AUTO-POSITIONING A CONTEXT MENU ON A GUI

• US 20100251175A1
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: HAMBRIGHT, ERIC PRATT, BRUNKHORST, RICHARD ADAM, DUQUENE, JOEL
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/811
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for positioning a context menu on a Graphical User Interface (GUI) are presented. A cursor over a selected element on the GUI is clicked to display a context window. When scrolling to a chosen option within the context window occurs, the entire context menu moves, thus keeping the selected element aligned next to a scrolled-to option in the context window.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of controlling a view of a context menu on a Graphical User Interface (GUI), the computer-implemented method comprising:

executing instructions on a specific processor, wherein the instructions, when executed, perform a process comprising;

receiving a primary element selection signal, wherein the primary element selection signal indicates a selection of a selected primary element on a GUI;

in response to receiving a context menu calling signal, displaying a context menu that is associated with the selected primary element; and

in response to receiving a scrolling signal that indicates that a user is scrolling through options in the context menu, repositioning the context menu to keep the selected primary element visually aligned next to a current scrolled-to option in the context menu.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selected primary element is displayed in a pane on the GUI, and wherein the pane is repositioned during user scrolling, wherein the selected primary element remains visually aligned next to the current scrolled-to option in the context menu by a combination of repositioning both the pane and the context menu during the user scrolling.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving a selection signal for the current scrolled-to option, executing the current scrolled-to option.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining which context menu option is a most significant context menu option; and

in response to the context menu being displayed on the GUI, automatically visually aligning the most significant context menu option next to the selected primary element on the GUI.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the most significant context menu option is a most frequently used option from the context menu.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the most significant context menu option is a most recently used option from the context menu.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein all context menu options in the context menu retain their original order after being visually aligned.

8. A computer-readable storage medium on which is encoded a computer program, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:

first program instructions for receiving a primary element selection signal, wherein the primary element selection signal indicates a selection of a selected primary element on a GUI;

second program instructions for, in response to receiving a context menu calling signal, displaying a context menu that is associated with the selected primary element; and

third program instructions for, in response to receiving a scrolling signal that indicates that a user is scrolling through options in the context menu, repositioning the context menu to keep the selected primary element visually aligned next to a current scrolled-to option in the context menu.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the selected primary element is displayed in a pane on the GUI, and wherein the pane is repositioned during user scrolling, wherein the selected primary element remains visually aligned next to the current scrolled-to option in the context menu by a combination of repositioning both the pane and the context menu during the user scrolling.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising:

fourth program instructions for determining which context menu option is a most significant context menu option; and

fifth program instructions for, in response to the context menu being displayed on the GUI, automatically visually aligning the most significant context menu option next to the selected primary element on the GUI.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the most significant context menu option is a most recently used option from the context menu.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the most significant context menu option is a most frequently used option from the context menu.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein all context menu options in the context menu retain their original order after being visually aligned.

14. A system comprising:

a processor, a computer readable memory, and a computer readable storage media;

first program instructions for receiving a primary element selection signal, wherein the primary element selection signal indicates a selection of a selected primary element on a GUI;

second program instructions for, in response to receiving a context menu calling signal, displaying a context menu that is associated with the selected primary element; and

third program instructions for, in response to receiving a scrolling signal that indicates that a user is scrolling through options in the context menu, repositioning the context menu to keep the selected primary element visually aligned next to a current scrolled-to option in the context menu, and wherein

said first, second, and third program instructions are stored on said computer readable storage media for execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the selected primary element is displayed in a pane on the GUI, and wherein the pane is repositioned during user scrolling, wherein the selected primary element remains visually aligned next to the current scrolled-to option in the context menu by a combination of repositioning both the pane and the context menu during the user scrolling.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

fourth program instructions for determining which context menu option is a most significant context menu option; and

fifth program instructions for in response to the context menu being displayed on the GUI, automatically visually aligning the most significant context menu option next to the selected primary element on the GUI, wherein said fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on said computer readable storage media for execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the most significant context menu option is a most frequently used option from the context menu.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the most significant context menu option is a most recently used option from the context menu.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein all context menu options in the context menu retain their original order after being visually aligned.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the program instructions are downloaded from a software deploying server to the system in an on-demand basis.