DEVICE NAVIGATION ICON AND SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

• US 20130145322A1
• Filed: 11/02/2012
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hendricks Investment Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Hendricks Investment Holdings LLC
• Inventors: HENDRICKS, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,405,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/834
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• 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

Abstract

Three-dimensional interactive icons and other mechanisms, methods, and systems for easing user selection of information, such as may be presented on screens or other interfaces of devices, such as tablet, telephone and other hand-held devices, and personal computers (PCs).

Claims

1. A three dimensional interactive navigational screen icon for use with a device having a processor and a screen display, the interactive navigational screen icon comprising:

a plurality of facets arranged about at least one perimeter aspect of the icon, at least one of the plurality of facets providing a viewable and selectable image;

the plurality of facets being arranged such that at least one border of each facet is contiguous with at least one border of another facet;

wherein the plurality of facets form an icon that is at least one of slidable and rotatable to display one or more of the plurality of facets; and

wherein selection of the at least one of the plurality of facets provides access to information associated therewith.

2. The screen icon of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of facets form a polyhedron; and

each of the plurality of facets constitute a two-dimensional portion of the polyhedron.

3. The screen icon of claim 1, wherein the facets are displayed on a screen of at least one of a computer, a personal digital assistant and a smart device.

4. The screen icon of claim 1, wherein at least one end facet is viewable and selectable to perform at least one from a group consisting of:

providing a viewable and selectable image to provide access to information associated therewith;

providing a partitioned image having separately selectable partition sections, to provide varying selection options for additional facets; and

providing expansion options for the icon.

5. The screen icon of claim 1, wherein the selection of the at least one of the plurality of facets results in a display of one selected from a group consisting of a new window, a pop-up window, and a secondary multifaceted three-dimensional icon, the selection providing data associated with the selected facet.

6. The screen icon of claim 1, wherein one or more menus may be displayed on the screen upon selection of the at least one of the plurality of facets.

7. The screen icon of claim 1, wherein the selection of the at least one of the plurality of facets comprises rotating the screen icon to display the selected facet at a central portion of the screen.

8. The screen icon of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of facets comprises high-level data; and

the selection of the at least one of the plurality of facets results in a display of lower-level data related to the high-level data.

9. The screen icon of claim 5, wherein:

the selection of a facet is performed by a user urging the facet; and

the display of one selected from a group consisting of a new window, a pop-up window, and a secondary multifaceted three-dimensional icon is determined by a frequency at which the facet is urged by the user.

10. The screen icon of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of facets are configured to control one or more external devices.

11. The screen icon of claim 10, wherein the one or more external devices comprise one or more selected of a group consisting of household devices and audio/visual devices.

21. The screen icon of claim 1, wherein when one of the plurality of facets provides one or more presentations having questions, additional facets are displayed upon a user answering a percentage of the questions correctly.

22. The screen icon of claim 21, wherein one or more selection options are displayed to the user to allow the user to proceed to a later stage on a presentation.

12. A method of screen navigation on a device having a processor and a screen using a three dimensional interactive screen icon having a plurality of facets, the plurality of facets being arranged such that at least one border of each facet is shared with at least one border of another facet, the method comprising:

presenting the icon in a first orientation;

receiving an input selection, the input selection being selected from a group consisting of selecting a facet of the icon, rotating the icon, pivoting the icon, expanding or contracting the icon, varying the icon interaction level, moving the icon in a direction, and navigating relative to the icon; and

performing the received input selection, the performing including performing a computer function via the processor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein performing the received input selection comprises displaying at least one selected from a group consisting of another facet, a display window, a pop-up window, and a secondary multifaceted three-dimensional icon.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein performing the received input selection comprises at least one of:

providing a viewable and selectable image to provide access to information associated therewith;

providing a partitioned image having separately selectable partition sections, to provide varying selection options for additional facets; and

providing expansion options for the icon.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of facets comprises high-level data; and

performing the received input selection comprises displaying lower-level data related to the high-level data.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

receiving the input selection is performed by a user urging the facet; and

displaying one selected from a group consisting of another facet, a display window, a pop-up window, and a secondary multifaceted three-dimensional icon based on a frequency at which the facet is urged by the user.

17. A system for screen navigation using a three dimensional interactive screen icon having a plurality of facets, the plurality of facets being arranged such that all borders of each facet are shared with other facets, the system comprising:

a processor;

a user interface functioning via the processor; and

a repository accessible by the processor;

wherein the processor, user interface, and repository are configured to interoperate such that;

the icon is presented in a first orientation;

an input selection is received, the input selection being selected from a group consisting of selecting a facet, rotating the icon, pivoting the icon, expanding or contracting the icon, varying the icon interaction level, and navigating relative to the icon; and

the received input selection is performed, the performed input selection comprising a computer operation.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the processor is housed on a terminal selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a main frame computer, a microcomputer, a hand held device, and a telephonic device; and

the processor is coupled to a server selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a microcomputer, and a main frame computer; and

the server is coupled to a network.

19. A system for screen navigation using a three dimensional interactive screen icon having a plurality of facets, the plurality of facets being arranged such that at least one border of each facet is contiguous with at least one border of another facet, the system comprising:

means for presenting the icon in a first orientation;

means for receiving an input selection, the input selection being selected from a group consisting of selecting a facet, rotating the icon, pivoting the icon, expanding or contracting the icon, varying the icon interaction level, and navigating relative to the icon; and

means for performing the received input selection.

20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to perform screen navigation using a three dimensional interactive screen icon having a plurality of facets, the plurality of facets being arranged such that at least one border of each facet is contiguous with at least one border of another facet, the control logic comprising:

computer readable program code means for presenting the icon in a first orientation;

computer readable program code means for receiving an input selection, the input selection being selected from a group consisting of selecting a facet, rotating the icon, pivoting the icon, expanding or contracting the icon, varying the icon interaction level, and navigating relative to the icon; and

computer readable program code means for performing the received input selection.