SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIMPLIFYING OPERATIONS OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20100050127A1
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: PENG, CHAO-YUN
• Application Number:
  US12/491,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20100050127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/841
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A system and method for simplifying operations of an electronic device sets a first duration that a cursor is allowed to stay on each root menu option which has sub-menu options, and sets a second duration that the cursor is allowed to stay on each leaf menu option which has no sub-menu options. If the cursor stays on a root menu option beyond the first duration, the system and method controls the electronic device automatically to enter a lower hierarchy menu interface corresponding to the root menu option. If the cursor stays on a leaf menu option beyond the second duration, the system and method controls the electronic device to directly return to a main menu interface from the leaf menu option.

Claims

1. A method for simplifying operations of an electronic device, the method comprising:

setting a first allowable duration and a second allowable duration that a cursor is allowed to stay on a menu option of a user interface displayed on a display of the electronic device;

timing how long does the cursor stay on the menu option of a main menu interface of the user interface displayed on the display of the electronic device;

detecting a selection signal of the menu option from an input device of the electronic device;

determining if the cursor stays on the menu option beyond the first allowable duration, in response to not detecting the selection signal of the menu option;

automatically entering a sub-menu interface of the menu option and displaying sub-menu options of the menu option on the display of the electronic device, in response to a determination that the cursor stays on the menu option beyond the first allowable duration;

restarting timing when the cursor stays on a sub-menu option of the sub-menu interface;

detecting an operation signal of the sub-menu option from the input device of the electronic device in response to a determination that the sub-menu option has no further sub-menu options, wherein the operation signal corresponds to a computerized command of the input device to execute a corresponding option of the sub-menu option;

determining if the cursor stays on the sub-menu option beyond the second allowable duration, in response to not detecting the operation signal of the sub-menu option; and

automatically switching to the main menu interface, in response to a determination that the cursor stays on the sub-menu option beyond the second allowable duration.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

directly entering the sub-menu interface of the menu option, in response to detecting the selection signal of the menu option from the input device of the electronic device; and

returning to the restarting block.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

returning to the detecting block for detecting the selection signal, in response to a determination that the cursor stays on the menu option within the first allowable duration.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

returning to the detecting block for detecting the selection signal, if the sub-menu option has further sub-menu options.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

executing a function corresponding to the sub-menu function, in response to detecting the operation signal of the sub-menu option from the input device of the electronic device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

returning to the detecting block for detecting the operation signal, in response to a determination that the cursor stays on the menu option within the second allowable duration.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, and a computer.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input device is a touch panel or a keyboard.

9. A system for simplifying operations of an electronic device, the system comprising:

a memory system;

at least one processor; and

one or more programs stored in the memory system and being executed by the at least one processor, the one or more programs comprising;

a parameter setting module to set a first allowable duration and a second allowable duration that a cursor is allowed to stay on a menu option of a user interface of the electronic device;

a timing module to time how long does the cursor stay on the menu option of the user interface of the electronic device;

a detecting module to detect if the cursor stays on a root menu option which has sub-menu options beyond the first allowable duration, and to detect if the cursor stays on a leaf menu option which has no sub-menu options beyond the second allowable duration; and

an interface switching module to automatically switch the electronic device to a sub-menu interface of the root menu option if the cursor stays on the root menu option beyond the first allowable duration, and to automatically switch the electronic device to a main menu interface if the cursor stays on the leaf menu option beyond the second allowable duration.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a display device to display the main menu interface, the sub-menu interface, and menu options under the main menu interface or the sub-menu interface.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, and a computer.

12. A storage medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions capable of being executed by a processor to perform a method for simplifying operations of an electronic device, the method comprising:

setting a first allowable duration and a second allowable duration that a cursor is allowed to stay on a menu option of a user interface displayed on a display of the electronic device;

timing how long does the cursor stay on the menu option of a main menu interface of the user interface displayed on the display of the electronic device;

detecting a selection signal of the menu option from an input device of the electronic device;

determining if the cursor stays on the menu option beyond the first allowable duration, in response to not detecting the selection signal of the menu option;

automatically entering a sub-menu interface of the menu option and displaying sub-menu options of the menu option on the display of the electronic device, in response to a determination that the cursor stays on the menu option beyond the first allowable duration;

restarting timing when the cursor stays on a sub-menu option of the sub-menu interface;

detecting an operation signal of the sub-menu option from the input device of the electronic device in response to a determination that the sub-menu option has no further sub-menu options, wherein the operation signal corresponds to a computerized command of the input device to execute a corresponding option of the sub-menu option;

determining if the cursor stays on the sub-menu option beyond the second allowable duration, in response to detecting the operation signal of the sub-menu option from the input device of the electronic device; and

automatically switching to the main menu interface, in response to a determination that the cursor stays on the sub-menu option beyond the second allowable duration.

13. The storage medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

directly entering the sub-menu interface of the menu option, in response to detecting the selection signal of the menu option from the input device of the electronic device; and

returning to the restarting block.

14. The storage medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

returning to the detecting block for detecting the selection signal, in response to a determination that the cursor stays on the menu option within the first allowable duration.

15. The storage medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

returning to the detecting block for detecting the selection signal, if the sub-menu option has further sub-menu options.

16. The storage medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

executing a function corresponding to the sub-menu function, in response to detecting the operation signal of the sub-menu option from the input device of the electronic device.

17. The storage medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, and a computer.

18. The storage medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein the input device is a touch panel or a keyboard.