Enhanced on-object context menus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a computer system having a display screen, a graphical user interface, and a user interface selection device, a method of selecting actions performable with regard to an ink object having an associated representation on the screen, comprising:
- receiving a user request for a display of menu options corresponding to the actions performable with regard to the ink object;
displaying a first context menu;
successively displaying second and third context menus, the first, second and third context menus forming a cascade, whereineach of the context menus has a set of menu options, at least one of the menu options in at least one of the context menus corresponding to an action performable with regard to the ink object,each of the context menus in the cascade remains at least partially visible,the second context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the first context menu,the second context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the first context menu option selected to cause display of the second context menu,the third context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the second context menu,the third context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the second context menu option selected to cause display of the third context menu,at least one of the second and third context menus obscures options in the immediately preceding context menu;
receiving a repeat selection of an option from the first or second context menu; and
in response to the repeat selection, discontinuing display of all context menus succeeding the context menu from which the repeat selection was made while continuing display of the context menu from which the repeat selection was made.
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Abstract
Aspects of the present invention provide context menus useful in, e.g., a computing device receiving user input via a stylus. Icons representing actions performable on an object are displayed in a context menu for the object. Additional aspects of the invention include cascading menus that also minimize hand and/or wrist motion, as well as placement of menus based on user handedness and/or stylus orientation.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a computer system having a display screen, a graphical user interface, and a user interface selection device, a method of selecting actions performable with regard to an ink object having an associated representation on the screen, comprising:
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receiving a user request for a display of menu options corresponding to the actions performable with regard to the ink object; displaying a first context menu; successively displaying second and third context menus, the first, second and third context menus forming a cascade, wherein each of the context menus has a set of menu options, at least one of the menu options in at least one of the context menus corresponding to an action performable with regard to the ink object, each of the context menus in the cascade remains at least partially visible, the second context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the first context menu, the second context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the first context menu option selected to cause display of the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the second context menu option selected to cause display of the third context menu, at least one of the second and third context menus obscures options in the immediately preceding context menu; receiving a repeat selection of an option from the first or second context menu; and
in response to the repeat selection, discontinuing display of all context menus succeeding the context menu from which the repeat selection was made while continuing display of the context menu from which the repeat selection was made. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16)
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8. A computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:
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receiving a user request for a display of menu options corresponding to actions performable with regard to an ink object, wherein the ink object has a representation upon a display screen of a computer system having a graphical user interface; displaying a first context menu; successively displaying second and third context menus, the first, second and third context menus forming a cascade, wherein each of the context menus has a set of menu options, at least one of the menu options in at least one of the context menus corresponding to an action performable with regard to the ink object, each of the context menus in the cascade remains at least partially visible, the second context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the first context menu, the second context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the first context menu option selected to cause display of the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the second context menu option selected to cause display of the third context menu, at least one of the second and third context menus obscures options in the immediately preceding context menu; receiving a repeat selection of an option from the first or second context menu; and in response to the repeat selection, discontinuing display of all context menus succeeding the context menu from which the repeat selection was made while continuing display of the context menu from which the repeat selection was made. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17)
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15. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:
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receiving a user request for a display of menu choices corresponding to actions performable with regard to an ink object, wherein the ink object has a representation upon a display screen of a computer system having a graphical user interface, and wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu choices comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device; displaying the menu choices in a first level menu, wherein each of the actions performable with regard to the ink object is identified by a unique icon, the icons are displayed in an array of at least two columns and two rows, the icons are displayed in a menu which is positioned on the screen based upon the location of the screen representation of the ink object, and displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons spaced such that any of the icons can be selected without substantial movement of the hand or wrist of the user holding the stylus; receiving a user selection of an initial icon, wherein the selection is made with the stylus; displaying, in response to a user selection of an initial icon, a second level menu of additional icons, wherein the second level menu is cascaded from, and overlaps a portion of the icons arrayed in, the first level menu, and the second level menu does not overlap the initial icon; receiving a user selection, made with the stylus from the second level menu, of a second icon; and performing the action identified by the second icon.
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18. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing acts comprising:
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receiving a user request for a display of menu choices corresponding to actions performable with regard to an ink object, wherein the ink object has a representation upon a display screen of a computer system having a graphical user interface, and wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu choices comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device; displaying a first context menu having a set of menu options displayed in an array of at least two columns and two rows; successively displaying second and third context menus, the first, second and third context menus forming a cascade, wherein each of the context menus has a set of menu options, wherein the set of menu options is displayed in an array of at least two columns and two rows, and wherein at least one of the menu options in at least one of the context menus corresponds to an action performable with regard to the ink object, each of the context menus in the cascade remains at least partially visible, the second context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the first context menu, the second context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the first context menu option selected to cause display of the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the second context menu option selected to cause display of the third context menu, at least one of the second and third context menus obscures options in the immediately preceding context menu; displaying, for each option that can be selected to display a cascaded context menu, an indicator; changing, upon selection of an option having an indicator, the appearance of the indicator; receiving a repeat selection of an option from the first or second context menu initiated with a stylus input selection device; and in response to the repeat selection, discontinuing display of all context menus succeeding the context menu from which the repeat selection was made while continuing display of the context menu from which the repeat selection was made.
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Specification