RADIAL CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140223373A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allscripts Software LLC (Veradigm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allscripts Healthcare LLC (Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reed, Christy Jill, McClure, Leigh Randal
• Granted Patent: US 9,569,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/823
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method includes displaying, to a user via an electronic display, a radial control comprising a plurality of concentric arcs, the radial control including a first central section defined by a first arc of the plurality of concentric arcs, and a plurality of child sections collectively defined by the first arc and the other arcs of the plurality of concentric arcs, the plurality of child sections being delineated from one another by dividers extending between two or more arcs of the plurality of concentric arcs, wherein the first central section is associated with a parent activity and each of the plurality of child sections is associated with a child activity related to the parent activity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) displaying, to a user via an electronic display,

(i) a first application interface, and

(ii) a radial control comprising a plurality of concentric arcs, the radial control including

(A) a first central section defined by a first arc of the plurality of concentric arcs, and

(B) a plurality of child sections collectively defined by the first arc and the other arcs of the plurality of concentric arcs, the plurality of child sections being delineated from one another by dividers extending between two or more arcs of the plurality of concentric arcs,

(C) wherein the first central section is associated with a parent activity and each of the plurality of child sections is associated with a child activity related to the parent activity;

(b) receiving, at an electronic device in electronic communication with the electronic display, user input from the user, the user input corresponding to selection of one of the child sections;

(c) displaying, to the user via the electronic display, in response to the user input corresponding to selection of one of the child sections,

(ii) a second application interface, the second application interface being associated with the child activity associated with the selected one of the child sections,

(ii) the radial control, wherein the selected one of the child sections is highlighted in indication of the user selection, whereby the user is able to discern a current activity based on viewing the radial control.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic display comprises a touchscreen display.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving user input from the user comprises receiving user input via the touchscreen display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a tablet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the selected one of the child sections is highlighted in indication of the user selection, the selected one of the child sections is highlighted by changing a color of the selected one of the child sections.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) determining that a predetermined period of time has passed without the displayed radial control having been utilized; and

(e) collapsing, based on the determination that a predetermined period of time has passed without the radial control having been utilized, the displayed radial control so as to reduce the size of the radial control and the footprint of the radial control on the display.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein collapsing the displayed radial control comprises reducing the distance between the plurality of concentric arcs of the radial control.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further includes

(a) receiving, at the electronic device, user input from the user, the user input corresponding to a touching of the radial control;

and

(b) expanding, in response to the receiving user input corresponding to a touching of the radial control, the radial control.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic display comprises a touchscreen display.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving user input from the user comprises receiving user input via the touchscreen display.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein, when the selected one of the child sections is highlighted in indication of the user selection, the selected one of the child sections is highlighted by changing a color of the selected one of the child sections.

5-6. -6. (canceled)

13-15. -15. (canceled)

17-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method for navigating within an application comprising:

displaying a control radial and a current activity, the control radial including a parent activity and at least one child activity, wherein each of the at least one child activity is related to the parent activity;

determining the current activity; and

highlighting the parent activity or child activity on the control radial associated with the current activity.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

detecting an activity selection by the user; and

displaying the selected activity and the control radial.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the selected activity is the parent activity or one of the at least one child activity displayed on the radial control.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the at least one child activity are displayed surrounding the parent activity.

22. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. A computing device comprising:

a processor for allowing a user to navigate within an application and controlling a the display of a control radial, the control radial including a parent activity and at least one child activity; and

a display for displaying a current activity and the control radial in response to the processor.

29. The computing device of claim 28, wherein the processor detects and activity selection by the user and forwards a display signal to the display to display the selected activity.

30. The computing device of claim 29, wherein the processor forwards a highlight signal to the display to highlight the parent activity or child activity associated with the current activity.

31. The computing device of claim 28, wherein each of the at least one child activity are displayed surrounding the parent activity.

32. The computing device of claim 28, wherein each of the at least one child activity is related to the parent activity.

33-34. -34. (canceled)