first subset responsive to a command on the user input interface to present the item list.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the item list is a vertical list which is longer than the display.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to present the second subset as extension to the first subset responsive to detection of a command to present the second subset.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user input interface comprises a navigation tool operable to move a highlight between presented list items.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user input interface comprises a navigation tool operable to trigger the control unit to present the second subset by moving a highlight beyond an endpoint list item of the first subset.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to present an extension indication, and to present the second subset of items responsive to user activation of the extension indication.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to present an extension indication, and to present a scrollbar operable to scroll through the items of the list responsive to user activation of the extension indication.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to present an extension indication, operable to present the second subset of items by moving the highlight to the extension indication.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1, comprising:

a timer function, wherein the control unit is configured to hide the second subset of items after a predetermined time period without user interaction.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first subset of items includes a selected number of higher priority items within the list of items.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first subset of items includes a number of most used items within the list of items.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first subset of items comprises a summary or introduction portion of more extensive information provided in the second subset of items.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the list of items is a menu list, and each item is a menu item.

14. Method for accessing information in a portable electronic device, comprising the steps of:

entering a command to present a list including a number of list items on a display of the device;

presenting a first subset of items on the display and hiding a second subset of menu items;

entering a command to present the second subset on the display;

presenting the second subset of menu items.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the item list is a vertical list which is longer than the display.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of presenting the second subset includes presenting the second subset as extension to the first subset responsive to detection of a command to present the second subset.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of entering a command to present the second subset includes moving a highlight beyond an endpoint list item of the first subset.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of entering a command to present the second subset includes activating an extension indication.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of presenting the second subset includes presenting a scrollbar operable to scroll through the items of the list responsive to user activation of the extension indication.

20. The method of claim 14, comprising the step of:

hiding the second subset of items after a predetermined time period without user interaction.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the first subset of items includes a selected number of higher priority items within the list of items.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the first subset of items includes a number of most used items within the list of items.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the first subset of items comprises a summary or introduction portion of more extensive information provided in the second subset of items.