Multiple menus for use with a graphical user interface
First Claim
1. A method for managing menus associated with a graphical user interface that is displayed on a display unit wherein the graphical user interface includes a display of two or more objects, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- receiving a request from a user for a menu panel, wherein;
the request is not associated with the user selecting any menu objects that are displayed on the display unit at the time of the request,the menu panel comprises two or more selection regions,each of the two or more selection regions is associated with one base menu, andat least one base menu includes two or more menu items; and
in response to the request from the user;
selecting, based on one or more criteria, one or more menu items for display in the at least one base the menus, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting the one or more menu items for display in at least one of the base menus based upon which of the two or more objects is closer to the cursor when the request from the user is received,displaying on the display unit the menu panel, wherein the menu panel is displayed at a location based on a first position of a cursor when the user requests the menu panel, anddisplaying on the display unit a first base menu that is associated with a first selection region of the two or more selection regions.
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Abstract
An approach for using multiple menus with a graphical user interface is disclosed. A multiple menu comprises a menu panel with two or more selection regions, each of which is associated with a base menu. A user requests the menu panel without selecting a menu object displayed on a display unit, such as by right-clicking. The menu panel is displayed along with one base menu, and other base menus are displayed by the user moving the cursor to another selection region. The user selects a menu item from a base menu to cause the application to execute the function associated with the menu item. The selection regions of the menu panel do not include information describing the content of the associated base menus. By arranging the base menus around the menu panel, cursor movement is minimized to improve user efficiency in using the application.
152 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for managing menus associated with a graphical user interface that is displayed on a display unit wherein the graphical user interface includes a display of two or more objects, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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receiving a request from a user for a menu panel, wherein; the request is not associated with the user selecting any menu objects that are displayed on the display unit at the time of the request, the menu panel comprises two or more selection regions, each of the two or more selection regions is associated with one base menu, and at least one base menu includes two or more menu items; and in response to the request from the user; selecting, based on one or more criteria, one or more menu items for display in the at least one base the menus, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting the one or more menu items for display in at least one of the base menus based upon which of the two or more objects is closer to the cursor when the request from the user is received, displaying on the display unit the menu panel, wherein the menu panel is displayed at a location based on a first position of a cursor when the user requests the menu panel, and displaying on the display unit a first base menu that is associated with a first selection region of the two or more selection regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for managing menus associated with a graphical user interface that is displayed on a display unit wherein the graphical user interface includes a display of two or more objects, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
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receiving a request from a user for a menu panel, wherein; the request is not associated with the user selecting any menu objects that are displayed on the display unit at the time of the request, the menu panel comprises two or more selection regions, each of the two or more selection regions is associated with one base menu, and at least one base menu includes two or more menu items; and in response to the request from the user; selecting, based on one or more criteria, one or more menu items for display in the at least one base the menus, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting the one or more menu items for display in at least one of the base menus based upon which of the two or more objects is closer to the cursor when the request from the user is received, displaying on the display unit the menu panel, wherein the menu panel is displayed at a location based on a first position of a cursor when the user requests the menu panel, and displaying on the display unit a first base menu that is associated with a first selection region of the two or more selection regions.
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Specification