Contextual menus in an electronic device
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBenjamin Andrew Rottler, Policarpo Wood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for displaying menus of selectable options to a user are provided. The menus may include options that are contextually related to a current mode of the device to provide relevant options to a user. The electronic device modes may include, for example, a media mode, a radio mode, a workout mode, a calendar or event mode, a clock mode, a stopwatch mode, or any other suitable mode. To further enhance a user's experience, the displayed menus may not cover the entirety of the screen such that a portion of the content associated with a current mode or application may be visible, thus providing context to the displayed options.
Claims21
A method for displaying a menu with selectable contextual options using a portable electronic device, comprising:
- displaying non-selectable content associated with a current mode of an electronic device, wherein the current mode comprises at least one of media, recording, audio book, radio, workout, calendar, event, clock, and stopwatch modes;
- detecting the current mode;
- identifying at least one option associated only with the detected current mode;
- generating a menu comprising the identified at least one option;
- and
- overlaying the generated menu on the displayed content associated with the identified current mode such that at least a portion of the content remains visible.
A portable electronic device operative to display a menu, comprising a processor, a display, an input mechanism, the processor operative to:
- direct the display to display content associated with a particular mode of the electronic device;
- receive an indication from the input mechanism that an input was received from the user, wherein the input is not associated with a selectable option displayed by the display;
- detect the particular mode;
- identify at least one operation associated only with the particular mode;
- and
- direct the display to display a menu comprising an option for the at least one operation.
A computer-readable media operative to display a menu with selectable contextual options using a portable electronic device, the computer readable media comprising computer program logic recorded thereon for:
- displaying non-selectable content associated with a current mode of an electronic device, wherein the current mode comprises at least one of media, recording, audio book, radio, workout, calendar, event, clock, and stopwatch modes;
- detecting the current mode;
- identifying at least one option associated only with the detected current mode;
- generating a menu comprising the identified at least one option;
- and
- overlaying the generated menu on displayed content associated with the identified current mode such that at least a portion of the content remains visible.
A method for displaying a contextual menu using a portable electronic device, comprising:
- displaying content associated with a current mode of an electronic device, wherein the current mode comprises at least one of media, recording, audio book, radio, workout, calendar, event, clock, and stopwatch modes;
- detecting the current mode;
- identifying at least one menu option associated only with the detected current mode;
- generating a menu comprising the identified at least one option;
- overlaying the generated menu on the displayed content, wherein the overlayed menu includes a drop shadow;
- and
- changing the transparency and luminosity of the displayed content.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.