Radial Menu System for Screen Space Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional drop-down menu systems in graphical user interfaces occupy significant screen space and limit the number of items displayed, making it cumbersome for users to navigate and access multiple levels of menu items.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a radial menu system where each layer is displayed as a circular shape, with menu items and sub-items grouped concentrically, allowing for rotation and repositioning to view and select options efficiently, and enabling the entire menu to be movable and resizable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a traditional drop-down menu system is used, then menu items can be organized in multiple levels, but the screen space is significantly occupied and the number of displayable items is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional linear drop-down menu structure to a radial menu system that utilizes circular arrangement and rotational dimensions. This dimensional change allows menu items to be organized in concentric circles around a central point, effectively increasing the display capacity without proportionally increasing screen occupation, as the radial layout packs items more efficiently into the available space.
Solution Approach 2:
The menu system employs circular and curved geometric forms instead of traditional rectangular drop-down structures. The radial menu items are arranged along circular arcs, and the entire menu can be rotated as a circular entity. This curvature-based design maximizes the use of screen space by distributing items along the circumference, allowing more items to be displayed within the same area compared to linear arrangements.
2Ease of operation
If multiple levels of menu items are displayed in traditional drop-down menus, then comprehensive functionality is provided, but navigation becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The radial menu system introduces dynamic rotational capability, allowing the entire menu structure to be rotated to bring different menu items into view or to navigate through options. This dynamic rotation mechanism simplifies navigation across multiple menu levels by providing an intuitive rotational interaction model, where users can cycle through options by rotating the menu rather than navigating through multiple nested rectangular menus.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested radial menu structure where multiple levels of menu items are organized in concentric circles, with outer circles representing deeper menu levels. This nesting approach allows hierarchical menu structures to be visualized and navigated within a compact circular footprint, reducing the complexity of multi-level navigation while maintaining comprehensive functionality across all menu levels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the menu system is made rotatable and resizable, then user interaction is enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radial menu system serves multiple functions through a single unified structure: it can be rotated to navigate options, resized to accommodate different numbers of items, and organized in concentric levels for hierarchical display. This multi-functional design enhances user interaction versatility while managing system complexity by consolidating these capabilities into one cohesive radial menu mechanism rather than requiring separate controls for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and machine-readable and executable instructions are provided for displaying a radial graphical user interface. The radial graphical user interface can include displaying a first layer radial menu item as a circular shape and displaying a second layer radial menu of a number of first menu sub-items related to the first layer menu item grouped concentrically around the first layer radial menu in response to a user selecting the first menu item. The graphical user interface can also include replacing the first layer menu with a user selected first menu sub-item and replacing the second layer radial menu with a number of second menu sub-items related to the selected first menu sub-item in response to a user selecting one of the number of first menu sub-items, wherein the second layer is rotatable by a user.