Graphical user interface widget to select multiple items from a fixed domain
First Claim
1. A method of operating a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to select multiple items from a fixed domain of items that represents a total set from which selections may be made and that visibly distinguishes which of the items of the fixed domain are currently selected, the method comprising:
- initially displaying, on an electronic visual display that has a display area, a GUI widget in a rest state occupying a predetermined space at a predetermined location within the display area of the electronic visual display, wherein the rest state is a list state that visibly displays a current set of the items of the fixed domain that are currently selected, wherein a number of the items of the fixed domain in the current set does not exceed a maximum number that will fit within the predetermined space wherein any of the items of the fixed domain that are currently selected that exceed the maximum number that will fit within the predetermined space can be made visible responsive to a scrolling user input to scroll the current set of the items of the fixed domain, wherein the list state only displays the items of the fixed domain that are currently selected such that the items of the fixed domain that are not currently selected are not displayed, wherein the list state is displayed in a read only mode such that user input selections relative to the items of the fixed domain displayed in the list state are ignored;
responsive to receiving a first user input, transitioning to displaying the GUI widget in an edit state occupying the predetermined space at the predetermined location within the display area such that the GUI widget is not resized and the GUI widget is not moved, wherein the transitioning occurs without any intervening display of any other GUI widgets including a dialog box, a popup window, or a popup menu, wherein the edit state is a multi-item selection list state that visibly displays as many of the items of the fixed domain that fit within the predetermined space and that further displays visual indications that indicate which of the items of the fixed domain are currently selected, wherein any of the items of the fixed domain that do not fit within the predetermined space can be made visible responsive to a second scrolling user input to scroll the items of the fixed domain that are currently visible, wherein each of the visual indications may be toggled between a selected state and an unselected state responsive to user input selections, wherein the transitioning does not cause any other content at other locations within the display area to be made non-visible, andwherein the GUI widget in each of the rest state and the edit state is displayed with a single button that when activated by the user causes a transition to the other of the rest state and the edit state.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method for operating a graphical user interface (GUI). In an edit state, the GUI allows a user to select multiple items from a fixed domain of items that represents a total set from which selections may be made. In a rest state, the GUI allows the user to easily recognize which of the items from the fixed domain are currently selected. In the rest state, the items currently selected are displayed in a read only mode such that user input relative to the items displayed is ignored.
10 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of operating a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to select multiple items from a fixed domain of items that represents a total set from which selections may be made and that visibly distinguishes which of the items of the fixed domain are currently selected, the method comprising:
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initially displaying, on an electronic visual display that has a display area, a GUI widget in a rest state occupying a predetermined space at a predetermined location within the display area of the electronic visual display, wherein the rest state is a list state that visibly displays a current set of the items of the fixed domain that are currently selected, wherein a number of the items of the fixed domain in the current set does not exceed a maximum number that will fit within the predetermined space wherein any of the items of the fixed domain that are currently selected that exceed the maximum number that will fit within the predetermined space can be made visible responsive to a scrolling user input to scroll the current set of the items of the fixed domain, wherein the list state only displays the items of the fixed domain that are currently selected such that the items of the fixed domain that are not currently selected are not displayed, wherein the list state is displayed in a read only mode such that user input selections relative to the items of the fixed domain displayed in the list state are ignored; responsive to receiving a first user input, transitioning to displaying the GUI widget in an edit state occupying the predetermined space at the predetermined location within the display area such that the GUI widget is not resized and the GUI widget is not moved, wherein the transitioning occurs without any intervening display of any other GUI widgets including a dialog box, a popup window, or a popup menu, wherein the edit state is a multi-item selection list state that visibly displays as many of the items of the fixed domain that fit within the predetermined space and that further displays visual indications that indicate which of the items of the fixed domain are currently selected, wherein any of the items of the fixed domain that do not fit within the predetermined space can be made visible responsive to a second scrolling user input to scroll the items of the fixed domain that are currently visible, wherein each of the visual indications may be toggled between a selected state and an unselected state responsive to user input selections, wherein the transitioning does not cause any other content at other locations within the display area to be made non-visible, and wherein the GUI widget in each of the rest state and the edit state is displayed with a single button that when activated by the user causes a transition to the other of the rest state and the edit state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An article of manufacture comprising:
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a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that provides instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising, initially displaying, on an electronic visual display that has a display area, a GUI widget in a rest state occupying a predetermined space at a predetermined location within the display area of the electronic visual display, wherein the rest state is a list state that visibly displays a current set of items of a fixed domain that are currently selected, wherein a number of the items of the fixed domain in the current set does not exceed a maximum number that will fit within the predetermined space, wherein any of the items of the fixed domain that are currently selected that exceed the maximum number that will fit within the predetermined space can be made visible responsive to a scrolling user input to scroll the current set of the items of the fixed domain, wherein the list state only displays the items of the fixed domain that are currently selected such that the items of the fixed domain that are not currently selected are not displayed, wherein the list state is displayed in a read only mode such that user input selections relative to the items of the fixed domain displayed in the list state are ignored; responsive to receiving a first user input, transitioning to displaying the GUI widget in an edit state occupying the predetermined space at the predetermined location within the display area such that the GUI widget is not resized and the GUI widget is not moved, wherein the transitioning occurs without any intervening display of any other GUI widgets including a dialog box, a popup window, or a popup menu, wherein the edit state is a multi-item selection list state that visibly displays as many of the items of the fixed domain that fit within the predetermined space and that further displays visual indications that indicate which of the items of the fixed domain are currently selected, wherein any of the items of the fixed domain that do not fit within the predetermined space can be made visible responsive to a second scrolling user input to scroll the items of the fixed domain that are currently visible, wherein each of the visual indications may be toggled between a selected state and an unselected state responsive to user input selections, wherein the transitioning does not cause any other content at other locations within the display area to be made non-visible, and wherein the GUI widget in each of the rest state and the edit state is displayed with a single button that when activated by the user causes a transition to the other of the rest state and the edit state. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electronic device comprising:
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an electronic visual display that has a display area; a processor coupled to the electronic visual display; a non-transitory machine-readable storage containing instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to, initially display a GUI widget in a rest state occupying a predetermined space at a predetermined location within the display area of the electronic visual display, wherein the rest state is a list state that visibly displays a current set of items of a fixed domain that are currently selected, wherein a number of the items of the fixed domain in the current set does not exceed a maximum number that will fit within the predetermined space, wherein any of the items of the fixed domain that are currently selected that exceed the maximum number that will fit within the predetermined space can be made visible responsive to a scrolling user input to scroll the current set of the items of the fixed domain, wherein the list state only displays the items of the fixed domain that are currently selected such that the items of the fixed domain that are not currently selected are not displayed, wherein the list state is displayed in a read only mode such that user input selections relative to the items of the fixed domain displayed in the list state are ignored; responsive to receipt of a first user input, transition to display the GUI widget in an edit state occupying the predetermined space at the predetermined location within the display area such that the GUI widget is not resized and the GUI widget is not moved, wherein the transitioning occurs without any intervening display of any other GUI widgets including a dialog box, a popup window, or a popup menu, wherein the edit state is a multi-item selection list state that visibly displays as many of the items of the fixed domain that fit within the predetermined space and that further displays visual indications that indicate which of the items of the fixed domain are currently selected, wherein any of the items of the fixed domain that do not fit within the predetermined space can be made visible responsive to a second scrolling user input to scroll the items of the fixed domain that are currently visible, wherein each of the visual indications may be toggled between a selected state and an unselected state responsive to user input selections, wherein the transitioning does not cause any other content at other locations within the display area to be made non-visible, and wherein the GUI widget in each of the rest state and the edit state is displayed with a single button that when activated by the user causes a transition to the other of the rest state and the edit state. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification