Menu searching of a hierarchical menu structure
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorMichael H. Svinth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A menu search system allows a user to search through a menu structure, rather than only navigate hierarchically through the menu structure. When a user selects a menu search mode, the menu search system allows the user to enter text and, as the text is entered, searches the menu hierarchy for menu items with names that match the text. The menu search system then displays the matching menu items so that the user can select a displayed menu item of interest.
Claims20
A method in a computing device for selecting a menu item from a menu structure, the method comprising:
- providing a menu structure having hierarchically organized menu items with parent and child relationships;
- receiving from a user an indication to enter a menu search mode;
- upon receiving from the user the indication to enter the menu search mode,
- displaying on a display device of the computing device a menu search window that includes an input area and a menu item area;
- receiving input from the user;
- when the received input is one or more text characters,
- searching the menu structure for menu items that match the received input text characters;
- and
- displaying in the menu item area an indication of menu items that match;
- and
- when the received input is a selection of a displayed menu item,
- when the selected menu item has child menu items, displaying in the menu item area an indication of the child menu items;
- and
- when the selected menu item has no child menu items, performing a command associated with the selected menu item.
A computer-readable storage medium containing computer-readable instructions for controlling a computing device with a display device to select a menu item from a menu structure, the menu structure having hierarchically organized menu items with parent and child relationships, by a method comprising:
- receiving from a user an indication to enter a menu search mode or a menu normal mode;
- upon receiving from the user the indication to enter the menu normal mode,
- allowing the user to hierarchically browse down the menu items of the menu structure by displaying on the display device child menu items of menu items selected by the user;
- and
- when a user selects a menu item without any child menu items, performing a command associated with the selected menu item;
- and
- upon receiving from the user the indication to enter the menu search mode,
- displaying on a display device a menu search window that includes an input area and a menu item area;
- receiving input from the user;
- when the received input is one or more text characters,
- searching the menu structure for menu items that match the input text characters;
- and
- displaying in the menu item area an indication of menu items that match;
- and
- when the received input is a selection of a displayed menu item,
- when the selected menu item has an associated menu search script, invoking the menu search script;
- and
- when the selected menu item does not have an associated menu search script,
- when the selected menu item has child menu items, displaying in the menu item area an indication of the child menu items;
- and
- when the selected menu item has no child menu items, performing a command associated with the selected menu item.
A computing device with a display for selecting a menu item from a menu structure, comprising:
- a menu store storing a menu structure having hierarchically organized menu items;
- a component that displays on the display device of the computing device a menu search window;
- a component that, upon receiving search input from a user, searches the menu structure of the menu store for menu items that match the search input and displays in the menu search window an indication of menu items that match the search input;
- and
- a component that, upon receiving a selection of a displayed menu item, performs a command associated with the selected menu item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.