Generic keyboard navigation
First Claim
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1. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the product comprising instructions operable to cause a data processing apparatus to execute a method for navigating user interface elements displayed on a screen, the method comprising:
- grouping the displayed user interface elements alphabetically into groups according to characters contained in text labels associated with the user interface elements, the user interface elements indicating, on the screen, a user interface element currently having focus to receive user input;
detecting a user navigation input comprising;
a forward user navigation input comprising a forward modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements, anda backward user navigation input comprising a backward modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements;
identifying a group of user interface elements associated with the key press of at least one text character by comparing the key press of at least one text character to the characters contained in the text labels associated with the user interface elements; and
shifting input focus to a user interface element in the identified group based on the user navigation input, the shifting comprising;
when the user navigation input is detected;
determining a current group of user interface elements that contains the user interface element currently having input focus, anddetermining a target group of user interface elements that has a corresponding text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character;
when the user navigation input is the forward user navigation input;
shifting input focus in the forward direction to a next user interface element in the current group having a text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character when the current group is the same as the target group, andshifting input focus to a first user interface element in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group; and
when the user navigation input is the backward user navigation input;
shifting input focus in the reverse direction to a previous user interface element in the current group having an associated text label matching the key press of at least one text character when the current group is the same as the target group, andshifting input focus to a user interface element last in order in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implement techniques for navigating user interface elements of a computer program application. A navigation key press of a navigation key is detected, where the navigation key has a group identifier. A selected group of user interface elements associated with the group identifier is identified. Input focus is shifted to a user interface element in the selected group based on the navigation key.
35 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the product comprising instructions operable to cause a data processing apparatus to execute a method for navigating user interface elements displayed on a screen, the method comprising:
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grouping the displayed user interface elements alphabetically into groups according to characters contained in text labels associated with the user interface elements, the user interface elements indicating, on the screen, a user interface element currently having focus to receive user input; detecting a user navigation input comprising; a forward user navigation input comprising a forward modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements, and a backward user navigation input comprising a backward modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements; identifying a group of user interface elements associated with the key press of at least one text character by comparing the key press of at least one text character to the characters contained in the text labels associated with the user interface elements; and shifting input focus to a user interface element in the identified group based on the user navigation input, the shifting comprising; when the user navigation input is detected; determining a current group of user interface elements that contains the user interface element currently having input focus, and determining a target group of user interface elements that has a corresponding text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character; when the user navigation input is the forward user navigation input; shifting input focus in the forward direction to a next user interface element in the current group having a text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character when the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a first user interface element in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group; and when the user navigation input is the backward user navigation input; shifting input focus in the reverse direction to a previous user interface element in the current group having an associated text label matching the key press of at least one text character when the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a user interface element last in order in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 27)
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5. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the product comprising instructions operable to cause a computer to execute a method for navigating user interface elements displayed on a screen, the method comprising:
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grouping the user interface elements displayed on the screen alphabetically into groups according to characters contained in respective text labels associated with the user interface elements, the user interface elements indicating, on the screen, a user interface element currently having focus to receive user input; detecting a sequence of one or more user navigation inputs, comprising; a forward user navigation input comprising a forward modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements, and a backward user navigation input comprising a backward modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements; generating a navigation string from the forward or backward navigation inputs; identifying a group of user interface elements by comparing the navigation string to the characters contained in the text labels associated with the user interface elements; and shifting input focus to a user interface element in the identified group based on the navigation string, the shifting comprising; when the user navigation input is detected; determining a current group of user interface elements that contains the user interface element currently having input focus, and determining a target group of user interface elements that has a corresponding text label containing characters matching the navigation string; when the user navigation input is the forward user navigation input; shifting input focus in the forward direction to a next user interface element in the current group having a corresponding text label containing characters matching the navigation string when the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a first user interface element in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group, and when the user navigation input is the backward user navigation input; shifting input focus in the reverse direction to a previous user interface element in the current group having a text label containing characters matching the navigation string when the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a user interface element last in order in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group. - View Dependent Claims (8, 28)
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9. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the product comprising instructions operable to cause a data processing apparatus to execute a method for navigating user interface elements displayed on a screen, method comprising:
