Abstract:
Display of menu items on a display of an electronic device, such as a cellphone or other portable device, is managed by defining first and second menus including respective first and second groups of menu items (e.g., graphic icons and/or text), wherein the first group of menu items is a subset of the second group of menu items. The device transitions from display of the first menu to display of the second menu responsive to user activation of a menu expansion function. Menu items may be organized responsive to user input.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to displays for portable electronic devices, and more particularly, to management of menu items on a display screen of a portable electronic device. 
   Portable electronic devices, such as cellphones, that have relatively small displays typically use a concept-based menu structure. A typical menu structure includes a top-level (or “main”) menu, which provides a list of menu items that categorizes features of the cellphone. Lower level menus that provide functions falling within a category corresponding to a main menu item are typically accessed by selecting that main menu item. Commonly, menu items are provided in a scrollable list format, and labeling typically follows a predetermined sorting order, such as alphabetical order or date of creation. 
   Several conventional devices provide for limited “personalization” of menus. For example, some cellphones provide the user with the capability to change the order in which lists of menu items are displayed. Such a feature may be used, for example, to place more frequently used items at the top of a list to reduce the amount of user scrolling. Electronic devices with more sophisticated graphics capabilities, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) (which may or may not have wireless communications capability), may provide a user with a capability to move menu items on a metaphorical desktop and/or among user-selectable (e.g., tabbed) menus. In this manner, menu items could for example, be placed on a particular menu tab that is tailored to a specific environment, e.g., a business or personal use environment. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to some embodiments of the present invention, display of menu items on a display of an electronic device, such as a cellphone or other portable device, is managed by defining first and second menus including respective first and second groups of menu items (e.g., graphic icons and/or text), wherein the first group of menu items is a subset of the second group of menu items. The device transitions from display of the first menu to display of the second menu responsive to user activation of a menu expansion function. For example, the first menu may include a menu expansion function menu item, and transitioning from display of the first menu to display of the second menu may occur responsive to user selection of the menu expansion function menu item. In some embodiments, the first menu includes a first array of icons having a first number of rows and a first number of columns, and the second menu includes a second array of icons having a second number of rows and a second number of columns, wherein the second number of rows is greater than the first number of rows and/or the second number of columns is greater than the first number of columns. 
   According to further embodiments, the electronic device transitions from display of the second menu to display of the first menu responsive to user activation of a menu reduction function. For example, the second menu may include a menu reduction function menu item, and transitioning from display of the second menu to display of the first menu may occur responsive to user selection of the menu reduction function menu item. 
   In further embodiments of the present invention, defining first and second menus includes assigning a menu item to the first menu or the second menu responsive to a user input. For example, a menu item may be assigned to the first menu or the second menu responsive to frequency of usage of a function corresponding to the menu item. 
   According to further aspects of the present invention, display of menu items on a display of an electronic device is managed by displaying a first two-dimensional array of menu items on the display, identifying one of the menu items responsive to a user input, accepting user activation of a menu rearrangement function, providing a user interface for identification of a new array location for the identified menu item responsive to user activation of the menu rearrangement function, identifying a new array location for the identified menu items responsive to a user input, and displaying a second two-dimensional array of the menu items with the identified menu item in the new array location. Accepting user activation of a menu rearrangement function may include displaying an options menu including a menu rearrangement menu item responsive to a user input and accepting user selection of the menu rearrangement menu item. Providing a user interface for identification of a new array location may include displaying the first two-dimensional array and moving a graphic indicator to the new array location responsive to a user command. Identifying a new array location may include accepting user selection of the new array location. 
   According to further embodiments, the first menu item is displayed at a first array location and a second menu item is displayed at a second array location. The first menu item is identified for movement to the second array location. The first menu item replaces the second menu item at the second array location and the second menu item replaces the first menu item at the first array location. 
   In further embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device includes a display and a user input device. The device further includes a processor operatively associated with the user input device and the display. The processor is configured to define first and second menus including respective first and second groups of menu items, the first group of menu items a subset of the second group of menu items. The processor is operative to transition from display of the first menu to display of the second menu responsive to user activation of a menu expansion function via the user input device. 
   In additional embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device includes a display and a user input device. A processor is operatively associated with the user input device and the display. The processor is configured to display a first two-dimensional array of menu items on the display, to identify one of the menu items responsive to a user input, to accept user activation of a menu rearrangement function via the user input device, to provide a user interface for identification of a new array location for the identified menu item responsive to user activation of the menu rearrangement function, to identify a new array location for the identified menu items responsive to a user input and to display a second two-dimensional array of the menu items with the identified menu item in the new array location. 
