Graphical user interface for enabling selection of a selectable graphic image

• US 6,208,342 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2000
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sciammarella, Eduardo, Mugura, Kazuto, Kravitz, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/483,877
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 345/352, 345/353, 345/355, 345/339, 345/341, 345/123, 345/127, 345/130
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

An instrument includes a display screen which includes a bitmap graphical user interface including an on-screen menu, and a control element which enables movement of the on-screen menu corresponding to movement of the control element, enables the user to manipulate and select graphic images for executing selected instrument functions. The instrument is adapted to enable the user to focus on and select a selectable graphic image from a plurality of graphic images in the on-screen menu.

Claims

1. A system for enabling manipulation of a plurality of graphic images on a display screen, to enable a user to focus on and select a selectable graphic image from a plurality of graphic images in the display screen, wherein the plurality of graphic images are each movable into and out of a position as the selectable graphic image, the system comprising:

a display screen;

means for presenting a plurality of graphic images in the display screen, wherein each graphic image is different from the other graphic images and the plurality of graphic images are each movable into and out of a position as the selectable graphic image, comprising a graphical user interface adapted to enable the user to differentiate between the graphic image positioned as the selectable graphic image and the graphic images other than the selectable graphic image in the display screen other than by the differences between the graphic images, including a bit map;

means for enabling each graphic image to change in size upon movement thereof in the graphical user interface bit map towards, into, and away from a position as a selectable graphic image, so as to increase in size as it moves towards and into the position as a selectable graphic image, to be largest in size in the position as the selectable graphic image, and to decrease in size as it moves out of and away from the position as a selectable graphic image, such that the selectable graphic image is the most visible, while other graphic images are visible to varying degrees in relation to the position thereof relative to the selectable position thereof;

means for enabling a graphic image to be a selectable graphic image, which graphic image is movable into the selectable position in the presenting means; and

means for enabling movement of the plurality of graphic images into and out of the position as the selectable graphic image, and for enabling selection of the selectable graphic image in the display.

2. A method of enabling manipulation of a plurality of graphic images on a display screen, to enable a user to focus on and select a selectable graphic image from a plurality of graphic images in the display screen, wherein the plurality of graphic images are each movable into and out of a position as the selectable graphic image, in a system which includes a display screen, means for presenting a plurality of graphic images in the display screen, wherein each graphic image is different from the other graphic images and the plurality of graphic images are each movable into and out of a position as the selectable graphic image, comprising a graphical user interface adapted to enable the user to differentiate between the graphic image positioned as the selectable graphic image and the graphic images other than the selectable graphic image in the display screen other than by the differences between the graphic images, including a bit map means for enabling each graphic image to change in size upon movement thereof in the graphical user interface bit map towards, into, and away from a position as a selectable graphic image, so as to increase in size as it moves towards and into the position as a selectable graphic image, to be largest in size in the position as the selectable graphic image, and to decrease in size as it moves out of and away from the position as a selectable graphic image, such that the selectable graphic image is the most visible, while other graphic images are visible to varying degrees in relation to the position thereof relative to the selectable position thereof, means for enabling a graphic image to be a selectable graphic image, which graphic image is movable into the selectable position in the presenting means, and means for enabling movement of the plurality of graphic images into and out of the position as the selectable graphic image, and for enabling selection of the selectable graphic image in the display, the method comprising:

activating the display screen;

presenting the plurality of graphic images in the graphical user interface in the display, such that movement of a graphic image into position as the selectable graphic image enables the user to select the selectable graphic image, and such that each graphic image increases in size as it moves towards and into a position as a selectable graphic image, and each graphic image decreases in size as it moves out of and away from a position as a selectable graphic image;

moving the movement enabling means to move a graphic image into and out of position as the selectable graphic image; and

activating the movement enabling means to select the selectable graphic image in the display.