Patent ID: 6925611

Claim:
In a computing system, a navigational interface for inputting text and control information into the computing system, the navigational interface comprising: an input pointer generating a selection stroke when operated by the user, the selection stroke indicative of a request to enter text or to perform a task in the computing system; a sensor pattern device radially divided into a plurality of sensory portions, the sensor pattern device detecting the selection stroke and identifying at least one selected sensory portion included in the selection stroke; and a first information element associated with a task to be performed in the computing system and referenced by one of the plurality of sensory portions; a second information element associated with text to be entered in the computing system and referenced by one of the plurality of sensory portions; and at least one selected sensory portion selected by the selection stroke, whereby information entering text in the computing system and requesting performance of a particular task by the computing system is input by the selection stroke; and an interface interpretation module recognizing the selection stroke on the sensor pattern and entering the text or performing the task associated with the selected information element; and wherein the sensor pattern comprises: a central sensory portion forming a single sensory portion; a petals sensory portion angularly divided into sensory petals distributed about the central sensory portion, each sensory petal forming a single sensory portion; and an outer sensory portion associated with the sensory petals so that circumferential parts of the outer sensory portion are associated with individual sensory petals; and wherein the selection stroke begins at a sensory petal and continues to at least one other sensory portion of the sensor pattern whereby the information input into the computing system is task information controlling operations in an application installed on the computing system; and wherein the other sensory portion is the central sensory portion whereby the information input into the computing system is a drag task executing an operation of the application.