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grouping the displayed user interface elements alphabetically into groups according to characters contained in respective text labels associated with the user interface elements, the user interface elements indicating, on the screen, a user interface element currently having focus to receive user input; detecting an ensemble of sequential user activation inputs, comprising; a forward user activation input comprising a forward activation modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements, and a backward user activation input comprising a backward activation modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements; identifying a group of user interface elements by comparing the characters contained in the text labels associated with the user interface elements to the key press of at least one text character; performing an action associated with a user interface element in the identified group; when the user activation input is detected; determining a current group of user interface elements that contains the user interface element currently having input focus, and determining a target group of user interface elements that has a corresponding text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character; when the user activation input is the forward user activation input; shifting input focus in the forward direction to a next user interface element in the current group having an associated text label with characters matching the key press of the at least one text character when the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a first user interface element in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group; and wherein when the user activation input is the backward user activation input; shifting input focus in the reverse direction to a previous user interface element in the current group having an associated text label with characters matching the key press of at least one text character when if the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a user interface element last in order in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 29)
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14. A computer implemented method for navigating user interface elements displayed on a screen, the method comprising the steps performed by a computer of:
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grouping the user interface elements displayed on the screen alphabetically into user interface element groups according to characters contained in respective text labels associated with the user interface elements, the user interface elements indicating, on the display screen, a user interface element currently having focus to receive user input; detecting a user navigation input comprising; a forward user navigation input comprising a forward modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements, and a backward user navigation input comprising a backward modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements; identifying a group of user interface elements associated with the key press of at least one text character by comparing the key press of at least one text character to the characters contained in the text labels associated with the user interface elements; and shifting input focus to a user interface element in the identified group based on the user navigation input, the shifting comprising when the user navigation input is detected; determining a current group of user interface elements that contains the user interface element currently having input focus, and determining a target group of user interface elements that has an associated text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character; when the user navigation input is the forward user navigation input; shifting input focus in the forward direction to a next user interface element in the current group having a text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character when the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a first user interface element in the target group when if the current group is not the same as the target group, and when the user navigation input is the backward user navigation input; shifting input focus in the reverse direction to a previous user interface element in the current group having a text label matching the key press of at least one text character when the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a user interface element last in order in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 30, 33)
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18. A computer implemented method for a software application having user interface elements displayed on a screen, the method performed by a computer and comprising the steps of:
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grouping the user interface elements displayed on the screen alphabetically into groups according to characters contained in text labels associated with the user interface elements, the interface elements indicating, on the screen, a user interface element currently having focus to receive user input; detecting a sequence of one or more user navigation inputs, comprising; a forward user navigation input comprising a forward modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements, and a backward user navigation input comprising a backward modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements; generating a navigation string from the forward or backward user navigation input; and identifying a group of user interface elements by comparing the navigation string to the characters contained in the text labels associated with the user interface elements; shifting input focus to a user interface element in the identified group based on the navigation string, the shifting comprising; when the user navigation input is detected; determining a current group of user interface elements that contains the user interface element currently having input focus, and determining a target group of user interface elements that has an associated text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character; wherein when the user navigation input is the forward user navigation input; shifting input focus in the forward direction to a next user interface element next in the current group having a text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character when the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a first user interface element in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group, and when the user navigation input is the backward user navigation input; shifting input focus in the reverse direction to a previous user interface element in the current group having a text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character when the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a user interface element last in order in the target group if the current group is not the same as the target group. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 31)
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22. A computer implemented method for providing activation keys for user interface elements displayed on a screen, the method performed by a computer and comprising the steps of:
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grouping the user interface elements displayed on the screen alphabetically into user interface element groups according to characters contained in respective text labels associated with the user interface elements, the user interface elements indicating, on the screen, a user interface element currently having focus to receive user input; detecting an ensemble of sequential user activation inputs, comprising; a forward user activation input comprising a forward activation modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements, and a backward user activation input comprising a backward activation modifier key press combined with a key press of at least one text character identifying one of the groups of user interface elements; identifying a group of user interface elements by comparing the characters contained in the text labels associated with the user interface elements to the key press of at least one text character; and performing an action associated with the a user interface element in the identified group, the performing comprising; when the user activation input is detected; determining a current group of user interface elements that contains the user interface element currently having input focus, and determining a target group of user interface elements that has an associated text label containing characters matching to the key press of at least one text character; when the user activation input is the forward user activation input; shifting input focus in the forward direction to a next user interface element in the current group having a text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character when the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a first user interface element in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group, and when the user activation input is the backward user activation input; shifting input focus in the reverse direction to a previous user interface element in the current group having a text label containing characters matching the key press of at least one text character when the current group is the same as the target group, and shifting input focus to a user interface element last in order in the target group when the current group is not the same as the target group. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 32)
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Specification