Directional focus navigation

• US 7,134,089 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Celik, Tantek, Chan, Ada Y., Pettit, Bradley R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Purcell, Ian M.
• Application Number:
  US10/293,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 715/767, 715/764, 715/802, 715/854, 345/642
• US Class Current: 715/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A rendering engine that supports directional focus navigation, in response to a directional input, shifts the focus to an appropriate focusable element. The rendering engine determines one or more focusable elements that are candidates to receive the focus based on the received directional input and based on the relative display locations of the focusable elements. The rendering engine selects the most appropriate candidate focusable element based on each candidate element'"'"'s display location in relation to the display location of the element that currently has focus.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a first element associated with a rendered document, the first element having focus;

receiving an indication of a horizontal directional input;

identifying a second focusable element that is within a display area of the document;

determining a display midpoint of the first element;

determining a display midpoint of the second focusable element;

determining whether the display midpoint of the second focusable element is at a horizontal distance in a direction indicated by the directional input from the display midpoint of the first element;

in an event that the display midpoint of the second focusable element is at a horizontal distance in a direction indicated by the directional input from the display midpoint of the first element, identifying the second focusable element as a candidate to receive focus in response to the directional input; and

determining that a top point of the second focusable element is above a top point of the first element such that the vertical distance between the top point of the second focusable element and the top point of the first element is less than or equal to a tolerance value, wherein the tolerance value comprises a height of the first element divided by four.

2. A method comprising:

identifying a first element associated with a rendered document, the first element having focus;

receiving an indication of a horizontal directional input;

identifying a second focusable element that is within a display area of the document;

determining a display midpoint of the first element;

determining a display midpoint of the second focusable element;

determining whether the display midpoint of the second focusable element is at a horizontal distance in a direction indicated by the directional input from the display midpoint of the first element;

in an event that the display midpoint of the second focusable element is at a horizontal distance in a direction indicated by the directional input from the display midpoint of the first element, identifying the second focusable element as a candidate to receive focus in response to the directional input; and

determining that a top point of the second focusable element is above a top point of the first element such that the vertical distance between the top point of the second focusable element and the top point of the first element is less than or equal to a tolerance value, wherein the tolerance value comprises a height of the second focusable element divided by four.

3. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computer to:

identify a first element associated with a rendered document, the first element having focus;

receive an indication of a horizontal directional input;

identify a second focusable element that is within a display area of the document;

determine a display midpoint of the first element;

determine a display midpoint of the second focusable element;

determine whether the display midpoint of the second focusable element is at a horizontal distance in a direction indicated by the directional input from the display midpoint of the first element;

in an event that the display midpoint of the second focusable element is at a horizontal distance in a direction indicated by the directional input from the display midpoint of the first element, identify the second focusable element as a candidate to receive focus in response to the directional input; and

determine that a top point of the second focusable element is above a top point of the first element such that the vertical distance between the top point of the second focusable element and the top point of the first element is less than or equal to a tolerance value, wherein the tolerance value comprises a height of the first element divided by four.