Multiple menus for use with a graphical user interface

A method for managing menus associated with a graphical user interface that is displayed on a display unit, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• receiving a request from a user for a menu panel that includes a vertex;
• and
• in response to the request from the user, wherein the request is not associated with the user selecting any other menu objects that are displayed on the display unit at the time of the request:
• displaying on the display unit the menu panel at a location based on a first position of a cursor when the user requests the menu panel, wherein:
• the menu panel comprises at least a first selection region, a second selection region, and a third selection region,
• the first selection region, the second selection region, and the third selection region are adjacent to the vertex,
• the first selection region is associated with a first base menu,
• the second selection region is associated with a second base menu,
• the third selection region is associated with a third base menu, and
• at least one base menu of the first base menu, second base menu, and third base menu includes multiple instances of a single menu item aligned in a direction that extends from the center of the menu panel to a midpoint of the first selection region, and a function associated with the single menu item is executed in response to the cursor being moved in a direction from the menu panel towards the multiple instances of the single menu item;
• and
• displaying on the display unit the first base menu that is associated with the first selection region.

A method for displaying on a display unit multiple menus that are associated with a graphical user interface, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• displaying, on the display unit, a menu panel comprised of a lower right quadrant, an upper right quadrant, an upper left quadrant, and a lower left quadrant, wherein the menu panel is displayed in response to a request that is not associated with a user selecting any menu objects that are displayed on the display unit at the time of the request, and wherein the menu panel is displayed at a location based on a first position of a cursor when the user requests the menu panel;
• displaying on the display unit a first selection region positioned in the lower right quadrant;
• displaying on the display unit a second selection region positioned in the upper right quadrant;
• displaying on the display unit a third selection region positioned in the upper left quadrant;
• displaying on the display unit a fourth selection region positioned in the lower left quadrant;
• displaying on the display unit a first base menu that is associated with the first selection region and that is positioned below the first selection region and that extends downward and right;
• displaying on the display unit a second base menu that is associated with the second selection region and that is positioned above the second selection region and that extends upward and right;
• displaying on the display unit a third base menu that is associated with the third selection region and that is positioned above the third selection region and that extends upward and left;
• and
• displaying on the display unit a fourth base menu that is associated with the fourth selection region and that is positioned below the fourth selection region and that extends downward and left;
• and
• wherein at least one of the four base menus includes multiple instances of a single menu item aligned in a direction that extends from the center of the menu panel to a midpoint of the first selection region, and a function associated with the single menu item is executed in response to the cursor being moved in a direction from the menu panel towards the multiple instances of the single menu item.

A computer system for displaying multiple menus in association with a graphical user interface, the computer system comprising:

• a user input device configured to control a cursor;
• and
• a display unit configured to:
• display the cursor,
• display a menu panel in response to a request from a user made with the user input device, wherein:
• the request is not associated with the user selecting any menu objects that are displayed on the display unit at the time of the request,
• the menu panel comprises at least two selection regions, and
• the menu panel is displayed at a location associated with a first position of the cursor when the request from the user is received,
• display a first base menu associated with a first selection region of the at least two selection regions, wherein, in response to the request from the user, the first base menu is displayed on the display unit when the cursor is closer to the first selection region than any other selection region of the at least two selection regions, and wherein the first base menu includes multiple instances of a single menu item aligned in a direction that extends from the center of the menu panel to a midpoint of the first selection region, and a function associated with the single menu item is executed in response to the cursor being moved in a direction from the menu panel towards the multiple instances of the single menu item, and
• display a second base menu associated with a second selection region of the at least two selection regions, wherein, in response to the request from the user, the second base menu is displayed on the display unit when the cursor is closer to the second control region than any other selection region of the at least two selection regions.

