A computer-implemented method for selecting an item from a list

Abstract

To provide a method implemented in a computer, for selecting an item from a list.SOLUTION: The present invention includes: a) a step for receiving first input from a user, the first input including an interaction with an icon displayed on a computer screen, the interaction including a first action from the user or a second action from the user that is different from the first action; b) a step for displaying a first menu that includes a subset of list items on the computer screen when the first input includes the first action, or otherwise displaying a second menu that includes a full list of icons on the computer screen when the input includes the second action; and c) a step for selecting an item on the displayed menu when second input is received from the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for selecting an item from a list. The present invention relates to the technical field of computer engineering, and more particularly to the technical field of GUI (Graphical User Interface). The present invention lends itself to many different applications, such as, for example, computer graphics software, word processing, etc. [Background technology]

[0002] Quite frequently, users of software tools have to select items from lists, or libraries. For example, in the field of word processing, users may need to select fonts, in computer graphics, colors, line thickness, brush size and shape, etc. The lists can be very long to give users the greatest possible freedom, but this causes the selection to be made, for example, by scrolling through drop-down menus, which is time consuming and tedious. Furthermore, the experience shows that most of the time selection is made among a small number of "favorite" items, more desirable for quick access.

[0003] Several approaches have been implemented to allow a user to select an item from a list in the most efficient manner, but none of these are entirely satisfactory.

[0004] For example, Microsoft® Word provides a quick access to a menu of preferred recently used colors that is opened by clicking an icon on the toolbar. However, some actions require selecting a color that does not belong to the menu. First, the user must click the "Other color" button, which results in closing the menu and opening a new panel in the middle of the screen. The user must then move the cursor to the new panel, select a new color in the expanded set, and confirm the selection by clicking the "OK" button. What has just been said consumes some time, and still only provides an anyway limited selection of colors; further customization is possible, but requires further actions from the user.

[0005] In other cases, only the full list is accessible. What I have just described results in either large, intrusive menus, scrolling through very crowded menus, or a limited selection of items that cannot be customized.

[0006] Hierarchically organized menus are another option, but several actions (eg, clicking) may be required to select a single item. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention is directed to providing quick access to favorite items while also allowing users to access the complete item list with minimal overhead.

[0008] The subject of the present invention is a computer-implemented method for selecting an item from a list, making it possible to achieve the object just stated, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a first input from a user, the first input comprising an interaction with an icon displayed on a computer screen, the interaction comprising either a first action from the user or a second action from the user that is different from the first action; b) displaying on the computer screen a first menu containing a subset of the items in the list if the first input includes a first action, and otherwise displaying on the computer screen a second menu containing the entire list of items if the input includes a second action; c) selecting an item from the displayed menu upon receiving a second input from the user; The second input can include either a third action taken by the user on the selected item or a fourth action taken by the user on the selected item that is different from the third action, and the method further includes adding the item to a subset of items for the first menu if the second input includes a fourth action taken on an item of the second menu.

[0009] According to a particular embodiment of the method of the present invention, The first and second menus may be displayed in the same area of ​​the computer screen, adjacent to or partially overlapping the icons. The first and second inputs can be provided by a user via a pointing device. More specifically, the first action can be a press action performed on an icon using the pointing device, and when a first menu is displayed, selecting the item can include a drag and release action performed on the selected item using the pointing device. Furthermore, the second action can include either a double click or double tap action on the icon using the pointing device, or a single click or single tap action on a particular area of ​​the icon using the pointing device. The third and fourth actions can include click or tap actions on different predefined areas of the selected item using the pointing device.

[0010] Another object of the invention is a computer program product, stored on a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium, having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to carry out the method described above.

[0011] Another object of the invention is a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to carry out the method described above.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is a computer system comprising a processor coupled to a memory and to a graphical user interface device, the memory storing computer executable instructions that cause the computer system to perform the above method.

