ON-SCREEN MENU BUTTONS INCLUDING MULTIPLE MODES

• US 20090172597A1
• Filed: 12/30/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mercer, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,304,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/840
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Menu items are displayed on a screen, for example in the form of user-activatable on-screen buttons. A root menu is displayed, including a “more” button that allows the user to navigate to one or more sub-menus. Each menu can contain function buttons, menu buttons, or any combination thereof. Function buttons provide direct access to functions. Menu buttons provide access to sub-menus, which may be provided in a hierarchical arrangement. In some sub-menus, a menu title button replaces the “more” button and provides access to a previously displayed menu. The user can activate a displayed function button in any menu or sub-menu to perform an action associated with the function button.

In one aspect, all menus are displayed in the same area of the screen. When a menu is to be displayed, it replaces the previously displayed menu. By presenting only a limited set of buttons at any given time, the present invention provides access to functions without obscuring the workspace.

Claims

1. A method of displaying menus on a display screen, the menus comprising a root menu and at least one other menu, the method comprising:

a) displaying a root menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons;

b) receiving user input activating a button in the displayed menu;

c) responsive to user input activating a menu navigation button, displaying a menu other than the displayed menu;

d) responsive to user input activating a menu button, displaying a menu corresponding to the activated menu button;

e) responsive to user input activating at least one of a menu title button and a return button, displaying a previously-displayed menu;

f) responsive to activation of an on-screen button corresponding to a function, performing the function; and

wherein each menu comprises a plurality of on-screen buttons, the plurality of on-screen buttons comprising at least one of;

a menu navigation button;

a menu title button;

a return button;

a function button; and

a menu button.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) comprises toggling between the root menu and at least one other menu.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) comprises cycling between the root menu and at least two other menus.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

g) repeating steps b) through g).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the display screen comprises a work-space area and a menu area, and wherein the root menu and the at least one other menu are displayed within the menu area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving user input comprises detecting physical contact with a region of the display screen corresponding to an on-screen button.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying each menu comprises displaying the menu on a display screen of a device, and wherein the device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a personal digital assistant;

a handheld computing device;

a cellular telephone;

a personal computer;

a laptop computer;

a kiosk;

a consumer electronic device;

a navigation system; and

a media player.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

c) comprises replacing the displayed menu with a menu other than the displayed menu; and

d) comprises replacing the displayed menu with a menu other than the displayed menu.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each menu comprises a row of buttons.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each menu is scrollable.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

g) responsive to activation of an on-screen button corresponding to a pop-up menu;

displaying the corresponding pop-up menu comprising a plurality of menu items;

receiving user input activating one of the menu items; and

performing an action corresponding to the activated menu item.

12. A computer program product for displaying menus on a display screen, the menus comprising a root menu and at least one other menu, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

a) displaying a root menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons;

b) receiving user input activating a button in the displayed menu;

c) responsive to user input activating a menu navigation button, displaying a menu other than the displayed menu;

d) responsive to user input activating a menu button, displaying a menu corresponding to the activated menu button;

e) responsive to user input activating at least one of a menu title button and a return button, displaying a previously-displayed menu;

f) responsive to activation of an on-screen button corresponding to a function, performing the function; and

wherein each menu comprises a plurality of on-screen buttons, the plurality of on-screen buttons comprising at least one of;

a menu navigation button;

a menu title button;

a return button;

a function button; and

a menu button.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer program code for performing step c) comprises computer program code for toggling between the root menu and at least one other menu.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer program code for performing step c) comprises computer program code for cycling between the root menu and at least two other menus.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising computer program code for:

g) repeating steps b) through g).

16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the display screen comprises a workspace area and a menu area, and wherein the root menu and the at least one other menu are displayed within the menu area.

17. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer program code for receiving user input comprises computer program code for detecting physical contact with a region of the display screen corresponding to an on-screen button.

18. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer program code for displaying each menu comprises computer program code for displaying the menu on a display screen of a device, and wherein the device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a personal digital assistant;

a handheld computing device;

a cellular telephone;

a personal computer;

a laptop computer;

a kiosk;

a consumer electronic device;

a navigation system; and

a media player.

19. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein:

the computer program code for performing step c) comprises computer program code for replacing the displayed menu with a menu other than the displayed menu; and

the computer program code for performing step d) comprises computer program code for replacing the displayed menu with a menu other than the displayed menu.

20. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein each menu comprises a row of buttons.

21. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein each menu is scrollable.

22. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising computer program code for:

g) responsive to activation of an on-screen button corresponding to a pop-up menu;

displaying the corresponding pop-up menu comprising a plurality of menu items;

receiving user input activating one of the menu items; and

performing an action corresponding to the activated menu item.

23. A system of displaying menus on a display screen, the menus comprising a root menu and at least one other menu, the system comprising:

an input device for receiving user input activating a button in a displayed menu;

a display device for displaying a root menu comprising a plurality of on-screen buttons, and for;

responsive to user input activating a menu navigation button, displaying a menu other than the displayed menu;

responsive to user input activating a menu button, displaying a menu corresponding to the activated menu button; and

responsive to user input activating at least one of a menu title button and a return button, displaying a previously-displayed menu;

wherein each menu comprises a plurality of on-screen buttons, the plurality of on-screen buttons comprising at least one of;

a menu navigation button;

a menu title button;

a return button;

a function button; and

a menu button; and

a processor, for, responsive to activation of an on-screen button corresponding to a function, performing the function.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the input device comprises a touch-screen.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the display screen comprises a display screen of a device, and wherein the device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a personal digital assistant;

a handheld computing device;

a cellular telephone;

a personal computer;

a laptop computer;

a kiosk;

a consumer electronic device;

a navigation system; and

a media player.