Popup menus with directional gestures

A operator interface for a computer having a processor, a memory, a display, an input device for controlling the position of a cursor on said display, and a trigger, comprising:

• defining means for defining a plurality of menus, each of said menus having a plurality of language characters arranged thereon, said language characters in each of said menus having initial strokes written in a similar predetermined direction;
• detecting means for detecting an operation of said trigger;
• tracking means for tracking a gesture of said cursor, said gesture comprising a direction of movement of said cursor following said operation of said trigger;
• displaying means for displaying a menu having language characters with initial strokes generally matching said gesture;
• defining means for defining any language character at the position of said cursor as a current character;
• and
• selecting means for selecting said current character.

An operator interface apparatus for selecting from a plurality of commands in a computer having a processor, a memory, a display, an input device for controlling the position of a cursor on said display, and a trigger operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, comprising:

• trigger event detecting means for detecting a trigger event, said trigger event including a last event comprising an engagement of said trigger;
• displaying means responsive to said trigger event detecting means for displaying a menu, said menu having a plurality of menu items arranged in a rectangular array having a plurality of rows and columns, each of said menu items being associated with a different command;
• tracking means for tracking said cursor when said cursor is moved across said menu items;
• defining means for defining a menu item at the position of said cursor as a current menu item;
• highlighting means for highlighting said current menu item;
• scrolling means for scrolling said menu if said menu is partially cut off by an edge of said display, said scrolling means automatically scrolling said menu away from said edge of said display when said cursor is positioned adjacent said edge of said display;
• trigger disengagement detecting means for detecting a first disengagement of said trigger since said engagement;
• and
• activating means responsive to said trigger disengagement detecting means for activating the command associated with said current menu item.

An operator interface apparatus for selecting from a plurality of commands in a computer having a processor, a memory, a display, an input device for controlling the position of a cursor on said display, and a trigger operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, comprising:

• trigger event detecting means for detecting a trigger event, said trigger event including a last event comprising an engagement of said trigger;
• displaying means responsive to said trigger event detecting means for displaying a menu, said menu having a plurality of menu items arranged in a rectangular array having a plurality of rows and columns, each of said menu items being associated with a different command;
• tracking means for tracking said cursor when said cursor is moved across said menu items;
• defining means for defining a menu item at the position of said cursor as a current menu item;
• highlighting means for highlighting said current menu item;
• progressive display means for automatically displaying a plurality of additional menu items from an edge of said menu when said cursor is positioned adjacent said edge;
• trigger disengagement detecting means for detecting a first disengagement of said trigger since said engagement;
• and
• activating means responsive to said trigger disengagement detecting means for activating the command associated with said current menu item.

An operator interface apparatus for selecting from a plurality of commands in a computer having a processor, a memory, a display, an input device for controlling the position of a cursor on said display, a trigger operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and a default menu containing application commands common to many different applications, said default menu having a plurality of menu items arranged in a rectangular array having a plurality of rows and columns, each of said menu items being associated with a different command, comprising:

• trigger event detecting means for detecting a trigger event, said trigger event including a last event comprising an engagement of said trigger;
• command searching means responsive to said trigger event detecting means for automatically searching the currently active application for command identifiers associated with command names in said default menu;
• displaying means for displaying said default menu when updated with command identifiers determined by said command searching means;
• tracking means for tracking said cursor when said cursor is moved across said menu items;
• defining means for defining a menu item at the position of said cursor as a current menu item;
• highlighting means for highlighting said current menu item;
• trigger disengagement detecting means for detecting a first disengagement of said trigger since said engagement;
• and
• activating means responsive to said trigger disengagement detecting means for activating the command associated with said current menu item.