Radial control system and method

• US 9,569,092 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allscripts Software LLC (Veradigm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allscripts Software LLC (Veradigm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reed, Christy Jill, McClure, Leigh Randal
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustine, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US13/826,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20140223373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method includes displaying, to a user via an electronic display, a radial control comprising a plurality of concentric arcs, the radial control including a first central section defined by a first arc of the plurality of concentric arcs, and a plurality of child sections collectively defined by the first arc and the other arcs of the plurality of concentric arcs, the plurality of child sections being delineated from one another by dividers extending between two or more arcs of the plurality of concentric arcs, wherein the first central section is associated with a parent activity and each of the plurality of child sections is associated with a child activity related to the parent activity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) displaying, to a user via an electronic display,

(i) a first application interface, and

(ii) a radial control disposed in a corner of the application interface and extending from a vertical edge of the application interface to a horizontal edge of the application interface, the radial control comprising a plurality of concentric arcs, the radial control including

(A) a first central section defined by a first arc of the plurality of concentric arcs, and

(B) a first plurality of child sections collectively defined by the first arc and a second arc of the plurality of concentric arcs, the first plurality of child sections being delineated from one another by one or more dividers extending between the first and second arcs of the plurality of concentric arcs,

(C) wherein the first central section is associated with a parent activity and each of the first plurality of child sections is associated with a child activity related to the parent activity;

(b) receiving, at an electronic device in electronic communication with the electronic display, user input from the user, the user input corresponding to selection of a first child section of the first plurality of child sections, the first child section being associated with a first child activity;

(c) updating, at the electronic display in response to the user input corresponding to selection of the first child section, the radial control to include a second plurality of child sections collectively defined by

(i) a portion of the second arc defining the selected first child section, and

(ii) one or more extended divider lines extending outward from the divider lines defining the selected first child section, and

(iii) a newly displayed arc spaced outwardly from the portion of the second arc defining the selected first child section,

(iv) wherein the newly displayed arc does not extend beyond the one or more extended divider lines,

(v) wherein each of the second plurality of child sections is associated with a child activity related to the first child activity;

(d) receiving, at the electronic device in electronic communication with the electronic display, user input from the user, the user input corresponding to selection of a second child section of the second plurality of child sections;

(e) displaying, to the user via the electronic display, in response to the user input corresponding to selection of a second child section of the second plurality of child sections, a second application interface, the second application interface being associated with the child activity associated with the selected second child section, wherein the selected one of the child sections is highlighted in indication of the user selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic display comprises a touchscreen display.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving user input from the user comprises receiving user input via the touchscreen display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a tablet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the selected one of the child sections is highlighted in indication of the user selection, the selected one of the child sections is highlighted by changing a color of the selected one of the child sections.

6. A method comprising:

(a) displaying, to a user via an electronic display,

(i) a first application interface, and

(ii) a radial control disposed in a corner of the application interface, the radial control comprising a plurality of concentric arcs extending from a vertical edge of the application interface to a horizontal edge of the application interface, the radial control including

(A) a first central section defined by a first arc of the plurality of concentric arcs, and

(B) a first plurality of child sections collectively defined by the first arc and a second arc of the plurality of concentric arcs, the first plurality of child sections being delineated from one another by one or more dividers extending between the first and second arcs of the plurality of concentric arcs,

(C) wherein the first central section is associated with a parent activity and each of the first plurality of child sections is associated with a child activity related to the parent activity;

(b) receiving, at an electronic device in electronic communication with the electronic display, user input from the user, the user input corresponding to selection of a first child section of the first plurality of child sections, the first child section being associated with a first child activity;

(c) updating, at the electronic display in response to the user input corresponding to selection of the first child section, the radial control to include a second plurality of child sections collectively defined by

(i) a portion of the second arc defining the selected first child section, and

(ii) one or more extended divider lines extending outward from the divider lines defining the selected first child section, and

(iii) a newly displayed arc spaced outwardly from the portion of the second arc defining the selected first child section,

(iv) wherein the newly displayed arc does not extend beyond the one or more extended divider lines,

(v) wherein each of the second plurality of child sections is associated with a child activity related to the first child activity;

(d) receiving, at the electronic device in electronic communication with the electronic display, user input from the user, the user input corresponding to selection of a second child section of the second plurality of child sections;

(e) displaying, to the user via the electronic display, in response to the user input corresponding to selection of a second child section of the second plurality of child sections, a second application interface, the second application interface being associated with the child activity associated with the selected second child section, wherein the selected one of the child sections is highlighted in indication of the user selection.

7. A method comprising:

(a) displaying, to a user via an electronic display,

(i) a first application interface, and

(ii) a radial control comprising a plurality of concentric arcs disposed in a corner of the application interface, the radial control extending from a vertical edge of the application interface to a horizontal edge of the application interface, the radial control including

(A) a first central section defined by a first arc of the plurality of concentric arcs, and

(B) a first plurality of child sections collectively defined by the first arc and a second arc of the plurality of concentric arcs, the first plurality of child sections being delineated from one another by one or more dividers extending between the first and second arcs of the plurality of concentric arcs,

(C) wherein the first central section is associated with a parent activity and each of the first plurality of child sections is associated with a child activity related to the parent activity;

(b) receiving, at an electronic device in electronic communication with the electronic display, user input from the user, the user input corresponding to selection of a first child section of the first plurality of child sections, the first child section being associated with a first child activity;

(c) updating, at the electronic display in response to the user input corresponding to selection of the first child section, the radial control to include a second plurality of child sections collectively defined by

(i) a portion of the second arc defining the selected first child section, and

(ii) one or more extended divider lines extending outward from the divider lines defining the selected first child section, and

(iii) a newly displayed arc spaced outwardly from the portion of the second arc defining the selected first child section,

(iv) wherein the newly displayed arc does not extend beyond the one or more extended divider lines,

(v) wherein each of the second plurality of child sections is associated with a child activity related to the first child activity;

(d) receiving, at the electronic device in electronic communication with the electronic display, user input from the user, the user input corresponding to selection of a second child section of the second plurality of child sections;

(e) displaying, to the user via the electronic display, in response to the user input corresponding to selection of a second child section of the second plurality of child sections, a second application interface, the second application interface being associated with the child activity associated with the selected second child section, wherein the selected one of the child sections is highlighted in indication of the user selection;

(f) determining that a predetermined period of time has passed without the displayed radial control having been utilized; and

(g) collapsing, based on the determination that a predetermined period of time has passed without the radial control having been utilized, the displayed radial control so as to reduce the size of the radial control and the footprint of the radial control on the display.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein collapsing the displayed radial control comprises reducing the distance between the plurality of concentric arcs of the radial control.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further includes

(a) receiving, at the electronic device, user input from the user, the user input corresponding to a touching of the radial control;

and

(b) expanding, in response to the receiving user input corresponding to a touching of the radial control, the radial control.