System and method for using an interface

Abstract

A system and method for using a user definable interface (UDI). A display displays the interface. The interface comprises a plurality of levels each having a plurality of command regions. The visual appearance of the interface remains substantially the same for each of the plurality of levels and only one of the levels appears at a given time. An input device allows a user to select among the command regions at each of the plurality of levels to access another level or perform a function associated with a selected one of the command regions.

1 . A method for displaying a plurality of user interface levels on a display of a handheld device that includes an input device, the method comprising: 
 (a) displaying an interface level having a plurality of command regions;    (b) permitting a user to select among the command regions using the input device;    (c) displaying, based the selection in step (b), another interface level that replaces on the display the interface level displayed in step (a), wherein both interface levels have substantially a same visual appearance and command regions; and    (d) permitting the user to again select among the command regions using the input device to access yet another interface level or perform a function associated with a selected one of the command regions.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying steps further comprise displaying the interface levels on at least one of a camera, a remote control, a mobile device, or a wireless telephone as the handheld device.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the permitting steps further comprise permitting the user to make the selections with at least one of a pointing device, a track ball, a touch pad, a joy stick, a voice activated control system, rotary dials, or a touch screen as the input device.  
   
   
       4 . A system, comprising: 
 a display that displays an interface, the interface comprising a plurality of levels each having a plurality of command regions, wherein the visual appearance of the interface remains substantially the same for each of the plurality of levels, and wherein only one of the levels appears at a given time; and    an input device that allows a user to select among the command regions at each of the plurality of levels to access another level or perform a function associated with a selected one of the command regions.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the display and the input device are associated with at least one of a camera, a remote control, a mobile device, or a wireless telephone.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the input device comprises at least one of a pointing device, a track ball, a touch pad, a joy stick, a voice activated control system, rotary dials, or a touch screen.  
   
   
       7 . A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for displaying a plurality of user interface levels on a display of a handheld device that includes an input device, said control logic comprising: 
 a first computer readable program code means for displaying an interface level having a plurality of command regions;    a second computer readable program code means for permitting a user to select among the command regions using the input device;    a third computer readable program code means for displaying, based the selection in step (b), another interface level that replaces on the display the interface level displayed in step (a), wherein both interface levels have substantially a same visual appearance and command regions; and    a fourth computer readable program code means for permitting the user to again select among the command regions using the input device to access yet another interface level or perform a function associated with a selected one of the command regions.    
   
   
       8 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the first computer readable program code means for displaying causes the interface levels to be displayed on at least one of a camera, a remote control, a mobile device, or a wireless telephone as the handheld device.  
   
   
       9 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the selections made using the second and fourth computer readable program code means are controlled with at least one of a pointing device, a track ball, a touch pad, a joy stick, a voice activated control system, rotary dials, or a touch screen as the input device.