Radial graphical menuing system

• US 5,790,820 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nancy Weyl, Vayda, Mark
• Original Assignee: Nancy Weyl, Vayda, Mark
• Inventors: Vayda, Mark, Weyl, Nancy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Cliff N.
• Application Number:
  US08/486,237
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 395/156, 395/161, 395/157, 395/352, 395/353, 395/348, 345/146, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 715/834
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A menuing system which simplifies the interaction required between a user and one or more application programs. Menu commands are displayed radially from a highlighter default position and a user may select one of these commands by moving the highlighter a slight distance in the direction of the desired command ("snapping"). Provision is also made for selection of multiple command elements through the use of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal menus as well as command quadrants formed by the menus. In all instances, menu characteristics such as command sizes may be varied by the user through an easily accessible set-up facility. The speed of execution is limited only by the user'"'"'s mind.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a processor means;

a program memory means, coupled to the processor means, for storing programs executed by the processor means;

a display means, coupled to the processor means, for displaying images under control of the programs executed by the processor means;

the programs stored in the program memory including at least one menu driven program for creating a graphical display on the display means;

a menu generating means, cooperating with the at least one menu driven program, for displaying at least one menu on the display means;

each menu comprising a focus position and a plurality of radially distributed command selectors located along predetermined radii from the focus position, each command selector permitting selection of a command to be executed;

a user input means, connected to the processor means, for providing signals indicative of movement of the user input means;

a highlighter;

wherein the menu generating means receives the signals indicative of movement of the user selection means and moves the highlighter in a corresponding direction from the focus position; and

,

wherein movement of the highlighter toward one of the plurality of radially distributed command selectors selects the command corresponding to that command selector.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the menu generating means superimposes the menu over the graphical display generated by the at least one menu driven program.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the graphical display has a center and the focus position of the menu is placed over the center of the graphical display.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the menu generating means further positions a highlighter in the focus position of the menu.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the movement of the highlighter that selects the command is a snap.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the menu generating means is responsive to the user input means to generate the menu.

7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the user input means comprises at least one button and wherein the menu generating means generates the menu when the user clicks one of the buttons.

8. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the menu generating means erases the menu upon selection of a command.

9. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the menu is translucent.

10. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the menu generating means displays the menu during execution of the command.

11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the selected command is a two step command comprising an initiating command and a completion command, wherein the menu comprises at least one initiating command and at least one completion command and wherein the menu generating means displays the menu from the time the initiating command is activated until a completion command has been selected and activated.

12. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the user input means is a mouse.

13. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the user input means is an eraser mouse.

14. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the user input means is a touch mouse.

15. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the commands comprise special commands and wherein execution of the command occurs when the command is snapped and a confirmation action is performed by the user.

16. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the menu driven program is a word processing program.

17. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the menu driven program is a spreadsheet program.

18. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the command selectors are disposed in command sectors which are graphically represented by a shape.

19. The computer system of claim 14 wherein adjacent command sectors share at least one outwardly extending edge.

20. The computer system of claim 1 wherein each menu consists essentially of a menu icon.

21. The computer system of claim 20 wherein each command selector is graphically represented in a portion of the menu icon.

22. The computer system of claim 21 wherein the portions within the menu icon comprise command icons.

23. The computer system of claim 20 wherein different menus are represented by different menu icons.

24. The computer system of claim 22 wherein different command selectors are represented by different command icons.

25. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising means for "PARK"ing a command such that the command becomes a permanent resident key.

26. The computer system of claim 25 further comprising a drag PARK key for permitting a cursor in the graphical display generated by the at least one menu driven program to be dragged within that graphical display.

27. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the amount of movement of the user input means necessary for user input means to provide an indicating signal.

28. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the menu responsive to the user input means.

29. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the size of the menu.

30. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the opaquity of the menu.

31. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the number of commands presented on a menu.

32. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the number of commands presented on along a radius of a menu.

33. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the means for adjusting accepts a default menu which is presented by the menu generating means.

34. The computer system of claim 33 wherein the means for adjusting accepts input regarding a command which is to be included in the default menu.

35. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the means for adjusting adjusts features of menus which match the level of experience and physical ability of the user.

36. The computer system of claim 1 wherein at least one radius has a plurality of commands distributed there along.

37. The computer system of claim 36 wherein selection of each command is effected by snapping along the radius to the desired command.

38. The computer system of claim 36 wherein selection of each command is effected by corresponding movement of the user input means along the radius.

39. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the command selectors comprise executable command selectors and menu indicators.

40. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the command selectors comprise executable command selectors and menu indicators and wherein the menu generating means is responsive to selection of a menu indicator through the user input means to generate a menu corresponding to the menu indicator.

41. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the radii along which the command selectors are disposed are separated by at least about 45 degrees.

42. The computer system of claim 1 wherein help on a command may be executed by snapping beyond the command selector corresponding to that command.

43. The computer system of claim 40 wherein every movement of the user input means selects a command or menu indicator in the menu.

44. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the command selectors represent an alphanumeric character to be input.

45. A method of operating a computer system on which a menu driven program for creating a graphical display on a display is operated comprising the steps of:

generating a menu comprising a focus position, a highlighter, and a plurality of radially distributed command selectors located along predetermined radii from the focus position, each command selector permitting selection of a command to be executed, the highlighter being presented substantially at the focus position;

inputting a direction indicative signal from a user;

moving a highlighter from the focus position in a direction corresponding to the direction indicative signal; and

selecting the radially distributed command selector located along the predetermined radius most closely correlated with direction of the direction indicative signal.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of moving a highlighter is a snap.