Method of navigating among program menus using a graphical menu tree
First Claim
1. A method for the interactive visual presentation in graphical form of the menu hierarchy of one or more computer programs on one or more computer systems and navigation from one menu in the hierarchy to another comprising the steps of:
- while displaying a menu in a currently active computer program, monitoring a user input requesting the display of a menu hierarchy, and in response to said input, displaying the menu hierarchy of said currently active computer program in a graphical tree structure;
highlighting in the graphical tree structure the menu displayed at the time the user requested the display of the menu hierarchy; and
monitoring the position of a pointing device on said graphical tree structure and, in response to a selection by a user input, performing an operation on a menu in said hierarchy at the position of said pointing device.
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Abstract
The menu hierarchy of one or more computer programs on one or more computer systems is visually displayed in a graphical tree structure to facilitate the navigation by a user from one menu in a hierarchical structure of menus to another. Navigation from one menu to another is accomplished by selecting a menu in the graphical menu tree using a pointing device. The navigation may be from one menu to another in the hierarchy of one application program in a computer system or from one menu in the program to a specific menu in the hierarchy of another application program in the computer system or in another computer system. The benefits of the technique are expanded function for intra and interwindow navigation, enhanced learning of the computer system by visual presentation of capabilities and structure, and reduced learning requirements for the user to achieve navigation.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for the interactive visual presentation in graphical form of the menu hierarchy of one or more computer programs on one or more computer systems and navigation from one menu in the hierarchy to another comprising the steps of:
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while displaying a menu in a currently active computer program, monitoring a user input requesting the display of a menu hierarchy, and in response to said input, displaying the menu hierarchy of said currently active computer program in a graphical tree structure; highlighting in the graphical tree structure the menu displayed at the time the user requested the display of the menu hierarchy; and monitoring the position of a pointing device on said graphical tree structure and, in response to a selection by a user input, performing an operation on a menu in said hierarchy at the position of said pointing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification