Menu navigation system and method

A system that controls operation of an electronic device using menus displayed on a display:

• a plurality of menus, each one of the plurality of menus having a first location and a second location, the first location on each of the menus corresponding to a substantially similar position on each one of the menus, and the second location on each of the menus corresponding to another substantially similar position on each one of the menus;
• a first soft key residing on a first one of the plurality menus, the first soft key being positioned in the first location on the first menu and having a first descriptive text, the first descriptive text corresponding to a first operation effected when a first controller is actuated;
• a second soft key residing on the first menu, the second soft key being positioned in the second location on the first menu and having a second descriptive text, the second descriptive text corresponding to a second operation effected when a second controller is actuated;
• a third soft key residing on a second one of the plurality menus, the third soft key being positioned in the first location on the second menu and having a third descriptive text, the third descriptive text corresponding to the first operation effected when the first controller is actuated;
• a fourth soft key residing on the second menu, the fourth soft key being positioned in the second location on the second menu and having a fourth descriptive text, the fourth descriptive text corresponding to the second operation effected when the second controller is actuated.

A method for controlling operation of an electronic device using menus, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying a selected first one of a plurality of menus, the selected first menu having at least a first soft key and a second soft key, the first soft key configured to indicate a first menu operation associated with a corresponding first controller, and the second soft key configured to indicate a second menu operation associated with a corresponding second controller;
• displaying a selected second one of the plurality of menus, the selected second menu having at least a third soft key and a fourth soft key, the third soft key configured to indicate a third menu operation associated with the corresponding first controller, and the fourth soft key configured to indicate a fourth menu operation associated with a corresponding second controller;
• receiving a first signal from the first controller such that the first menu operation is performed when the first menu is displayed, and such that the third menu operation is performed when the second menu is displayed, the first and the third menu operations being substantially equivalent;
• and
• receiving a second signal from the second controller such that the second menu operation is performed when the first menu is displayed, and such that the fourth menu operation is performed when the second menu is displayed, the second and the fourth menu operations being substantially equivalent.

A computer-readable medium having a program for controlling operation of an electronic device using menus, the program comprising logic configured to perform the steps of:

• displaying a first soft key on a first menu, the first soft key having a first text corresponding to a first menu operation;
• displaying a second soft key on the first menu, the second soft key having a second text corresponding to a second menu operation;
• displaying a third soft key on a second menu, the third soft key having a third text corresponding to a third menu operation;
• displaying a fourth soft key on the second menu, the fourth soft key having a fourth text corresponding to a fourth menu operation;
• such that the first text and the third text are different and the first menu operation and the third menu operation are substantially similar, and such that the second text and the fourth text are different and the second menu operation and the fourth menu operation are substantially similar.

A system that controls operation of an electronic device using menus, comprising:

• means for generating a first signal associated with a plurality of first soft keys, each one of the first soft keys on a corresponding one of a plurality of menus and having different text;
• means for receiving the first signal such that when the first signal is received a first operation is performed, the first operation being substantially the same for each one of the plurality of first soft keys;
• means for generating a second signal associated with a plurality of second soft keys, each one of the first soft keys on a corresponding one of the plurality of menus and having different text;
• and
• means for receiving the second signal such that when the second signal is received a second operation is performed, the second operation being substantially the same for each one of the plurality of second soft keys.