Method and apparatus for navigating displayed elements

• US 6,317,144 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Bergman, Eric, Kan, Yu-Tung, Narayanan, Venkatesh, Pabla, Kuldipsingh
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/201,436
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 345/334, 345/335, 345/340, 345/341, 345/353, 345/355, 345/356, 345/357, 345/765, 345/744, 345/781, 345/784, 345/841, 345/848, 345/853, 345/854
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

The invention is a method and apparatus for navigating displayed screen elements. In accordance an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of generating a reference anchor, accepting a navigation input from a user, and determining a next displayed element to be selected based on the user-entered navigation input and the positions of the displayed elements to the reference anchor.

Claims

1. A method of navigating one or more displayed elements, comprising:

generating a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

accepting user-entered navigation input; and

determining a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said one or more displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is in the horizontal direction;

adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in said horizontal direction, said adjusting said reference anchor comprising;

adjusting said reference anchor to the geometry of said selected displayed element when no overlapping condition exist;

adjusting said reference anchor when overlapping condition exist comprising;

changing the right and left values of said reference anchor to that of said selected displayed element;

adjusting top value of said reference anchor to the lowest of said selected displayed element top value and said reference anchor top value; and

adjusting bottom value of said reference anchor to the largest of said selected displayed element bottom value and said reference anchor bottom value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

3. A method of navigating one or more displayed elements, comprising:

generating a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

accepting user-entered navigation input; and

determining a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said one or more displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is in the vertical direction;

adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in said vertical direction, said adjusting said reference anchor comprising;

adjusting said reference anchor to the geometry of said selected displayed element when no overlapping condition exist;

adjusting said reference anchor when overlapping condition exist comprising;

changing the top and bottom values of said reference anchor to that of said selected displayed element;

adjusting left value of said reference anchor to the largest of said selected displayed element left value and said reference anchor left value; and

adjusting right value of said reference anchor to the lowest of said selected displayed element right value and said reference anchor right value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

5. A method of navigating one or more displayed elements, comprising:

generating a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

accepting user-entered navigation input; and

determining a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said one or more displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is horizontally left of said reference anchor;

adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is vertically above and closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list in order of closeness of bottom of said overlapping displayed elements to bottom of said reference anchor;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is horizontally closest to said reference anchor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

7. A method of navigating one or more displayed elements, comprising:

generating a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

accepting user-entered navigation input; and

determining a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said one or more displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is horizontally right of said reference anchor;

adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is vertically below and closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list in order of closeness of top of said overlapping displayed elements to top of said reference anchor;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is horizontally closest to said reference anchor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

9. A method of navigating one or more displayed elements, comprising:

generating a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

accepting user-entered navigation input; and

determining a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said one or more displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is vertically up of said reference anchor;

adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is both vertically and horizontally closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is vertically closest to said reference anchor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

11. A method of navigating one or more displayed elements, comprising:

generating a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

accepting user-entered navigation input; and

determining a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said one or more displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is vertically down of said reference anchor;

adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is both vertically and horizontally closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is vertically closest to said reference anchor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

13. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for navigating one or more displayed elements comprising;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to accept a user-entered navigation input; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is in the horizontal direction;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to adjust said reference anchor depending upon the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in said horizontal direction, said adjusting said reference anchor comprising;

adjusting said reference anchor to the geometry of said selected displayed element when no overlapping condition exist;

adjusting said reference anchor when overlapping condition exist comprising;

changing the right and left values of said reference anchor to that of said selected displayed element;

adjusting top value of said reference anchor to the lowest of said selected displayed element top value and said reference anchor top value; and

adjusting bottom value of said reference anchor to the largest of said selected displayed element bottom value and said reference anchor bottom value.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

15. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for navigating one or more displayed elements comprising;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to accept a user-entered navigation input; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is in the vertical direction;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to adjust said reference anchor depending upon the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in said vertical direction, said adjusting said reference anchor comprising;

adjusting said reference anchor to the geometry of said selected displayed element when no overlapping condition exist;

adjusting said reference anchor when overlapping condition exist comprising;

changing the top and bottom values of said reference anchor to that of said selected displayed element;

adjusting left value of said reference anchor to the largest of said selected displayed element left value and said reference anchor left value; and

adjusting right value of said reference anchor to the lowest of said selected displayed element right value and said reference anchor right value.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

17. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for navigating one or more displayed elements comprising;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to accept a user-entered navigation input; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is horizontally left of said reference anchor;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to adjust said reference anchor depending upon the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is vertically above and closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list in order of closeness of bottom of said overlapping displayed elements to bottom of said reference anchor;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is horizontally closest to said reference anchor.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

19. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for navigating one or more displayed elements comprising;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to accept a user-entered navigation input; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is horizontally right of said reference anchor;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to adjust said reference anchor depending upon the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is vertically below and closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list in order of closeness of top of said overlapping displayed elements to top of said reference anchor;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is horizontally closest to said reference anchor.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

21. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for navigating one or more displayed elements comprising;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to accept a user-entered navigation input; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is vertically up of said reference anchor;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to adjust said reference anchor depending upon the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is both vertically and horizontally closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is vertically closest to said reference anchor.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

23. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for navigating one or more displayed elements comprising;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a first list comprising one or more displayed elements;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to accept a user-entered navigation input; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine a displayed element to be selected from said first list of said one or more displayed elements based upon the position of said displayed elements to said reference anchor and the direction of said user-entered navigation input, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is vertically down of said reference anchor;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to adjust said reference anchor depending upon the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is both vertically and horizontally closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is vertically closest to said reference anchor.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

25. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a display screen;

a navigation system for navigating one or more displayed elements on said display screen generated by said processor, said navigation system comprising;

an anchor generator for generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

a list generator for generating a first list of said one or more displayed elements; and

a displayed element selector for selecting a displayed element from said first list based on the direction of a user-entered navigation input and the position of said reference anchor, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is in the horizontal direction, adjusting said reference anchor based upon said selected displayed element, said adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in said horizontal direction, said adjusting said reference anchor comprising;

adjusting said reference anchor to the geometry of said selected displayed element when no overlapping condition exist;

adjusting said reference anchor when overlapping condition exist comprising;

changing the right and left values of said reference anchor to that of said selected displayed element;

adjusting top value of said reference anchor to the lowest of said selected displayed element top value and said reference anchor top value; and

adjusting bottom value of said reference anchor to the largest of said selected displayed element bottom value and said reference anchor bottom value.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

27. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a display screen;

a navigation system for navigating one or more displayed elements on said display screen generated by said processor, said navigation system comprising;

an anchor generator for generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

a list generator for generating a first list of said one or more displayed elements; and

a displayed element selector for selecting a displayed element from said first list based on the direction of a user-entered navigation input and the position of said reference anchor, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is in the vertical direction, adjusting said reference anchor based upon said selected displayed element, said adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in said vertical direction, said adjusting said reference anchor comprising;

adjusting said reference anchor to the geometry of said selected displayed element when no overlapping condition exist;

adjusting said reference anchor when overlapping condition exist comprising;

changing the top and bottom values of said reference anchor to that of said selected displayed element;

adjusting left value of said reference anchor to the largest of said selected displayed element left value and said reference anchor left value; and

adjusting right value of said reference anchor to the lowest of said selected displayed element right value and said reference anchor right value.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

29. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a display screen;

a navigation system for navigating one or more displayed elements on said display screen generated by said processor, said navigation system comprising;

an anchor generator for generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

a list generator for generating a first list of said one or more displayed elements; and

a displayed element selector for selecting a displayed element from said first list based on the direction of a user-entered navigation input and the position of said reference anchor, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is horizontally left of said reference anchor, adjusting said reference anchor based upon said selected displayed element, said adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is vertically above and closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list in order of closeness of bottom of said overlapping displayed elements to bottom of said reference anchor;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is horizontally closest to said reference anchor.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

31. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a display screen;

a navigation system for navigating one or more displayed elements on said display screen generated by said processor, said navigation system comprising;

an anchor generator for generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

a list generator for generating a first list of said one or more displayed elements; and

a displayed element selector for selecting a displayed element from said first list based on the direction of a user-entered navigation input and the position of said reference anchor, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is horizontally right of said reference anchor, adjusting said reference anchor based upon said selected displayed element, said adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is vertically below and closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list in order of closeness of top of said overlapping displayed elements to top of said reference anchor;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is horizontally closest to said reference anchor.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

33. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a display screen;

a navigation system for navigating one or more displayed elements on said display screen generated by said processor, said navigation system comprising;

an anchor generator for generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

a list generator for generating a first list of said one or more displayed elements; and

a displayed element selector for selecting a displayed element from said first list based on the direction of a user-entered navigation input and the position of said reference anchor, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is vertically up of said reference anchor, adjusting said reference anchor based upon said selected displayed element, said adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is both vertically and horizontally closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is vertically closest to said reference anchor.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.

35. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a display screen;

a navigation system for navigating one or more displayed elements on said display screen generated by said processor, said navigation system comprising;

an anchor generator for generating a reference anchor, wherein said reference anchor comprises coordinates of a geometric shape;

a list generator for generating a first list of said one or more displayed elements; and

a displayed element selector for selecting a displayed element from said first list based on the direction of a user-entered navigation input and the position of said reference anchor, wherein said direction of said user-entered navigation input is vertically down of said reference anchor, adjusting said reference anchor based upon said selected displayed element, said adjusting said reference anchor depending on the existence of overlapping condition, said overlapping condition existing when said one or more displayed elements fall within a projection of said reference anchor in the direction of said input, said determining a displayed element to be selected comprising;

selecting a displayed element from said first list which is both vertically and horizontally closest to said reference anchor when no overlapping condition exist;

selecting a displayed element when overlapping condition exist comprising;

ordering overlapping displayed elements from said first list into a second list;

selecting a displayed element from said second list that is vertically closest to said reference anchor.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said first list comprises a listing of said one or more displayed elements in top-down order in accordance with the position of the top-left corners of said displayed elements.