   In still further embodiments of the present invention, a program product for managing display of menu items on a display of an electronic device is provided. The program product includes code embodied in a processor-accessible medium. The code includes code configured to define first and second menus including respective first and second groups of menu items, wherein the first group of menu items is a subset of the second group of menu items. The program product further includes code configured to transition from display of the first menu to display of the second menu responsive to user activation of a menu expansion function. 
   In other embodiments of the present invention, a program product for managing display of menu items on a display of an electronic device includes code configured to display a first two-dimensional array of menu items on the display, code configured to identify one of the menu items responsive to a user input, code configured to accept user activation of a menu rearrangement function, code configured to provide a user interface for identification of a new array location for the identified menu item responsive to user activation of the menu rearrangement function, code configured to identify a new array location for the identified menu items responsive to a user input, and code configured to display a second two-dimensional array of the menu items with the identified menu item in the new array location. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate exemplary menus and menu expansion operations according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 4-6  illustrate exemplary menus and menu expansion operations for a cellphone according to further embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 7-10  illustrate exemplary menus and menu organization operations according to further embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram illustrating a portable electronic device according to further embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   Specific exemplary embodiments of the invention now will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. 
   The present invention is described below with reference to block diagrams and display illustrations that illustrate methods, apparatus and computer program products according to some embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that block diagrams and screen displays can be implemented in code that may be provided, for example, to a processor of a portable electronic device, such as a cellphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), pager, e-book reader, or the like, to produce a machine, such that the code, when processed by the processor, embodies data structures and/or means for implementing acts specified in the figures. Such code may also be embodied in a storage medium, such as a random access memory (RAM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), memory stick, SIM card, web server or the like, that can direct a processor to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions embodied in the storage medium produce an article of manufacture including code configured to implement the data structures and or acts specified in the figures. The code may also be loaded onto a processor to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the processor to produce a process such that the code executed on the processor implements the acts specified in the figures. 
     FIGS. 1-3  illustrates a series of exemplary menus  100 ,  200 ,  300  that may be provided on a display of an electronic device, for example, a portable electronic device, such as a cellphone or PDA, according to some embodiments of the present invention. In the first display  100 , a first menu including a group of menu items  110 ,  120  and  130  are displayed concurrent with a menu expansion function menu item  140 . As shown, the menu items of the group of menu items  1110 ,  120 ,  130  correspond to respective call record, text message and sound setting functions. In the illustrated embodiments of  FIG. 2 , the menu items  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  are displayed as a 2×2 array. 
   User selection of the menu expansion function menu item  140  causes a transition to display of the menu  200  of  FIG. 2 , which includes the original group of menu items  110 ,  120 ,  130 , along with an additional column of menu items  150 ,  160  corresponding to respective organizer and call information functions. As shown, the original group of menu items  110 ,  120 ,  130  retain their original mutual relationships, which can ease user interaction with the new menu. A menu expansion function menu item  140  is also displayed, indicating that at least one more level of menu expansion is available. 
   User selection of the menu expansion function menu item  140  leads to display of the menu  300  of  FIG. 3 . The menu  300  includes the menu items  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  150 ,  160  of  FIG. 2 , which retain their mutual relationships. The expanded menu  300  further includes an additional row of menu items  170 ,  180 ,  190 , which correspond to respective account information, phone settings, and security functions of the device. In the illustrated embodiments of  FIGS. 1-3 , the menu  300  represents the maximum menu expansion. The menu  300  includes a menu reduction function menu item  140 ′ that leads back to the reduced-order menu  100  of  FIG. 1 , i.e., such that the menus  100 ,  200 ,  300  can be traversed in a cyclical fashion. It will be appreciated, however, that other traversals may be provided within the scope of the present invention. For example, instead of offering only a menu expansion function in the intermediary menu  200 , the menu  200  could include both expansion and reduction function menu items, which could be used to traverse to the menu  300  of  FIG. 3  and the menu  100  of  FIG. 1 , respectively. In such a configuration, the menu reduction function menu item  140 ′ of  FIG. 3  might be used to traverse directly to the intermediary menu  200 . It will be further appreciated that a wide variety of traversal techniques may be used with the present invention, and that more than 3 orders of menus may be provided. 
