Navigation of an N-dimensional hierarchical structure using a 2
Contents
1. is In column 5 line 57 claim 10 delete vertical and insert vertical cecce 99 In column 6 line 37 claim 19 delete is and insert is 1 In column 6 line 40 claim 19 delete vertical and insert vertical ceecee 99 In column 7 line 26 claim 28 delete is and insert is In column 7 line 28 claim 28 delete vertical and insert vertical Signed and Sealed this Twenty second Day of June 2010 David J Kappos Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office2. move in the first dimension relative to pointer 130 A second level of the hierarchical menu not shown may be displayed by operating the controller in the first direction of a second dimension e g the down button where the dimension is vertical or the icon may be selected by operating the con troller in the opposite direction of the second dimension e g the up button Turning to FIG 2 an index N representing the level of menu hierarchy is initially set to 1 step 200 In operation a user operates the controller 110 step 205 to execute the afore noted primary function of the device step 210 For example where the device 110 incorporates a GPS receiver the primary function may be panning of a map navigation system FIG 3A shows the device 110 executing the primary function of panning a map It will be noted that no icons 120 are displayed By depressing and holding the controller 110 in one of its four directions within two dimensions the map depicted in display 100 is caused to pan in the direction that the device 110 is being pressed i e up down left or right As long as the controller 110 continues to be operated by the user the primary function persists step 210 Ifthe user releases the controller 110 the primary function e g map panning ceases and the display 100 remains static for a predetermined time out period step 215 Although as illustrated the timeout period is 3 seconds it is envisaged that thos
3. 24 The method of claim 23 wherein said context sensitive functions include at least one of searching for information relating to a feature of interest in proximity to said pointer setting a location waypoint and returning to a current loca tion 25 The method of claim 20 wherein said next level of said multi hierarchical menu system includes a plurality of addi tional icons representing further functions related to said one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer US 7 523 416 B2 7 26 The method of claim 25 wherein said further functions include at least one of a filter function to search between features currently in view on said display features outside of the display area a category function to search for features based on categories and an index function to facilitate search ing through an alphabetical list using fine and coarse grained controls 27 The method of claim 19 further comprising ceasing display of said multi hierarchical menu system responsive to scrolling said icons beyond a last one of said icons 28 A system for navigating a multi hierarchical menu system of a device having a primary function comprising a display a two dimensional controller for facilitating control of said primary function whereupon results of said primary function are presented on said display and a processor for i executing said primary function ii detecting a dimension of initial operation of said two dim
4. out period after the user ceases to operate the controller for the purpose of panning Furthermore after the timeout period but before displaying the menu the direction of controller operation can be advan tageously used to direct the relative location and orientation ofthe menu on the display so as to minimize interference with the display These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent reside in the details of con struction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed reference being had to the accompanying draw ings forming a part hereof wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout In FIG 1 an electronic device is shown with limited area display 100 and a two dimensional i e four directional con troller 110 The device incorporates a processor for imple menting at least a primary function as is well known in the art A graphical user interface GUI is presented to the user as a first level of a hierarchical menu 120 having a plurality of icons selectable via a pointer 130 The term icon as used in the specification means any graphic representation on the display representing a function that can be selected by oper ating the controller 110 As discussed in greater detail below the icons of menu 120 are navigable by operating the control ler in a first dimension e g left or right buttons where the dimension is horizontal thereby causing the menu 120 to
5. searching through an alphabetical list using fine and 0 an 5 30 40 45 65 4 coarse grained controls as set forth for example in a PCT application filed at the Canadian Receiving Office on Mar 11 2005 by Redsky Mobile Inc entitled Restricted User Inter face Navigation Of course rather than representing search waypoint and location return functions as set forth above the icons 120 may represent any context sensitive functions or features For example if the pointer 130 is adjacent an area of interest e g a restaurant after a period of controller inactivity following panning of the map a YES decision at step 215 the icons 120 for the first level of the menu may represent user functions associated with the area of interest Thus where the device is a wireless communications device with GPS functionality icon 120A may represent for example a restaurant menu icon 120B may initiate a wireless phone call to the restaurant e g to make a reservation and 120C may as before depict a U turn graphic for causing the map to return to the GPS current location A person of skill in the art will appreciate that there are numerous context sensitive functions and menu hierarchies all of which are navigable using the methodology presented herein Therefore as set for the herein a user is able by simple operation of the two dimensional controller 110 to navigate multiple i e nested levels ofa hierar
