Apparatus and method for navigating amongst a plurality of symbols on a display device

• US 8,166,419 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: DeMers, Robert E., White, Mel
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, Chat
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALOMON, PHENUEL S
• Application Number:
  US12/022,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20090193362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 715/835, 701/208
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A display device is provided for selecting a plurality of selectable symbols on an electronic display. The display device comprises an electronic display that displays a plurality of selectable symbols, a user input control device, and a processor coupled to the electronic display and the user input control device. The processor is configured to select one of the plurality of selectable symbols based on a comparison of at least two of the plurality of selectable symbols according to a predetermined priority scheme in response to a single activation of the user input control device. In addition, the processor is further configured to select an additional selectable symbol from the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with a predetermined sequence upon further activation of the input control device.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

an electronic display that displays a plurality of selectable symbols each symbol representing a physical object;

a user input control device configured to define a boundary designator enclosing a subset of the plurality of selectable symbols; and

a processor coupled to the electronic display and to the user input control device, the processor configured to select one of the subset of the plurality of selectable symbols based on relative positions of at least two of the subset of selectable symbols and relative sizes of the physical objects represented thereby in response to a movable cursor on the electronic display resulting from a single activation of the user input control device.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

cause the electronic display to display a map of an area; and

position the plurality of selectable symbols to represent entities of interest in the area.

3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to select a different selectable symbol from the subset of the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with a predetermined sequence upon further activation of the user input control device.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein:

the processor is further configured to;

cause the electronic display to display the movable cursor, and

select a selectable symbol from the subset of the plurality of selectable symbols by positioning the movable cursor so that the movable cursor overlaps with the selectable symbol on the electronic display.

5. The display device of claim 3, wherein the predetermined sequence is based on the relative positions of the subset of the plurality of selectable symbols on the electronic display.

6. The display device of claim 1, wherein:

the user input control device is further configured to provide;

a first input, resulting in the selection of a next selectable symbol from the subset of the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with a predetermined sequence, and

a second input, resulting in the selection of a previous selectable symbol from the subset of the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with the predetermined sequence; and

the processor is further configured to select;

the next selectable symbol from the subset of the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with the predetermined sequence upon further activation of the user input control device in the form of the first input; and

the previous selectable symbol from the subset of the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with the predetermined sequence upon further activation of the user input control device in the form of the second input.

7. The display device of claim 6, wherein the user input control device is comprised of a rotary dial and rotating the rotary dial in a first direction comprises a first input and rotating the rotary dial in the opposite direction comprises a second input.

8. The display device of claim 6, wherein the user input control device is comprised of a toggle switch and pressing the toggle switch in a first direction comprises a first input and pressing the toggle switch in the opposite direction comprises a second input.

9. The display device of claim 6, wherein the user input control device is comprised of a pair of keys and pressing a first key comprises a first input and pressing a second key comprises a second input.

10. A method for selecting a plurality of selectable symbols on a display device, each symbol representing a physical object, comprising:

displaying the plurality of selectable symbols on an electronic display;

receiving a single input from a user input control device configured to define a boundary designator enclosing a subset of the plurality of selectable symbols; and

selecting one of the plurality of selectable symbols based on relative positions of at least two of the plurality of selectable symbols and relative sizes of the physical objects represented thereby on the electronic display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying a movable cursor and wherein the selecting step is further comprised of selecting one of the plurality of selectable symbols based on the relative positions of the at least two of the plurality of selectable symbols and the movable cursor on the electronic display.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying a movable cursor and wherein the selecting steps are further comprised of positioning the movable cursor so that the movable cursor overlaps with one of the plurality of selectable symbols on the electronic display.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving an additional input from the user input control device; and

selecting a different selectable symbol from the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined sequence is determined by the relative positions of the plurality of selectable symbols on the electronic display.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the additional input from the user input control device is comprised of a first input configured to cause the selection of a next selectable symbol from the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with the predetermined sequence; and

the step of selecting the different selectable symbol from the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with the predetermined sequence is further comprised of selecting the next selectable symbol from the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with the predetermined sequence.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the additional input from the user input control device is comprised of a second input configured to result in the selection of a previous selectable symbol from the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with the predetermined sequence; and

the step of selecting the different selectable symbol from the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with the predetermined sequence is further comprised of selecting the previous selectable symbol from the plurality of selectable symbols in accordance with the predetermined sequence.

17. A display device, comprising:

an electronic display that displays a plurality of selectable symbols each symbol representing a physical object;

a user input control device; and

a processor coupled to the electronic display and to the user input control device, the processor configured to;

generate a boundary designator on the electronic display that encloses a desired subset of the plurality of selectable objects; and

select a selectable object from the desired subset of the plurality of selectable objects according to a predetermined priority scheme based on relative positions of at least two of the subset of selectable symbols and relative sizes of the selectable objects represented thereby in response to a single activation of the user input control device.

18. The display device of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to select a different selectable object from the desired subset of the plurality of selectable objects in accordance with a predetermined sequence upon further activation of the user input control device.