CONTEXTUAL-BASED AND OVERLAID USER INTERFACE ELEMENTS

• US 20070283292A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ZING Systems, Inc. (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Bucher, Timothy, Van Hoff, Arthur Anthonie
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A portable electronics device for displaying a graphical user interface (“GUI”) element on a screen of the device includes a screen, a user input device, a GUI element, and a port for receiving audio headgear. Content is displayed on a screen of the device, the content being associated with a function of the device. Upon receiving user input, the GUI element is displayed on the screen by overlaying the GUI element above the content. The GUI element graphically represents one or more menu selection items, permitting the user of the device to select a menu selection item without navigating out of the function of the device prior to selecting the menu selection item.

Claims

1. In a portable electronics device, a method for displaying a graphical user interface element on a screen of the portable electronics device, comprising:

displaying content on a screen of a portable electronics device, the content being associated with a first function of the portable electronics device;

receiving user input through the manipulation of a user input device of the portable electronics device;

in response to the user input, displaying a graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) element on the screen by overlaying the GUI element on the content, the GUI element including a sequence of menu selection items corresponding to functions other than the first function of the portable electronics device; and

permitting the user to select one of the menu selection items without navigating out of the function of the portable electronics device prior to selecting the menu selection item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user input device is a rotatable wheel; and

the GUI element is a rotating arc displayed on the screen.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying a sequence of menu selection items along a segment of the rotating arc.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising, in response to receiving user input rotating the rotatable wheel, rotating the GUI element in lockstep with the rotatable wheel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user input device is oriented horizontally with respect to the screen of the portable electronics device; and

the GUI element is displayed horizontally on the screen.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input that selects a particular menu selection item; and

initiating a second function of the portable electronics device associated with the selected menu selection item.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the menu selection item is associated with one or more of:

audio content, the Internet, friends/buddies, email, and SMS messaging.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence of menu selection items further corresponds to a top level menu of the portable electronics device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence of menu selection items comprises a sequence of most commonly selected menu selection items.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is displayed at a first intensity prior to displaying the GUI element and at a reduced intensity after displaying the GUI element, and wherein the GUI element is displayed at the first intensity, thereby emphasizing the GUI element.

11. A portable electronics device for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) element on a screen of the portable electronics device, comprising:

a screen configured to display content associated with functions of a portable electronics device;

a user input device configured to receive user input through the manipulation of the user input device;

a graphical user interface element (“

GUI”

) displayable on the screen in response to receiving user input, wherein when the GUI element is displayed, the GUI element is overlaid above content already displayed on the screen, wherein the content is associated with a previously selected function of the portable electronics device and wherein the GUI element includes a sequence of menu selection items corresponding to functions other than the previously selected function, the menu selection items being selectable by a user of the portable electronics device without navigating out of the previously selected function prior to selecting the menu selection item; and

a port for connecting the device to audio headgear, wherein audio content can be audibly rendered through the audio headgear to a user.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the sequence of menu selection items comprises a sequence of most commonly selected menu selection items.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising a top level menu for accessing the functions of the portable electronics device, wherein the sequence of menu selection items further corresponds to the top level menu.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the user input device includes one or more of:

a rotating wheel, electromechanical keys on a keypad, soft keys, a touch pad, and a remote control device.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising a second port for connecting the device to a docking station or connector for charging the device.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is enabled to receive content over a wireless network.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein when the GUI element is displayed on the screen, the user can select a menu selection item that is graphically represented on the GUI element without navigating out of the function of the device prior to selecting the menu selection item.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the GUI element is graphically related to the user input device.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein each of the sequence of menu selection items is associated with a different activity, function, state or other functionality of the device.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein each activity, function, state or other functionality of the device corresponds to one or more of:

accessing audio content, accessing the Internet, communicating with friends, accessing email, and SMS messaging.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the sequence of menu selection items are arranged on the screen horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or in an arc.