# US 2021/0240314 A1 · Graphical user interface system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0240314 A1 - Document ID: US20210240314A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/186,659 - Filed: 2021-02-26 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-17 - Assignees: Methodical Mind, LLC - Applicants: Methodical Mind, LLC. - Inventors: Jacob N. WOHLSTADTER; George SIGAL; Edward J.S. ROQUES; Louis W. PANG; Pankaj OBEROI; Kin NG; Michael VOCK - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210240314A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04845: for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour - G16C 20/10: Analysis or design of chemical reactions, syntheses or processes - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G16C: COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY; CHEMOINFORMATICS; COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE ## Abstract A method of interactively navigating a user through a path of menu choices on a user interface may include displaying a current menu of choices on a first portion of a user interface display. The user interface allows for selecting of a menu item from the current menu of choices and to drill down through levels of menu choices based on selecting a menu item from a prior level of menu choices. A second portion of the user interface display presents past selected and past unselected menu items of the drilled-down levels. The past unselected menu items are displayed as selectable options. The user interface allows for jumping to a different path of menu choices by selecting a past unselected menu item from a previously navigated menu level displayed on the second portion of the user interface display. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -41. (canceled) ### Claim 42 A method executed by at least one processor for navigating a path of hierarchical menu levels outputted to a user interface (UI), the method comprising: providing, by at least one processor, a first command for a first menu of one or more user-selectable menu items to be displayed on a first portion of a user interface (UI) display; providing, by the at least one processor, a relocation command for the one or more user-selectable menu items of the first menu to be relocated to a second portion of the UI display and removed from the first portion in response to a user selection of a user-selectable menu item from the first menu; and providing, by the at least one processor, a second command for a second menu of one or more user-selectable menu items to be displayed on the first portion of the UI display in response to the user selection, the second menu being a submenu of the first menu in a hierarchical menu structure. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the first menu includes one or more of: a read command; and a review recent results command. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, further comprising, responsive to a selection of the read command, providing a third command to display a play button in the second portion of the UI display. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, further comprising, responsive to a selection of the play button, providing a third command to a plate reader to begin reading one or more plates. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45, further comprising, further responsive to the selection of the play button, providing a display command to cause the UI display to display a timer, wherein the timer is adapted to indicate one or more of: a total amount of time to load the one or more plates; a total amount of time to read the one or more plates; a total amount of time to unload the one or more plates; a time remaining to complete the loading of the one or more plates; a time remaining to complete the reading of the one or more plates; and a time remaining to complete unloading of the one or more plates. ### Claim 47 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, further comprising providing, by the at least one processor, a third command to display on the UI display an advanced context menu including one or more of user-selectable choices including: an eject plate choice; a partial plate choice; a set plate run choice; a stop instrument choice; a lock ui choice; and a view plate information choice. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47 further comprising adapting, responsive to a selection of the partial plate choice, the first portion to receive bar code information related to a plate selected among one or more plates. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, further comprising adapting the first portion to display a user-selectable option that, when selected, verifies authenticity of the bar code information. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, further comprising causing, responsive to the partial plate choice, the advanced context menu to further include one or more of user-selectable choices including: save partial plate; and cancel partial plate. ### Claim 51 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, further comprising adapting, responsive to a selection of the set plate run choice, the first portion to receive a name for a plate run associated with a plate. ### Claim 52 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, further comprising adapting, responsive to a selection of the stop instrument choice, the first portion to display a confirmation choice before issuing a stop instrument command. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The method of claim 52, further comprising, responsive to a selection of the confirmation choice, providing a stop instrument command to abort a current run of a plate. ### Claim 54 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, further comprising, responsive to a selection of the lock UI choice, adapting the UI display to be locked from user selections until receiving a current user's password. ### Claim 55 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, further comprising, responsive to a selection of the view plate information choice, adapting the first portion to display plate information including one or more of the following: plate run name, plate barcode, long side customer barcode, short side customer barcode, plate type, operator, and read time. ### Claim 56 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, further comprising, responsive to a selection of eject plate choice, providing an eject command to a plate-reading instrument. ### Claim 57 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein, in response to the user selection, the first menu is adapted to be displayed on the second portion of the UI display and comprises one or more of a past-selected menu item and a past-unselected menu item of the first menu and is adapted to be concurrently viewed in the second portion with the second menu in the first portion. