US 2010/0064258 A1Published application

Method and apparatus for displaying a menu for accessing hierarchical content data including caching multiple menu states

AssigneeApplied Systems, Inc.

InventorsRobert E. Gorczowski, Paul T. Klawitter

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Abstract

A system and method for displaying a set of hierarchical menu items is disclosed. Each menu item may be associated with at least one sub-item and/or with content data. Each sub-item may be associated with content data for display upon selection of the sub-item. The system simultaneously displays each menu item in a list format. Upon selection of one of the menu items, the system displays each sub-item associated with the selected menu item. For any selected sub-item, the system displays the display data associated with the selected sub-item and stores data indicating that the selected sub-item is the most recently-selected sub-item associated with the selected menu item. When any menu item is selected, the system determines the most recently-selected sub-item (if any) associated with the selected menu item and displays the display data associated with the most recently-selected sub-item.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A method of displaying a navigation control, the method comprising:

displaying a first top-level menu item, a second top-level menu item, and a third top-level menu item, wherein the first top-level menu item is associated with at least two sub-menu items and wherein the second top-level menu item is associated with at least two sub-menu items;
enabling an operator to input a first indication of the first top-level menu item;
displaying the sub-menu items associated with the first top-level menu item;
enabling the operator to input a second indication of a first desired sub-menu item associated with the first top-level menu item;
enabling the operator to input a third indication of the second top-level menu item;
displaying the sub-menu items associated with the second top-level menu item;
enabling the operator to input a fourth indication of a second desired sub-menu item associated with the second top-level menu item;
enabling the operator to input a fifth indication of the third top-level menu item;
and
enabling the operator to input a sixth indication of either the first top-level menu item or the second top-level menu item, wherein:
if the operator inputs the sixth indication of the first top-level menu item, displaying the first desired sub-menu item associated with the first top-level menu item, and
if the operator inputs the sixth indication of the second top-level menu item, displaying the second desired sub-menu item associated with the second top-level menu item.

9 more elements

A method of displaying a navigation control, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of menu items and data representing a plurality of hierarchical relationships between the menu items;
determining a plurality of top-level menu items based on the data representing the hierarchical relationships, at least one of the top-level menu items including at least one associated lower-level menu item;
enabling an operator to input a first indication of a first one of the top-level menu items associated with at least one lower-level menu item;
displaying the at least one lower-level menu item associated with the indicated top-level menu item;
enabling the operator to input a second indication of one of the lower level-menu items associated with the indicated top-level menu item;
storing data in association with the first one of the top-level menu items representing the indicated lower-level menu item;
enabling the operator to input a third indication of a second one of the top-level menu items;
enabling the operator to input a fourth indication of a third one of the top-level menu items;
and
for a fifth indication of the first one of the top-level menu items, displaying the lower-level menu item represented by the stored data.

7 more elements

A database access system comprising:

at least one input device;
at least one memory device;
at least one display device;
and
at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one input device, the at least one memory device, and the at least one display device to:
(a) store a plurality of menu items and data representing a plurality of hierarchical relationships between the menu items;
(b) determine a plurality of top-level menu items based on the data representing the hierarchical relationships, at least one of the top-level menu items including at least one associated lower-level menu item;
(c) enable an operator to input a first indication of a first one of the top-level menu items associated with at least one lower-level menu item;
(d) display the at least one lower-level menu item associated with the indicated top-level menu item;
(e) enable the operator to input a second indication of one of the lower level-menu items associated with the indicated top-level menu item;
(f) store data in association with the first one of the top-level menu items representing the indicated lower-level menu item;
(g) enable the operator to input a third indication of a second one of the top-level menu items;
(h) enable the operator to input a fourth indication of a third one of the top-level menu items;
and
(i) for a fifth indication of the first one of the top-level menu items, display the lower-level menu item represented by the stored data.

12 more elements

A machine readable medium storing instructions structured to cause an apparatus to:

(a) store a plurality of menu items and data representing a plurality of hierarchical relationships between the menu items;
(b) determine a plurality of top-level menu items based on the data representing the hierarchical relationships, at least one of the top-level menu items including at least one associated lower-level menu item;
(c) enable an operator to input a first indication of a first one of the top-level menu items associated with at least one lower-level menu item;
(d) display the at least one lower-level menu item associated with the indicated top-level menu item;
(e) enable the operator to input a second indication of one of the lower level-menu items associated with the indicated top-level menu item;
(f) store data in association with the first one of the top-level menu items representing the indicated lower-level menu item;
(g) enable the operator to input a third indication of a second one of the top-level menu items;
(h) enable the operator to input a fourth indication of a third one of the top-level menu items;
and
(i) for a fifth indication of the first one of the top-level menu items, display the lower-level menu item represented by the stored data.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.