Patent ID: 8756529

Claim:
A method for providing one or more menu items that form at least a primary menu item list and a secondary menu item list on a user interface screen displayed on a display device, the method being implemented by one or more data processors and comprising: receiving a selection of a reference item on the user-interface screen from a pointing device; displaying on the user interface screen the primary menu item list in a form of one or more primary call-out shaped objects representing one or more primary menu items, wherein each primary call-out shaped object comprises a call-out bubble and a leading arm protruding from the call-out bubble, the leading arm connecting the call-out bubble with the reference item displayed on the user interface screen, wherein the call-out bubble and the leading arm of each primary call-out shaped object are selectable to select a corresponding represented primary menu item; receiving a selection of the leading arm and/or the call-out bubble of a desired item of the primary menu item list, wherein the desired item of the primary menu item list represents the secondary menu item list; displaying on the user interface screen the secondary menu item list in the form of one or more secondary call-out shaped objects representing one or more secondary menu items, wherein each secondary call-out shaped object comprises a call-out bubble and a leading arm protruding from the call-out bubble, wherein the leading arm of each secondary menu item connects the secondary menu item with the desired item of the primary menu item list, and wherein the call-out bubble and the leading arm of each secondary call-out shaped object are selectable to select a corresponding represented secondary menu item; receiving a selection of the leading arm and/or the call-out bubble of a desired secondary menu item of the secondary menu item list, wherein the leading arm of the desired secondary menu item connects the desired secondary menu item with the desired item of the primary menu item list; and executing a function in response to the selection of the leading arm and/or the call-out bubble of the desired secondary menu item; wherein the at least one data processor is capable of determining a position for displaying at least one call-out shaped object, based on the number of call-out shaped objects to be displayed, the space available around a currently selected call-out shaped object, the space available on the user interface screen, and/or pre-determined display preferences.