Extending the opening time of state menu items for conformations of multiple changes

• US 6,489,978 B1
• Filed: 08/06/1999
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gong, Qing, Wang, Huifang
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayeri, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US09/370,127
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 345/764, 345/809-823, 345/829, 345/845
• US Class Current: 715/845
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method, information processing system and computer readable storage medium for presenting a graphical menu item on a display. The graphical menu is displayed by receiving a time delay selected by an end-user; presenting to the end-user a graphical menu item wherein at least one menu item has a selectable option state; receiving input from the end-user for changing the option state on at least one menu item; and waiting an amount of time greater than the time delay before removing the graphical menu item from the display.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a graphical menu item on a display comprising the steps of:

receiving a time delay selected by an end-user;

presenting to the end-user a graphical menu item wherein at least one selectable menu item having a selectable option state;

receiving input from the end-user for changing the option state on at least one selectable menu item;

waiting an amount of time greater than the time delay before removing the graphical menu item from the display;

(a) determining if the end-user selected an area of the display outside an area defined by the menu item and closing the menu item if an area outside the menu item was selected; and

(b) determining if the end-user did not select an area of the display outside an area defined by the menu item performing the steps of;

(I) determining if the end-user selected one or more option states on the menu item and if the end-user selected one or more option states, setting a time delay in a timer;

testing to see if the time delay has passed and closing the menu item, and if the time delay has not passed repeating step (a) above; and

(II) determining if the end-user has not selected one or more option states on the menu item and if the end-user has not selected one more option states, then performing the steps of determining;

if one or more option states were not changed then repeating step (a) above; and

if one or more option states were changed then performing the sub-steps of determining;

 

if the time delay loaded in the timer has passed and closing the menu item; and

 

if the time delay has passed, and if the time delay has not passed, repeating step (a) above.

2. An informational processing system, comprising a display for presenting a graphical user interface to an end-user, the graphical user interface includes at least one graphical menu item that is displayed in response to an initial selection by the end-user, with at least one menu item having a selectable options state, said information processing system comprising;

an input for receiving one or more subsequent selections from an end-user for changing the option state on at least one menu item;

a resettable timer for providing a delay as selected by the end-user between the time when the end-user changes an option state on at least one menu item input by sending the one or more subsequent selections and the time when the menu item is removed from the graphical user interface, the delay in the timer being reset after each option state is changed; and

a selection monitor for;

determining if the end-user selected an 4area of the display outside an area defined by the menu item and closing the menu i;

em if an area outside the menu item was selected; and

determining it the end-user did not select an area of the display outside an area defined by the menu item by;

determining if the end-user selected one or more option states on the menu item and if the end-user selected one or more option states, setting a time delay in a timer;

testing to see if the time delay has passed and closing the menu item, and if the time delay has not passed, determining if the end-uses selected an area of the display outside an area defined by the menu item and closing the menu item if an area outside the menu item was selected; and

determining if the end-user has not selected one or more option states on the menu item and if the end-user has not selected one more option states, then determining

if one or more option states were not changed then, determining if the end-user selected an area of the display outside an area defined by the menu item, and closing the menu item if an area outside the menu item was selected; and

if one or more option states were changed then determining;

 

if the time delay loaded in the timer has passed and closing the menu item; and

 

if the time delay has passed, and if the time delay has not passed, determining if the end-user selected an area of the display outside an area defined by the menu item and closing the menu item if an area outside the menu item was selected.

3. The information processing system of claim 2, wherein the input is a voice input.

4. A computer readable medium comprising programming instructions for presenting a graphical menu item on a display, the programming steps comprising:

receiving a time delay selected by an end-user;

presenting to the end-user a graphical menu item wherein at least one menu item having a selectable option state;

receiving input from the end-user for changing the option state on at least one menu item;

waiting an amount of time greater than the time delay before removing the graphical menu item from the display;

(a) determining if the end-user selected an area of the display outside an area defined by the menu item and closing the menu item if an area outside the menu item was selected; and

(b) determining if the end-user did not select an area of the display outside an area defined by the menu item performing the steps of;

(l) determining if the end-user selected one or more option states on the menu item and if the end-user selected one or more option states, setting a time delay in a timer;

testing to see if the time delay has passed and closing the menu item, and if the time delay has not passed repeating step (a) above; and

(II) determining if the end-user has not selected one or more option states on the menu item and If the end-user has not selected one more option states, then performing the steps of determining;

if one or more option states were not changed then repeating step (a) above; and

if one or more option states were changed then performing the sub-steps of determining;

 

if the time delay loaded in the timer has passed and closing the menu item; and

 

if the time delay has passed, and if the time delay has not passed, repeating step (a) above.

5. The computer readable medium according to claim 4, wherein the programing instruction of receiving input from the end-user for changing the option state includes changing the option state using the end-user'"'"'s voice.