User interface navigation

• US 7,506,275 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Darnell, Michael J., Conradt, Jonathan I
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell; Joshua D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kumar; Anil N
• Application Number:
  US11/276,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 715/859, 715/857
• US Class Current: 715/857
• 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

User interface navigation is described. In an embodiment, an indicator displayed on a user interface rotates in place to indicate selectable directions of travel. When an input is received to stop the indicator from rotating, the indicator moves in a direction of travel. When another input is received, the indicator stops moving in the direction of travel, and again rotates in place to indicate other selectable directions of travel. An input can also be received to initiate selecting a user-selectable control on the user interface when the indicator is positioned over the user-selectable control, over a portion of the user-selectable control, or proximate the user-selectable control.

Claims

1. A user interface navigation system, comprising:

a processor;

a display device;

an interface display that displays on the display device, the interface display including a moveable and rotatable navigation indicator, the navigation indicator including a direction indicator that indicates one or more directions of travel; and

an input device to communicate with the processor, the input device having a plurality of buttons, the plurality of buttons including;

a first button corresponding to the navigation indicator, the first button associated with a movement mode of the navigation indicator such that when the first button is selected, the navigation indicator moves in the interface display along one of the one or more of the directions of travel indicated by the direction indicator, and such that when the first button is selected again, the navigation indicator self-rotates in place at a location in the interface display such that the direction indicator sweeps through a plurality of directions of travel, the navigation indicator self-rotating until the first button is selected again; and

a second button corresponding to the navigation indicator, the second button associated with a selection mode of the navigation indicator such that when the second button is selected, a user-selectable control displayed on the interface display and proximate the navigation indicator is selected.

2. A user interface navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein when the second button is held in place when selected in conjunction with the first button, the navigation indicator moves in the direction of travel along with a selected item displayed on the interface display.

3. A user interface navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the navigation indicator self-rotates at a fist rate of rotation when the navigation indicator points in a direction that contains user-selectable controls; and

the navigation indicator self-rotates at a second rate of rotation when the navigation indicator points in a direction that does not contain user-selectable controls, the second rate of rotation faster than the first rate of rotation.

4. A user interface navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein when the navigation indicator self-rotates, the navigation indicator skips past directions of travel that do not contain user selectable control.

5. A user interface navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable control displayed on the interface display is selected when the navigation indicator is positioned over the user-selectable control and the second button is selected.

6. A user interface navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable control displayed on the interface display is selected when the navigation indicator is positioned over a portion of the user-selectable control and the second button is selected.

7. A user interface navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable control displayed on the interface display is selected when the navigation indicator is positioned closer to the user-selectable control than to an additional user-selectable control displayed on the interface display, and when the second button is selected.

8. A user interface navigation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a television-based remote control device that includes the first button and the second button to navigate the interface display when displayed on a television-based system.

9. A method for navigating a user interface that is displayed on an interface display of a display device, comprising:

receiving a first input from a first button that operates a navigation indicator displayed on the user interface,

automatically rotating the navigation indicator displayed on the user interface in place to indicate selectable directions of travel when the first input is received;

receiving a second input from the first button that operates the navigation indicator displayed on the user interface;

stopping the navigation indicator from rotating and moving the navigation indicator in the user interface along a direction of travel when the second input is received;

receiving a third input from a second button that operates the navigation indicator displayed on the user interface; and

selecting a user-selectable control display on the user interface that is proximate the navigation indicator when the third input is received.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the first input, the second input, and the third input are received from one or more user-selectable devices.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein selecting the user-selectable control display comprises selecting the user-selectable control display when the navigation indicator is positioned over the user-selectable control and the third input is received.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein selecting the user-selectable control display comprises selecting the user-selectable control display when the navigation indicator is positioned over a portion of the user-selectable control and the third input is received.

13. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein selecting the user-selectable control display comprises selecting the user-selectable control display when the navigation indicator is positioned closer to the user-selectable control than to an additional user-selectable control displayed on the user interface, and when the third input is received.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

dragging an item displayed on the user interface when selecting the item in conjunction with moving the navigation indicator in the direction of travel when the second input is received.

15. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising varying the rate of rotation of the navigation indicator based on the location of the user-selectable controls on the user interface.

16. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein automatically rotating the navigation indicator comprises automatically rotating the navigation indicator such that the navigation indicator skips past directions of travel that do not contain any user-selectable controls.

17. An interface display of a user interface navigation system that is displayed on a display device, the interface display comprising:

an indicator that self-rotates in place at a location in a user interface to indicate selectable directions of travel when a first input from a first button is received at the navigation system, and that stops rotation at the location and moves in the user interface along a direction of travel when a second input from the first button is received at the navigation system; and

an user interface control that is selected when the indicator is proximate the user interface control and a third input from a second button is received at the navigation system.