HIERARCHICAL TOUCHPAD INTERACTION
Techniques utilizing a hierarchically-arranged touchpad in conjunction with different types of user interfaces are described.
1 . A device, comprising:
a touchpad having a plurality of hierarchically-arranged and tactually delineated touch-sensitive areas that include at least a primary touch-sensitive area and a secondary touch-sensitive area;
the device being configured to perform actions comprising:
displaying first-level choices in a first-level menu, the first-level choices being selectable by touching corresponding locations of the primary touch-sensitive area;
in response to a selected first-level choice, displaying second-level choices in a second-level menu, the second-level choices being selectable by touching the secondary touch-sensitive area;
wherein the second-level choices of the second-level menu vary depending upon the selected first-level choice.
2 . A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second-level choices are selectable by sweeping the secondary touch-sensitive area.
3 . A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second-level choices are selectable by circularly sweeping the secondary touch-sensitive area.
4 . A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first-level menu is shaped like the primary touch-sensitive area; and
the second-level menu is shaped like the secondary touch-sensitive area.
5 . A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first-level menu is shaped like the primary touch-sensitive area and is positioned opposite the primary touch-sensitive area;
the second-level menu is shaped like the secondary touch-sensitive area and is positioned opposite the secondary touch-sensitive area.
6 . A device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a third touch-sensitive area, the actions further comprising:
in response to a selected second-level choice, displaying third-level choices in a third-level menu, the third-level choices being selectable by touching corresponding locations of the third touch-sensitive area;
wherein the third-level choices of the third-level menu vary depending upon the selected second-level choice.
7 . A device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a display upon which to show the first-level and second-level menus.
8 . A device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a display upon which to show the first-level and second-level menus, the touchpad being positioned independently of the display.
9 . A device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a display upon which to show the first-level and second-level menus, the touchpad being positioned behind the display.
10 . A handheld device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the touch-sensitive areas are concentric.
11 . A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the touch-sensitive areas surround a central area.
12 . A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the secondary touch-sensitive area surrounds the primary touch-sensitive area; and
the primary touch-sensitive area is delineated from the secondary touch-sensitive area by having a different elevation.
13 . A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the secondary touch-sensitive area surrounds the primary touch-sensitive area;
the primary touch-sensitive area is stepped down from the secondary touch-sensitive area for tactual delineation.
14 . A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the touch-sensitive areas are linear.
15 . A device, comprising:
a touchpad having a plurality of concentric, tactually delineated touch-sensitive bands that include at least an inner touch-sensitive band and an outer touch-sensitive band;
the device having operational logic that is invocable to perform actions comprising:
displaying a graphical user interface having menu levels that are shaped like the touch-sensitive bands of the touchpad;
displaying primary menu choices in a first-level menu corresponding in shape to the inner touch-sensitive band, the primary menu choices being selectable by touching corresponding locations of the inner touch-sensitive band;
in response to a selected primary menu choice, displaying secondary menu choices in a second-level menu corresponding in shape to the outer touch-sensitive band, the secondary menu choices being selectable by touching corresponding locations of the outer touch-sensitive band;
wherein the secondary menu choices vary depending upon selections of primary menu choices.
16 . A device as recited in claim 15 , wherein:
the inner touch-sensitive band is positioned directly behind the second-level menu;
the outer touch-sensitive band is positioned directly behind the second-level menu.
17 . A device as recited in claim 15 , further comprising a display upon which to show the menus.
18 . A device as recited in claim 15 , further comprising a display upon which to show the menus, the touchpad being apart from the display.
19 . A device as recited in claim 15 , further comprising a display upon which to show the menus, the touchpad being behind the display.
20 . A device as recited in claim 15 , wherein the inner and outer touch-sensitive bands are delineated by having different elevations.
21 . A device as recited in claim 15 , wherein the inner touch-sensitive band is stepped down from the outer touch-sensitive band for tactual delineation.
22 . A method of interacting with a hierarchically-arranged touchpad, comprising:
displaying first-level choices in a first-level menu, the first-level choices being selectable by touching corresponding locations of a primary touch-sensitive area of the hierarchically-arranged touchpad;
in response to a selected first-level choice, displaying second-level choices in a second-level menu, the second-level choices being selectable by touching corresponding locations of a secondary touch-sensitive area of the hierarchically-arranged touchpad;
wherein the second-level choices of the second-level menu vary depending upon the selected first-level choice.
23 . A method as recited in claim 22 , wherein:
the first-level menu is shaped like the primary touch-sensitive area; and
the second-level menu is shaped like the secondary touch-sensitive area.
24 . A method as recited in claim 22 , further comprising:
in response to a selected second-level choice, displaying third-level choices in a third-level menu, the third-level choices being selectable by touching corresponding locations of a third touch-sensitive area of the hierarchically-arranged touchpad;
wherein the third-level choices of the third-level menu vary depending upon the selected second-level choice.
25 . A method as recited in claim 22 , wherein the first-level and second-level menus are concentric.
26 . A method as recited in claim 22 , wherein the first-level and second-level menus comprise graphically delineated bands.