Menu tree visualization and navigation

摘要

A method and program that improves the efficiency of menu tree visualization and navigation in graphical user interfaces. Menu items are displayed as call-out shaped objects each made up of a call-out bubble and its leading arm. The leading arm connects the call-out bubble with the higher level menu item, the context-menu reference point or any other reference point on the user-interface screen. Menu lists are displayed as sets of similar-sized call-out shapes, which can be arranged in a variety of ways. A menu item can be selected by selecting either the leading arm or the call-out bubble of a call-out shape. The selection of a menu item through the selection of its leading arm significantly reduces the distance over which the pointer has to be moved for menu tree navigation. This is because the leading arm of each of the call-out shapes in any menu item list is close to the pointer's position immediately following the preceding selection process.

主权项

1. A method for providing one or more menu items that form at least a primary menu item list and a secondary menu item list on a user interface screen displayed on a display device, the method being implemented by one or more data processors and comprising:
receiving a selection of a reference item on the user interface screen from a pointing device; displaying on the user interface screen the primary menu item list in a form of one or more primary call-out shaped objects representing one or more primary menu items, wherein each primary call-out shaped object comprises a call-out bubble and a leading arm protruding from the call-out bubble, the leading arm connecting the call-out bubble with the reference item displayed on the user interface screen, and wherein the call-out bubble and the leading arm of each primary call-out shaped object are selectable to select a corresponding represented primary menu item; receiving a selection of the leading arm and/or the call-out bubble of a desired item of the primary menu item list, wherein the desired item of the primary menu item list represents the secondary menu item list; displaying on the user interface screen the secondary menu item list in the form of one or more secondary call-out shaped objects representing one or more secondary menu items, wherein each secondary call-out shaped object comprises a call-out bubble and a leading arm protruding from the call-out bubble, wherein the leading arm of each secondary menu item connects the secondary menu item with the desired item of the primary menu item list, and wherein the call-out bubble and the leading arm of each secondary call-out shaped object are selectable to select a corresponding represented secondary menu item; receiving a selection of the leading arm and/or the call-out bubble of a desired secondary menu item of the secondary menu item list, wherein the leading arm of each secondary menu item connects the secondary menu item with the desired item of the primary menu item list; and executing a function in response to the selection of the leading arm and/or the call-out bubble of the desired secondary menu item.