Popup menus with directional gestures

• US 5,805,167 A
• Filed: 10/30/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Izak Van Cruyningen
• Original Assignee: Izak Van Cruyningen
• Inventors: van Cruyningen, Izak
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matthew M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/739,611
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 395/353, 395/352, 395/354, 395/347, 395/358, 395/355, 395/339, 395/348, 395/976, 395/341, 395/135, 395/349, 345/113, 345/145, 345/146, 345/353, 345/352, 345/354, 345/347, 345/358, 345/355, 345/339, 345/348, 345/349, 345/976, 345/341, 345/435
• US Class Current: 715/808
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for using directional gestures in popup menus to enter data into and control a computer system. A popup menu contains a number of items represented by images or labels positioned on a regular grid around a popup position. When an operator requests a popup menu using a trigger event, the appropriate menu for the operator, the trigger, and the system state is selected and is displayed with the popup position centered over the current cursor position. The operator scans through the items by dragging the cursor and selects one to initiate the associated action. The operator can design menus containing the commands he or she uses most frequently and use these menus with existing applications without revising the applications. Menus with many items are managed by scrolling or by progressive disclosure of the menu items.

Claims

1. An operator interface apparatus for a computer having a processor, a memory, a display, an input device for controlling the position of a cursor on said display, and a trigger, comprising:

trigger detecting means for detecting an operation of said trigger;

main menu displaying means responsive to said trigger detecting means for displaying a main menu;

defining means for defining a plurality of submenus, each of said submenus having a plurality of language characters arranged thereon, said language characters each composed of a plurality of strokes, and said language characters in each of said submenus having initial strokes written in a similar predetermined direction;

associating means for associating each of said submenus with a cursor gesture matching initial stroke of said language characters in said submenu;

gesture detecting means for detecting a cursor gesture following said operation of said trigger; and

submenu displaying means for displaying the submenu associated with the detected cursor gesture.

2. The operator interface of claim 1, further including scrolling means for scrolling one of said submenus when said submenu is partially cut off by an edge of said display, said scrolling means automatically scrolling said submenu away from said edge of said display when said cursor is positioned adjacent said edge of said display.

3. The operator interface of claim 2, further including progressive display means for automatically displaying a plurality of additional language characters from an edge of one of said submenus when said cursor is positioned adjacent said edge.

4. The operator interface of claim 2 wherein said submenus comprise a plurality of three-dimensional-appearing rectangular boxes arranged in three-dimensional cyberspace, whereby said cursor gesture can be made in three-dimensional cyberspace.

5. A operator interface for a computer having a processor, a memory, a display, an input device for controlling the position of a cursor on said display, and a trigger, comprising:

defining means for defining a plurality of menus, each of said menus having a plurality of language characters arranged thereon, said language characters in each of said menus having initial strokes written in a similar predetermined direction;

detecting means for detecting an operation of said trigger;

tracking means for tracking a gesture of said cursor, said gesture comprising a direction of movement of said cursor following said operation of said trigger;

displaying means for displaying a menu having language characters with initial strokes generally matching said gesture;

defining means for defining any language character at the position of said cursor as a current character; and

selecting means for selecting said current character.

6. The operator interface of claim 5, further including scrolling means for scrolling one of said menus when said menu is partially cut off by an edge of said display, said scrolling means automatically scrolling said menu away from said edge of said display when said cursor is positioned adjacent said edge of said display.

7. The operator interface of claim 6, further including progressive display means for automatically displaying a plurality of additional language characters from an edge of one of said menus when said cursor is positioned adjacent said edge.

8. The operator interface of claim 6 wherein said menus comprise a plurality of three-dimensional-appearing rectangular boxes arranged in three-dimensional cyberspace, whereby said cursor gesture can be made in three-dimensional cyberspace.

9. An operator interface apparatus for selecting from a plurality of commands in a computer having a processor, a memory, a display, an input device for controlling the position of a cursor on said display, and a trigger operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, comprising:

trigger event detecting means for detecting a trigger event, said trigger event including a last event comprising an engagement of said trigger;

displaying means responsive to said trigger event detecting means for displaying a menu, said menu having a plurality of menu items arranged in a rectangular array having a plurality of rows and columns, each of said menu items being associated with a different command;

tracking means for tracking said cursor when said cursor is moved across said menu items;

defining means for defining a menu item at the position of said cursor as a current menu item;

highlighting means for highlighting said current menu item;

scrolling means for scrolling said menu if said menu is partially cut off by an edge of said display, said scrolling means automatically scrolling said menu away from said edge of said display when said cursor is positioned adjacent said edge of said display;

trigger disengagement detecting means for detecting a first disengagement of said trigger since said engagement; and

activating means responsive to said trigger disengagement detecting means for activating the command associated with said current menu item.

10. An operator interface apparatus for selecting from a plurality of commands in a computer having a processor, a memory, a display, an input device for controlling the position of a cursor on said display, and a trigger operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, comprising:

trigger event detecting means for detecting a trigger event, said trigger event including a last event comprising an engagement of said trigger;

displaying means responsive to said trigger event detecting means for displaying a menu, said menu having a plurality of menu items arranged in a rectangular array having a plurality of rows and columns, each of said menu items being associated with a different command;

tracking means for tracking said cursor when said cursor is moved across said menu items;

defining means for defining a menu item at the position of said cursor as a current menu item;

highlighting means for highlighting said current menu item;

progressive display means for automatically displaying a plurality of additional menu items from an edge of said menu when said cursor is positioned adjacent said edge;

trigger disengagement detecting means for detecting a first disengagement of said trigger since said engagement; and

activating means responsive to said trigger disengagement detecting means for activating the command associated with said current menu item.

11. An operator interface apparatus for selecting from a plurality of commands in a computer having a processor, a memory, a display, an input device for controlling the position of a cursor on said display, a trigger operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and a default menu containing application commands common to many different applications, said default menu having a plurality of menu items arranged in a rectangular array having a plurality of rows and columns, each of said menu items being associated with a different command, comprising:

trigger event detecting means for detecting a trigger event, said trigger event including a last event comprising an engagement of said trigger;

command searching means responsive to said trigger event detecting means for automatically searching the currently active application for command identifiers associated with command names in said default menu;

displaying means for displaying said default menu when updated with command identifiers determined by said command searching means;

tracking means for tracking said cursor when said cursor is moved across said menu items;

defining means for defining a menu item at the position of said cursor as a current menu item;

highlighting means for highlighting said current menu item;

trigger disengagement detecting means for detecting a first disengagement of said trigger since said engagement; and

activating means responsive to said trigger disengagement detecting means for activating the command associated with said current menu item.