Patent ID: 6249284
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of directional navigation among a plurality of components on a display of a computer system having a user interface that includes said display and a user input device, the components being program modules each operational to generate a graphical component feature on the display and to receive input events generated with the user input device, where the component at any given time designated to receive such input events is said to be the component with input focus, the components comprising at least one parent component and a plurality of child components of said at least one parent component, the at least one parent component implementing a local input focus assignment authority, a navigator operational to implement a uniform navigation authority and being in a layout manager that forms a program portion separate from the components, the layout manager operational to layout the components' graphical component features on the display and to provide a determination of which child component in which parent component, shall next receive the input focus based on directional navigational indicator input events generated by the user input device, said method comprising:assigning said input focus to one of said plurality of child components pursuant to said local input focus assignment authority of a responsible one of said at least one parent component;identifying a user generated input as one of a plurality of directional navigation indicators that is received by said one of said plurality of child components having said input focus;determining a next nearest one of said plurality of child components that can take said input focus dictated by a previously identified one of said at least one directional navigation indicators, said determination being made in the layout manager pursuant to said uniform navigation authority of said navigator assigned to said responsible one of said at least one parent component and that operates at a higher level than any of said plurality of components; andinstructing an identifiable one of said at least one parent component of said next nearest one of said plurality of child components that can take said input focus, to assign said input focus to said next nearest one of said plurality of child components.