6. using a two dimensional controller comprising detecting a dimension of initial operation of said two dimensional controller displaying responsive to said detection topmost level of said multi hierarchical menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of a display said icons being displayed over a background image and horizontally if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two dimensional controller is horizontal and vertically if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two dimensional controller is vertical scrolling said icons in a first dimension relative to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in said first dimension and selecting one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in a sec ond dimension 20 The method of claim 19 wherein said selecting initiates one of either execution of a function associated with said one of said icons or displaying a next level of said multi hierar chical menu system associated with said one of said icons 21 The method of claim 19 wherein said second dimen sion is perpendicular to said first dimension 22 The method of claim 19 wherein said topmost level of said multi hierarchical menu system is displayed following a predetermined period of inactivity of said controller 23 The method of claim 19 wherein said icons represent context sensitive functions
7. 2 Description of the Related Art In a typical GUI a user is provided with a system of hierarchical menus that must be navigated using a mouse or other pointing device e g trackball digitizing tablet direc tional keypad etc Although such menu system navigation is relatively straightforward when using a conventional desk top or laptop computer significant impediments to usage arise when the GUI operates on a small electronic apparatus such as a wireless communication device and or GPS receiver where space limitations dictate use of a pointing device with limited directional control e g a 4 directional cross shaped keypad or a five way selector on wireless com munication device Moreover the presentation of layered hierarchical menus on such a device may detract from its primary use and limit interaction with the device e g where the device is a GPS receiver the presentation of layered hierarchical menus tends to clutter the display of map infor mation interfere with pan functions etc BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG 1 is an illustration of an electronic device with limited display area and two dimensional controller FIG 2 depicts a flowchart illustrating a method for navi gating a multi hierarchical menu system of the electronic device according to the preferred embodiment and FIGS 3A and 3B together illustrate various screens of a graphical user interface GUI implementing the method of FIG 2
8. 60 65 6 12 The system of claim 10 wherein said second dimension is perpendicular to said first dimension 13 The system of claim 10 wherein said processor causes display of said topmost level of said multi hierarchical menu system following a predetermined period of inactivity of said controller 14 The system of claim 10 wherein said icons represent context sensitive functions 15 The system of claim 14 wherein said context sensitive functions include at least one of searching for information relating to an area of interest in proximity to said pointer setting a location waypoint and returning to a current loca tion 16 The system of claim 11 wherein said next level of said multi hierarchical menu system includes a plurality of addi tional icons representing further functions related to said one of said icons 17 The system of claim 16 wherein said further functions include at least one of a filter function to search between features currently in view on said display and features outside of the display area a category function to search for features based on categories and an index function to facilitate search ing through an alphabetical list using fine and coarse grained controls 18 The system of claim 10 wherein said controller ceases display of said multi hierarchical menu system responsive to scrolling said icons beyond a last one of said icons 19 A method for navigating a multi hierarchical menu system
9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It is an aspect of the present specification to set forth a system and method for navigating a multi hierarchical menu system of an electronic device with limited display area using a two dimensional controller such as a four directional cross shaped control pad or other limited input device To that end a system and method are provided for navigat ing an N dimensional hierarchical menu structure using a two dimensional controller by displaying a N level of the hierarchical menu structure in proximity to a pointer on a portion of a display by operating the controller in a first dimension and one of either selecting a function related to an icon within the Nth level or displaying a N 1 level of the hierarchical menu structure by operating the controller in a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension or 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 2 moving the Nth level of the hierarchical menu structure rela tive to the pointer by operating the controller in the first dimension According to another aspect the menu system may be navigated without interfering with a primary function of the electronic device To that end the menu system may be acti vated only after a predetermined period of primary function inactivity For example where the primary function is pan ning of a map navigation system the menu system may be automatically displayed after a time
