Patent · US Expired

Menus whose geometry is bounded by two radii and an arc

US7210107B2 · kind B2 · utility

60Cited by
5References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 27, 2003
Grant dateApr 24, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 5, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2203/04807
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Sector menus track a pointer's position as a pointing device is moved. Each sector menu is a geometric figure bounded by two radii and an included arc of a circle. Menu items are housed in segments formed from multiple radii cutting the sector menu. Users select menu items housed in segments by making a direction change from a trajectory course to pass over a desired menu item so as to invoke its operation. The sector menu lacks a segment, defining a devoid segment, which is oriented in a direction toward which the pointer is moving. Segments with different sizes are available to represent the likelihood that a user would choose a given operation in a corresponding menu item housed by a corresponding segment.

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