Device navigation icon and system, and method of use thereof
Three-dimensional interactive icons and other mechanisms, methods, and systems for easing user selection of information, such as may be presented on screens or other interfaces of devices, such as tablet, telephone and other hand-held devices, and personal computers (PCs).
1. A three dimensional interactive navigational screen icon for use with a device having a processor and a screen display, the interactive navigational screen icon comprising:
a plurality of facets, each of the plurality of facets being selectable via touch of the screen display, the plurality of facets comprising top, bottom and side facets, arranged about at least one perimeter aspect of the icon, at least one of the plurality of facets providing a viewable and selectable image, each of the plurality of facets having a variable size, the variable size depending upon position, wherein when the variable size is larger for one of the plurality of facets, the larger facet enhances touch selection and viewing relative to each of the plurality of facets for which the variable size is smaller;
the plurality of facets being arranged such that at least one border of each facet is contiguous with at least one border of another facet;
wherein the plurality of facets form an icon that is at least one of slidable and rotatable to display one or more of the plurality of facets;
wherein at least one top facet displays a menu, wherein the top facet is divided into the menu and a plurality of sub-menus around the menu for selection by a user, each sub-menu corresponding to a respective side facet, wherein at least one of the respective side facet displays multimedia content related to the corresponding sub-menu; and
wherein selection of the at least one of the plurality of facets provides access, via the processor, to information associated therewith.
2. The screen icon of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of facets form a polyhedron; and
each of the plurality of facets constitute a two-dimensional portion of the polyhedron.
3. The screen icon of claim 1 , wherein the facets are displayed on a screen of at least one of a computer, a personal digital assistant and a smart device.
4. The screen icon of claim 1 , wherein at least one end facet is viewable and selectable to perform at least one from a group consisting of:
providing a viewable and selectable image to provide access to information associated therewith;
providing a partitioned image having separately selectable partition sections, to provide varying selection options for additional facets; and
providing expansion options for the icon.
5. The screen icon of claim 1 , wherein the selection of the at least one of the plurality of facets results in a display of one selected from a group consisting of a new window, a pop-up window, and a secondary multifaceted three-dimensional icon, the selection providing data associated with the selected facet.
6. The screen icon of claim 5 , wherein:
the selection of a facet is performed by a user urging the facet; and
the display of one selected from a group consisting of a new window, a pop-up window, and a secondary multifaceted three-dimensional icon is determined by a frequency at which the facet is urged by the user.
7. The screen icon of claim 1 , wherein one or more menus may be displayed on the screen upon selection of the at least one of the plurality of facets.
8. The screen icon of claim 1 , wherein the selection of the at least one of the plurality of facets comprises rotating the screen icon to display the selected facet at a central portion of the screen.
9. The screen icon of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the plurality of facets comprises high-level data; and
the selection of the at least one of the plurality of facets results in a display of lower-level data related to the high-level data.
10. The screen icon of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of facets are configured to control one or more external devices.
11. The screen icon of claim 10 , wherein the one or more external devices comprise one or more selected of a group consisting of household devices and audio/visual devices.
12. The screen icon of claim 1 , wherein when one of the plurality of facets provides one or more presentations having questions, additional facets are displayed upon a user answering a percentage of the questions correctly.
13. The screen icon of claim 12 , wherein one or more selection options are displayed to the user to allow the user to proceed to a later stage on a presentation.
14. The screen icon of claim 1 , wherein information displayed in the facets varies based on a type of information provided and a level of viewing.
15. The screen icon of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sub-menus are displayed as pie slices around the menu.
