System method and user interface for active reading of electronic content

• US 6,714,214 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Madan, Vikram, Silver, David M., DeMello, Marco A., Keely, Leroy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/455,808
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 345/802, 345/711, 345/712, 345/713, 345/714, 345/710, 345/814, 345/816, 345/815, 345/821-824, 345/856-862, 345/863, 345/864, 345/841-844, 345/702, 345/811-813, 345/817, 345/828, 707/907, 707/513, 707/512
• US Class Current: 715/711
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A system, method, and user interface for interacting with electronically displayed content is disclosed. In response to a selection of an object, a list of menu options is displayed close to the selected object. In one embodiment, the list of menu options is displayed in a font larger than that used to display the selected object. Through the use of the invention, a user is provided with a technique for actively reading displayed content with minimal distractions from the user interface.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a list of menu options for a graphical user interface comprising the steps of:

receiving a first tap indication from a designating device at a first tap location;

identifying an object displayed below the first tap location;

highlighting the object and displaying a window containing a list of menu options related to the object, wherein at least one of the menu options is associated with a second tap indication being prior in time to said first tap indication, and the at least one of the menu options is displayably juxtaposed to said identified object.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein said displaying step further comprises the step of:

displaying the list of menu options adjacent to said first tap location wherein said at least one of the menu options is displayably juxtaposed within a distance of 0.20 to 0.50 inches therefrom said identified object.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein said displaying step further comprises the step of:

displaying the list of menu options so as to overlie said first tap location wherein said object is displayable through said window.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving third tap indication from said designating device outside the window at a third tap location; and

,

closing the window.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a third tap indication from said designating device for designating one of said menu options inside the window; and

,

executing said designated one of said menu options.

6. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions performing steps for providing a list of menu options for a graphical user interface comprising:

storing a first menu option selection associated with a first tap indication;

receiving a second tap indication from a designating device at a second tap location;

identifying an object displayed below the second tap location;

highlighting the object and displaying a window containing a list of menu options including a second menu option related to the object and the first menu option being related to the object, wherein the first menu option is displayably juxtaposed to said highlighted object wherein the first tap indication is made prior in time to said second tap indication.

7. The computer readable medium according to claim 6, wherein said first menu option is displayably juxtaposed within a distance of 0.20 to 1.0 inches therefrom said object.

8. The computer readable medium according to claim 6, wherein said object has first font size and said first and second menu options have a second font size, said first font size being different from the second font size.

9. A computer-implemented method of providing a selectable menu for a graphical user interface comprising the steps of:

receiving a first tap indication from a tapping element at a first tap region;

identifying a graphical object having at least a portion thereof being displayed in the first tap region;

highlighting the identified graphical object, and displaying a window which includes a sequence of graphical objects being related to the identified graphical object, in which at least one of the graphical objects in said sequence is associated with a second tap indication being prior in time to said first tap indication, and the at least one of the graphical objects in said sequence is displayably juxtaposed to said identified graphical object.

10. The computer-implemented method according to claim 9, wherein said displaying step further comprises displaying the sequence of graphical objects adjacent to said first tap region wherein said at least one of the graphical objects is displayably juxtaposed within a distance of 0.20 to 1.0 inches therefrom said identified graphical object.

11. The computer-implemented method according to claim 9, wherein said displaying step further comprises displaying the sequence of graphical objects so as to overlie said first tap region wherein said identified graphical object is displayable through said window.

12. The computer-implemented method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a third tap indication outside of the window at a third tap region; and

closing the window.

13. The computer-implemented method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a third tap indication designating one of said graphical objects of said sequence inside the window; and

executing instructions associated with said designated one of said graphical objects.

14. A user interface for providing a list of menu options in response to a designation of an electronic document comprising:

a first display portion having a plurality of graphical objects in a non-modifiable portion of a document;

a second display portion having a selection of at least one of the graphical objects being displayed below a first tap location;

a third display portion having a list of menu options relevant to said selection, such that the second display portion and the third display portion are displayed responsive to receiving a first tap indication within the first display portion defining the first tap location;

wherein said third display portion includes at least one of the menu options being associated with a second tap indication within the first display portion, in which said second tap indication is prior in time to said first tap indication, and the at least one of the menu options is displayably juxtaposed to said selection of at least one of the graphical objects in said second display portion.

15. The user interface according to claim 14, wherein said list of menu options are displayed adjacent to said first tap location wherein said at least one of the menu options is displayably juxtaposed within a distance of 0.20 to 1.0 inches therefrom said selection of at least one of the graphical objects in said second display portion.

16. The user interface according to claim 14, wherein responsive to receiving a third tap indication in the first display portion outside of the third display portion, said second display portion and said third display portion are removed.

17. The user interface according to claim 14, further comprising a third tap indication from a designating device for designating one of said menu options inside of the third display portion so as to execute said designated one of said menu options.

18. The user interface according to claim 14, wherein the third display portion overlies the second display portion in which said selection of at least one of the graphical objects is displayable through said third display portion.