TWO PANEL NAVIGATION

• US 20090158197A1
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TP Vision Holding BV (TPV Technology Co., Ltd. (f/k/a Nanjing Huadong Electronics Information & Technology))
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Buil, Vincentius Paulus, Hollemans, Gerrit, Van Leeuwen, Marco
• Application Number:
  US10/596,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20090158197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A graphical user interface for navigating through content is provided. The graphical user interface comprises a history panel wherein navigation history data is displayed so as to represent past selections, and furthermore comprises at least a first panel displaying a first menu of a content structure. The first menu comprises one or more selectable items. A further at least second panel for displaying a first sub-menu of a currently highlighted item of the first menu may be provided. By providing information about navigation history data to the user in a history panel, the user is provided with a general overview of the content and also of the current navigation process and/or the overall navigation structure. By providing navigation history information in a history panel, the past dialog boxes may be closed without loosing any information regarding the current navigation process.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface for navigating through content comprising

a history panel wherein navigation history data is displayed, and

at least a first panel displaying a first menu of a content structure, the first menu comprising one or more selectable items.

2. A graphical user interface according to claim 1, further comprising at least a second panel for displaying a first sub-menu of a currently highlighted item of the first menu.

3. A graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein navigation history data is updated with a reference to the menu displayed in the first panel upon selection of an item of the menu.

4. A graphical user interface according to claim 2, wherein the first menu in the first panel is replaced with the sub-menu of the second panel upon selection of an item in the first panel.

5. A graphical user interface according to claim 4, wherein the sub-menu in the second panel is replaced with a sub-menu of a currently highlighted item of the first sub-menu.

6. A graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein the navigation history data comprises a reference to previously selected menu(s).

7. A graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein the navigation history data is displayed as pictograms.

8. A graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein one or more layered panels show the navigation history.

9. A graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein the content structure comprises a main menu starting point.

10. A graphical user interface according to claim 9, wherein the navigation history data comprises navigation history data starting from the main menu starting point.

11. A graphical user interface according to claim 9, wherein the navigation history data comprises navigation history for a number of selections.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. A method of navigating through content, the method comprising displaying elements representing navigation history data in a navigation history panel and displaying at least a first menu of a content structure in at least a first panel, the first menu comprising one or more selectable items.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the elements representing navigation history data are active elements.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the selection of an active element causes the navigation to revert to the selected data in the navigation history data.

17. A computer program product enabling a programmable device when executing said computer program product to function as a method as defined in claim 14.

18. A computer system operable to provide navigation through ordered content, the computer system comprising displaying means for displaying elements representing navigation history data in a navigation history panel and at least a first menu of a structure in at least a first panel, the first menu comprising one or more selectable items.

19. (canceled)