System and method for focused navigation within a user interface
View Patent ↗A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.
1. A computer-implemented method for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface, the method comprising:
displaying a first sequence of scrollable cards along a first axis of the user interface, each card in the first sequence graphically representing a different interactive application program, such that each card in the first sequence is positioned adjacent to at least one other card in the first sequence that represents a different interactive application program;
allowing a user to scroll the first sequence of cards along the first axis through a focus area of the user interface; and
in response to a card from the first sequence representing a first interactive application program being scrolled into the focus area, displaying a second sequence of cards along a second axis of the user interface, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, each card in the second sequence graphically representing a different option associated with the first interactive application program,
wherein the first sequence and the second sequence visually divide the user interface into four quadrants, such that none of the cards that visually divide the user interface are scrollable into any of the four quadrants.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
enlarging a card in a sequence relative to the other cards in that sequence when the card is scrolled into the focus area.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each card includes a static image, the method further comprising:
changing the static image of a card into a moving video image in response to the card being scrolled into the focus area.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein in response to a card from the first sequence representing a second interactive application program being scrolled into the focus area, replacing the second sequence of cards with a third sequence of cards along the second axis, each card in the third sequence graphically representing a different option associated with the second interactive application program.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the options of the second interactive application program are associated with a different media format or communication format than the options of the'first interactive application program.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
allowing a user to scroll the third sequence of cards along the second axis through the same focus area.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: wherein a representation of only one option at a time is scrolled through the focus area.
8. A system for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface, the method comprising:
a display component for displaying a first sequence of scrollable cards along a first axis of the user interface, each card in the first sequence graphically representing a different interactive application program, such that each card in the first sequence is positioned adjacent to at least one other card in the first sequence that represents a different interactive application program; and
a user input component to allow a user to scroll the first sequence of cards along the first axis through a focus area of the user interface,
wherein the display component, in response to a card from the first sequence representing a first interactive application program being scrolled into the focus area, displays a second sequence of cards along a second axis of the user interface, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, each card in the second sequence graphically representing a different option associated with the first interactive application program, and
wherein the first sequence and the second sequence visually divide the user interface into four quadrants, such that none of the cards that visually divide the user interface are scrollable into any of the four quadrants.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the display component is to enlarge a card in a sequence relative to the other cards in that sequence when the card is scrolled into the focus area.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein each card includes a static image, and wherein the display component is to change the static image of a card into a moving video image in response to the card being scrolled into the focus area.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the display component, in response to a card from the first sequence representing a second interactive application program being scrolled into the focus area, is to replace the second sequence of cards with a third sequence of cards along the second axis, each card in the third sequence graphically representing a different option associated with the second interactive application program.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the options of the second interactive application program are associated with a different media format or communication format than the options of the first interactive application program.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the user input component is to allow a user to scroll the third sequence of cards along the second axis through the same focus area.
14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
wherein a representation of only one option at a time is scrolled through the focus area.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code for causing a computer to perform a method for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface, the method comprising:
displaying a first sequence of scrollable cards along a first axis of the user interface, each card in the first sequence graphically representing a different interactive application program, such that each card in the first sequence is positioned adjacent to at least one other card in the first sequence that represents a different interactive application program;
allowing a user to scroll the first sequence of cards along the first axis through a focus area of the user interface; and
in response to a card from the first sequence representing a first interactive application program being scrolled into the focus area, displaying a second sequence of cards along a second axis of the user interface, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, each card in the second sequence graphically representing a different option associated with the first interactive application program,
wherein the first sequence and the second sequence visually divide the user interface into four quadrants, such that none of the cards that visually divide the user interface are scrollable into any of the four quadrants.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising:
enlarging a card in a sequence relative to the other cards in the sequence when it is scrolled into the focus area.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein each card includes a static image, the method further comprising:
changing the static image of a card into a moving video image in response to the card being scrolled into the focus area.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein in response to a card from the first sequence representing a second interactive application program being scrolled into the focus area, replacing the second sequence of cards with a third sequence of cards along the second axis, each card in the third sequence graphically representing a different option associated with the second interactive application program.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising:
allowing a user to scroll the third sequence of cards along the second axis through the same focus area.
20. An apparatus for, navigating a plurality of options within a user interface, the method comprising:
means for displaying a first sequence of scrollable cards along a first axis of the user interface, each card in the first sequence graphically representing a different interactive application program, such that each card in the first sequence is positioned adjacent to at least one other card in the first sequence that represents a different interactive application program;
means for allowing a user to scroll the first sequence of cards along the first axis through a focus area of the user interface; and
means for displaying, in response to a card from the first sequence representing a first interactive application program being scrolled into the focus area, a second sequence of cards along a second axis of the user interface, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, each card in the second sequence graphically representing a different option associated with the first interactive application program,
wherein the first sequence and the second sequence visually divide the user interface into four quadrants, such that none of the cards that visually divide the user interface are scrollable into any of the four quadrants.