Pie Menu Parameter Selection via Radial Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pie menus face challenges with non-pointer-based user interactions, particularly on touch screens, and selection accuracy decreases with increasing menu items, making it difficult to select continuous value ranges efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that allows associating a parameter with a pie slice and selecting its value based on user input location, rather than directly linking selection with the pie slice, enabling efficient selection of parameter values while maintaining the advantages of pie menus, such as relying on user input trajectories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of menu items in a pie menu is increased, then the functionality and versatility of the menu is improved, but the selection accuracy and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pie menu into multiple concentric rings, each representing a different level of detail or category. The first ring contains broad categories, while subsequent rings contain more specific items. This segmentation allows users to navigate through hierarchical levels, reducing the cognitive load and improving selection accuracy when dealing with a large number of menu items.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a radial dimension to the menu structure by using concentric rings instead of a single-plane pie chart. This dimensional change allows for better organization of numerous items across multiple rings, making the menu more manageable and improving selectability through spatial distribution across different radial distances from the center.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pie menu is used for selecting continuous values, then the range of selectable values is improved, but the selection precision and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the pie menu dynamic by allowing users to interact with multiple concentric rings that can be independently navigated. The menu structure adapts to the user's needs by providing different levels of granularity through the rings, enabling precise selection of continuous values while maintaining the flexibility of a pie menu interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate rings between the center and the outer edge, which act as intermediaries for value selection. These intermediate rings provide stepping stones for selecting continuous values, improving precision by breaking down the continuous range into manageable segments across multiple rings.
3Device complexity
If traditional pie menu interaction is used on touch screens, then the interface simplicity is maintained, but the user interaction reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the pie menu universal by designing it to work effectively with both pointer-based and touch-based interactions. The concentric ring structure provides clear visual cues and tactile feedback that enhance reliability on touch screens while maintaining the simplicity of the overall interface design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes and visual feedback mechanisms to indicate the current selection state and active rings on the touch screen interface. These visual cues improve the reliability of user interaction by providing clear feedback about the current state, making it easier for users to understand and control the selection process on touch devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
It is proposed a computer-implemented method of setting a parameter. The method comprises detecting a user input on a first location on a graphical user interface, the user input being maintained. The method also comprises displaying on the graphical user interface a pie menu centered on the first location, the pie menu comprising at least one angular sector that is associated with a customizable parameter, detecting a second location of the user input on the graphical user interface in the at least angular sector, and selecting among a set of values, a value of the customizable parameter according to the detected second location.