Auto-positioning a context menu on a GUI

• US 8,214,763 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Duquene, Joel, Brunkhorst, Richard Adam, Hambright, Eric Pratt
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, David
• Application Number:
  US12/409,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20100251175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 715/762, 715/709, 715/708, 715/811, 715/817, 715/784
• US Class Current: 715/817
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for positioning a context menu on a Graphical User Interface (GUI) are presented. A cursor over a selected element on the GUI is clicked to display a context window. When scrolling to a chosen option within the context window occurs, the entire context menu moves, thus keeping the selected element aligned next to a scrolled-to option in the context window.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of controlling a view of a context menu on a Graphical User Interface (GUI), the computer-implemented method comprising:

executing instructions on a specific processor, wherein the instructions, when executed, perform a process comprising;

receiving a primary element selection signal, wherein the primary element selection signal indicates a selection of a selected primary element on a GUI;

in response to detecting a context menu calling signal, displaying a context menu that is associated with the selected primary element;

in response to detecting a user hovering a cursor over different options in the context menu, repositioning the context menu to keep the selected primary element visually aligned next to and abutting a currently hovered-over option in the context menu, wherein the selected primary element is displayed in a pane on the GUI, and wherein the pane is repositioned during the user hovering, wherein the selected primary element remains visually aligned next to and abutting the currently hovered-over option in the context menu by simultaneously repositioning both the pane and the context menu during the user hovering;

determining which context menu option is a most significant context menu option; and

in response to the context menu being displayed on the GUI, automatically visually aligning the most significant context menu option next to the selected primary element on the GUI while preserving all original menu options in the context menu, wherein said selected primary element and said currently hovered-over option are aligned on a same horizontal axis.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving a selection signal for the currently hovered-over option, executing the currently hovered-over option.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein all context menu options in the context menu retain their original order after begin visually aligned.

4. A computer-readable storage medium on which is encoded a computer program, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:

first program instructions for receiving a primary element selection signal, wherein the primary element selection signal indicates a selection of a selected primary element on a GUI;

second program instructions for, in response to detecting a context menu calling signal, displaying a context menu that is associated with the selected primary element;

third program instructions for, in response to detecting a user hovering a cursor over different options in the context menu, repositioning the context menu to keep the selected primary element visually aligned next to and abutting a currently hovered-over option in the context menu, wherein the selected primary element is displayed in a pane on the GUI, and wherein the pane is repositioned during the user hovering, wherein the selected primary element remains visually aligned next to and abutting the currently hovered-over option in the context menu by a combination of repositioning both the pane and the context menu during the user hovering;

fourth program instructions for determining which context menu option is a most significant context menu option; and

fifth program instructions for, in response to the context menu being displayed on the GUI, automatically visually aligning the most significant context menu option next to the selected primary element on the GUI, while preserving all original menu options in the context menu, wherein said selected primary element and said currently hovered-over option are aligned on a same axis.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein all context menu options in the context menu retain their original order after begin visually aligned.

6. A system comprising:

a processor, a computer readable memory, and a computer readable storage media;

first program instructions for receiving a primary element selection signal, wherein the primary element selection signal indicates a selection of a selected primary element on a GUI;

second program instructions for, in response to detecting a context menu calling signal, displaying a context menu that is associated with the selected primary element;

third program instructions for, in response to detecting a user hovering a cursor over different options in the context menu, repositioning the context menu to keep the selected primary element visually aligned next to and abutting a currently hovered-over option in the context menu,

wherein the selected primary element is displayed in a pane on the GUI, and wherein the pane is repositioned during the user hovering, wherein the selected primary element remains visually aligned next to and abutting the currently hovered-over option in the context menu by a combination of repositioning both the pane and the context menu during the user hovering;

fourth program instructions for determining which context menu option is a most significant context menu option; and

fifth program instructions for in response to the context menu being displayed on the GUI, automatically visually aligning the most significant context menu option next to the selected primary element on the GUI,

wherein said selected primary element and said currently hovered-over option are aligned on a same axis; and

wherein said first, second, third, fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on said computer readable storage media for execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein all context menu options in the context menu retain their original order after begin visually aligned.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the program instructions are downloaded from a software deploying server to the system in an on-demand basis.