Systems and methods for providing a user interface with an automatic search menu

• US 7,505,965 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ivanov, Sergei
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus; Jean M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arjomandi; Noosha
• Application Number:
  US11/045,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20060167851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/100
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/144 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/148 File search processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for a user interface with an automatic search menu. The interface exposes commands to the user as instantly searchable hierarchy. Visually, this is represented as a tree view with an edit box above it. There is no “Search” or “Go” button to press. One second after any character is entered in the edit box, the computer reduces a displayed hierarchy down to only those items that match the keyword entered. Entering another character before one second expires resets the timer. This allows the user to type in as little or as much of the keyword as necessary to reduce the hierarchy to a few items, one of which can then be mouse-clicked. This method scales to large number of commands.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising a processor for providing a hierarchical view of menu items, said method comprising:

searching a hierarchical structure based on at least one character of a search word entered by a user, the searching comprising;

identifying in the hierarchical structure, a first element containing the at least one character; and

searching the hierarchical structure for a parent element of the first element;

displaying a first tree of matches that includes if existent, the parent element of the first element, and further includes other elements existing above and below the first element in the first tree of matches;

displaying the first element as a root element of the first tree of matches if the parent element of the first element does not exist;

identifying in the hierarchical structure, a second element containing the at least one character;

searching the hierarchical structure for a parent element of the second element;

displaying along with the first tree of matches, a second tree of matches that includes if existent, the parent element of the second element, and further includes other elements existing above and below the second element in the second tree of matches; and

displaying the second element as a root element of the second tree of matches if the parent element of the second element does not exist.

2. The method of claim 1 farther comprising continuing to repeat the searching and displaying acts as the user types in additional characters based on the additional characters.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user enters in the at least one character in an edit box above the hierarchical structure to be displayed.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically waiting approximately one second before commencing the searching as the user is typing in the at least one character.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the menu items are commands.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting one of the displayed menu items with an input device of a computer.

7. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions for performing a method of providing a hierarchical view of menu items comprising:

searching a hierarchical structure based on at least one character of a search word entered by a user, the searching comprising;

identifying in the hierarchical structure, a first element containing the at least one character; and

searching the hierarchical structure for a parent element of the first element;

displaying a first tree of matches that includes if existent, the parent element of the first element, and further includes other elements existing above and below the first element in the first tree of matches;

displaying the first element as a root element of the first tree of matches if the parent element of the first element does not exist;

identifying in the hierarchical structure, a second element containing the at least one character;

searching the hierarchical structure for a parent element of the second element;

displaying along with the first tree of matches, a second tree of matches that includes if existent, the parent element of the second element, and further includes other elements existing above and below the second element in the second tree of matches; and

displaying the second element as a root element of the second tree of matches if the parent element of the second element does not exist.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 further comprising instructions stored thereon for continuing to repeat the searching and displaying acts as the user types in additional characters based on the additional characters.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 wherein the user enters in the at least one character in an edit box above the hierarchical structure to be displayed.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 further comprising instructions stored thereon for automatically waiting approximately one second before commencing the searching as the user is typing in the at least one character.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 wherein the menu items are commands.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 further comprising instructions stored thereon for selecting one of the displayed menu items with an input device of a computer.

13. A system comprising a processor for providing a hierarchical view of menu items comprising:

means for searching a hierarchical structure based on at least one character of a search word entered by a user;

means, in operable communications with the searching means, for identifying in the hierarchical structure, a first element containing the at least one character, and for identifying, if existent, a parent element of the first element;

means for displaying a first tree of matches that includes, if existent, the parent element of the first element, and further includes other elements existing above and below the first element in the first tree of matches;

means for displaying the first element as a root element of the first tree of matches if the parent element of the first element does not exist;

means for entering in the at least one character;

means for, in operable communications with the entering means, for identifying in the hierarchical structure, a second element containing the at least one character, and for identifying, if existent, a parent element of the second element;

means for displaying along with the first tree of matches, a second tree of matches that includes if existent, the parent element of the second element, and further includes other elements existing above and below the second element in the second tree of matches; and

means for displaying the second element as a root element of the second tree of matches if the parent element of the second element does not exist.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising means, in operable communications with the entering means, for continuing to repeat the searching and displaying acts as the user types in additional characters based on the additional characters.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising means for the user to enter in the at least one character in an edit box above the hierarchical structure to be displayed.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising means, in operable communications with the entering means, for automatically waiting approximately one second before commencing the searching as the user is typing in the at least one character.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the menu items are commands.