Display of Menu Items In a User Interface
A user interface for a device is provided, wherein the user interface generates a list of elements that is too large to be displayed within a region of the UI. The number of list elements to be displayed is determined and an appropriate subset of list elements are then chosen from the generated list of elements.
1 . A method of displaying a subset of a plurality of user interface elements in a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:
(i) determining the size of the subset of plurality of UI elements that can be displayed within the user interface;
(ii) determining a plurality of UI elements that may be selected for display within the user interface;
(iii) selecting the subset of UI elements from the plurality of UI elements determined in step (ii); and
(iv) displaying the subset of UI elements selected in step (iii) within the user interface.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein step (iii) is repeated to select a further subset of UI elements in response to a user input and step (iv) is then repeated to display the further subset of UI elements within the user interface.
3 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein the user input comprises activating a user input means and the selection and display of a further subset of UI elements causes a list or menu to be scrolled.
4 . A method according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein, the plurality of UI elements are stored at a single location and a mark-up language component is provided that defines the location of the plurality of UI elements.
5 . A method according to claim 4 , wherein the mark-up language component further defines the display of the selected subset of UI elements in a list.
6 . A method according to claim 5 , wherein a template is associated with the mark-up language component, the template determining the appearance of the selected subset of UI elements displayed in the list.
7 . A method according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the plurality of UI elements are stored in a single file, a mark-up language component is provided that defines the location of the file and the file comprises one or more data resources for display in the user interface.
8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the mark-up language component further defines the display of the selected subset of UI elements in a list.
9 . A method according to claim 8 , wherein a template is associated with the mark-up language component, the template determining the appearance of the selected subset of UI elements displayed in the list.
10 . A method according to any of claims 3 to 9 , wherein the list of the selected subset of UI elements comprises one or more further lists, each of the one or more further lists being identified by a unique expression.
11 . A data carrier comprising computer executable code for performing the method of any of claims 1 to 10 .
12 . A device comprising a display and a user interface the device being configured, in use, to
(i) determine the size of a subset of plurality of UI elements that can be displayed within the user interface;
(ii) determine a plurality of UI elements that may be selected for display within the user interface;
(iii) selecting the subset of UI elements from the plurality of UI elements determined in step (ii); and
(iv) displaying the subset of UI elements selected in step (iii) within the user interface.
13 . A device according to claim 12 , wherein the device further comprises user input means and is configured, in use, to respond to a user input so as to repeat step (iii) to select a further subset of UI elements and to then repeat step (iv) to display the further subset of UI elements within the user interface.
14 . A device according to claim 12 or claim 13 , wherein the device responds to the activation of the user input means such that the selection and display of a further subset of UI elements causes a list or menu to be scrolled.
15 . A device according to any of claims 12 to 14 wherein the device further comprises storage means and the plurality of UI elements are stored at a single location and a mark-up language component is provided that defines the location of the plurality of UI elements.
16 . A device according to claim 15 , wherein the mark-up language component further defines the display of the selected subset of UI elements in a list.
17 . A device according to claim 16 , wherein a template is associated with the mark-up language component, the template determining the appearance of the selected subset of UI elements displayed in the list.
18 . A device according to any of claims 12 to 14 wherein the device further comprises storage means and the plurality of UI elements are stored in a single file wherein a mark-up language component is provided that defines the location of the file and the file comprises one or more data resources for display in the user interface.
19 . A device according to claim 18 , wherein the mark-up language component further defines the display of the selected subset of UI elements in a list.
20 . A device according to claim 19 , wherein a template is associated with the mark-up language component, the template determining the appearance of the selected subset of UI elements displayed in the list.
21 . A device according to any of claims 15 to 20 , wherein the list of the selected subset of UI elements comprises one or more further lists, each of the one or more further lists being identified by a unique expression.
22 . A device according to any of claims 11 to 21 , wherein the device comprises wireless communication means.
23 . A device comprising processing means, storage means, a display, user input means, wireless communication means and a user interface, wherein the device is configured to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 10 .