ACTIVE PATH MENU NAVIGATION SYSTEM

• US 20070157127A1
• Filed: 01/20/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caddo Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Armin Moehrle
• Inventors: Moehrle, Armin
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method for navigating within a multi-level hierarchical collapsing menu structure is disclosed. Each level in the menu structure contains plural items, each item being at least one of a function, a pointer to a location, and a pointer to another level. The method of the present invention includes a step of providing a graphical user menu system displaying the items of a given level and enabling selection thereof, wherein access of the given level requires sequential access of each of the levels preceding the given level in the hierarchy. An Active Path is dynamically constructed as a sequence of active links as items are selected using the graphical user menu system, with one active link correspond to each of the items selected. The active links provide direct access to a function corresponding level or menu item without the need to navigate using the graphical user menu system.

Claims

1. (canceled)

7. A method for navigating within a hierarchical menu structure where each level in the menu contains plural items, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a graphical user menu system displaying the items of a given level and enabling selection thereof, wherein access of said given level requires sequential access of each of the levels preceding said given level in the hierarchy;

constructing an Active Path as a sequence of hierarchical active links as items are selected using the graphical user menu system, with one said active link corresponding to each of the items selected, each said active link providing direct access to the hierarchical level from which the corresponding item was selected without using said graphical user menu system; and

displaying the Active Path as an alternative to the graphical user menu system for navigating the menu structure after the user has finished selecting items using the graphical user system such that the Active Path is displayed;

wherein pre-selecting a given active link triggers the display of menu items on the level associated with said given active link without disturbing the displayed Active Path.

2. The method for navigating according to claim 7, further comprising:

providing pre-defined short-cuts enabling direct access to a given menu item; and

automatically constructing the Active Path when a pre-defined short-cut is executed, with one said active link corresponding to each of the menu items necessary to access said given menu item using said graphical user menu system.

3. The method for navigating according to claim 7, wherein pre-selecting a given active link triggers the display of menu items on the level associated with said given active link.

4. The method for navigating according to claim 7, wherein selecting a given active link triggers the execution of a function associated with said given active link.

5. The method for navigating according to claim 7, wherein selecting a given active link triggers display of information associated with said given active link.

6. The method according to claim 7, wherein a user-defined short-cut is defined on-the-fly by storing a short-cut identifier and an associated plurality of active links in a look-up table.

8. The method for navigating according to claim 3, wherein pre-selecting a given active menu item triggers the display of subordinate menu items.