Hover-buttons for user interfaces
Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing systems and devices for user interfaces that employ user interface objects.
1 . A method for interacting with primary and secondary user-selectable objects in a graphical user interface comprising the steps of:
associating secondary user-selectable objects with primary user-selectable objects;
displaying secondary user-selectable objects associated with a respective primary user-selectable object when said respective primary user-selectable object is selected; and
focusing upon one of said secondary user-selectable objects when a cursor is proximate of said one of said secondary user-selectable objects.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein hovering said cursor over said respective primary user-selectable object focuses upon said primary user-selectable object.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of enlarging said respective primary user-selectable object to indicate its having focus.
4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of outlining said respective primary user-selectable object to indicate its selection.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of deselecting said respective primary user-selectable object by moving said cursor away from said respective primary user-selectable object.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said step of deselecting said primary user-selectable object renders said secondary user-selectable objects invisible.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects are located proximate geographic corners of an edge of said respective primary user-selectable object.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects are geographically disbursed around said edge of said primary user-selectable object.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein only one of said secondary user-selectable objects is enlarged at a time.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said primary user-selectable object is either a text style primary user-selectable object or an image style primary user-selectable object.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects have sub-menus.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein crossing a first threshold results in display of said secondary user-selectable objects and crossing a second threshold results in display of a sub-menu associated with a closest one of said secondary user-selectable objects.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said sub-menus contain secondary user-selectable objects.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein clicking upon said secondary user-selectable object triggers graphic feedback and execution of a function.
15 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects have a translucent background.
16 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects have a transparent background.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects are hover-buttons.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said respective primary user-selectable object is selected when said cursor hovers over said primary user-selectable object for a predetermined amount of time.
19 . A user interface for interfacing with primary and secondary user-selectable objects comprising:
primary and secondary user-selectable objects, wherein said secondary user-selectable objects are associated with a respective primary user-selectable objects;
a display, wherein said secondary user-selectable objects associated with a respective primary user-selectable object are displayed upon said display when said respective primary user-selectable object is selected; and
a cursor, wherein when said cursor is proximate of said secondary user-selectable object, said secondary user-selectable object is selected.
20 . The user interface of claim 19 , wherein hovering said cursor over said respective primary user-selectable object selects said primary user-selectable object.
21 . The user interface of claim 20 , further comprising the step of enlarging said respective primary user-selectable object to indicate its selection
22 . The user interface of claim 20 , further comprising the step of outlining said respective primary user-selectable object to indicate its selection.
23 . The user interface of claim 19 , further comprising the step of deselecting said respective primary user-selectable object by moving said cursor away from said respective primary user-selectable object.
24 . The user interface of claim 23 , wherein said step of deselecting said primary user-selectable object renders said secondary user-selectable objects invisible.
25 . The user interface of claim 19 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects are located proximate geographic corners of an edge of said respective primary user-selectable object.
26 . The user interface of claim 19 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects are geographically disbursed around said edge of said primary user-selectable object.
27 . The user interface of claim 19 , wherein only one of said secondary user-selectable objects is enlarged at a time.
28 . The user interface of claim 19 , wherein said primary user-selectable object is either a text style primary user-selectable object or an image style primary user-selectable object.
29 . The user interface of claim 19 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects have sub-menus.
30 . The user interface of claim 29 , wherein crossing a first threshold results in display of said secondary user-selectable objects and crossing a second threshold results in display of a sub-menu associated with a closest one of said secondary user-selectable objects.
31 . The user interface of claim 29 , wherein said sub-menus contain secondary user-selectable objects.
32 . The user interface of claim 19 , wherein clicking upon said secondary user-selectable object triggers graphic feedback and execution of a function.
33 . The user interface of claim 26 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects have a translucent background.
34 . The user interface of claim 26 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects have a transparent background.
35 . The user interface of claim 19 , wherein said secondary user-selectable objects are hover-buttons.
36 . The user interface of claim 19 , wherein said respective primary user-selectable object is selected when said cursor hovers over said primary user-selectable object for a predetermined amount of time.