Multidimensional data input interface

• US 8,645,864 B1
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Wright, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdul-Ali, Omar
• Application Number:
  US11/934,956
• Time in Patent Office: 2,283 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 715/821, 715/860, 707/706, 707/707, 707/708
• US Class Current: 715/821
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide an interface for simultaneously inputting multiple data parameters for a software application. Generally, a single user input made using the input interface results in multiple data parameters being received by the application. In one embodiment, the input interface may be defined with a plurality of dimensional nodes, where each dimensional node corresponds to a dimension of input that may be specified for the software application using the input interface.

Claims

1. A method for providing multidimensional data input to a computer program, comprising:

receiving a user-selected location within a graphical interface, wherein the graphical interface includes at least two nodes, and each node corresponds to an input parameter to be provided to the computer program;

determining a coordinate location of the user-selected location within the graphical interface relative to the at least two nodes; and

based on the coordinate location of the user-selected location within the graphical interface, determining a value for each of the input parameters,

wherein one or more of the nodes of the graphical interface are selectively lockable by a user, wherein a locked node indicates a fixed value for an input parameter corresponding to the locked node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a value for one of the input parameters is determined based on both (i) a distance between a first node, of the at least two nodes, and the user-selected location and (ii) a distance between a second node, of the at least two nodes, and the user-selected location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a value for one of the input parameters is determined based on a position of the user-selected location between two nodes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a value for a first input parameter, of the one or more input parameters, and a value for a second input parameter, of the one or more input parameters, are dependent on one another, and wherein the value for the first and second parameters are determined based on a position of the user-selected location relative to two of the nodes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the input parameters specify relative weights assigned to search criteria.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a user may selectively modify, add, or remove a node from the graphical interface.

7. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for providing multidimensional data input to a computer program, including instructions for performing the steps of:

receiving a user-selected location within a graphical interface, wherein the graphical interface includes at least two nodes, and each node corresponds to an input parameter to be provided to the computer program;

determining a coordinate location of the user-selected location within the graphical interface relative to the at least two nodes; and

based on the coordinate location of the user-selected location within the graphical interface, determining a value for each of the input parameters,

wherein one or more of the nodes of the graphical interface are selectively lockable by a user, wherein a locked node indicates a fixed value for an input parameter corresponding to the locked node.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein a value for one of the input parameters is determined based on both (i) a distance between a first node, of the at least two nodes, and the user-selected location of the user selection and (ii) a distance between a second node, of the at least two nodes, and the user-selected location.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein a value for one of the input parameters is determined based on a position of the user-selected location between two nodes.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein a value for a first input parameter, of the one or more input parameters, and a value for a second input parameter, of the one or more input parameters, are dependent on one another, and wherein the value for the first and second parameters are determined based on a position of the user-selected location relative to two of the dimensional nodes.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the input parameters specify relative weights assigned to search criteria.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein a user may selectively modify, add, or remove a node from the graphical interface.

13. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing a program, which when executed by the processor is configured to provide a graphical interface for providing multidimensional data input to a computer program, wherein the program is configured to;

receive a user-selected location within a graphical interface, wherein the graphical interface includes at least two nodes, and each node corresponds to an input parameter to be provided to the computer program;

determine a coordinate location of the user-selected location within the graphical interface relative to the at least two nodes; and

based on the coordinate location of the user-selected location within the graphical interface, determine a value for each of the input parameters,

wherein one or more of the nodes of the graphical interface are selectively lockable by a user, wherein a locked node indicates a fixed value for an input parameter corresponding to the locked node.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a value for one of the input parameters is determined based on both (i) a distance between a first node, of the at least two nodes, and the user-selected location and (ii) a distance between a second node, of the at least two nodes, and the user-selected location.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein a value for one of the input parameters is determined based on a position of the user-selected location between two nodes.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein a value for a first input parameter, of the one or more input parameters, and a value for a second input parameter, of the one or more input parameters, are dependent on one another, and wherein the value for the first and second parameters are determined based on a position of the user-selected location relative to two of the nodes.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the input parameters specify relative weights assigned to search criteria.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein a user may selectively modify, add, or remove a node from the graphical interface.