Simulated three-dimensional navigational menu system

• US 7,134,095 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.), Spotware Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kayl, Thomas A., Mostyn, Michael, Smith, Kim C., Wugofski, Theodore David
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MYLINH T
• Application Number:
  US09/421,580
• Time in Patent Office: 2,575 Days
• Field of Search: 345/856, 345/649, 345/157, 345/160, 345/859, 345/860, 345/861, 345/655, 345/679, 345/848, 345/850, 345/852, 345/642, 345/653, 345/767, 345/836, 345/473, 345/977
• US Class Current: 715/860
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A user interface, system, method and software for displaying a simulated three-dimensional display of menu options to a user, thereby maximizing use of a display'"'"'s real estate by presenting all available options at once while at the same time presenting certain options in a more pronounced manner. The system monitors for running applications, polls the running applications for any available options, and displays the options in the simulated three-dimensional format. With this type of dynamic menu, standard means for bringing focus to a selectable target create complexities, and are thus avoided by designing the system'"'"'s cursor to duplicate the appearance of the selected target'"'"'s shape, preferably in a smaller size.

Claims

1. A user interface comprising:

a display;

a cursor capable of being displayed on said display;

a cursor control device capable of controlling said cursor'"'"'s position and movement on said display;

at least two selectable targets displayed on at least a portion of said display; and

all of said at least two selectable targets displayed on said at least a portion of said display capable of being simultaneously displayed in a simulated rotation about an axis while each one of said all of said at least two selectable targets displayed on said at least a portion of said display remains continuously selectable during said simulated rotation.

2. The user interface, as defined in claim 1, wherein said interface is capable of varying the displayed size of said targets during said simulated rotation about said axis.

3. The user interface, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said targets are associated with a corresponding function capable of being performed in response to selection of said targets by a user via said cursor and said cursor control device.

4. The user interface, as defined in claim 3, wherein said interface is capable of displaying additional information, on at least a portion of said display, associated with a specific target when said cursor is positioned at least partially within said specific target'"'"'s hotspot boundary.

5. The user interface, as defined in claim 3, wherein said interface is capable of modifying said targets being displayed on said display in response to a change in focus on content being displayed in another portion of said display.

6. The user interface, as defined in claim 1, wherein said interface is capable of displaying said simulated rotation of said targets about said axis in a simulated three-dimensional presentation.

7. The user interface, as defined in claim 6, wherein said interface is capable of providing focus to a specific target in response to said cursor being positioned at least partially within said specific target'"'"'s hotspot boundary.

8. The user interface, as defined in claim 1, wherein said cursor is capable of modifying its presentation into a shape similar to the shape of a specific target which is being given focus by said cursor.

9. The user interface, as defined in claim 8, wherein the modification in the presentation of said cursor further comprises changing the shape of said cursor into a shape similar to a miniature version of the shape of said specific target.

10. The user interface, as defined in claim 1, wherein said targets are displayed as an animated sequence of movement.

11. The user interface, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said at least two selectable targets is presented as a polygonal shaped target.

12. The user interface, as defined in claim 11, wherein said polygonal shaped target is capable of displaying content on each of its user-visible sides.

13. The user interface, as defined in claim 1, wherein said targets are capable of remaining visible as said targets travel in a simulated rotation about said axis.

14. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said simulated rotation is a 360 degree revolution in a substantially circular orbit about said axis.

15. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said all of said at least two selectable targets are located at different points along a common orbit about said axis during said simulated rotation.

16. The user interface of claim 1, wherein two or more of said at least two selectable targets are located in different orbits about said axis during said simulated rotation.

17. The user interface of claim 16, wherein said different orbits are located in parallel planes.

18. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said axis substantially lies within a plane of a screen of said display.

19. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said axis is substantially normal to a plane of a screen of said display.

