Loop menu navigation apparatus and method

Abstract

A curved-listing file hierarchy and a preview window for more efficiently displaying file hierarchy information on a data processing device. Curved-listing file hierarchies may allow more elements of a file hierarchy to be displayed in a smaller space. This may be especially useful for the smaller screens of some data processing devices like Personal Digital Assistants and cellular phones. A preview screen may allow a user to view preview information on a file in the hierarchy without actually opening the file.

1 . A data processing device, comprising:
 a display having a screen;   stored computer files that are accessible; and   a graphical user interface displayed on the screen, comprising:
 a curved listing of identifiers, wherein at least one identifier corresponds to one or more of the computer files, and wherein at least one other identifier is a heading under which additional identifiers are logically organized; 
 a selection indicator to select one or more of the identifiers; and 
 a preview window to display an image associated with a computer file related to one of the identifiers being selected when the selection indicator is at a position next to the identifier on the screen, wherein the image increases in detail the longer that the selection indicator is at a position next to the identifier on the screen, the preview window displayed concurrently with the curved listing. 
   
   
   
       2 . The data processing device of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional identifier displayed inside the curved listing. 
   
   
       3 . The data processing device of  claim 2 , wherein the additional identifier displayed inside the curved listing is a heading within another listing of of identifiers. 
   
   
       4 . The data processing device of  claim 1 , wherein a second curved listing of identifiers is displayed on the screen when the selection indicator is at a position next to the other identifier that is a heading. 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . The data processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the curved listing is circular. 
   
   
       7 . The data processing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication apparatus to allow the data processing device to communicate with a network. 
   
   
       8 . The data processing device of  claim 7 , wherein the communication apparatus is at least one from a group consisting of:
 an antenna;   a modem; and   an infrared sensor.   
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . A method, comprising:
 associating at least one identifier of a group of identifiers with at least one computer file, application or other data for use by a data processing device;   associating at least one other identifier of the group of identifiers as a heading for use by the data processing device to organize an additional group of identifiers;   generating a curved listing of the group of identifiers on a data processing device display;   receiving a selection of one or more of the identifiers of the group of identifiers when a selection indicator is at a position next to one or more of the identifiers; and   displaying within a preview window, concurrently with the curved listing, information associated with a file, application or other data related to the one or more selected identifiers, wherein a size of the preview window is configured to adjust based on the number of identifiers in the curved listing on the data processing device display.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying an additional curved listing of identifiers upon the selection indicator selecting the other identifier that represents the heading. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying an identifier associated with the curved listing of the group of identifiers inside the curved listing. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising displaying the other identifier that represents the heading inside the additional curved listing. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the information associated with the file, application or other data is an image. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising increasing detail of the image with respect to a specified length of time the image is displayed. 
   
   
       16 . A data processing device, comprising:
 a display having a screen;   stored computer files that are accessible;   a graphical user interface displayed on the screen, comprising:
 a curved listing of identifiers and/or identifier pointers, wherein:
 at least one identifier corresponds to one or more of the computer files; 
 at least one other identifier is a heading to organize additional identifiers; 
 a width of the curved listing is configured to vary based on the number of identifiers; and 
 
 a selection indicator to select one or more of the identifiers. 
   
   
   
       17 . The data processing device of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one of the identifiers displayed inside the curved listing. 
   
   
       18 . The data processing device of  claim 17 , wherein the identifier displayed inside the curved listing is a heading of additional identifiers. 
   
   
       19 . The data processing device of  claim 16 , wherein an additional curved listing of a plurality of identifiers is displayed on the screen when the selection indicator is at a position next to the identifier that is the heading. 
   
   
       20 . The data processing device of  claim 16 , further comprising a communication apparatus to allow the data processing device to communicate with a network.