Method of forming menus

• US 7,725,835 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Antti
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore; William L
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/574,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,062 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/841, 715/835, 715/781, 715/834, 715/243, 715/244, 715/780, 345/352, 348/E5.105
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method of forming a menu on a display of an electronic device is shown with at least two function elements (1) for selecting functions.

• • At least three display areas (A, B, C) are defined substantially adjacent to each other in a first direction.
  • At least a first identification part (2) and a second identification part (3) are defined as contained in the function elements (1)
  • The first identification part (2) of a function element (1) in the first direction is displayed on the outermost display areas (A, C), and
  • the second identification part (3) of the function elements (1) on at least one display area (B) between the outermost display areas (A, C) is displayed in such a manner that the second identification part of the first function element and the second identification part of the second function element are positioned at least substantially next to each other in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction.
    Also shown are a graphical user interface (GUI), a device, a system, a software program and to a storage medium.

Claims

1. A method comprising

defining a first display area, a second display area and a third display area that are substantially adjacent to each other in a first direction of a menu on a display of an electronic device, which menu comprises at least two function elements for selecting functions,

defining at least a first identification part and a second identification part that are contained in each function element of the at least two function elements, wherein the first identification part comprises an image and the second identification part comprises textual information,

displaying a first identification part of a first function element of the at least two function elements on the first display area in said first direction, and a first identification part of a second function element of the at least two function elements on the third display area in said first direction, and

displaying the second identification part of each of the at least two function elements on the second display area between the first display area and the third display area in such a manner that a second identification part of the first function element and a second identification part of the second function element are aligned at least substantially next to each other in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction such that the second identification part of the first function element and the second identification part of the second function element in combination occupy an amount of space that is substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the first function element in said second direction and substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the second function element in said second direction.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein dimensions of the first identification part of the first function element in the second direction are larger than dimensions of the second identification part of the first function element in said second direction.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a size of the first identification part in the second direction is twice a size of the second identification part in said second direction.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first identification part is an image and the second identification part is a label.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one function element is connected to at least one of the functions of the device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a function of said at least two function elements is a phone number directory, an image manager, a phone manager, a message manager or an electronic organizer.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein navigation between the first function element and the second function element is conducted in the second direction.

8. A graphic user interface of an electronic device for presenting at least two function elements for selecting functions, wherein

a first display area, a second display area and a third display area that are substantially adjacent to each other in a first direction are formed for said at least two function elements,

a first identification part of a first function element of the at least two function elements is on the first display area in the first direction and a first identification part of a second function element of the at least two function elements is on the third display area in the first direction, wherein the first identification part comprises an image, and

a second identification part of each function element of the at least two function elements is displayed on the second display area between the first display area and the third display area in such a manner that the second identification part of the first function element and the second identification part of the second function element are aligned at least substantially next to each other in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction such that the second identification part of the first function element and the second identification part of the second function element in combination occupy an amount of space that is substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the first function element in said second direction and substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the second function element in said second direction, wherein the second identification part comprises textual information.

9. The graphic user interface according to claim 8, wherein dimensions of the first identification part of said each function element in the second direction are substantially larger than dimensions of the second identification part of said each function element in said second direction.

10. The graphic user interface according to claim 8, wherein a size of the first identification part in the second direction is twice a size of the second identification part in said second direction.

11. The graphic user interface according to claim 8, wherein

the first identification part is an image, and

the second identification part is a label.

12. A device comprising a display with a graphic user interface, for presenting a menu comprising at least two function elements for selecting functions, wherein

a first display area, a second display area, and a third display area that are substantially adjacent to each other in a first direction are formed for said at least two function elements,

a first identification part of a first function element of the at least two function element is on the first display area in the first direction, and a first identification part of a second function element of the at least two function elements is on the third display area in the first direction, wherein the first identification part comprises an image, and

a second identification part of each function element of the at least two function elements is displayed on the second display area between the first display area and the third display area in such a manner that the second identification part of the first function element and the second identification part of the second function element are aligned at least substantially next to each other in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction such that the second identification part of the first function element and the second identification part of the second function element in combination occupy an amount of space that is substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the first function element in said second direction and substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the second function element in said second direction, wherein the second identification part comprises textual information.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein dimensions of the first identification part of said each function element in the second direction are substantially larger than dimensions of the second identification part of said each function element in said second direction.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein a size of the first identification part in the second direction is twice a size of the second identification part in said second direction.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein

the first identification part is an image, and

the second identification part is a label.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device is one of the following:

a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a hand held computer, a digital camera, a laptop or a personal computer.

17. A system comprising a display unit with a graphic user interface for presenting a menu comprising at least two function elements for selecting functions, wherein

a first display area, a second display area and a third display area that are substantially adjacent to each other in a first direction are formed for said at least two function elements,

a first identification part of a first function element of the at least two function element is on the first display area in the first direction, and a first identification part of a second function element of the at least two function elements is on the third display area in the first direction, wherein the first identification part comprises an image, and

a second identification part of each function element of the at least two function elements is displayed on the second display area between the first display area and the third display area in such a manner that the second identification part of the first function element and the second identification part of the second function element are aligned at least substantially next to each other in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction such that the second identification part of the first function element and the second identification part of the second function element in combination occupy an amount of space that is substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the first function element in said second direction and substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the second function element in said second direction, wherein the second identification part comprises textual information.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the dimensions of the first identification part of said each function element in the second direction are substantially larger than dimensions of the second identification part of said each function element in said second direction.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein a size of the first identification part in the second direction is twice a size of the second identification part in said second direction.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein

the first identification part is an image, and

the second identification part is a label.

21. A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program, which when executed by an electronic device, cause the device to perform:

defining a first display area, a second display area and a third display area that are substantially adjacent to each other in a first direction,

defining at least a first identification part and a second identification part that are contained in each function element of at least two function elements, wherein the first identification part comprises an image and the second identification part comprises textual information,

displaying a first identification part of a first function element of the at least two function elements on the first display area in said first direction, and a first identification part of a second function element of the at least two function elements on the third display area in said first direction, and

displaying the second identification part of each function element of the at least two function elements on the second display area between the first display area and the third display area in such a manner that a second identification part of the first function element and a second identification part of the second function element are aligned at least substantially next to each other in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction such that the second identification part of the first function element and the second identification part of the second function element in combination occupy an amount of space that is substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the first function element in said second direction and substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the second function element in said second direction.

22. A storage medium readable by a computer, said medium containing information stored therein, which when executed by said computer cause the computer to perform

defining a first display area, a second display area and a third display area that are substantially adjacent to each other in a first direction,

defining at least a first identification part and a second identification part that are contained in each function element of at least two function elements, wherein the first identification part comprises an image and the second identification part comprises textual information

displaying a first identification part of a first function element of the at least two function elements on the first display area in the first direction, and a first identification part of a second function element of the at least two function elements on the third display area in the first direction,

displaying the second identification part of each function element of the at least two function elements on the second display area between the first display area and the third display area in such a manner that a second identification part of the first function element and a second identification part of the second function element are aligned at least substantially next to each other in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction such that the second identification part of the first function element and the second identification part of the second function element in combination occupy an amount of space that is substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the first function element in said second direction and substantially equivalent to an amount of space occupied by the first identification part of the second function element in said second direction.