A computer system for accessing menus, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory storing an application program that, when executed by the processor, causes a graphical user interface to be displayed;
• and
• a display unit configured to display the graphical user interface that includes:
• a menu panel that is displayed in response to a request from a user, wherein the request is not associated with the user selecting any menu objects that are displayed on the display unit at the time of the request, wherein the menu panel is comprised of a lower right quadrant, an upper right quadrant, an upper left quadrant, and a lower left quadrant, and wherein the menu panel is displayed at a location based on a first position of a cursor when the user requests the menu panel,
• a first selection region positioned in the lower right quadrant,
• a second selection region positioned in the upper right quadrant,
• a third selection region positioned in the upper left quadrant,
• a fourth selection region positioned in the lower left quadrant,
• a first base menu associated with the first selection region, wherein the first base menu, when displayed, is positioned below the first selection region and extends downward and right,
• a second base menu associated with the second selection region, wherein the second base menu, when displayed, is positioned above the second selection region and extends upward and right,
• a third base menu associated with the third selection region, wherein the third base menu, when displayed, is positioned above the third selection region and extends upward and left, and
• a fourth base menu associated with the fourth selection region, wherein the fourth base menu, when displayed, is positioned below the fourth selection region and extends downward and left, and
• wherein at least one of the four base menus includes multiple instances of a single menu item aligned in a direction that extends from the center of the menu panel to a midpoint of the first selection region, and a function associated with the single menu item is executed in response to the cursor being moved in a direction from the menu panel towards the multiple instances of the single menu item.

A computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for managing menus associated with a graphical user interface that is displayed on a display unit, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• receiving a request from a user for a menu panel, wherein:
• the request is not associated with the user selecting any menu objects that are displayed on the display unit at the time of the request,
• the menu panel comprises two or more selection regions,
• each of the two or more selection regions is associated with one base menu, and
• at least one base menu includes one or more menu items;
• and
• in response to the request from the user:
• displaying on the display unit the menu panel, wherein the menu panel is displayed at a location based on a first position of a cursor when the user requests the menu panel, and
• displaying on the display unit a first base menu that is associated with a first selection region of the two or more selection regions, wherein the first base menu includes multiple instances of a single menu item aligned in a direction that extends from the center of the menu panel to a midpoint of the first selection region, and a function associated with the single menu item is executed in response to the cursor being moved in a direction from the menu panel towards the multiple instances of the single menu item.

A computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for managing menus associated with a graphical user interface that is displayed on a display unit, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• receiving a request from a user for a menu panel that includes a vertex;
• and
• in response to the request from the user wherein the request is not associated with the user selecting any menu objects that are displayed on the display unit at the time of the request:
• displaying the menu panel on the display unit at a location based on a first position of a cursor when the user requests the menu panel, wherein:
• the menu panel comprises at least a first selection region, a second selection region, and a third selection region,
• the first selection region, the second selection region, and the third selection region are adjacent to the vertex,
• the first selection region is associated with a first base menu
• the second selection region is associated with a second base menu,
• the third selection region is associated with a third base menu, and
• at least one base menu of the first base menu, second base menu, and third base menu includes multiple instances of a single menu item aligned in a direction that extends from the center of the menu panel to a midpoint of the first selection region, and a function associated with the single menu item is executed in response to the cursor being moved in a direction from the menu panel towards the multiple instances of the single menu item;
• and
• displaying on the display unit the first base menu that is associated with the first selection region.

A computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for displaying on a display unit multiple menus that are associated with a graphical user interface, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• displaying on the display unit a menu panel comprised of a lower right quadrant, an upper right quadrant, an upper left quadrant, and a lower left quadrant, wherein the menu panel is displayed in response to a request that is not associated with any menu objects that are displayed on the display unit at the time of the request, and wherein the menu panel is displayed at a location based on a first position of a cursor when the user requests the menu panel;
• displaying on the display unit a first selection region positioned in the lower right quadrant;
• displaying on the display unit a second selection region positioned in the upper right quadrant;
• displaying on the display unit a third selection region positioned in the upper left quadrant;
• displaying on the display unit a fourth selection region positioned in the lower left quadrant;
• displaying on the display unit a first base menu that is associated with the first selection region and that is positioned below the first selection region and that extends downward and right;
• displaying on the display unit a second base menu that is associated with the second selection region and that is positioned above the second selection region and that extends upward and right;
• displaying on the display unit a third base menu that is associated with the third selection region and that is positioned above the third selection region and that extends upward and left;
• and
• displaying on the display unit a fourth base menu that is associated with the fourth selection region and that is positioned below the fourth selection region and that extends downward and left;
• and
• wherein at least one of the four base menus includes multiple instances of a single menu item aligned in a direction that extends from the center of the menu panel to a midpoint of the first selection region, and a function associated with the single menu item is executed in response to the cursor being moved in a direction from the menu panel towards the multiple instances of the single menu item.