Area Selectable Menus

• US 20100077354A1
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Russo, Thomas P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,533,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/834
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

System and method of adjusting selection areas of menu options in a menu utilize the frequency of selection of each of the menu options to adjust the size of various selection areas over time. The sizes of menu options or selection areas with relatively high frequency of use may increase, while the sizes of the selection areas of the remaining menu options may decrease. In addition, the size of the menu options may be further adjusted to return to the original arrangement, e.g., in which the size of each of the selection areas is equal or occupies some predetermined area. The user may hold an electronic pen over the menu or select an icon from the menu to resize the selection areas to return to the original arrangement.

Claims

1. A process comprising:

displaying, via a touch sensitive display, a radially configured user interface comprising at least a first selection area having a first size and a second selection area having a second size;

monitoring a first frequency of use of the first selection area, the first frequency of use being based on menu selections provided via touch input;

storing the first frequency of use;

changing the first size to a third size and the second size to a fourth size based, at least in part, on the first frequency of use, wherein changing the first size to the third size and the second size to the fourth size comprises;

increasing the size of the first selection area within the radially configured user interface; and

decreasing the size of the second selection area while maintaining a consistent size of the radially configured user interface.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a second frequency of use of the second selection area, wherein the third size is greater than the fourth size when the first frequency of use is greater than the second frequency of use.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising activating a resize action wherein each of the first and second selection areas is returned to an initial size.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising displaying a resize icon on the radially configured user interface.

5. The process of claim 1, further comprising activating a second radially configured user interface, the second radially configured user interface having a second set of menu options.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the second radially configured user interface is activated by selecting one of the first selection area or the second selection area.

7. The process of claim 6, further comprising selecting one of the second set of menu options via touch input.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein selecting one of the first selection area or the second selection area and selecting one of the second set of menu options is provided via a gesture.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein:

a menu option area of the third size is bounded by a predetermined maximum percentage of the total available area of the radially configured user interface; and

a menu option area of the fourth size is bounded by a predetermined minimum percentage of the total available area of the radially configured user interface.

10. A computing device configured to implement the process of claim 1.

11. One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the process of claim 1.

12. A process comprising:

displaying, via a touch screen, a user interface comprising at least a first selection area having a first size and a second selection area having a second size;

monitoring a first frequency of use of the first selection area;

adjusting the first size to a third size and the second size to a fourth size based, at least in part, on the first frequency of use, wherein adjusting the first size to the third size and the second size to the fourth size comprises;

increasing the size of the first selection area within the user interface; and

decreasing the size of the second selection area within the user interface.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein the frequency of use of the first selection area is based on menu selections provided via touch input.

14. The process of claim 12, further comprising monitoring a second frequency of use of the second selection area, wherein the third size is greater than the fourth size when the first frequency of use is greater than the second frequency of use.

15. The process of claim 12, further comprising activating a second user interface, the second user interface comprising a second set of menu options, wherein the second user interface is activated by selecting one of the first selection area or the second selection area.

16. The process of claim 12, further comprising selecting one of the second set of menu options, wherein selecting one of the first selection area or the second selection area and selecting one of the second set of menu options is provided via a gesture.

17. One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the process of claim 12.

18. A process comprising:

displaying a user interface comprising at least a first selection area having a first size and a second selection area having a second size;

monitoring recent use of the first selection area;

adjusting the first size to a third size and the second size to a fourth size based, at least in part, on the recent use of the first selection area, wherein adjusting the first size to the third size and the second size to the fourth size comprises;

increasing the size of the first selection area within the user interface; and

decreasing the size of the second selection area within the user interface.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein the recent use of the first selection area is based on menu selections provided via touch input.

20. One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the process of claim 18.