RADIAL MENUS WITH BEZEL GESTURES

• US 20110209093A1
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hinckley, Kenneth P., Yatani, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 9,367,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/834
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Bezel gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, the bezel of a device is used to extend functionality that is accessible through the use of so-called bezel gestures. In at least some embodiments, off-screen motion can be used, by virtue of the bezel, to create screen input through a bezel gesture. Bezel gestures can include single-finger bezel gestures, multiple-finger/same-hand bezel gestures, and/or multiple-finger, different-hand bezel gestures.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting a bezel menu on a device;

providing an indication of one or more radial menus associated with the bezel menu;

receiving user input associated with one of the radial menus; and

accessing, responsive to the user input, a functionality associated with the radial menu.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication appears on a slot or icon of the bezel menu.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising prior to receiving the user input, presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a touch and stroke in a particular direction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving is performed without visually presenting the radial menu.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising prior to receiving the user input, presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received, wherein the radial menu includes visual indicia associated with different functionalities or commands.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising prior to receiving the user input, presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received, wherein the presenting is performed responsive to a hover input over or near the indication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of options presented by a radial menu varies depending on a location of a corresponding slot or icon of the bezel menu with which the radial menu is associated.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one radial menu is associated with an exposable drawer associated with the bezel menu.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more radial menus are implemented to include a novice mode in which radial menus are visually presented in order to enable access to associated functionalities or commands, and an expert mode in which radial menus are not visually presented in order to enable access to associated functionalities or commands.

11. One or more computer readable storage media comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed, implement a method comprising:

presenting a bezel menu;

providing an indication of one or more radial menus associated with the bezel menu;

receiving user input associated with one of the radial menus; and

accessing, responsive to the user input, a functionality associated with the radial menu.

12. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the indication appears on a slot or icon of the bezel menu.

13. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 11 further comprising prior to receiving the user input, presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received.

14. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the user input comprises a touch and stroke in a particular direction.

15. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the receiving is performed without visually presenting the radial menu.

16. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 11 further comprising prior to receiving the user input, presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received, wherein the radial menu includes visual indicia associated with different functionalities or commands.

17. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 11 further comprising prior to receiving the user input, presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received, wherein the presenting is performed responsive to a hover operation over or near the indication.

18. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 11, wherein a number of options presented by a radial menu varies depending on a location of a corresponding slot or icon of the bezel menu with which the radial menu is associated.

19. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 11, wherein at least one radial menu is associated with an exposable drawer associated with the bezel menu.

20. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the one or more radial menus are implemented to include a novice mode in which radial menus are visually presented in order to enable access to associated functionalities or commands, and an expert mode in which radial menus are not visually presented in order to enable access to associated functionalities or commands.