Method for generating and navigating a plurality of menus using a database and a menu template

A method for enabling a user to select a specific menu item from among a plurality of different menu items being displayed on a screen using a numeric keypad, to access data in a database, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a keyboard input device that includes a numeric keypad having a plurality of keys numbered sequentially;
• (b) creating a menu that comprises a plurality of menu items such that each menu item corresponds to a different one of the keys on the numeric keypad;
• (c) displaying said menu to a user so as to indicate a one-to-one relationship between each menu item and its corresponding one of the keys on the numeric keypad;
• and
• (d) enabling a user to select a menu item to access data in the database by actuating a specific key that correspond to the menu item that was selected.

An article of manufacture adapted for use with a computing device to enable a user to rapidly select a specific menu item from among a plurality of different menu items being displayed on a screen, to access data in a database, comprising:

• (a) a memory medium;
• and
• (b) a plurality of machine instructions, which are stored on the memory medium, said plurality of machine instructions, when executed by a processor in a computing device, causing the processor to:
• (i) create a menu that includes a plurality of menu items;
• (ii) display the menu that was created to a user in a format such that there is a one-to-one relationship between each menu item and a different specific key on a keyboard input device, each menu item being associated with data in the database;
• and
• (iii) enable a user to select a menu item by actuating a specific key corresponding to the menu item, to access the data in the database associated with the menu item selected.

A system for enabling a user to rapidly select a specific menu item from among a plurality of different menu items being displayed on a screen to access data in a database, comprising:

• (a) a memory in which a plurality of machine instructions are stored;
• (b) a display;
• (c) a keyboard input device comprising a plurality of specific keys;
• and
• (d) a processor that is coupled to the display and to the memory to access the machine instructions, said processor executing said machine instructions and implementing a plurality of functions, including:
• (i) creating a menu that comprises the plurality of different menu items and providing a one-to-one relationship between each menu item and a corresponding specific key, each menu item having associated data in the database;
• (ii) displaying the generated menu to a user;
• and
• (iv) enabling a user to select a menu item by actuating the specific key corresponding to the menu item, to access the data associated with the menu item in the database.

A method for generating a plurality of menus for accessing data in a database opened in a database program, with a computing device, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing:
• (i) a plurality of database records, each database record including data relating to a menu;
• (ii) a menu template;
• and
• (iii) a menu template modifier;
• (b) accessing said plurality of database records with the menu template modifier;
• and
• (c) using said menu template modifier, recreating each of the plurality of menus when required, based upon the data in said plurality of database records and based on a format defined by said menu template.

A memory medium on which are stored a plurality of machine instructions adapted to be executed by a computer to cause a plurality of functions to be performed, said functions comprising:

• (a) enabling a user to execute a database program and to open a menu database including database records that contain information relating to different menus;
• (b) accessing said database records with a menu template modifier;
• and
• (c) recreating a menu based upon data included in a portion of said database records, in a format defined by a menu template.

A method for creating a menu in a menu database opened in a database program, comprising the steps of:

• (a) opening a menu database for storing database records;
• (b) accessing a menu template, and a menu template modifier that function under the database program, said menu template modifier displaying a menu form that includes menu items in a format defined by the menu template;
• (c) enabling a user to edit said menu form that is displayed to create a menu by entering data;
• (d) using said menu template modifier, generating a database record that includes data entered by the user defining an appearance and other parameters of the menu;
• (e) for each menu item included in the menu form using data entered by the user, using said menu template modifier to add to said database record data specifying an appearance and any events that will be actuated when a user selects that menu item during use of the menu;
• and
• (f) saving said database record in the database, so that the menu can subsequently be recreated when needed, using the menu template modifier, menu template, and said database record to define a form and a functionality of the menu.

An article of manufacture adapted for use with a computer to enable a user to store information for a plurality of menus using substantially less memory resources, comprising:

• (a) a memory medium;
• and
• (b) a plurality of machine instructions stored on the memory medium, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
• (i) access a menu template and a menu template modifier, and a database;
• (ii) enable a user to enter data for each of the plurality of menus;
• (iii) generate a plurality of database records with the menu template modifier that include the data entered by the user defining an appearance of each of the plurality of menus and an appearance and functional parameters for each of a plurality of menu items included in the plurality of menus;
• and
• (iv) said menu template defining a format for each of the plurality of menus and a spatial organization of the plurality of menu items in the plurality of menus, said plurality of database records, menu template, and menu template modifier subsequently being usable to recreate any of said plurality of menus when required, the database records not including any data for formatting the plurality of menus, and the database not being used to store the plurality of menus in a complete form, so that the memory resources required to store the information for the plurality of menus is substantially reduced compared to that required to store each of the plurality of menus in the complete form.

A method for utilizing a plurality of menus to access selected data in a menu database opened with a database program, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a menu template that defines a format for each of the plurality of menus, a menu template modifier, and at least one menu database comprising a plurality of database records, said menu template modifier being capable of generating a menu based on said menu template and the data in said plurality of database records, the menu thus generated including a plurality of menu items;
• (b) enabling a user to select a desired menu from the menu database;
• (c) using said menu template modifier, said menu template, and a database record to generate the desired menu, said database record defining an appearance and a functionality of the menu items included within the desired menu;
• (d) displaying said desired menu to a user to enable the user to select at least one of said plurality of menu items, said menu items that is selected having a database record that includes at least one event associated with the menu item;
• and
• (e) in response to the menu item being selected by the user, causing said at least one of the plurality of events included in the database record associated with the menu item that was selected, to occur.

An article of manufacture adapted for use with a computing device, comprising:

• (a) a memory medium;
• and
• (b) a plurality of machine instructions stored on the memory medium, which when executed by a processor of the computing device, causing the processor to:
• (i) enable a user to select a desired menu in a menu database opened in a database program;
• (ii) access a menu template, a menu template modifier, and a plurality of database records in which data are included that define an appearance of the desired menu, and an appearance and functionality for a plurality menu items included in the desired menu;
• (iii) use the menu template, the menu template modifier, and the plurality of database records to recreate the desired menu;
• (iv) display said desired menu to a user to enable a user to select at least one of a plurality of menu items;
• and
• (v) enable at least one of a plurality of events associated with the menu item that was selected to occur in response to the selection of the menu item.

A system for enabling a user to access data in a menu database opened with a database program, using a plurality of predefined menus, comprising:

• (a) a memory in which a plurality of machine instructions are stored;
• (b) a display;
• (c) a keyboard input device comprising a plurality of keys, and
• (d) a processor that is coupled to the display and to the memory to access the machine instructions, said processor executing said machine instruction to implement a plurality of functions, including:
• (i) enabling a user to select a desired menu from the menu database, said desired menu including a plurality of menu items;
• (ii) using a menu template that defines a format of the desired menu, a menu template modifier, and a database record included in the menu database, recreating the desired menu, said database record including data that define an appearance and functional parameters of the menu items.
• (iii) displaying said desired menu to the user, and enabling the user to select at least one of a plurality of menu items, the data defining each menu item in a database record specifying any events associated with the menu item;
• and
• (iv) enabling at least one of a plurality of events associated with the menu items that was selected by the user to occur.