10. United States Patent US007523416B2 12 10 Patent No US 7 523 416 B2 Johnson et al 45 Date of Patent Apr 21 2009 54 NAVIGATION OF AN N DIMENSIONAL 6 907 575 B2 6 2005 Duarte nesese 715 784 HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE USING A 2004 0090423 A1 5 2004 Bisset 345 169 2 DIMENSIONAL CONTROLLER 2005 0009571 A1 1 2005 Chiam etal 455 566 2006 0164389 A1 7 2006 Ringot oo eee 345 157 75 Inventors Eric Johnson Ottawa CA Ronald FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS Anthony Dicke Ottawa CA EP 0947921 A 10 1999 73 Assignee Research In Motion Limited Waterloo EP 1333362 Al 8 2003 Ontario CA WO 98 37694 A 8 1998 WO 00 25198 A 5 2000 Notice Subject to any disclaimer the term of this LNs edie a Ree patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U S C 154 b by 333 days OTHER PUBLICATIONS 3100 Installation Instructions and User manual 1066173100 Bell 21 Appl No 11 127 720 ExpressVu User Guide Rev May 2001 Copyright 2001 Bell 22 Filed Mav 12 2005 ExpressVu L P North York ON M7B 2R2 Canada iled ay 12 cited by examiner 65 Prior Publication Data Primary Ecaminer Walin Lo US 2005 0268253 A1 Dec 1 2005 Assistant Examiner Rashedul Hassan ua 74 Attorney Agent or Firm David C Jenkins Brij K Related U S Application Data Agarwal Eckert Seamans Cherin amp Mellott LLC 60 Provisional application No 60 570 066 filed on May 67 ABSTRACT 12 2004 51 Int Cl A system and method for navigat
11. chical menu system and to select or initiate specific context sensitive functions with only one hand Moreover the menu system may be navigated without interfering with a primary function of the electronic device The present specification describes an implementation that employs GPS positioning As discussed above the principles set forth herein are not restricted to GPS enabled devices or any other location enabled devices such as cellular devices with location determined via triangulation Bluetooth or other short range location enabled devices etc Rather this specification is directed to a system and method for navigat ing hierarchical menu systems with a two dimensional con troller irrespective of the application It is envisaged that a person of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present specification and drawings could adapt the present tech niques to operate with other controllers than a two dimen sional controller For example a roller wheel and an auxiliary input could be combined to provide a two dimensional con troller whereby when the roller wheel is actuated independent of the auxiliary input the roller wheel controls one dimension and when the roller wheel is actuated in conjunction with the auxiliary input the roller wheel controls another dimension Such adaptations fall within the contemplated scope of the techniques taught by this specification and drawings Many features and advantages will be apparent fr
12. e of ordinary skill in the art can use other timeout periods to adapt FIG 2 to a particular purpose Next graphics such as streets lakes or other map features in a map application for example are optionally identified step 216 and a software control loop is entered to detect operation of the controller 110 in any dimension step 218 Upon detection of controller operation the first level N 1 of the hierarchical menu is US 7 523 416 B2 3 presented to the user step 220 with the icons 120 displayed parallel to the direction of controller movement detected at step 218 This advantageously enables the user to affect the position and orientation of the menu over the background display to ensure for example that a select area of the display showing an area of interest in a map for example remains uncluttered by the menu As shown in FIG 3B icons 120A 120B and 120C are displayed over the background image e g a map Preferably the icons 120 are context sensitive to the state of the device display For purposes of clarity the icons in FIG 3B are shown as blank boxes without graphics However preferably the icons depict graphics that are as indicated above context sensitive and indicative of a function to be performed For example icon 120A may depict a graphical image of binoculars for initiating a search function icon 120B may depict a push pin for entering a GPS way point and icon 120C may depict a U turn gra
13. ensional controller iii causing display responsive to said detection of topmost level of said multi hierar chical menu system having a plurality of icons in prox imity to a pointer on a portion of a display said icons being displayed over a background image and horizon tally if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two dimensional controller is horizontal and ver tically if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two dimensional controller is vertical iv scroll ing said icons ina first dimension relative to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in said first dimension and v selecting one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in a second dimension an 5 8 29 The system of claim 28 wherein said processor selec tively initiates one of either execution of a function associated with said one of said icons or displaying a next level of said multi hierarchical menu system associated with said one of said icons 30 The method of claim 28 wherein said second dimen sion is perpendicular to said first dimension 31 The system of claim 28 wherein said processor causes display of said topmost level of said multi hierarchical menu system following a predetermined period of inactivity of said controller 32 The system of 28 wherein said icons represent context sensitive functions 33 The system of claim 32 wherein said con