[0013] Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 shows what is displayed for a first menu of prioritized items and what is selected for one of the items according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] 10 shows a second menu showing all the available items and one of the items being selected, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2B] 10 shows a second menu showing all the available items and one of the items being selected, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a flow chart of a method according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system suitable for implementing methods according to various embodiments of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system suitable for implementing methods according to various embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Below, "Click" refers to the action of pressing and immediately (usually within a second or less) releasing a button on a pointing device such as a mouse, joystick, trackball, etc. If the pointing device has two buttons, clicking is usually performed using the left one (or the right one if a left-handed configuration is used), unless use of the right button is specified. "Tap" refers to the action of simply touching a tactile pointing device, such as a pad or touch screen. "Double click" or "double tap" refers to the action of two "clicks" or two "taps" in close succession (usually within a little less than a second). "Press" means the action of pressing a button on a pointing device such as a mouse, joystick, or trackball, or of touching a tactile pointing device, e.g. a pad or touch screen, without immediately releasing it. "Drag" refers to the action of moving the pointer while holding down a pointing device button. In the case of tactile pointing devices, pressing the button may be necessary to perform a press.

[0016] As illustrated in Fig. 1, an icon IC is displayed on a computer screen and provides access to a list of items between which a selection must be made. Advantageously, but not necessarily, the icon includes a representation of the currently selected item, in the example of Fig. 1 a sphere IT1.

[0017] The pointer PT, whose movement across the screen is controlled by a pointing device PD, e.g. a mouse, touch screen, etc., allows the user to interact with the icons. The pointer may be absent if the pointing device includes a device capable of acting directly on the icons, e.g. a touch screen and / or a pen-like device.

[0018] An important feature of the present invention is that the pointer device allows the user to interact with the icon IC by performing two different mutually exclusive actions. For example, a first action can be selected from among a left button click, a tap, a press on the icon, and a second action can be selected from among a click or tap, a right button click, a double click, a double tap on a particular area or button of the icon (see SB in FIG. 2A). The list of actions just mentioned is not limiting, the only strict requirement being that the first and second actions are different from each other. Different embodiments of the present invention would use different first actions and / or different second actions.

[0019] The first or second action constitutes a first input provided by a user.

[0020] When the user interacts with the icon through a first action, a first menu MN1 is displayed alongside or overlaid on the icon. The first menu just mentioned presents the user with a subset of the full list of items, i.e. the "favorite" items. The user can then select one of the just mentioned items using a pointer device. In the example of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 (left part), the first action consists of placing the pointer PT on any part of the icon IC except the button SB in the upper right corner and performing a "press" with the button of the pointing device. The first menu MN1 then unfolds to show a number of icons, in this case three-dimensional shapes. One of the just mentioned shapes, IT1, is the currently selected one (or the last one selected) and is represented on the icon. The second input is provided by dragging the pointer over the selected item (ITn) while the button is kept pressed, and then by releasing the button. In some embodiments, a click may be required to confirm the selection. The menu is then closed by clicking outside the menu or immediately when the selection is made. Icon IC changes to represent the newly selected item.

[0021] When the user interacts with the icon via a second action, a second menu MN2 is displayed alongside or overlaid on the icon. The second menu just mentioned presents the user with a complete list of items and may have a hierarchical structure. The user can then select one of the just mentioned items using a pointer device. In the example of Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B and Fig. 3 (right part), the second action consists of placing the pointer PT on the button SB in the upper right corner of the icon IC and "clicking", alternatively a double click or a right button click, on any point of the icon that can be used as the second action. The second menu MN2 is then unfolded. In the embodiment of Fig. 2A, 2B, the menu is hierarchical and the list is divided into two parts, corresponding to the "Standard" and "Advanced" shapes. The "Standard" shape is displayed by default (2A) so that the last selected shape is one of them, but the user can select the "Advanced" shape by clicking on the word "Advan..." on the left side of the second menu.

