Loop menu navigation apparatus and method

• US 20090106696A1
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Duarte, Matias
• Application Number:
  US11/502,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20090106696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/828
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A curved-listing file hierarchy and a preview window for more efficiently displaying file hierarchy information on a data processing device. Curved-listing file hierarchies may allow more elements of a file hierarchy to be displayed in a smaller space. This may be especially useful for the smaller screens of some data processing devices like Personal Digital Assistants and cellular phones. A preview screen may allow a user to view preview information on a file in the hierarchy without actually opening the file.

Claims

1. A data processing device, comprising:

a display having a screen;

stored computer files that are accessible; and

a graphical user interface displayed on the screen, comprising;

a curved listing of identifiers, wherein at least one identifier corresponds to one or more of the computer files, and wherein at least one other identifier is a heading under which additional identifiers are logically organized;

a selection indicator to select one or more of the identifiers; and

a preview window to display an image associated with a computer file related to one of the identifiers being selected when the selection indicator is at a position next to the identifier on the screen, wherein the image increases in detail the longer that the selection indicator is at a position next to the identifier on the screen, the preview window displayed concurrently with the curved listing.

2. The data processing device of claim 1, further comprising an additional identifier displayed inside the curved listing.

3. The data processing device of claim 2, wherein the additional identifier displayed inside the curved listing is a heading within another listing of of identifiers.

4. The data processing device of claim 1, wherein a second curved listing of identifiers is displayed on the screen when the selection indicator is at a position next to the other identifier that is a heading.

6. The data processing device of claim 1, wherein the curved listing is circular.

7. The data processing device of claim 1, further comprising a communication apparatus to allow the data processing device to communicate with a network.

8. The data processing device of claim 7, wherein the communication apparatus is at least one from a group consisting of:

an antenna;

a modem; and

an infrared sensor.

5. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. A method, comprising:

associating at least one identifier of a group of identifiers with at least one computer file, application or other data for use by a data processing device;

associating at least one other identifier of the group of identifiers as a heading for use by the data processing device to organize an additional group of identifiers;

generating a curved listing of the group of identifiers on a data processing device display;

receiving a selection of one or more of the identifiers of the group of identifiers when a selection indicator is at a position next to one or more of the identifiers; and

displaying within a preview window, concurrently with the curved listing, information associated with a file, application or other data related to the one or more selected identifiers, wherein a size of the preview window is configured to adjust based on the number of identifiers in the curved listing on the data processing device display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying an additional curved listing of identifiers upon the selection indicator selecting the other identifier that represents the heading.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying an identifier associated with the curved listing of the group of identifiers inside the curved listing.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying the other identifier that represents the heading inside the additional curved listing.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the information associated with the file, application or other data is an image.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising increasing detail of the image with respect to a specified length of time the image is displayed.

16. A data processing device, comprising:

a display having a screen;

stored computer files that are accessible;

a graphical user interface displayed on the screen, comprising;

a curved listing of identifiers and/or identifier pointers, wherein;

at least one identifier corresponds to one or more of the computer files;

at least one other identifier is a heading to organize additional identifiers;

a width of the curved listing is configured to vary based on the number of identifiers; and

a selection indicator to select one or more of the identifiers.

17. The data processing device of claim 16, further comprising at least one of the identifiers displayed inside the curved listing.

18. The data processing device of claim 17, wherein the identifier displayed inside the curved listing is a heading of additional identifiers.

19. The data processing device of claim 16, wherein an additional curved listing of a plurality of identifiers is displayed on the screen when the selection indicator is at a position next to the identifier that is the heading.

20. The data processing device of claim 16, further comprising a communication apparatus to allow the data processing device to communicate with a network.