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The method of claim 57, further comprising adapting the second portion to display an indicator bar, wherein one or more of the past-selected menu items are adapted to be visually aligned with the indicator bar to designate which menu items were previously selected throughout a user's traversal of the menu hierarchy. ### Claim 59 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, further comprising adapting the second portion to display an indicator bar comprising a status indicator adapted to display one or more color-coded states, the color-coded states comprising a first color indicate an error state and a second color to indicate a non-error state, wherein the first color and the second color are different. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The method of claim 59, wherein the first color is red. ### Claim 61 (depends on 59) The method of claim 59, wherein the second color is blue. ### Claim 62 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, further comprising adapting the first portion to display visually represented items to aid in a user's decision-making processes, wherein the visually represented items include one or more of: a video, a picture, a graph, a table, a chart, and a graphical representation of an object. ### Claim 63 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, further comprising: providing, by the at least one processor, a dialog box adapted to be displayed on a foreground of the UI display to prompt a user for additional information or notify the user of an error. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) The method of claim 63, wherein a background of the dialog box is further adapted to match the background of the first and second portions of the UI display. ### Claim 65 (depends on 64) The method of claim 64, wherein one or more of text, graphics, photos, and videos displayed in the background of the first or second portions of the UI display are adapted to displayed out of focus when the dialog box is being displayed on the foreground of the UI display. ### Claim 66 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, further comprising providing, by the at least one processor, an interface enabling communications among: (a) one or more users, accounts, or teams; and (b) non-human machines, wherein the interface and the communications allow the one or more users, accounts, teams, and non-human machines to collaboratively solve one or more problems or sub-problems and notify one or more of each of results derived from their collaboration. ### Claim 67 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, further comprising providing, by the at least one processor, a progress indicator adapted to be displayed on the UI display, wherein the progress indicator comprises a series of flickering pixels to indicate that the at least one processor is processing a received response. ### Claim 68 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, further comprising providing, by the at least one processor, an advanced context menu adapted for division into a plurality of portions including one or more of the following: a top portion comprising items related to a currently active menu; a middle portion comprising items related to particular modules available to a user; and a bottom portion comprising global functions comprising one or more of login/logout functionality, user manuals and help, EULA information, and privacy policy information. ### Claim 69 A system for navigating a path of hierarchical menu levels outputted to a user interface (UI), the system comprising: at least one processor; a user input device; and a computer readable storage medium configured to store a computer application, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions of the computer application for: providing a first command for a first menu of one or more user-selectable menu items to be displayed on a first portion of a user interface (UI) display; providing a relocation command for the one or more user-selectable menu items of the first menu to be relocated to a second portion of the UI display and removed from the first portion in response to a user selection of a user-selectable menu item from the first menu; and providing a second command for a second menu of one or more user-selectable menu items to be displayed on the first portion of the UI display in response to a user selection, the second menu being a submenu of the first menu in a hierarchical menu structure. ### Claim 70 (depends on 69) The system of claim 69, wherein the first menu includes one or more of: a read command; and a review recent results command. ### Claim 71 (depends on 70) The system of claim 70, wherein the processor is further configured for, responsive to a selection of the read command, providing a third command to display a play button in the second portion of the UI display. ### Claim 72 (depends on 71) The system of claim 71, wherein the processor is further configured for, responsive to a selection of the play button, providing a third command to a plate reader to begin reading one or more plates. ### Claim 73 (depends on 72) The system of claim 72, wherein the processor is further configured for, further responsive to the selection of the play button, providing a display command to cause the UI display to display a timer, wherein the timer is adapted to indicate one or more of: a total amount of time to load the one or more plates; a total amount of time to read the one or more plates; a total amount of time to unload the one or more plates; a time remaining to complete the loading of the one or more plates; a time remaining to complete the reading of the one or more plates; and a time remaining to complete unloading of the one or more plates. ### Claim 74 (depends on 69) The system of claim 69, wherein the processor is further configured for providing, a third command to display on the UI display an advanced context menu including one or more of user-selectable choices including: an eject plate choice; a partial plate choice; a set plate run choice; a stop instrument choice; a lock ui choice; and a view plate information choice. ### Claim 75 (depends on 74) The system of claim 74, wherein the processor is further configured for adapting, responsive to a selection of the partial plate choice, the first portion to receive bar code information related to a plate selected among one or more plates. ### Claim 76 (depends on 75) The system of claim 75, wherein the processor is further configured for adapting the first portion to display a user-selectable option that, when selected, verifies authenticity of the bar code information. ### Claim 77 (depends on 75) The system of claim 75, wherein the processor is further configured for causing, responsive to the partial plate choice, the advanced context menu to further include one or more of user-selectable choices including: save partial plate; and cancel partial plate. ### Claim 78 (depends on 74) The system of claim 74, wherein the processor is further configured for adapting, responsive to a selection of the set plate run choice, the first portion to receive a name for a plate run associated with a plate. ### Claim 79 (depends on 76) The system of claim 76, wherein the processor is further configured for adapting, responsive to a selection of the stop instrument choice, the first portion to display a confirmation choice before issuing a stop instrument command. ### Claim 80 (depends on 79) The system of claim 79, wherein the processor is further configured for, responsive to a selection of the confirmation choice, providing a stop instrument command to abort a current run of a plate. ### Claim 81 (depends on 74) The system of claim 74, wherein the processor is further configured for, responsive to a selection of the lock UI choice, adapting the UI display to be locked from user selections until receiving a current user's password. ### Claim 82 (depends on 74) The system of claim 74, wherein the processor is further configured for, responsive to a selection of the view plate information choice, adapting the first portion to display plate information including one or more of the following: plate run name, plate barcode, long side customer barcode, short side customer barcode, plate type, operator, and read time. ### Claim 83 (depends on 74) The system of claim 74, wherein the processor is further configured for, responsive to a selection of eject plate choice, providing an eject command to a plate-reading instrument. ### Claim 84 (depends on 68) The system of claim 68, wherein, in response to the user selection, the first menu is adapted to be displayed on the second portion of the UI display and comprises one or more of a past-selected menu item and a past-unselected menu item of the first menu and is adapted to be concurrently viewed in the second portion with the second menu in the first portion. ### Claim 85 (depends on 84) The system of claim 84, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for adapting the second portion to display an indicator bar, wherein one or more of the past-selected menu items are adapted to be visually aligned with the indicator bar to designate which menu items were previously selected throughout a user's traversal of the menu hierarchy. ### Claim 86 (depends on 68) The system of claim 68, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for adapting the second portion to display an indicator bar comprising a status indicator adapted to display one or more color-coded states, the color-coded states comprising a first color indicate an error state and a second color to indicate a non-error state, wherein the first color and the second color are different. ### Claim 87 (depends on 86) The system of claim 86, wherein the first color is red. ### Claim 88 (depends on 86) The system of claim 86, wherein the second color is blue. ### Claim 89 (depends on 69) The system of claim 69, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for adapting the first portion to display visually represented items to aid in a user's decision-making processes, wherein the visually represented items include one or more of: a video, a picture, a graph, a table, a chart, and a graphical representation of an object. ### Claim 90 (depends on 69) The system of claim 69, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for: providing a dialog box adapted to be displayed on a foreground of the UI display to prompt a user for additional information or notify the user of an error. ### Claim 91 (depends on 90) The system of claim 90, wherein the background of the dialog box is further adapted to match a background of the first and second portions of the UI display. ### Claim 92 (depends on 91) The system of claim 91, wherein one or more of text, graphics, photos, and videos displayed in the background of the first or second portions of the UI display are adapted to displayed out of focus when the dialog box is being displayed on the foreground of the UI display. ### Claim 93 (depends on 69) The system of claim 69, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for providing an interface enabling communications among: (a) one or more users, accounts, or teams; and (b) non-human machines, wherein the interface and the communications allow the one or more users, accounts, teams, and non-human machines to collaboratively solve one or more problems or sub-problems and notify one or more of each of results derived from their collaboration. ### Claim 94 (depends on 69) The system of claim 69, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for providing a progress indicator adapted to be displayed on the UI display, wherein the progress indicator comprises a series of flickering pixels to indicate that the at least one processor is processing a received response. ### Claim 95 (depends on 88) The system of claim 88, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for providing an advanced context menu adapted for division into a plurality of portions including one or more of the following: a top portion comprising items related to a currently active menu; a middle portion comprising items related to particular modules available to a user; and a bottom portion comprising global functions comprising one or more of login/logout functionality, user manuals and help, EULA information, and privacy policy information. ### Claim 96 A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out a method for navigating a path of hierarchical menu levels adapted for output to a user interface (UI), the method comprising: providing, by at least one processor, a first command for a first menu of one or more user-selectable menu items to be displayed on a first portion of a user interface (UI) display; providing, by the at least one processor, a relocation command for the one or more user-selectable menu items of the first menu to be relocated to a second portion of the UI display and removed from the first portion in response to a user selection of a user-selectable menu item from the first menu; and providing, by the at least one processor, a second command for a second menu of one or more user-selectable menu items to be displayed on the first portion of the UI display in response to a user selection, the second menu being a submenu of the first menu in a hierarchical menu structure. ### Claim 97 (depends on 96) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 96, wherein the first menu includes one or more of: a read command; and a review recent results command. ### Claim 98 (depends on 97) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 97, the method further comprising, responsive to a selection of the read command, providing a third command to display a play button in the second portion of the UI display. ### Claim 99 (depends on 98) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 98, the method further comprising, responsive to a selection of the play button, providing a third command to a plate reader to begin reading one or more plates. ### Claim 100 (depends on 99) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 99, the method further comprising, further responsive to the selection of the play button, providing a display command to cause the UI display to display a timer, wherein the timer is adapted to indicate one or more of: a total amount of time to load the one or more plates; a total amount of time to read the one or more plates; a total amount of time to unload the one or more plates; a time remaining to complete the loading of the one or more plates; a time remaining to complete the reading of the one or more plates; and a time remaining to complete unloading of the one or more plates. ### Claim 101 (depends on 96) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 96, the method further comprising providing, by the at least one processor, a third command to display on the UI display an advanced context menu including one or more of user-selectable choices including: an eject plate choice; a partial plate choice; a set plate run choice; a stop instrument choice; a lock UI choice; and a view plate information choice. ### Claim 102 (depends on 101) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 101, the method further comprising adapting, responsive to a selection of the partial plate choice, the first portion to receive bar code information related to a plate selected among one or more plates. ### Claim 103 (depends on 101) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 101, the method further comprising adapting the first portion to display a user-selectable option that, when selected, verifies authenticity of the bar code information. ### Claim 104 (depends on 99) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 99, the method further comprising causing, responsive to the partial plate choice, the advanced context menu to further include one or more of user-selectable choices including: save partial plate; and cancel partial plate. ### Claim 105 (depends on 101) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 101, the method further comprising adapting, responsive to a selection of the set plate run choice, the first portion to receive a name for a plate run associated with a plate. ### Claim 106 (depends on 101) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 101, the method further comprising adapting, responsive to a selection of the stop instrument choice, the first portion to display a confirmation choice before issuing a stop instrument command. ### Claim 107 (depends on 106) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 106, the method further comprising, responsive to a selection of the confirmation choice, providing a stop instrument command to abort a current run of a plate. ### Claim 108 (depends on 101) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 101, the method further comprising, responsive to a selection of the lock UI choice, adapting the UI display to be locked from user selections until receiving a current user's password. ### Claim 109 (depends on 101) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 101, the method further comprising, responsive to a selection of the view plate information choice, adapting the first portion to display plate information including one or more of the following: plate run name, plate barcode, long side customer barcode, short side customer barcode, plate type, operator, and read time. ### Claim 110 (depends on 101) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 101, the method further comprising, responsive to a selection of eject plate choice, providing an eject command to a plate-reading instrument. ### Claim 111 (depends on 96) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 96, wherein, in response to the user selection, the first menu is adapted to be displayed on the second portion of the UI display and comprises one or more of a past-selected menu item and a past-unselected menu item of the first menu and is adapted to be concurrently viewed in the second portion with the second menu in the first portion. ### Claim 112 (depends on 111) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 111, the method further comprises adapting the second portion to display an indicator bar, wherein one or more of the past-selected menu items are adapted to be visually aligned with the indicator bar to designate which menu items were previously selected throughout a user's traversal of the menu hierarchy. ### Claim 113 (depends on 96) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 96, the method further comprising adapting the second portion to display an indicator bar comprising a status indicator adapted to display one or more color-coded states, the color-coded states comprising a first color indicate an error state and a second color to indicate a non-error state, wherein the first color and the second color are different. ### Claim 114 (depends on 113) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 113, wherein the first color is red and the second color is blue. ### Claim 115 (depends on 113) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 113, wherein the second color is blue. ### Claim 116 (depends on 96) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 96, the method further comprising adapting the first portion to display visually represented items to aid in a user's decision-making processes, wherein the visually represented item include one or more of: a video, a picture, a graph, a table, a chart, and a graphical representation of an object. ### Claim 117 (depends on 96) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 96, the method further comprising: providing, by the at least one processor, a dialog box adapted to be displayed on a foreground of the UI display to prompt a user for additional information or notify the user of an error. ### Claim 118 (depends on 117) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 117, wherein a background of the dialog box is further adapted to match the background of the first and second portions of the UI display, ### Claim 119 (depends on 118) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 118, further wherein one or more of text, graphics, photos, and videos displayed in the background of the first or second portions of the UI display are adapted to displayed out of focus when the dialog box is being displayed on the foreground of the UI display. ### Claim 120 (depends on 96) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 96, the method further comprising providing, by the at least one processor, an interface enabling communications among: (a) users, accounts, or teams; and (b) non-human machines, wherein the interface and the communications allow the one or more users, accounts, teams, and non-human machines to collaboratively solve one or more problems or sub-problems and notify one or more of each of the results derived from their collaboration. ### Claim 121 (depends on 96) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 96, the method further comprising providing, by the at least one processor, a progress indicator adapted to be displayed on the UI display, wherein the progress indicator comprises a series of flickering pixels to indicate that the at least one processor is processing a received response. ### Claim 122 (depends on 96) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 96, the method further comprising providing, by the at least one processor, an advanced context menu adapted for division into a plurality of portions including one or more of the following: a top portion comprising items related to a currently active menu; a middle portion comprising items related to particular modules available to a user; and a bottom portion comprising global functions comprising one or more of login/logout functionality, user manuals and help, EULA information, and privacy policy information.