Tree form menu display for a data processing system

• US 5,621,905 A
• Filed: 10/08/1993
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jewson, Michael A., Beaven, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAUHAN, ULKA J
• Application Number:
  US08/134,196
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-166, 395/600
• US Class Current: 715/841
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A data processing system displays options for selection by a user as a hierarchical tree form diagram. When a user indicates his first selected option to the data processing system it calculates what further selections are and are not available as a result of the selected option. It then modifies the display to show the options which are available for selection and those which are not. A selection list is stored and updated by the data processing system and the options input by the user are executed when the selection list is complete.

Claims

1. A data processing system comprising:

means for processing electric signals representative of options for selection by a user of the data processing system;

means for presenting the options as a hierarchical tree form diagram within a single window on a display screen of the data processing system;

means responsive to user input for signalling a first option selected to the processing means;

programmed means for calculating which further selections are available and which further selections are not available as a result of the selected option, the further selections being dependent on the first option;

means for modifying the display screen to display what further options are and are not available for selection;

a memory for storing a selection list of each selection input by a user;

programmed means for calculating whether or not the selection list is complete;

means, responsive to the selection list calculating means, for indicating on the display screen whether or not the selection list is complete; and

means for processing the options input by a user when the selection list is complete.

2. A data processing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein selections may be made from the tree form diagram in any order.

3. A data processing system as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2, further comprising:

means for calculating what selections are mandatory as a result of a previous selection; and

means for indicating the mandatory selections on the screen.

4. A data processing system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising means for indicating the most recent selection input by a user.

5. A method, performed in a data processing system, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

processing electric signals representative of options for selection by a user of the data processing system;

presenting the options as a hierarchical tree form diagram within a single window on a display screen of the data processing system;

in response to user input, signalling a first option selected to the processing means;

calculating which further selections are available and which further selections are not available as a result of the selected option, the further selections being dependent on the first option;

modifying the display screen to display what further options are and are not available for selection;

storing a selection list of each selection input by a user;

calculating whether or not the selection list is complete;

in response to the calculation of whether or not selection list is complete, indicating on the display screen whether or not the selection list is complete; and

processing the options input by a user when the selection list is complete.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein selections may be made from the tree form diagram in any order.

7. A method as claimed in any of claims 5 or 6, further comprising:

means for calculating what selections are mandatory as a result of a previous selection; and

means for indicating the mandatory selections on the screen.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising means for indicating the most recent selection input by a user.