User interface systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing user interfaces are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a menu having a number of icons can be provided on a display device such that the icons are arranged around an initial cursor position, or an area that is touched by a user's finger or stylus, for example. Due to the icons being arranged around the initial cursor position, any one of the icons from the menu can be chosen with relatively small cursor movement. In certain embodiments, the menu can be divided into regions that overlap with the icons, such that cursor movement from the initial cursor position into a given region has a similar effect as movement into the corresponding icon itself (without actually moving the cursor onto the desired icon).

1 . A method for providing a user interface on a computing device, the method comprising:
 displaying a first menu on a display of a computing device, the first menu having a first plurality of icons arranged in an icon region that extends substantially around an initial position of a cursor, wherein the icon region defines a central region within the icon region that includes the initial cursor position;   detecting movement of the cursor to a second position within the central region, wherein the second position of the cursor is near a first icon of the first plurality of icons or includes at least a portion of the first icon;   changing an appearance of the first icon in response to detecting movement of the cursor to the second position, wherein the change in appearance indicates that the icon is temporarily selected;   initiating a first action associated with the first icon in response to detecting an input from the user indicating that the first icon should be permanently selected,   wherein at least some of the method is performed by the computing device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying information associated with the temporarily selected icon. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the information comprises a second menu comprising a second plurality of icons that are displayed in the icon region. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least some of the first plurality of icons are replaced by at least some of the second plurality of icons in response to temporary selection of the first icon. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cursor comprises a cursor that is controlled by an input device coupled to the computing system. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cursor comprises a position at which an input device interfaced with a display device of the computing system. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the input device comprises a stylus or finger. 
   
   
       8 . A method for providing a user interface on a computing device, the method comprising:
 displaying a first menu on a display of the computing device, the first menu having a plurality of icons arranged substantially around a current position of a cursor, the plurality of icons defining a central region of the display between the plurality of icons and including the current position of the cursor;   receiving a first input indicative of movement of the cursor;   determining which of the plurality of icons is to be temporarily selected based at least in part on a pattern of the first input within the central region; and   temporarily selecting the determined icon.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the icons are arranged such that the current position of the cursor is generally centered within the icons, such that the pattern of the first input can be used to indicate temporary selection of any of the icons in a relatively quick manner. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the icons are displayed differently than others and/or one of the icons is temporarily selected before receiving the first input, based on likelihoods of selection of respective icons, a user preference, or a default setting. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first input comprises a motion of the computing device. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first input comprises an input from an input device interfaced with the display of the computing device. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the input device comprises a mouse. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the input device comprises a touch screen sensor configured to sense contact with a stylus or finger. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein an area corresponding to the first menu is divided into a plurality of selectable regions about the central region so that selectable regions at least partially overlap with respective icons, wherein the pattern of the first input comprises movement of the cursor to a selectable region of an icon that is to be temporarily selected. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the icons is substantially within its corresponding selectable region. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the selectable regions includes its corresponding icon and a portion of one or more neighboring icons. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one selectable region is larger than other selectable regions and includes one or more portions of neighboring icons in response to a predetermined likelihood of use of the icon corresponding to the at least one selectable region or the user's preference. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one selectable region is larger than other selectable regions. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pattern of the first input comprises a beginning position within the central region and an ending position that defines a parameter that is usable in the determining of which of the plurality of icons is to be temporarily selected. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the parameter comprises a direction parameter that is usable in the determining of which of the plurality of icons is to be temporarily selected. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the parameter comprises a distance parameter that is usable in the determining of which of the plurality of icons is to be temporarily selected. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the distance parameter comprises a closest distance between the ending position and an icon. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the distance parameter comprises a distance between the ending position and a center of an icon. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the distance parameter comprises an average distance between the ending position and one or more features on an icon. 
   
   
       26 . A computing system, comprising:
 a display screen;   an input device configured to facilitate interaction with a user; and   a processor configured to execute software code that causes the computing system to
 display a menu on the display screen, the menu having a plurality of icons arranged about a home region; 
 detect an input facilitated by the input device and indicative of the user's desire to at least temporarily select one of the icons; and 
 determine which of the icons is to be at least temporarily selected based at least in part on a pattern of the input, the pattern involving at least a part of the home region. 
   
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the icons are arranged such that the home region is approximately centered relative to the icons. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the input comprises a motion of the computing system. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the motion comprises a tilt towards an icon to be temporarily selected. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the input device comprises one or more accelerometers to detect the tilt. 
   
   
       31 . A method for providing a user interface on a computing device, the method comprising:
 displaying a first menu on a display of a computing device, the first menu having a first plurality of icons arranged in an icon region that extends substantially around an interaction position, wherein the interaction position comprises an area of the display where a user or an apparatus controlled by a user touched the display, a current position of a cursor, or a predetermined position on the display;   receiving a first user-initiated input indicative of movement from the interaction position; and   in response to the movement, selecting an icon associated with a direction of the first user-initiated input,   wherein at least some of the method is performed by the computing device.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein selecting the icon comprises one or more of emitting an audible sound or changing an appearance of the icon. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising initiating a software process associated with the icon in response to one or more of
 receiving a second user-initiated input indicative of permanent selection of the icon; or   receiving no user-initiated input for at least a predetermined time period.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the predetermined time period is selected from the group comprising about 50, 100, 200, 500, or 1000 milliseconds. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the software process comprises displaying a second menu on the display or performing one or more functions of a software application on the computing device. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein selecting the icon comprises:
 initiating a software process associated with the icon.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the software process comprises displaying a second menu on the display or performing one or more functions of a software application on the computing device. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first user-initiated input comprises a motion by the user or the apparatus controlled by the user, movement of an input device, or movement of the computing device. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein movement of the input device is detected by one or more accelerometers of the computing device.