[0022] Then, a second input from the user gives the selection of the item (ITm). The selection just mentioned can be made via a third or a fourth action. For example, the third action consists of clicking at any point (more precisely, of the graphical representation on the screen) of the item except for a specific part (the star button ST in Figs. 2A and 2B), while the fourth action consists of clicking at said specific part. If the third action is made, the item is selected, if the fourth action is made, the item is selected, and furthermore, the selected item is added to the first menu, i.e. is labeled as a "favorite" item (in Figs. 2A and 2B, a dark star indicates a "favorite" item, a white one "not favorite"). The menu is then closed by clicking outside the menu or directly when the selection is made. The icon IC changes to represent the newly selected item.

[0023] The method of the present invention has several advantages over the prior art. It provides quick access to a prioritized subset of items, and selection of one of the items requires only two actions. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment described above, the two actions are performed with a single "press-drag-release" gesture. It also gives quick access to the entire set of items, the "all" menu is expanded with a single action. Selection of a non-preferred item will also require only two actions, unless the second menu is hierarchical. Customizing your list of preferred items is as simple as one click. All actions are performed by moving the pointer within the same area of ​​the screen, near the icon, e.g. mouse movements are therefore minimized, as are obstructions of the screen by separate menus.

[0024] What we have just described amounts to optimal use of the resources of a computer screen.

[0025] The methods of the present invention can include computer networks and can be carried out by a suitably programmed general-purpose computer or computer system that stores a suitable program non-transitory on a computer readable medium, such as a hard disk, solid state disk or CD-ROM, and executes said program using a microprocessor(s) and memory.

[0026] A computer system suitable for carrying out the method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described with respect to Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, the computer includes a central processing unit CPU performing the above-mentioned processes. The processes can be stored as an executable program, i.e. a set of computer readable instructions, in a memory, e.g. RAM M1 or ROM M2, or on a hard disk drive (HDD) M3, DVD / CD drive M4, or can be stored remotely. Furthermore, one or more computer files defining the three-dimensionally modeled object can also be stored in one or more of the memory devices M1-M4, or remotely.

[0027] The claimed invention is not limited by the type of computer readable medium on which the computer readable instructions and / or digital files of the process of the invention are stored. For example, the instructions and files can be stored on a CD, DVD, in FLASH memory, RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, hard disk or any other information processing device in communication with a computer system, such as a server or another computer. The programs and files can be stored on the same memory device or on different memory devices.

[0028] Furthermore, computer programs suitable for carrying out the methods of the present invention may be provided as a utility application, background daemon or operating system component, or combination, running in conjunction with CPU 800 and an operating system such as, for example, Microsoft® Windows 8 or 10, UNIX, Solaris, LINUX, Apple MAC-OS, or other systems known to those skilled in the art.

[0029] The central processing unit CPU may be a Xenon processor from Intel Corporation of America or an Opteron processor from AMD Corporation of America, or other processor types, such as a Freescale ColdFire, IMX, or ARM processor from Freescale Corporation of America. Alternatively, the central processing unit may be a processor, such as a Core2 Duo from Intel Corporation of America, or may be implemented on an FPGA, ASIC, PLD, or using discrete logic circuits, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Additionally, the central processing unit may be implemented as multiple processors working in cooperation to execute the computer readable instructions of the processes of the present invention described above.

[0030] The computer system of FIG. 4 also includes a network interface NI, such as Intel Ethernet PRO Network Interface Card of Intel Corporation of America, for interfacing with a network, such as LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), Internet, etc. The computer system further includes a display controller DC, such as NVIDIA GeForce GTX Graphics Adapter of NVIDIA Corporation of America, for interfacing with a display, or a screen DY, such as HPL2445w LCD Monitor of Hewlett-Packard Corporation of America. A general purpose I / O interface IF interfaces with a keyboard KB and a pointing device PD, such as roller ball, mouse, touch pad, etc. The display, keyboard and pointing device together with the display controller and I / O interface are user interface devices, used by a user to provide input commands, such as moving a pointer and / or performing actions, such as clicking, pressing-release, etc., and by the computer to display menus in windows.

[0031] The disk controller DKC connects the HDD M3 and DVD / CD M4 to a communication bus CBS, which may be ISA, EISA, VESA, PCI or similar, that interconnects all of the components of the computer system.

[0032] Descriptions of the general features and functionality of displays, keyboards, pointing devices, as well as display controllers, disk controllers, network interfaces and I / O interfaces are omitted in this specification for the sake of brevity, as the features just mentioned are known.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a computer system suitable for implementing a method according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] In Figure 5, the computer file(s) defining the executable program EXP and the item list are stored in a memory device coupled to a server SC. The memory device and the overall architecture of the server may be the same as described above with respect to Figure 4, except that a display controller, display, keyboard, and / or pointing device may be absent in the server.

[0035] The server SC is in turn connected to an administrator system ADS and an end-user computer EUC via a network NW.

[0036] The overall architecture of the administrator system and the end user computer may be the same as that described above with respect to Figure 4, except that the memory devices of the administrator system and the end user computer do not store the executable program EXP and / or the computer file(s) defining the item list. However, the end user computer does store a client program designed to cooperate with the server's executable program, as discussed below.

[0037] As can be appreciated, the network NW can be a public network, such as the Internet, or a private network, such as a LAN or WAN network, or any combination, and can include PSTN or ISDN sub-networks. The network NW can also be wired, such as an Ethernet network, or wireless, such as a cellular network, including EDGE, 3G and 4G wireless cellular systems. The wireless network can also be Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or any other wireless form of known communication. Thus, the network NW is merely exemplary and in no way limits the scope of the present proposal.

[0038] A client program stored in a memory device of the end-user computer and executed by the CPU of the end-user computer accesses, via a network NW, a server SC which performs the above-mentioned processes and sends the results to the end-user computer.

[0039] Although only one administrator system ADS and one end-user system EUX are shown, the system may support any number of administrator systems and / or end-user systems without limitation. Similarly, multiple servers may also be implemented in the system without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0040] Any process described herein should be understood as representing a module, segment, or portion of code that comprises one or more executable instructions that implement a particular logical function or step of the process, and alternative implementations are included within the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] IC Icon IT1 Item ITm Items ITn items MN Menu MN2 Menu PT Pointer SB button ST Star Button

Claims

1. 1. A computer-implemented method for selecting an item from a list, comprising: receiving a first input from a user, the first input comprising an interaction of an icon displayed on a computer screen, the interaction comprising either a first action from the user or a second action from the user that is different from the first action; displaying on the computer screen a first menu containing a subset of the items in the list if the first input includes the first action, and displaying on the computer screen a second menu containing the entire list of items if the input includes the second action; selecting an item in the displayed menu upon receiving a second input from the user; Equipped with The second input includes either a third action performed by the user at any point of the item to be selected except for a particular portion of the item, or a fourth action performed by the user at the particular portion, the method further comprising the steps of: selecting the item if the second input includes the third action performed on an item of the second menu; and selecting the item of the second menu if the second input includes the fourth action performed on an item of the second menu, and in addition to selecting, adding the item of the second menu to the subset of items of the first menu.

2. 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first and second menus are displayed in the same area of ​​the computer screen adjacent to or partially overlapping the icon.

3. 3. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second inputs are provided by the user via a pointing device.

4. the first action being a press action performed on the icon using the pointing device; 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein selecting an item in the displayed first menu when the first menu is displayed comprises a drag-and-release action performed on the item to be selected using the pointing device.

5. 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 or 4, wherein the second action includes either a double-click or tap action on the icon performed using the pointing device, or a single-click or tap action on a particular area of ​​the icon further performed using the pointing device.

6. 6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the third and fourth actions include clicking or tapping actions performed using the pointing device on different predetermined areas of the selected item.

7. A computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable data carrier comprising computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. 1. A computer system comprising: A processor; A memory storing computer executable instructions for causing said computer system to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 6. wherein the processor is coupled to a memory and a graphical user interface device.

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