Selection interface systems and methods

• US 8,341,553 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colleen Romero
• Original Assignee: George William Reed
• Inventors: Reed, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUONG, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US12/914,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20110041095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 715/763, 715/834, 715/840, 715/841, 715/850, 715/851, 715/853
• US Class Current: 715/834
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A user selection interface system comprises one or more rotatable selectors linked to selectable characteristics, and a display linked to the selectors, for display of an image that corresponds to the selected characteristics. The interface is typically linked to a database comprising stored image and other information which corresponds to the selectable characteristics, whereby an image that corresponds to an item which meets a selected characteristic is retrieved and displayed. Information other than the image which corresponds to the selectable characteristics may also be retrieved and displayed. In some embodiments, the stored images comprise a single image, which matches all the selected characteristics. In alternate embodiments, the displayed image comprises a composite image that is based upon stored images which correspond to different selected characteristics. In some embodiments, the user selection interface comprises a graphic user interface. In alternate embodiments, the user selection interface comprises a mechanical interface. Some preferred embodiments of the user selection interface provide links for merchandising functions, such as for ordering, purchasing, inventories, and/or shipping.

Claims

1. A computer implemented selection interface system, comprising:

at least one database comprising storage of information associated with a plurality of items, wherein the information associated with each corresponding item comprises

one or more characteristics that correspond to the item, and

at least one image of at least a portion of the item;

a user interface comprising

an image window, and

at least one feature selector for user selection of one or more selectable characteristics, wherein at least one of the feature selectors comprises a rotatable selector; and

a processor;

wherein upon user selection of one or more of the selectable characteristics by a user through the interface, the processor is configured to

determine which of the plurality of items in the database have characteristics that match the characteristics selected by the user,

retrieve at least one corresponding image for each of the items that are determined to have characteristics that match the characteristics selected by the user, and

display the at least one retrieved image within the image window;

wherein the processor is configured to provide at least one selection lock that is operable to lock a selected parameter within a selectable characteristic, wherein only items that meet a locked parameter are available for presentation to a user within the image window.

2. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein the at least one selection lock associated is associated with a corresponding rotatable selector.

3. The selection interface system of claim 2, wherein the at least one selection lock comprises any of a firm lock to prevent any change to a selection or a flexible lock that allows a change if the user is insistent.

4. The selection interface system of claim 2, wherein the at least one selection lock may provide any of popping between allowable positions, or freezing at an allowable position.

5. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the rotatable selectors are located any of surrounding the image window, inside the image window, or outside the image window.

6. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the rotatable selectors provide a mechanism for advancing through a sequence of the retrieved images that have characteristics that match the characteristics selected by the user.

7. The selection interface system of claim 6, wherein the mechanism for advancing through the sequence of images comprises any of random movement or sequential movement.

8. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the rotatable selectors further comprise a mechanism for indication of selectable characteristics, wherein the indication means comprises any of text, colors, shapes or icons.

9. The selection interface system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanism for saving any of images or settings that correspond to selected positions of one or more of the rotatable selectors.

10. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to effect the display of a plurality of sets of rotatable selectors, each having an associated image window, wherein user selection for the plurality of sets of rotatable selectors is associated with any of a feature in common or a feature in combination between each of the sets.

11. The selection interface system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanism for transmitting any of an image or settings of the rotatable selectors to another device.

12. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to provide analysis of any of an image or content, and to determine positions of one or more of the rotatable selectors to correspond to the analyzed content.

13. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the rotatable selectors further comprise a relationship there between.

14. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein at least one the rotatable selectors further comprises a mechanism for any of preventing rotation;

fine or coarse movement between selectable positions;

determining a selected position based upon a threshold of selection;

or

ratcheting between selectable positions.

15. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein at least one the rotatable selectors comprises a shape comprising any of a circle and a polygon.

16. The selection interface system of claim 15, wherein the number of sides of the polygon corresponds to the number of selectable positions for the rotatable selector.

17. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the rotatable selectors are configured as any of

a mobius strip;

a spiral;

an interwoven pattern;

a braided pattern;

a knot;

perpendicular to a user;

one or more spirals;

or

upon uncommon centers.

18. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein at least one the rotatable selectors comprises a plurality of sides corresponding to different selections.

19. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable selectors are rearrangable with respect to each other by a user.

20. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the image that is retrievably displayable within the image window is touch sensitive to initiate access to one or more of the rotatable selectors.

21. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein any of the image that is retrievably displayable within the image window or video content that is associated with the rotatable selectors is linked to any of a process or task.

22. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of selection interfaces are synchronizable with respect to each other.

23. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein the position of one or more of the rotatable selectors comprises a quantifiable value.

24. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the rotatable selectors control any of the characteristics of any of a typeface or font, the characteristics of one or more passages of text, or the characteristics of a text layout style template.

25. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the rotatable selectors control any of properties of objects, selection of objects, arrangement of objects, positions of objects, relationships between objects, or selectable characteristics of at least a portion of text.

26. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the rotatable selectors control selectable characteristics of one or more parts of any of a mathematical equation, or a waveform.

27. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the rotatable selectors are configured for any of selection, control, or determination of any of matchable characteristics, color, or size.

28. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the rotatable selectors is configured for provide hierarchical control of at least one of the other rotatable selectors.

29. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein the selection interface is implemented on any of a device or a page, and wherein a user may rotate the device or page for any of selection or navigation in relation to a stationary one or the rotatable selectors.

30. A method, comprising the steps of:

storing information associated with a plurality of items in at least one database, wherein the information associated with each corresponding item comprises

one or more characteristics that correspond to the item, and

at least one image of at least a portion of the item;

providing a user interface comprising

an image window, and

at least one feature selector for user selection of one or more selectable characteristics, wherein at least one of the feature selectors comprises a rotatable selector;

providing at least one selection lock that is operable to lock a selected parameter within a selectable characteristic;

receiving a selection of one or more of the selectable characteristics by a user through the interface;

determining which of the plurality of items in the database have characteristics that match the characteristics selected by the user;

retrieving at least one corresponding image for each of the items that are determined to have characteristics that match the characteristics selected by the user; and

displaying the at least one retrieved image within the image window;

wherein only items that meet a locked parameter are available for presentation to a user within the image window.