Multiple panel touch user interface navigation
A graphical user interface method is disclosed. A first interface panel including a first graphical content for a first menu item is generated. The first interface panel is displayed in a primary display area, and a first descriptor is displayed in a menu display area that is segregated from the primary display area. The first descriptor is associated with the first menu item. An input command is received on the menu display area, and in response thereto, a second interface panel with a second set of graphic content for a second menu item is generated. An input command transition relationship is defined between the first interface panel and the second interface panel, and the received input command corresponds thereto. The second interface panel is displayed in the primary display area, and a second descriptor associated with the second menu item is displayed in the menu display area.
1. A graphical user interface method comprising:
generating a first interface panel for a first menu item and including a first set of graphical content;
displaying the first interface panel in a primary display area, the primary display area having an outer perimeter;
displaying exclusively a first descriptor associated with the first menu item in a menu display area, the menu display area being located outside the outer perimeter of the primary display area;
receiving an input command on the menu display area;
generating, in response to the input command, a second interface panel for a second menu item and including a second set of graphical content different from the first set of graphical content, an input command transition relationship being defined between the first interface panel and the second interface panel, and the received input command corresponds to the input command transition relationship;
displaying the second interface panel in the primary display area;
displaying exclusively a second descriptor associated with the second menu item in the menu display area;
displaying a menu transition effect between the displaying the first descriptor and the displaying the second descriptor; and
displaying a panel transition effect between the displaying the first interface panel and the displaying the second interface panel corresponding to the input command transition relationship;
wherein the displaying the menu transition effect and the displaying the panel transition effect is simultaneous.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a panel transition effect between the displaying of the first interface panel and the displaying of the second interface panel corresponding to the input command transition relationship.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input command is a horizontal swipe from a first point within the menu display area to a second point within the display area.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the swipe has a leftward direction and the first point within the menu display area is right of the second point.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the swipe has a rightward direction and the first point within the menu display area is left of the second point.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the menu display area is located below the primary display area.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the menu display area is located adjacent to an expansion button.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first interface panel is independently navigable.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the menu display area is persistent and remains static.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received input command is a touch swipe that corresponds to the input command transition relationship.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer perimeter of the primary display area is rectangular in shape.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least two sides of the rectangular-shaped outer perimeter are substantially adjacent to an outer edge of the user interface.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the menu display area is located below the primary display area.
14. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory program storage medium readable by a user computing device, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the user computing device to perform a graphical user interface method comprising:
generating a first interface panel for a first menu item and including a first set of graphical content;
displaying the first interface panel in a primary display area, the primary display area having an outer perimeter;
displaying exclusively a first descriptor associated with the first menu item in a menu display area located outside the outer perimeter of the primary display area;
receiving an input command on the menu display area;
generating, in response to the input command, a second interface panel for a second menu item and including a second set of graphical content different from the first set of graphical content, an input command transition relationship being defined between the first interface panel and the second interface panel, and the received input command corresponds to the input command transition relationship;
displaying the second interface panel in the primary display area;
displaying exclusively a second descriptor associated with the second menu item in the menu display area;
displaying a menu transition effect between the displaying the first descriptor and the displaying the second descriptor; and
displaying a panel transition effect between the displaying the first interface panel and the displaying the second interface panel corresponding to the input command transition relationship;
wherein the displaying the menu transition effect and the displaying the panel transition effect is simultaneous.