     FIGS. 4-6  illustrates exemplary menu management in a cellphone  402  according to further embodiments of the present invention. The cellphone  402  includes a display  403  and a user input device in the form of a joystick  401 . In  FIG. 4 , a first menu of functional icons including a call list function icon  410 , a phonebook function icon  420 , a text message function icon  430 , and a menu expansion function icon  440  are provided. Referring to  FIG. 2 , selection of the menu expansion function icon  440  (e.g., using the joystick  401 ) causes transition to display of a second menu of function icons including the original icons  410 ,  420 ,  430 , and an addition column of icons including an organizer function icon  450  and a sounds function icon  460 . Re-selection of the menu expansion function icon  440  leads to the display of a further expanded menu of  FIG. 6 , which includes the icons  410 ,  420 ,  430 ,  450 ,  460 , and an additional row of icons including an internet function icon  470 , a games function icon  480  and a settings function icon  490 . In this last menu, the menu expansion function icon  440  is replaced with a menu reduction function icon  440 ′, which may be used in a manner similar to that described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
   It will be appreciated that the apparatus and operations illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6  are provided for exemplary purposes, and that many variations of the illustrated apparatus and operations fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, although embodiments of invention implemented in small-screen applications, such as in a cellphone, PDA or similar portable device, may be particularly advantageous, it will be appreciated that the present invention is also applicable to other applications, such as in desktop, notebook and laptop computers (e.g., in web portals and portlets), personal digital assistants (PDAs), in pagers, in e-book devices, and in electronic messaging devices (e.g., BlackBerry®). It will also be appreciated that the present invention is generally applicable to the management of menus including textual items, iconic items, and combinations thereof. It will be further understood that arrangement of the various menu items shown in the menus of  FIGS. 4-6  may occur responsive to user input (e.g., as described below with reference to  FIGS. 7-11 ) and/or may be automatically performed by the portable electronic device responsive to, for example, a determination of the relative frequencies at which the respective functions associated with the function icons are invoked by a user. In this manner, the placement of icons in the menus can be tailored to the needs of the user, e.g., by placing more frequently used menu items at locations that provide display of these icons when the menu order is reduced. 
     FIGS. 7-10  show a series of menus  700 ,  800 ,  900 ,  1000  that illustrate exemplary menu organization operations according to further aspects of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the menu  700  includes an array of menu items including an accounts function menu item  710 , an organizer function menu item  720 , a call information function menu item  730 , a settings function menu item  740 , a call record menu item  750 , a sounds function menu item  760 , a security function menu item  770 , a messages function menu item  780  and a games function menu item  790 . As indicated by the highlighting in  FIG. 7 , a user may identify (e.g., using a joy stick, trackpointer, keypad, or other user input device) one of the menu items  710 ,  720 ,  730 ,  740 ,  750 ,  760 ,  770 ,  780 ,  790  for rearrangement. Responsive to selection of the identified menu item (e.g., by pressing an “options” key), an options menu  800  as illustrated in  FIG. 8  may be displayed. As shown, the user may then identify and select a “Move Item” function, resulting in redisplay of the menu array of  FIG. 7  in a menu  900 . The user may move a graphic indicator (as shown, a highlight box) to a desired new array location in the menu  900 . Upon identification of the desired new array location (e.g., via an appropriate input to a joystick or keypad), the rearranged menu  1000  of  FIG. 10  is displayed, with the selected menu item  710  moved to the array location formally occupied by the menu item  780 , and the menu item  780  moved to the array location previously occupied by the menu item  710 . Optionally, the device may additionally prompt the user for a confirmation of the new menu arrangement. 
   It will be appreciated that the menu management operations of  FIGS. 7-10  are provided for exemplary purposes, and that variations of these menus and operations fall within the scope of the present invention. It will be appreciated, for example, that menu management operations as described above may be used with textual items, iconic items, and combinations thereof. It will be further appreciated that the invention is not limited to the cellphone-type applications illustrated, and that the menu organization operations described herein are equally applicable to other environments, such as in computers, pagers and PDAs. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to rectilinear arrays of menu items, and is equally applicable to other menu item arrangements. 
   It will also be understood that, according to further embodiments of the present invention, the menu expansion/reduction operations described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-6  may be combined with the menu organization operations described with reference to  FIGS. 7-10 . For example, menu organization operations along the lines described with reference to  FIGS. 7-10  may be used to arrange menu items in a menu such as the fully expanded menus illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 6 . In this manner, a user may, for example, tailor which menu items would appear in the subarrays shown in the reduced-order menus displayed in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5 . For example, a user may arrange menu items such that more frequently used items, such as the items displayed in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , appear in reduced order menus, while less frequently used items are arranged such that they only appear when the menus are expanded. It will be appreciated that such arrangement may occur responsive to user input, for example, as described with reference to  FIGS. 7-10 , or may be automatically performed by the electronic device responsive to, for example, a determination of the frequency with which a user invokes particular functions of the device. 
     FIG. 11  illustrates an electronic device  1100  in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. The device  1100  includes a display  1120  and a user input device  1130  (e.g., a joystick, keypad, touchpad, trackpointer, touchscreen or the like) that are operatively associated with a processor  1110  (e.g., at least one microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)). The processor  1110  may be configured using, for example, software and/or firmware (not shown) stored in memory (not shown) and/or downloaded or otherwise transferred to the processor  1110 , to provide menu management operations according to the present invention, such as the menu management operations described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 . 
   In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined by the following claims.