# US 2014/0157205 A1 · Expandable user interface menu > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0157205 A1 - Document ID: US20140157205A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/172,555 - Filed: 2014-02-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-21 - Assignees: Adobe Systems Incorporated - Applicants: Adobe Systems Incorporated - Inventors: Peter J. Baird - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140157205A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Expandable user interface menu techniques are described, including displaying a menu having a menu item, receiving an input indicating selection of the menu item, and expanding the menu, based on one or more parameters associated with the menu item, to present a structure configured to receive another input associated with the menu item, the menu item remaining displayed while the menu is expanded. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: displaying a menu comprising a menu item; receiving a first input indicating selection of the menu item; and expanding the menu, based on one or more parameters associated with the menu item, to present a structure configured to receive a second input associated with the menu item, wherein the menu item remains displayed while the menu is expanded, wherein an action or function for the menu item is not performed until a third input is received via the structure to apply the second input. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the structure includes a user interface element corresponding to a cancellation operation, and wherein the expanded menu is no longer displayed if either the second or third inputs are selection of the user interface element corresponding to the cancellation operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the structure includes a user interface element corresponding to a cancellation operation, and wherein the menu is no longer displayed if either the second or third inputs are selection of the user interface element corresponding to the cancellation operation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the menu is expanded in a direction that is defined by one or more of the parameters associated with the menu item. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the menu is expanded to have an expanded size that is defined by one or more of the parameters associated with the menu item. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising redisplaying the menu after the action or function for the menu item is performed, wherein the redisplayed menu includes an additional menu item that was not initially included in the menu, and wherein the additional menu item corresponds to functionality associated with the second input. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first input comprises hovering a selection pointer over the menu item. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the structure is configured to receive the second input until the third input is received. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second input comprises alphanumerical input. ### Claim 10 A computer program product embodied in a computer-readable medium and comprising computer instructions that, when executed: display a dropdown menu comprising a plurality of menu items; receive a first input indicating a selected one of the plurality of menu items; and in response to receiving the first input, expanding the dropdown menu to present an expanded dropdown menu configured to receive a second input associated with the selected menu item, wherein functionality associated with the selected menu item is not performed until a third input is received via the expanded dropdown menu to apply the second input. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the expanded dropdown menu includes a user interface element corresponding to a cancellation operation, and wherein the expanded dropdown menu is no longer presented if either the second or third inputs are selection of the user interface element corresponding to the cancellation operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the expanded dropdown menu is configured to receive a plurality of second inputs associated with the selected menu item, and wherein functionality associated with the selected menu item is at least partially defined by the plurality of second inputs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the computer instructions, when executed, also redisplay the expanded dropdown menu after functionality associated with the selected menu item is performed, wherein the redisplayed expanded dropdown menu indicates a default selection that corresponds to the second input. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the computer instructions, when executed, also redisplay the dropdown menu after functionality associated with the selected menu item is performed, wherein the redisplayed dropdown menu includes a new menu item that was not initially included in the dropdown menu, and wherein the new menu item corresponds to functionality associated with the second input. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the second input comprises alphanumerical input and the third input comprises a keystroke that, when detected, causes functionality associated with the selected menu item to be performed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the expanded dropdown menu is configured to receive the second input until the third input is received. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: a memory configured to store data associated with a menu that includes a menu item; and a touchscreen device configured to: display the menu and the menu item, receive a first input indicating selection of the menu item, and display an expanded menu based on one or more parameters associated with the menu item; wherein the expanded menu includes a structure configured to receive a second input associated with the menu item; wherein the menu item remains displayed while the menu is expanded; and wherein functionality associated with the menu item is not performed until a third input is received via the structure, the third input causing the second input to be applied. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the menu item and the structure remain displayed and capable of receiving input until the third input is received. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the structure comprises a box configured to receive the second and third inputs. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein receiving the first input further comprises generating a signal to display the expanded menu when a selection element is hovered over the menu item.