Radial menu selection with overshoot capability
AssigneesInternational Business Machines Corporation, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
InventorsBrian J. Cragun, Bradley J. Erickson, Michael J. Fork, William C. Rapp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are generally related to graphical user interfaces (GUIs), and more specifically to selecting items from a radial menu. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide a complex set of gestures which, when performed using a screen pointer, facilitate fast and accurate selection of radial menu items from a radial menu. The gestures may generally involve a first movement of the screen pointer to activate a desired radial menu item, and a second predefined movement of the screen pointer to select the radial menu item.
Claims20
A computer implemented method for selecting a menu item from a radial menu, comprising:
- receiving a predefined screen pointer event;
- in response to receiving the predefined screen pointer event, displaying the radial menu on a display screen, the radial menu being bounded by a visible boundary;
- receiving a first gesture of the screen pointer;
- determining whether the first gesture places the screen pointer within a predefined selection zone of the menu item, the predefined selection zone extending outside the visible boundary of the radial menu;
- upon determining that the screenpointer is within the predefined selection zone of the menu item, activating the menu item;
- receiving a predefined second gesture of the screen pointer;
- and
- in response to receiving the predefined second gesture, executing a function associated with the activated menu item.
A computer readable storage medium comprising a program product which, when executed by a processor is configured to perform an operation for selecting a menu item from a radial menu, the operation comprising:
- receiving a predefined screen pointer event;
- in response to receiving the predefined screen pointer event, displaying the radial menu on a display screen, the radial menu being bounded by a visible boundary;
- receiving a first gesture of the screen pointer;
- determining whether the first gesture places the screen pointer within a predefined selection zone of the menu item, the predefined selection zone extending outside the visible boundary of the radial menu;
- upon determining that the screenpointer is within the predefined selection zone of the menu item, activating the menu item;
- receiving a predefined second gesture of the screen pointer;
- and
- in response to receiving the predefined second gesture, executing a function associated with the activated menu item.
A system, comprising:
- a memory comprising a program;
- and
- a processor which, when executing the program, is configured to:
- receive a predefined screen pointer event;
- in response to receiving the predefined screen pointer event, display a radial menu on a display screen the radial menu being bounded by a visible boundary;
- receive a first gesture of the screen pointer;
- determine whether the first gesture places the screen pointer within a predefined selection zone of a menu item, the predefined selection zone extending outside the visible boundary of the radial menu;
- upon determining that the screenpointer is within the predefined selection zone of the menu item, activate the menu item;
- receive a predefined second gesture of the screen pointer;
- and
- in response to receiving the predefined second gesture, execute function associated with the menu item upon determining that the menu item is active.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.