USER INTERFACE FOR A COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20100333029A1
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Martin R., McKenna, Michael N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,719,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/834
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A computing device including a graphical user interface is described. The computing device comprises: a display; a display controller; and a graphical user interface controller. The graphical user interface controller is arranged to create a first and second cluster of associated menu options. The first cluster of associated menu options comprises: a first principal menu option and at least one first sub-ordinate menu option, smaller than the first principal menu option, and located on the periphery of the first principal menu option. The second cluster of associated menu options comprises: a second principal menu option and at least one second sub-ordinate menu option smaller than the second principal menu option, and located on the periphery of the second principal menu option. The graphical user interface controller is also arranged to enable a user (a) to decouple the first sub-ordinate menu option from the first principal menu option and (b) to couple the decoupled the first sub-ordinate menu option to the second principal menu option.

Claims

1. A computing device including a graphical user interface, the computing device comprising:

a display for rendering a graphical user interface;

a display controller coupled to the display for rendering graphical images thereon; and

a graphical user interface controller adapted

(i) to create;

(a) a first cluster of associated menu options, the first cluster comprising;

a first principal menu option and at least one first sub-ordinate menu option, each first sub-ordinate menu option being smaller than the first principal menu option, and located on the periphery of the first principal menu option; and

(b) a second cluster of associated menu options, the second cluster comprising;

a second principal menu option and at least one second sub-ordinate menu option, each second sub-ordinate menu option being smaller than the second principal menu option, and located on the periphery of the second principal menu option; and

(ii) to enable a user to

(a) decouple the first sub-ordinate menu option from the first principal menu option and

(b) couple the decoupled the first sub-ordinate menu option to the second principal menu option.

2. A computing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a touch-sensitive panel mounted in overlapping relationship with the display, and

a touch panel controller operable to provide a signal to the display controller indicative of a position on the touch-sensitive panel touched by a user.

3. A computing device according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface controller further comprises:

a usage monitor component arranged to monitor usage patterns of a user and create a new principal menu option and new sub-ordinate menu options associated therewith so that functions a user typically performs in association with other functions are automatically linked in the same menu cluster.

4. A computing device according to claim 1, wherein the computing device further comprises a touch-sensitive panel overlying the display and in registration therewith.

5. A graphical user interface for a computing device, the graphical user interface comprising:

a first principal menu option having a first size defined by a periphery of the first principal menu option;

at least one first sub-ordinate menu option having a size defined by a periphery of the first sub-ordinate menu option, the first sub-ordinate menu option size being smaller than the first principal menu option size, and the first sub-ordinate menu option being located in the vicinity of the periphery of the first principal menu option and associated therewith;

a second principal menu option having a size defined by a periphery of the second principal menu option;

at least one second sub-ordinate menu option having a size defined by a periphery of the second sub-ordinate menu option, the second sub-ordinate menu option size being smaller than the second principal menu option, and the second sub-ordinate menu option being located in the vicinity of the periphery of the second principal menu option and associated therewith;

wherein the first sub-ordinate menu option is operable to be moved by a user from the first principal menu option to the second principal menu option and thereafter to be located in the vicinity of the periphery of the second principal menu option rather than the first principal menu option and to be associated with the second principal menu option rather than the first principal menu option.

6. A graphical user interface according to claim 5, wherein the principal menu options comprise a shape that is generally circular.

7. A graphical user interface according to claim 6, wherein the principal menu options have a size larger than an end of a typical user'"'"'s finger to facilitate selection via a touch-sensitive panel overlying the computing device.

8. A graphical user interface according to claim 5, wherein the sub-ordinate menu options comprise a shape that is generally circular.

9. A graphical user interface according to claim 5, wherein the sub-ordinate menu options are located in partially overlapping relationship with their associated principal menu options.

10. A graphical user interface according to claim 5, wherein the sub-ordinate menu options have a size generally similar to that of an end of a typical user'"'"'s finger.

11. A graphical user interface according to claim 5, wherein the principal menu options implement a function on selection thereof by a user.

12. A graphical user interface according to claim 5, wherein the principal menu options comprise a label.

13. A graphical user interface for a computing device, the graphical user interface comprising:

a first cluster of associated menu options, the first cluster comprising;

a first principal menu option and at least one first sub-ordinate menu option, each first sub-ordinate menu option being smaller than the first principal menu option, and located on the periphery of the first principal menu option;

a second cluster of associated menu options, the second cluster comprising;

a second principal menu option and at least one second sub-ordinate menu option, each second sub-ordinate menu option being smaller than the second principal menu option, and located on the periphery of the second principal menu option;

wherein the first sub-ordinate menu option is operable to be decoupled by a user from the first principal menu option and coupled to the second principal menu option.