14. er been idle for 3 seconds Hide icons for Hide icons for menu 256 menu optionally identify 216 graphic below cursor Is controller e ae operated in a given dimension 218 Execute secondary function 254 220 Has cursor optionally using system disposed moved beyond identified graphic parallel to lasticon direction ot MO controller push 235 252 Is controller operated in same dimension as cursor related to a secondary function 4 U4 Move menu items in same dimension as icons Is controller operated in perpendicular YES dimension as f i icons fo 255 F Display icons for f Nth level of menu F system Figure 2 US 7 523 416 B2 Sheet 3 of 4 Apr 21 2009 U S Patent Fig 3A U S Patent Apr 21 2009 Sheet 4 of 4 US 7 523 416 B2 100 120A Fig 3B US 7 523 416 B2 1 NAVIGATION OF AN N DIMENSIONAL HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE USING A 2 DIMENSIONAL CONTROLLER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application claims priority from U S Provi sional Application Ser No 60 570 066 file May 12 2004 the disclosures of which are incorporated herein BACKGROUND 1 Field The present specification is directed generally to the navi gation of a graphical user interface GUI and more particu larly to the navigation of a multi hierarchical menu system using a two dimensional controller
15. function then the secondary function is executed step 254 the icons 120 are hidden from the display 100 step 256 and process control returns to step 200 For example in FIG 3B icon 120B push pin is closest to pointer 130 such that a waypoint entry function may be selected by depressing the up button of controller 110 The waypoint and position return functions implemented by selecting icons 120B or 120C respectively do not form part of the present invention but would be known to a person of skill in the art If on the other hand the icon closest to cursor 130 relates to the next i e deeper menu level a YES at step 250 then the index N is incremented step 255 and the second level N 2 of the hierarchical menu is displayed step 220 revealing a new set of selectable icons related to the icon closest to pointer 130 Process flow then returns to step 225 Thus for the search function icon 120A discussed above the next menu level may consist of three further icons 120A 120B and 120C The second level icon 120A may represent a filter function to search between features currently in view on the display 100 or world features outside of the display area The second level icon 120B may represent a category func tion to search for features based on category e g hospitals parks lakes major highways secondary highways etc The second level icon 120C may represent an index function to facilitate
16. iated with said one of said icons or displaying a next level of said multi hierar chical menu system associated with said one of said icons 3 The method of claim 1 wherein said second dimension is perpendicular to said first dimension 4 The method of claim 1 wherein said topmost level of said multi hierarchical menu system is displayed following a predetermined period of inactivity of said controller 5 The method of claim 1 wherein said icons represent context sensitive functions 6 The method of claim 5 wherein said context sensitive functions include at least one of searching for information relating to a feature of interest in proximity to said pointer setting a location waypoint and returning to a current loca tion 7 The method of claim 2 wherein said next level of said multi hierarchical menu system includes a plurality of addi tional icons representing further functions related to said one of said icons 8 The method of claim 7 wherein said further functions include at least one of a filter function to search between features currently in view on said display and features outside of the display area a category function to search for features based on categories and an index function to facilitate search ing through an alphabetical list using fine and coarse grained controls 9 The method of claim 1 further comprising ceasing dis play of said multi hierarchical menu system responsive to scrolling said icons be
17. ing a multi hierarchical GD Fae F 3 048 2006 01 menu system using a two dimensional controller comprising 01 displaying an N level of the multi hierarchical menu system 52 USCh sedione 715 810 715 854 715 818 having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer ona 715 841 715 850 715 784 portion of a display scrolling the icons in a first dimension 58 Field of Classification rea p iret ee relative to the pointer responsive to operating the controller in gt 04 O10 O41 the first dimension and one of either selecting one of the See application file for complete search history icons in closest proximity to the pointer responsive to oper 6o References Cited etna bere reeetnrpee U S PATENT DOCUMENTS system relative to one of the icons in closest proximity to the 5 948 040 A 9 1999 DeLorme etal 701 201 Pointer responsive to operating the controller in an opposite 6 037 936 A 3 2000 Ellenby etal o 715 764 direction of the second dimension 6 266 098 BI 7 2001 Cove et al 6 396 475 B1 5 2002 Ellenby etal 0 00 345 156 36 Claims 4 Drawing Sheets U S Patent Apr 21 2009 Sheet 1 of 4 US 7 523 416 B2 Menu120 Display 100 Pointer 130 4 Directional Pointing Device 110 Fig 1 U S Patent Apr 21 2009 Sheet 2 of 4 US 7 523 416 B2 Execute primary function 210 205 Is controller being operated for primary function Has controll
