Methods and apparatuses for viewing choices and making selections

• US 7,600,201 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tambata, Ippei, Endler, Sean Christopher, Herres, Joseph Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault; Steven B
• Application Number:
  US10/820,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20050229116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 715/817, 715/716, 715/810, 715/823, 715/848, 715/850, 715/863, 725/37, 725/44, 725/61, 345/157, 345/179
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an input; display a plurality of selections; detect a location of a first segment relative to the plurality of selections; highlight a particular selection from the plurality of selections when the first segment is within an area of the particular selection; and select the particular selection based on the first segment being located within the area of the particular selection.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting an input;

defining a mark at a position relative to the input;

displaying a plurality of selections, wherein each of the plurality of selections is separately selectable by a user;

displaying a first segment, the first segment comprising a first end positioned at the mark and a second end distant from the first end;

moving the second end of the first segment based on the input, the moving including rotating the first segment around the mark;

detecting a location of the second end of the first segment relative to the plurality of selections;

enlarging a particular selection of the plurality of selections relative to remaining selections of the plurality of selections responsive to the second end of the first segment being within a general proximity of the particular selection; and

after the enlarging, selecting the particular selection responsive to user action.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising displaying a plurality of sub-selections corresponding to the particular selection.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising highlighting a particular sub-selection from the plurality of sub-selections when a second segment is within an area of the particular sub-selection.

4. The method according to claim 1 the plurality of selections corresponds with a function.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the function is one of a save function, a print function, a play function, and a meeting schedule function.

6. The method according to claim 1 the plurality of selections corresponds with content.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the content is one of an audio content, a video content, a document, and a graphic.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the input is initiated through a pointing device.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the input is initiated through a touch screen.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the general proximity of the particular selection is defined as an area closer to the particular selection compared to other selections.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the general proximity of the particular selection is defined as an area over the particular selection.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

changing an enlarged size of the particular selection proportionally relative to length of the first segment.

13. A system comprising:

means for detecting an input;

means for displaying a plurality of selections, wherein each of the plurality of selections is separately selectable by a user;

means for defining a first mark;

means for extending a first segment from a first end of the first segment at the first mark to a second end of the first segment distant from the first mark;

means for moving the second end of the first segment based on the input, the moving including rotating the first segment around the mark;

means for detecting a location of the first segment relative to the plurality of selections;

means for enlarging a particular selection of the plurality of selections relative to remaining selections of the plurality of selections responsive to the second end of the first segment being within a general proximity of the particular selection;

means for after the enlarging, selecting the particular selection responsive to user action; and

means for defining a second mark at the second end of the first segment in response to the selecting of the particular selection.

14. A method comprising:

detecting an input;

displaying a plurality of selections, wherein each of the plurality of selections is separately selectable by a user;

displaying a first segment comprising a first end and a second end distant from the first end, the second end being rotationally movable about the first end;

moving the second end of the first segment based on the input, the moving including rotating the first segment around a static location of the first end;

detecting the first segment within an area of a particular selection from the plurality of selections;

enlarging the particular selection relative to remaining selections of the plurality of selections responsive to the first segment being within a general proximity of the particular selection; and

displaying a plurality of sub-selections corresponding to the particular selection.

15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising selecting the particular selection based, in part, on the first segment within the general proximity of the particular selection.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising highlighting a particular sub-selection from the plurality of sub-selections when a second segment is within an area of the particular sub-selection, wherein the second segment comprises a first end and a second end distant from the first end with the first end of the second segment being positioned at the second end of the first segment.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising rotating the second end of the second segment over the plurality of sub-selections, wherein the second end of the second segment is rotationally movable about the second end of the first segment.

18. A system, comprising:

an input interface to transmit an input through an input device; and

an output interface to render images for displaying a plurality of selections, a mark at a position relative to the input, and a segment having a first end positioned at the mark and a second end distant from the first end, the segment controlled by the input and used for selecting a particular selection from the plurality of selections, the segment being rotatable around the mark, wherein the output interface selectively enlarges the particular selection relative to remaining selections of the plurality of selections responsive to the location of the second end of the segment being within a general proximity of the particular selection.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the output interface displays a plurality of sub-selections based on the particular selection.

20. The system according to claim 18 wherein the input device is a pointing device.

21. The system according to claim 18 wherein the input device is a touch screen device.

22. The system according to claim 18 wherein the input interface provides the input to the output interface wherein the input rotates the segment over the plurality of selections.

23. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing:

detecting an input;

displaying a plurality of selections, wherein each of the plurality of selections is separately selectable by a user;

defining a first mark at a position relative to the input;

extending a first segment from a first end of the first segment at the first mark to a second end of the first segment distant from the first mark;

moving the second end of the first segment based on the input, the moving including rotating the first segment around a static location of the first end;

detecting a location of the first segment relative to the plurality of selections;

enlarging a particular selection of the plurality of selections relative to remaining selections of the plurality of selections responsive to the first segment being within a general proximity of the particular selection;

after the enlarging, selecting the particular selection responsive to user action; and

defining a second mark at the second end of the first segment in response to the selecting of the particular selection.