Multi-Axis Navigation

• US 20110234504A1
• Filed: 06/23/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Barnett, Donald A., Law, Veronica Y.
• Granted Patent: US 8,957,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time

Abstract

Multi-axis navigation techniques are described. In implementations, a user interface is output by a computing device, the user interface includes a first axis and a second axis that include parameters that are navigable via one or more gestures. One or more items are chosen by the computing device for concurrent display with the first and second axes that correspond to a first one of the parameters of the first axis and a second one of the parameters of the second axis.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

outputting a user interface by a computing device, the user interface including a first axis and a second axis that include parameters that are navigable via one or more gestures; and

choosing one or more items by the computing device for concurrent display with the first and second axes that correspond to a first said parameter of the first axis and a second said parameter of the second axis.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the first axis is arranged in the user interface as generally perpendicular to the second axis.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the first and second said parameters are selected via the one or more gestures.

4. A method as described in claim 3, wherein the one or more gestures include a drag gesture.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the first said parameter and the second said parameter reference a point in time and the one or more items correspond to the point in time.

6. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the point in time is a particular day, week, or month.

7. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the one or more items correspond to the point in time by being created at that point in time.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the items is selectable to cause an output of the item.

9. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more items are representations of images, media, video, or songs.

10. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more items are representations of email or text messages.

11. A method comprising:

recognizing one or more inputs as selecting a first one of a plurality of parameters in a first axis and a second one of a plurality of parameters in a second axis in a user interface output by a computing device using one or more gestures, the first axis arranged in the user interface as generally perpendicular to the second axis; and

outputting one or more items in the user interface that correspond the first and second parameters.

12. A method as described in claim 11, wherein parameters in the first axis specify months and parameters in the second axis specify years.

13. A method as described in claim 11, wherein at least one of the items is selectable to cause an output of the item.

14. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the one or more gestures include a drag gesture.

15. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the outputting is performed in real time as parameters in the first or second axis are scrolled using the one or more gestures.

16. A computing device comprising:

a housing;

a display device disposed on the housing; and

one or more modules disposed within the housing, the one or more modules configured to display a user interface on the display device, the user interface including a first axis and a second axis that include parameters;

that are navigable via one or more gestures detected via touchscreen functionality of the computing device;

that are positioned as generally perpendicular, one or another; and

that are selectable via the gestures to cause output of items in the user interface that correspond to the parameters.

17. A computing device as described in claim 16, wherein the first said parameter and the second said parameter reference a point in time and the one or more items correspond to the point in time.

18. A computing device as described in claim 17, wherein the point in time is a particular day, week, or month.

19. A computing device as described in claim 16, wherein the outputting is performed in real time as parameters in the first or second axis are scrolled using the one or more gestures.

20. A computing device as described in claim 16, wherein the one or more gestures include a drag gesture.