20. A system comprising:

at least one processor;

memory operably associated with said processor; and

a user interface, said user interface comprising

a display;

a cursor capable of being displayed on said display;

a cursor control device capable of controlling said cursor'"'"'s position and movement on said display;

at least two selectable targets displayed on at least a portion of said display; and

all of said at least two selectable targets displayed on said at least a portion of said display capable of being simultaneously displayed in a simulated rotation about an axis while each one of said all of said at least two selectable targets displayed on said at least a portion of said display remains continuously selectable during said simulated rotation.

21. The system, as defined in claim 20, wherein said interface is capable of varying the displayed size of said targets during said simulated rotation about said axis.

22. The system, as defined in claim 20, wherein each of said targets are associated with a corresponding function capable of being performed in response to selection of said targets by a user via said cursor and said cursor control device.

23. The system, as defined in claim 22, wherein said interface is capable of displaying additional information, on at least a portion of said display, associated with a specific target when said cursor is positioned at least partially within said specific target'"'"'s hotspot boundary.

24. The system, as defined in claim 22, wherein said interface is capable of modifying said targets being displayed on said display in response to a change in focus on content being displayed in another portion of said display.

25. The system, as defined in claim 20, wherein said interface is capable of displaying said simulated rotation of said targets about said axis in a simulated three-dimensional presentation.

26. The system, as defined in claim 25, wherein said interface is capable of providing focus to a specific target in response to said cursor being positioned at least partially within said specific target'"'"'s hotspot boundary.

27. The system, as defined in claim 20, wherein said cursor is capable of modifying its presentation into a shape similar to the shape of a specific target which is being given focus by said cursor.

28. The system, as defined in claim 27, wherein the modification in the presentation of said cursor further comprises changing the shape of said cursor into a shape similar to a miniature version of the shape of said specific target.

29. The system, as defined in claim 20, wherein said targets are displayed as an animated sequence of movement.

30. The system, as defined in claim 20, wherein each of said at least two selectable targets is presented as a polygonal shaped target.

31. The system, as defined in claim 30, wherein said polygonal shaped target is capable of displaying content on each of its user-visible sides.

32. The system, as defined in claim 20, wherein said targets are capable of remaining visible as said targets travel in a simulated rotation about said axis.

33. The system of claim 20, wherein said simulated rotation is a 360 degree revolution in a substantially circular orbit about said axis.

34. The system of claim 20, wherein said all of said at least two selectable targets are located at different points along a common orbit about said axis during said simulated rotation.

35. The system of claim 20, wherein two or more of said at least two selectable targets are located in different orbits about said axis during said simulated rotation.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said different orbits are located in parallel planes.

37. The system of claim 20, wherein said axis substantially lies within a plane of a screen of said display.

38. The system of claim 20, wherein said axis is substantially normal to a plane of a screen of said display.

39. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions capable of implementing the following steps:

displaying at least two selectable targets on at least a portion of a display, all of said at least two selectable targets displayed on said at least a portion of said display capable of being simultaneously displayed in a simulated rotation about an axis while each one of said all of said at least two selectable targets displayed on said at least a portion of said display remains continuously selectable during said simulated rotation.

40. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 39, being capable of further implementing the step of varying the displayed size of said targets during said simulated rotation about said axis.

41. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 39, being capable of further implementing the step of associating each of said targets with a corresponding function capable of being performed in response to selection of said targets by a user via a cursor and a cursor control device.

42. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 41, being capable of further implementing the step of displaying additional information, on at least a portion of the display, associated with a specific target when said cursor is positioned at least partially within said specific target'"'"'s hotspot boundary.

43. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 41, being capable of further implementing the step of modifying said targets being displayed on said display in response to a change in focus on content being displayed in another portion of said display.

44. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 39, being capable of further implementing the step of displaying said simulated rotation of said targets about said axis in a simulated three-dimensional presentation.

45. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 44, being capable of further implementing the step of providing focus to a specific target in response to said cursor being positioned at least partially within said specific target'"'"'s hotspot boundary.

46. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 45, being capable of further implementing the step of modifying said cursor'"'"'s presentation into a shape similar to the shape of a specific target which is being given focus by said cursor.

47. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 46, being capable of further implementing the step of modification such that said cursor'"'"'s presentation further comprises changing the shape of said cursor into a shape similar to a miniature version of the shape of said specific target.

48. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 39, being capable of further implementing the step of displaying said targets as an animated sequence of movement.

49. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 39, wherein each of said at least two selectable targets is presented as a polygonal shaped target.

50. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 49, wherein said polygonal shaped target is capable of displaying content on each of its user-visible sides.

51. The computer readable medium, as defined in claim 39, being capable of further implementing the step of keeping said targets visible as said targets travel in a simulated rotation about said axis.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 39, wherein said simulated rotation is a 360 degree revolution in a substantially circular orbit about said axis.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 39, wherein said all of said at least two selectable targets are located at different points along a common orbit about said axis during said simulated rotation.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 39, wherein two or more of said at least two selectable targets are located in different orbits about said axis during said simulated rotation.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein said different orbits are located in parallel planes.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 39, wherein said axis substantially lies within a plane of a screen of said display.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 39, wherein said axis is substantially normal to a plane of a screen of said display.

58. A method comprising the following steps:

displaying at least two selectable targets on at least a portion of a display, all of said at least two selectable targets displayed on said at least a portion of said display capable of being simultaneously displayed in a simulated rotation about an axis while each one of said all of said at least two selectable targets displayed on said at least a portion of said display remains continuously selectable during said simulated rotation.

59. The method, as defined in claim 58, further implementing the step of varying the displayed size of said targets during said simulated rotation about said axis.

60. The method, as defined in claim 58, further implementing the step of associating each of said targets with a corresponding function capable of being performed in response to selection of said targets by a user via a cursor and a cursor control device.

61. The method, as defined in claim 60, further implementing the step of displaying additional information, on at least a portion of the display, associated with a specific target when said cursor is positioned at least partially within said specific target'"'"'s hotspot boundary.

62. The method, as defined in claim 60, further implementing the step of modifying said targets being displayed on said display in response to a change in focus on content being displayed in another portion of said display.

63. The method, as defined in claim 58, further implementing the step of displaying said simulated rotation of said targets about said axis in a simulated three-dimensional presentation.

64. The method, as defined in claim 63, further implementing the step of providing focus to a specific target in response to said cursor being positioned at least partially within said specific target'"'"'s hotspot boundary.

65. The method, as defined in claim 64, further implementing the step of modifying said cursor'"'"'s presentation into a shape similar to the shape of a specific target which is being given focus by said cursor.

66. The method, as defined in claim 65, further implementing the step of modification such that said cursor'"'"'s presentation further comprises changing the shape of said cursor into a shape similar to a miniature version of the shape of said specific target.

67. The method, as defined in claim 58, further implementing the step of displaying said targets as an animated sequence of movement.

68. The method, as defined in claim 58, wherein each of said at least two selectable targets is presented as a polygonal shaped target.

69. The method, as defined in claim 68, wherein said polygonal shaped target is capable of displaying content on each of its user-visible sides.

70. The method, as defined in claim 58, further implementing the step of keeping said targets visible as said targets travel in a simulated rotation about said axis.

71. The method of claim 58, wherein said simulated rotation is a 360 degree revolution in a substantially circular orbit about said axis.

72. The method of claim 58, wherein said all of said at least two selectable targets are located at different points along a common orbit about said axis during said simulated rotation.

73. The method of claim 58, wherein two or more of said at least two selectable targets are located in different orbits about said axis during said simulated rotation.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein said different orbits are located in parallel planes.

75. The method of claim 58, wherein said axis substantially lies within a plane of a screen of said display.

76. The method of claim 58, wherein said axis is substantially normal to a plane of a screen of said display.