18. om this specification and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages Further since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art it is not desired to impose any limit to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described herein and accordingly all suitable modifications and equiva lents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the claims What is claimed is 1 A method for navigating a multi hierarchical menu sys tem using a two dimensional controller comprising detecting a dimension of initial operation of said two dimensional controller displaying responsive to said detection topmost level of said multi hierarchical menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of a display said icons being displayed over a background image and horizontally if said detected dimension of US 7 523 416 B2 5 initial operation of said two dimensional controller is horizontal and vertically if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two dimensional controller is vertical scrolling said icons in a first dimension relative to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in said first dimension and selecting one of said icons responsive to operating said controller in a second dimension 2 The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting initiates one of either execution of a function assoc
19. phic for caus ing the map to return to the GPS current location In response to the user operating the controller 110 in the same dimension step 225 as the icons 120 are displayed i e left or right in FIG 3B the icons 120 are caused to move left or right relative to the pointer 130 step 230 However if the icons 120 are caused to move past the pointer 130 step 235 the icons 120 are hidden from the display 100 step 237 device execution reverts to the primary function step 210 Of course rather than being displayed horizontally as shown in FIG 3B the icons 120 may be displayed vertically in which case operation of the controller 110 up or down causes the icons 120 to move vertically relative to the pointer 130 In response to the user operating the controller 110 step 240 in a direction perpendicular to the presentation of the icons 120 i e up or down in FIG 3B the icon closest to pointer 130 may be selected More particularly the closest icon may be selected to perform a specific function associated with the icon or to display a next N 1 level of menu selec tion Thus at step 250 a determination is made as to whether the icon closest to cursor 130 relates to the next i e deeper menu level If not then a determination is made step 252 as to whether the icon closest to cursor 130 relates to a secondary function If a determination is made step 252 that the icon closest to cursor 130 relates to a secondary
20. text sensitive functions include at least one of searching for information relating to an area of interest in proximity to said pointer setting a location waypoint and returning to a current loca tion 34 The system of claim 29 wherein said next level of said multi hierarchical menu system includes a plurality of addi tional icons representing further functions related to said one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer 35 The system of claim 34 wherein said further functions include at least one of a filter function to search between features currently in view on said display features outside of the display area a category function to search for features based on categories and an index function to facilitate search ing through an alphabetical list using fine and coarse grained controls 36 The system of claim 28 wherein said controller ceases display of said multi hierarchical menu system responsive to scrolling said icons beyond a last one of said icons ee oe ok E UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO 7 523 416 B2 Page lof 1 APPLICATION NO 11 127720 DATED April 21 2009 INVENTOR S Johnson et al It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below In column 4 line 22 delete for the and insert forth In column 5 line 55 claim 10 delete is and insert
21. yond a last one of said icons 10 A system for navigating a multi hierarchical menu system of a device having a primary function comprising a display atwo dimensional controller for facilitating control of said primary function whereupon results of said primary function are presented on said display and a processor for i executing said primary function ii detecting a dimension of initial operation of said two dimensional controller iii causing display responsive to said detection of an topmost level of said multi hier archical menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of a display said icons being displayed over a background image and horizontally if said detected dimension of initial opera tion of said two dimensional controller is horizontal and vertically if said detected dimension of initial opera tion of said two dimensional controller is vertical iv scrolling said icons in a first dimension relative to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in said first dimension and v selecting one of said icons responsive to operating said controller in a second dimension 11 The system of claim 10 wherein said processor selec tively initiates one of either execution of a function associated with said one of said icons or displaying a next level of said multi hierarchical menu system associated with said one of said icons an 0 20 25 30 40 45
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