Systems and methods for configuring a user interface having a menu

One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, direct the computer to automatically scale a text input box based on an amount of display space taken to display text entered in the text input box,

• wherein the computer executable instructions are executable to perform acts comprising:
• monitor text input by a user in the text input box;
• determine content of the inputted text, the content being a substantive meaning of the text;
• and
• configure a menu to display functional actions based on the content of the text, the functional actions to be performed using the text, including selecting which of a plurality of said functional actions is to be included in the menu based on the content of the text and determining an order of display of the functional actions within the menu based on the content of the text, heuristic rules, and a probabilistic determination of a likelihood that the user will select the functional actions included in the menu;
• receive a selection by the user of a functional action from the menu;
• determine an alternative technique that may be utilized by the user to perform a combination of inputting the text and initiating the selected functional action;
• display to the user the alternative technique prior to initiation of the selected functional action, wherein the displaying comprises automatically replacing, in the text input box, the text input by the user with a representation of the alternative technique for performing the functional action prior to initiation of the functional action;
• and
• initiate the selected functional action, including performing the selected functional action on the inputted text.

A method comprising:

• receiving text input by a user via a user interface;
• determining content of the inputted text, the content being a substantive meaning of the text;
• automatically displaying a menu representing a plurality of functional actions, based on the content of the text, that are performable using the text while receiving additional text from the user,
• wherein the displaying includes selecting which of the plurality of functional actions is to be included in the menu based on the content of the text and determining an order of display of the functional actions within the menu based on the content of the text, heuristic rules, and a probabilistic determination of a likelihood that the user will select the functional actions included in the menu;
• altering the displaying of the menu such that at least one functional action in the menu is displayed with a different display characteristic than another functional action in the menu, the different display characteristic comprising at least one of translucence or motion;
• determining an alternative technique that may be utilized by the user to perform a combination of inputting the text and initiating a functional action selected from the menu, wherein the alternative technique does not require use of a cursor control device;
• and
• displaying to the user the alternative technique.

A method comprising:

• examining inputted text received from a user;
• determining content of the inputted text, the content being a substantive meaning of the text;
• examining a selection by the user of a functional action from a menu, the functional action to be performed on the inputted text, wherein the menu is configured to display functional actions based on the content of the text, including selecting which of a plurality of said functional actions is to be included in the menu and determining an order of display of the functional actions within the menu based on heuristic rules and a probabilistic determination of a likelihood that the user will select the functional actions included in the menu;
• initiating the selected functional action, including performing the selected functional action on the inputted text;
• determining an alternative technique that may be utilized by the user to perform a combination of inputting the text and initiating the selected functional action;
• displaying to the user a result of performing the selected functional action on the inputted text;
• and
• displaying to the user the alternative technique that may be utilized to input the text and initiate the selected functional action, wherein the displaying comprises automatically replacing, in a text input box, the inputted text with a representation of the alternative technique prior to initiating the selected functional action.

A system comprising:

• a network;
• a client communicatively coupled to the network and having one or more modules that are executable to:
• receive text input by a user;
• determine content of the inputted text, the content being a substantive meaning of the text;
• perform a first functional action based on the content of the text;
• configure a menu to include representations of the first functional action and a second functional action based on the content of the text,
• wherein configure a menu includes selecting the first and second functional actions to be included in the menu from a plurality of functional actions and determining an order of display of the first and second functional actions within the menu based on heuristic rules and a probabilistic determination of a likelihood that the user will select the first and second functional actions included in the menu;
• display the configured menu while the user enters additional text;
• and
• teach the user about alternative techniques by dynamically reconfiguring the menu during user interaction, including:
• determining an alternative technique that may be utilized by the user to perform a combination of inputting the text and performing the first functional action, and displaying to the user the alternative technique that may be utilized to input the text and perform the first functional action, wherein the displaying comprises automatically replacing, in a text input box, the text input by the user with a representation of the alternative technique prior to initiation of the first functional action;
• and
• a server communicatively coupled to the network and having at least one module that is executable to perform the second functional action.