16. A method of screen navigation on a device having a processor and a screen using a three dimensional interactive screen icon having a plurality of facets, each of the plurality of facets being selectable via touch of the screen, the plurality of facets being arranged such that at least one border of each facet is shared with at least one border of another facet, the method comprising:
presenting the icon in a first orientation, wherein a top facet of the plurality of facets displays a menu and a plurality of sub-menus around the menu, each sub-menu corresponding to a respective side facet, wherein at least one of the respective side facet displays multimedia content related to the sub-menu, wherein each of the plurality of facets have a variable size, the variable size depending upon position, wherein when the variable size is larger for one of the plurality of facets, the larger facet enhances touch selection and viewing relative to each of the plurality of facets for which the variable size is smaller;
receiving an input selection, the input selection being selected from a group consisting of selecting a facet of the icon, rotating the icon, pivoting the icon, expanding or contracting the icon, varying the icon interaction level, moving the icon in a direction, selecting the menu, selecting one or more of the plurality of sub-menus, and navigating relative to the icon, wherein the input selection is selected based on a manner in which a user makes the input selection; and
performing the received input selection, the performing including performing a computer function via the processor.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein performing the received input selection comprises displaying at least one selected from a group consisting of another facet, a display window, a pop-up window, and a secondary multifaceted three-dimensional icon.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:
receiving the input selection is performed by a user urging the facet; and
displaying one selected from a group consisting of another facet, a display window, a pop-up window, and a secondary multifaceted three-dimensional icon based on a frequency at which the facet is urged by the user.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein performing the received input selection comprises at least one of:
providing a viewable and selectable image to provide access to information associated therewith;
providing a partitioned image having separately selectable partition sections, to provide varying selection options for additional facets; and
providing expansion options for the icon.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
at least one of the plurality of facets comprises high-level data; and
performing the received input selection comprises displaying lower-level data related to the high-level data.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the input selection comprises one or more of varying taps on the facet and touching the facet with a different number of fingers to each produce different results.
22. A system for screen navigation using a three dimensional interactive screen icon having a plurality of facets, each of the plurality of facets being selectable via touch of the screen, the plurality of facets being arranged such that all borders of each facet are shared with other facets, the system comprising:
a processor;
a user interface functioning via the processor; and
a repository accessible by the processor;
wherein the processor, user interface, and repository are configured to interoperate such that:
the icon is presented in a first orientation, wherein a top facet of the plurality of facets displays a menu and a plurality of sub-menus around the menu, each sub-menu corresponding to a respective side facet, wherein at least one of the respective side facet displays multimedia content related to the sub-menu, wherein each of the plurality of facets have a variable size, the variable size depending upon position, wherein when the variable size is larger for one of the plurality of facets, the larger facet enhances touch selection and viewing relative to each of the plurality of facets for which the variable size is smaller;
an input selection is received, the input selection being selected from a group consisting of selecting a facet, rotating the icon, pivoting the icon, expanding or contracting the icon, varying the icon interaction level, selecting the menu, selecting one or more of the plurality of sub-menus, and navigating relative to the icon, wherein the input selection is selected based on a manner in which a user makes the input selection; and
the received input selection is performed, the performed input selection comprising a computer operation.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein:
the processor is housed on a terminal selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a main frame computer, a microcomputer, a hand held device, and a telephonic device; and
the processor is coupled to a server; and
the server is coupled to a network.
24. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to perform screen navigation using a three dimensional interactive screen icon having a plurality of facets, each of the plurality of facets being selectable via touch of the screen, the plurality of facets being arranged such that at least one border of each facet is contiguous with at least one border of another facet, the control logic comprising:
computer readable program code means for presenting the icon in a first orientation, wherein a top facet of the plurality of facets displays a menu and a plurality of sub-menus around the menu, each sub-menu corresponding to a respective side facet, wherein at least one of the respective side facet displays multimedia content related to the sub-menu, wherein each of the plurality of facets have a variable size, the variable size depending upon position, wherein when the variable size is larger for one of the plurality of facets, the larger facet enhances touch selection and viewing relative to each of the plurality of facets for which the variable size is smaller;
computer readable program code means for receiving an input selection, the input selection being selected from a group consisting of selecting a facet, rotating the icon, pivoting the icon, expanding or contracting the icon, varying the icon interaction level, selecting the menu, selecting one or more of the plurality of sub-menus, and navigating relative to the icon, wherein the input selection is selected based on a manner in which a user makes the input selection; and
computer readable program code means for performing the received input selection.