Patent · US Expired

Categorical user interface for navigation within a grid

US7036092B2 · kind B2 · utility

53Cited by
15References
52Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 23, 2002
Grant dateApr 25, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 2, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/4856
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for presenting a plurality of options for selection. Each option is organized into either a category or a sub-category that is associated with a category. The association between categories and sub-categories is independent of time. Categories are displayed along one axis and sub-categories are displayed simultaneously along another orthogonal axis. The axis chosen for categories may depend on the direction that text associated with the categories is written. Categories and sub-categories are available for immediate selection, without first having to highlight or select any option. To account for a large number of options, categories and sub-categories may scroll as needed. The appearance of categories and sub-categories may be distinguished in some way, such as through colors, fonts, or borders.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.