Radial menu display systems and methods

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a graphical representation of a two-dimensional radial menu is displayed in a graphical user interface. The graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu is transformed into a graphical representation of a three-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface. In certain embodiments, the displaying comprises utilizing data representative of a three-dimensional radial menu model to render the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu, based on a first viewpoint, in the graphical user interface, and the transforming comprises utilizing the data representative of the three-dimensional radial menu model to render the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu, based on a second viewpoint, in the graphical user interface. In certain embodiments, the transforming comprises repositioning a viewpoint associated with the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu to produce the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu.

1 . A method comprising:
 displaying, by a computing system, a graphical representation of a two-dimensional radial menu in a graphical user interface generated by the computing system;   detecting, by the computing system, user input associated with the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface; and   transforming, by the computing system in response to the user input, the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu into a graphical representation of a three-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu and the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu comprise a common center point; and   the transforming comprises repositioning the center point in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu comprises a center point graphical object representing the common center point in the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu comprises the center point graphical object representing the common center point in the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the user input comprises a user selection of the center point graphical object included in the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu comprises at least one category menu graphical object; and   the transforming comprises repositioning the at least one category menu graphical object in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transforming comprises repositioning a viewpoint associated with the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu to produce the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the repositioning of the viewpoint comprises moving the viewpoint from a top-down viewpoint of the two-dimensional radial menu to a substantially ground-level viewpoint of the three-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the substantially ground-level viewpoint is positioned proximate to a center point of the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the transforming further comprises zooming in on the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu comprises:
 a center point graphical object;   a plurality of category menu graphical objects positioned about the center point graphical object at a first radial distance from the center point graphical object; and   a plurality of application menu graphical objects positioned about the plurality of category menu graphical objects at a second radial distance from the center point graphical object.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the category menu graphical objects form an inner radial layer substantially encircling the center point graphical object; and   the application menu graphical objects form an outer radial layer substantially encircling the inner radial layer.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the displaying comprises utilizing data representative of a three-dimensional radial menu model to render the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu, based on a first viewpoint, in the graphical user interface of the computing system; and   the transforming comprises utilizing the data representative of the three-dimensional radial menu model to render the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu, based on a second viewpoint, in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , tangibly embodied as computer-executable instructions on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer-executable instructions configured to direct at least one processor of the computing system to perform at least one of the displaying and the transforming. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 displaying, by a computing system, a graphical representation of a three-dimensional radial menu in a graphical user interface generated by the computing system;   detecting, by the computing system, user input associated with the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface; and   transforming, by the computing system in response to the user input, the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu into a graphical representation of a two-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu and the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu comprise a common center point; and   the transforming comprises repositioning the center point in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the user input comprises a user selection of a center point graphical object graphically representing the center point in the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 maintaining, by a computing system, data representative of a radial menu model in a non-transitory computer-readable medium of the computing system, the radial menu model comprising
 a center point object, 
 a plurality of category menu objects positioned about the center point object at a first radial distance from the center point object, and 
 a plurality of application menu objects positioned about the plurality of category menu objects at a second radial distance from the center point object; 
   utilizing, by the computing system, the radial menu model to render a graphical representation of one of a two-dimensional radial menu and a three-dimensional radial menu in a graphical user interface of the computing system;   detecting, by the computing system, user input associated with the graphical representation of one of the two-dimensional radial menu and the three-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface; and   transforming, by the computing system in response to the user input, the graphical representation of the one of the two-dimensional radial menu and the three-dimensional radial menu into the other of the two-dimensional radial menu and the three-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a radial menu facility in communication with the at least one processor and configured to direct the at least one processor to
 display a graphical representation of a two-dimensional radial menu in a graphical user interface, and 
 transform the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu into a graphical representation of a three-dimensional radial menu in the graphical user interface. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the graphical representation of the two-dimensional radial menu and the graphical representation of the three-dimensional radial menu comprise a common center point; and   the transformation comprises repositioning the center point in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a storage facility in communication with the at least one processor;   wherein the radial menu facility is further configured to direct the at least one processor to   maintain data representative of a radial menu model in the storage facility, and   utilize the radial menu model to render the two-dimensional radial menu and the three-dimensional radial menu for display in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the radial menu model comprises:
 a center point object;   a plurality of category menu objects positioned about the center point object at a first radial distance from the center point object; and   a plurality of application menu objects positioned about the plurality of category menu objects at a second radial distance from the center point object.