RADIAL MENU SELECTION WITH GESTURES

• US 20100251180A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic)
• Inventors: Cragun, Brian J., Rapp, William C., Erickson, Bradley J., Fork, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,468,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/834
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• 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

Embodiments of the invention are generally related to graphical user interfaces (GUIs), and more specifically to selecting items from a radial menu. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide a complex set of gestures which, when performed using a screen pointer, facilitate fast and accurate selection of radial menu items from a radial menu. The gestures may generally involve a first movement of the screen pointer to activate a desired radial menu item, and a second predefined movement of the screen pointer within a predefined selection zone to select the radial menu item.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a menu item from a radial menu, comprising:

receiving a predefined screen pointer event;

in response to receiving the predefined screen pointer event, displaying the radial menu on a display screen;

receiving a first gesture of the screen pointer, wherein the first gesture activates at least a first menu item;

receiving a predefined second gesture of the screen pointer from a set of available gestures; and

in response to receiving the predefined second gesture, executing a function associated with the activated first menu item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gesture activates a second menu item, the method further comprising:

receiving a predefined third gesture; and

in response to receiving the predefined third gesture, executing a function associated with the activated second menu item.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the radial menu for a predefined period of time after receiving the predefined second gesture;

receiving a predefined fourth gesture during the predefined period of time;

in response to receiving the predefined fourth gesture, reversing execution of the function associated with the activated first menu item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the display screen is a monitor and the screen pointer is a mouse pointer operated by one of a mouse and a trackball.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the display screen is a touch screen and the screen pointer comprises one of a stylus pen and a human finger.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gesture places the screen pointer over the menu item in the radial menu.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, providing a visual indication in the radial menu identifying the menu item as an active menu time in response to receiving the first gesture.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gesture comprises moving the screen pointer in at least a first direction and the second gesture comprises moving the screen pointer in at least a second direction different from the first direction.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, closing the radial menu in response to receiving the predefined second gesture.

10. A computer readable storage medium comprising a program product which, when executed by a processor is configured to perform an operation for selecting a menu item from a radial menu, the operation comprising:

receiving a predefined screen pointer event;

in response to receiving the predefined screen pointer event, displaying the radial menu on a display screen;

receiving a first gesture of the screen pointer, wherein the first gesture activates the menu item;

receiving a predefined second gesture of the screen pointer from a set of available gestures; and

in response to receiving the predefined second gesture executing a function associated with the activated menu item.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first gesture activates a second menu item, the operation further comprising:

receiving a predefined third gesture; and

in response to receiving the predefined third gesture, executing a function associated with the activated second menu item.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the display screen is a monitor and the screen pointer is a mouse pointer operated by one of a mouse and a trackball.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the display screen is a touch screen and the screen pointer comprises one of a stylus pen and a human finger.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first gesture places the screen pointer over the menu item in the radial menu.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operation further comprises providing a visual indication in the radial menu identifying the menu item as an active menu time in response to receiving the first gesture.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first gesture comprises moving the screen pointer in at least a first direction and the second gesture comprises moving the screen pointer in at least a second direction different from the first direction.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising, closing the radial menu in response to receiving the predefined second gesture.

18. A system, comprising:

a memory comprising a program; and

a processor which, when executing the program, is configured to;

receive a predefined screen pointer event;

in response to receiving the predefined screen pointer event, display a radial menu on a display screen;

receive a first gesture of the screen pointer, wherein the first gesture activates a menu item in the radial menu;

receive a predefined second gesture of the screen pointer from a set of available gestures; and

in response to receiving the predefined second gesture, execute a function associated with the activated menu item.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the display screen is a monitor and the screen pointer is a mouse pointer operated by one of a mouse and a trackball.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the display screen is a touch screen and the screen pointer comprises one of a stylus pen and a human finger.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the first gesture places the screen pointer over the menu item in the radial menu.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a visual indication in the radial menu identifying the menu item as an active menu time in response to receiving the first gesture.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the first gesture comprises moving the screen pointer in at least a first direction and the second gesture comprises moving the screen pointer in at least a second direction different from the first direction.