Dynamic hierarchical selection menu
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a computer system having a display screen, a user interface mechanism for hierarchical menu selections comprising:
- a zoned menu control window including a first zone displaying indicators representing a plurality of selection levels in a menu hierarchy, and a second zone having contents comprising a displayed list of selection options for one of said selection levels;
means for entering an option selected from said displayed list of selection options;
means for refreshing the contents of the second zone by replacing the displayed list of selection options with a second list of selection options for a different selection level in response to entry of an option selected from said displayed list of selection options; and
registration means for implementing a computer task on selection of options for all selection levels in the menu hierarchy.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control window for navigating and implementing menu selections in a multiple level hierarchical menu is provided having a first zone displaying a list of the selection levels and a second zone displaying a list of the selection options within a selection level. The second zone is refreshed with selections for another selection level in the menu hierarchy in response to a user implementation or registration of a selection option at the originally displayed selection level. Preset default settings in all selection levels permit the user to implement a "fast path" hierarchical menu selection.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. In a computer system having a display screen, a user interface mechanism for hierarchical menu selections comprising:
-
a zoned menu control window including a first zone displaying indicators representing a plurality of selection levels in a menu hierarchy, and a second zone having contents comprising a displayed list of selection options for one of said selection levels; means for entering an option selected from said displayed list of selection options; means for refreshing the contents of the second zone by replacing the displayed list of selection options with a second list of selection options for a different selection level in response to entry of an option selected from said displayed list of selection options; and registration means for implementing a computer task on selection of options for all selection levels in the menu hierarchy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of assembling and displaying a hierarchical selection menu on a computer display screen, comprising the computer implemented steps of:
-
creating a menu control window having at least a first and a second zone; displaying in the first zone of the control window, a plurality of indicators, each indicator representing a separate selection level in a menu hierarchy; displaying in the second zone of the control window, a list of selection options for one of said selection levels in the menu hierarchy; and in response to entry of an option from the displayed list of selection options, replacing the displayed list of selection options in the second zone with a second list of selection options for a different selection level in the menu hierarchy. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of assembling and displaying a hierarchical listing of menu selections made by a computer user, said method comprising:
-
displaying a menu control window having multiple zones; displaying within a first zone in said menu control window, a list of levels of the menu hierarchy; displaying within a second zone in said menu control window, a list of selection options for a highest level not yet selected in the menu hierarchy; displaying options previously selected for any selection level in the menu hierarchy; and refreshing the second zone with a new listing of selection options from all immediately inferior selection level in the menu hierarchy in response to a user selection from the second zone. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
-
20. A fast process for implementing selections through a menu hierarchy, comprising the computer implemented steps of:
-
setting default selection values for all selection levels in the menu hierarchy; creating a zoned menu control window;
displaying in a first zone of said control window a plurality of indicators, each indicator setting forth the default selection value for a separate selection level in the menu hierarchy;setting a movable default emphasis on one superior selection level having selection options; displaying in a second zone a list of selection options for a selection level subject to the default emphasis; and implementing a computer task in response to user registration of selection of options for all selection levels in the menu hierarchy.
-
Specification