Menu control in a graphical user interface
First Claim
1. A graphical user interface menu control system for configuring and accessing menu items that control operation of a computer application, comprising:
- (a) a menubar comprising a persistent menubar view for displaying a plurality of menu categories or menu items, wherein(a1) each menu category comprises at least one menu item displayed in a pull-down menu when a user selects the menu category, and(a2) when the user selects the menu item, a corresponding command is executed by the computer application; and
(b) a hyperbutton comprising(b1) a pop-up menu comprising at least one of the menu items, the pop-up menu being displayed when the user sends a first control signal to the computer application, and(b2) a default menu item selected from the menu items of the pop-up menu, wherein the command corresponding to the default menu item is executed when the user sends a second control signal to the computer application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a graphical user interface (GUI) for a personal computer system, an improved method and apparatus for accessing and executing commands associated with user applications. In addition to the standard menu categories of a menubar and control icons of a tool bar, the present invention provides a "hyperbutton", a "context sensitive pop-up menu" and a "menu control editor". A hyperbutton displays, in a persistent subview, a user selected default hyperitem from the hyperitems of the menubar. The default hyperitem is automatically executed when selected by the user with a mouse. The hyperbutton displays a title of the default hyperitem. The user can change the default hyperitem using a pop-up menu displayed in response to an interface command such as a right mouse button. A context sensitive pop-up menu is associated with a particular object such as a grid subview. The user configures the context sensitive pop-up menu to contain a custom set of the hyperitems associated with the object. A hyperitem editor allows the user to configure the hyperbutton and context sensitive pop-up menu by defining the associated hyperitems and their attributes.
340 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A graphical user interface menu control system for configuring and accessing menu items that control operation of a computer application, comprising:
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(a) a menubar comprising a persistent menubar view for displaying a plurality of menu categories or menu items, wherein (a1) each menu category comprises at least one menu item displayed in a pull-down menu when a user selects the menu category, and (a2) when the user selects the menu item, a corresponding command is executed by the computer application; and (b) a hyperbutton comprising (b1) a pop-up menu comprising at least one of the menu items, the pop-up menu being displayed when the user sends a first control signal to the computer application, and (b2) a default menu item selected from the menu items of the pop-up menu, wherein the command corresponding to the default menu item is executed when the user sends a second control signal to the computer application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling a menu system in a graphical user interface for configuring and accessing hyperitems that control operation of a computer application, comprising the steps of:
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(a) persistently displaying a menubar comprising a plurality of hypercategories or hyperitems, each hypercategory comprising at least one hyperitem; (b) displaying the hyperitem of a hypercategory in a pull-down menu when the user selects the hypercategory; (c) executing an application command corresponding to the hyperitem when the user selects the hyperitem; (d) persistently displaying a title of a hyperbutton, the title corresponding to a default hyperitem; (e) displaying a pop-up menu comprising at least one of the hyperitems when the user sends a first control signal, associated with the hyperbutton, to the computer application; (f) selecting the default hyperitem from the pop-up menu; and (g) executing the default hyperitem when the user sends a second control signal associated with the hyperbutton to the computer application.
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12. A graphical user interface menu control system for configuring and accessing hyperitems that control operation of a computer application, comprising:
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(a) a menubar comprising a persistent menubar view for displaying a plurality of hypercategories or hyperitems, wherein; (a1) each hypercategory comprises at least one hyperitem displayed when a user selects the hypercategory; and (a2) when the user selects the hyperitem, a corresponding command is executed by the computer application; (b) a modal dialog for implementing a hyperitem editor comprising; (b1) a means for selectively inserting a hyperitem into a hypercategory; and (b2) a means for selectively inserting a hypercategory into the menubar. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a graphical user interface, a method of configuring and accessing hyperitems that control operation of a computer application, comprising the steps of:
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(a) persistently displaying a menubar comprising a plurality of hypercategories or hyperitems, each hypercategory comprising at least one hyperitem; (b) displaying a hyperitem of a hypercategory in a pull-down menu when a user selects the hypercategory; (c) executing an application command corresponding to the hyperitem if the user selects the hyperitem; (d) displaying a modal dialog for implementing a hyperitem editor; and (e) selectively inserting a hyperitem into a hypercategory using the menu control editor.
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18. A graphical button, displayed on a display device of a computer system, for controlling the operation of a computer application program operating within the computer system, the graphical button comprising:
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a title view area for displaying a command name; a navigating icon area for displaying a navigating icon; a pop-up menu comprising at least one menu item that is also displayed within a menubar, wherein the menubar is displayed within the display device and separate from the graphical button, the pop-up menu being displayed when the user selects the navigating icon; and a default menu item previously selected from the menu items of the pop-up menu, wherein a name of the default menu item is displayed within the title view area, and further wherein a command corresponding to the default menu item is executed when the user selects the title view area; wherein when the user selects an item from the pop-up menu, a command corresponding to the selected item is executed, and the item selected becomes the default menu item whose name is displayed within the title view area. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification