Enhanced on-object context menus

Claim 2

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: receiving a user request for a display of menu choices corresponding to actions performable with regard to an object, wherein the object has a representation upon a display screen of a computer system having a graphical user interface and wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu choices comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device; receiving an indication of the location and orientation of the stylus with respect to the display screen, wherein said indication is received at the time of the user request for a display of menu choices; displaying the menu choices, wherein each of the actions performable with regard to the object is identified by a unique icon, the icons are displayed in an array of at least two columns and two rows, displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons spaced such that any of the icons can be selected without substantial movement of the hand or wrist of the user holding the stylus, and displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons in a menu positioned on the screen, based upon the indication of the stylus location and orientation, so as not to be obscured by a hand holding the stylus; receiving a user selection of an icon, wherein the selection is made with the stylus; and performing the action identified by the selected icon.

Claim 3

In a computer system having a display screen, a graphical user interface, and a stylus user interface selection device, a method of selecting actions performable with regard to an object having an associated representation on the screen, comprising: receiving a user request for a display of menu options corresponding to the actions performable with regard to the object wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu options comprises receiving a request initiated with the stylus user input selection device; receiving an indication of the location and orientation of the stylus with respect to the display screen, wherein said indication is received at the time of the user request for a display of menu options; displaying a first context menu; successively displaying second and third context menus, the first, second and third context menus forming a cascade, wherein each of the context menus has a set of menu options, at least one of the menu options in at least one of the context menus corresponding to an action performable with regard to the object, at least one of the context menus is positioned on the display screen, based upon the indication of the stylus location and orientation, so as not to be obscured by a hand holding the stylus, each of the context menus in the cascade remains at least partially visible, the second context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the first context menu, the second context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the first context menu option selected to cause display of the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the second context menu option selected to cause display of the third context menu, at least one of the second and third context menus obscures options in the immediately preceding context menu; receiving a repeat selection of an option from the first or second context menu; and in response to the repeat selection, discontinuing display of all context menus succeeding the context menu from which the repeat selection was made while continuing display of the context menu from which the repeat selection was made.

Claim 4

In a computer system having a display screen, a graphical user interface, and a stylus user interface selection device, a method of selecting actions performable with regard to an object having an associated representation on the screen, comprising: receiving a user request for a display of menu options corresponding to the actions performable with regard to the object wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu options comprises receiving a request initiated with the stylus user input selection device; receiving an indication of the location and orientation of the stylus with respect to the display screen, wherein said indication is received at the time of the user request for a display of menu options; displaying a first context menu; successively displaying second and third context menus, the first, second and third context menus forming a cascade, wherein each of the context menus has a set of menu options, at least one of the menu options in at least one of the context menus corresponding to an action performable with regard to the object, at least one of the context menus is positioned on the display screen, based upon the indication of the stylus location and orientation, so as not to be obscured by a hand holding the stylus, each of the context menus in the cascade remains at least partially visible, the second context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the first context menu, the second context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the first context menu option selected to cause display of the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the second context menu option selected to cause display of the third context menu, at least one of the second and third context menus obscures options in the immediately preceding context menu; receiving a repeat selection of an option from the first or second context menu; and in response to the repeat selection, discontinuing display of all context menus succeeding the context menu from which the repeat selection was made while continuing display of the context menu from which the repeat selection was made.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 , wherein: receiving a repeat selection of an option comprises receiving a request initiated with the stylus user input selection device.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 , wherein the repeat selection is made from the second context menu, and further comprising: redisplaying the third context menu; receiving a selection of an option from the third context menu, the selected third context menu option not having an associated succeeding context menu; and in response to selection of the option from the third context menu, discontinuing display of the third context menu while continuing display of the second context menu.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 , further comprising: receiving, in the second context menu, selection of an option distinct from the repeat selection option; and displaying one or more successive context menus cascaded from the second context menu.

Claim 8

The method of claim 4 , further comprising: displaying, for each option that can be selected to display a cascaded context menu, an indicator; and changing, upon selection of an option having an indicator, the appearance of the indicator.

Claim 9

The meted of claim 6 , wherein a repeat selection is made by selecting an indicator having a changed appearance.

Claim 10

The method of claim 4 , wherein each cascaded context menu appears below and substantially aligned with the menu option selected from the previous context menu in the cascade.

Claim 11

A computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: receiving a user request for a display of menu options corresponding to actions performable with regard to an object, wherein the object has a representation upon a display screen of a computer system having a graphical user interface, and wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu options comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device; receiving an indication of the location and orientation of the stylus with respect to the display screen, wherein said indication is received at the time of the user request for a display of menu options; displaying a first context menu; successively displaying second and third context menus, the first, second and third context menus forming a cascade, wherein each of the context menus has a set of menu options, at least one of the menu options in at least one of the context menus corresponding to an action performable with regard to the object, at least one of the context menus is positioned on the display screen, based upon the indication of the stylus location and orientation, so as not to be obscured by a hand holding the stylus, each of the context menus in the cascade remains at least partially visible, the second context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the first context menu, the second context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the first context menu option selected to cause display of the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the second context menu option selected to cause display of the third context menu, at least one of the second and third context menus obscures options in the immediately preceding context menu; receiving a repeat selection of an option from the first or second context menu; and in response to the repeat selection, discontinuing display of all context menus succeeding the context menu from which the repeat selection was made while continuing display of the context menu from which the repeat selection was made.

Claim 12

A computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: receiving a user request for a display of menu options corresponding to actions performable with regard to an object, wherein the object has a representation upon a display screen of a computer system having a graphical user interface, and wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu options comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device; receiving an indication of the location and orientation of the stylus with respect to the display screen, wherein said indication is received at the time of the user request for a display of menu options; displaying a first context menu; successively displaying second and third context menus, the first, second and third context menus forming a cascade, wherein each of the context menus has a set of menu options, at least one of the menu options in at least one of the context menus corresponding to an action performable with regard to the object, at least one of the context menus is positioned on the display screen, based upon the indication of the stylus location and orientation, so as not to be obscured by a hand holding the stylus, each of the context menus in the cascade remains at least partially visible, the second context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the first context menu, the second context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the first context menu option selected to cause display of the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in response to selection of a menu option from the second context menu, the third context menu is displayed in close proximity to, but without obscuring, the second context menu option selected to cause display of the third context menu, at least one of the second and third context menus obscures options in the immediately preceding context menu; receiving a repeat selection of an option from the first or second context menu; and in response to the repeat selection, discontinuing display of all context menus succeeding the context menu from which the repeat selection was made while continuing display of the context menu from which the repeat selection was made.

Claim 13

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein: receiving a repeat selection of an option comprises receiving a request initiated with the stylus user input selection device.

Claim 14

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the repeat selection is made from the second context menu, and further comprising: redisplaying the third context menu; receiving a selection of an option from the third context menu, the selected third context menu option not having an associated succeeding context menu; and in response to selection of the option from the third context menu, discontinuing display of the third context menu while continuing display of the second context menu.

Claim 15

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , comprising further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: receiving, in the second context menu, selection of an option distinct from the repeat selection option; and displaying one or more successive context menus cascaded from the second context menu.

Claim 16

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , comprising further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: displaying, for each option that can be selected to display a cascaded context menu, an indicator; and changing, upon selection of an option having an indicator, the appearance of the indicator.

Claim 17

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein a repeat selection is made by selecting an indicator having a changed appearance.

Claim 18

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein each cascaded context menu appears below and substantially aligned with the menu option selected from the previous context menu in the cascade.

Claim 19

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: receiving a user request for a display of menu choices corresponding to actions performable with regard to an object, wherein the object has a representation upon a display screen of a computer system having a graphical user interface, and wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu choices comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device; receiving an indication of the location and orientation of the stylus with respect to the display screen, wherein said indication is received at the time of the user request for a display of menu choices; displaying the menu choices in a first level menu, wherein each of the actions performable with regard to the object is identified by a unique icon, the icons are displayed in an array of at least two columns and two rows, the icons are displayed in a menu which is positioned on the screen based upon the location of the screen representation of the object, displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons spaced such that any of the icons can be selected without substantial movement of the hand or wrist of the user holding the stylus, and displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons in a menu positioned on the screen, based upon the indication of the stylus location and orientation, so as not to be obscured by a hand holding the stylus; receiving a user selection of an initial icon, wherein the selection is made with the stylus; displaying, in response to a user selection of an initial icon, a second level menu of additional icons, wherein the second level menu is cascaded from, and overlaps a portion of the icons arrayed in, the first level menu, and the second level menu does not overlap the initial icon; receiving a user selection, made with the stylus from the second level menu, of a second icon; and performing the action identified by the second icon.

Claim 20

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: receiving a user request for a display of menu choices corresponding to actions performable with regard to an object, wherein the object has a representation upon a display screen of a computer system having a graphical user interface, and wherein receiving a user request for a display of menu choices comprises receiving a request initiated with a stylus user input selection device; receiving an indication of the location and orientation of the stylus with respect to the display screen, wherein said indication is received at the time of the user request for a display of menu choices; displaying the menu choices in a first level menu, wherein each of the actions performable with regard to the object is identified by a unique icon, the icons are displayed in an array of at least two columns and two rows, the icons are displayed in a menu which is positioned on the screen based upon the location of the screen representation of the object, displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons spaced such that any of the icons can be selected without substantial movement of the hand or wrist of the user holding the stylus, and displaying the menu choices comprises displaying the icons in a menu positioned on the screen, based upon the indication of the stylus location and orientation, so as not to be obscured by a hand holding the stylus; receiving a user selection of an initial icon, wherein the selection is made with the stylus; displaying, in response to a user selection of an initial icon, a second level menu of additional icons, wherein the second level menu is cascaded from, and overlaps a portion of the icons arrayed in, the first level menu, and the second level menu does not overlap the initial icon; receiving a user selection, made with the stylus from the second level menu, of a second icon; and performing the action identified by the second icon.