Navigation of an N-dimensional hierarchical structure using a 2-dimensional controller

• US 7,895,510 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Johnson, Eric, Dicke, Ronald Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton; David
• Application Number:
  US12/705,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 219/78.02, 345/535, 345/629, 715/810, 715/854, 714/46, 714/810
• US Class Current: 714/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A system and method for navigating a multi-hierarchical menu system using a two-dimensional controller, comprising displaying an N^th level of the multi-hierarchical menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of a display, scrolling the icons in a first dimension relative to the pointer responsive to operating the controller in the first dimension, and one of either selecting one of the icons in closest proximity to the pointer responsive to operating the controller in a first direction of a second dimension, or displaying a N+1^th level of the multi-hierarchical menu system relative to one of the icons in closest proximity to the pointer responsive to operating the controller in an opposite direction of the second dimension.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic device having a display and a two-dimensional controller, comprising:

executing a primary function of said electronic device in accordance with operation of said two-dimensional controller and displaying graphics associated therewith; and

implementing a navigation function following a predetermined period of inactivity of said controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said navigation function comprises displaying a menu system, said menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of said display.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising scrolling said icons in a first dimension relative to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in a first dimension;

and selecting one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in a second dimension.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said selecting initiates one of either execution of a function associated with said one of said icons or displaying a further level of said menu system associated with said one of said icons.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said further level of said menu system includes a further plurality of icons representing further functions related to said one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said further functions include at least one of a filter function to search between features currently in-view on said display and features outside of the display area, a category function to search for features based on categories, and an index function to facilitate searching through an alphabetical list using fine and coarse-grained controls.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said second dimension is perpendicular to said first dimension.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising identifying said graphics prior to displaying said menu system.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said icons represent context-sensitive functions.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said context-sensitive functions include at least one of searching for information relating to a feature of interest in proximity to said pointer, setting a location waypoint, and returning to a current location.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising ceasing display of said menu system responsive to scrolling said icons beyond a last one of said icons.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a two-dimensional controller; and

a processor for (i) executing a primary function of said electronic device in accordance with operation of said two-dimensional controller and displaying graphics associated therewith and (ii) implementing a navigation function following a predetermined period of inactivity of said controller.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein said navigation function comprises displaying a menu system, said menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of said display.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein said processor further scrolls said icons in a first dimension relative to said pointer responsive to operation of said controller in a first dimension;

and selects one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer responsive to operation of said controller in a second dimension.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein said processor initiates one of either execution of a function associated with said one of said icons or causes display of a further level of said menu system associated with said one of said icons.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said further level of said menu system includes further a plurality of icons representing further functions related to said one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein said further functions include at least one of a filter function to search between features currently in-view on said display and features outside of the display area, a category function to search for features based on categories, and an index function to facilitate searching through an alphabetical list using fine and coarse-grained controls.

18. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein said second dimension is perpendicular to said first dimension.

19. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein said icons represent context-sensitive functions.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein said context-sensitive functions include at least one of searching for information relating to a feature of interest in proximity to said pointer, setting a location waypoint, and returning to a current location.

21. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein said processor ceases the display of said menu system responsive to scrolling said icons beyond a last one of said icons.