Object-oriented framework for menu definition

Inventors: Smith, Reid G.; and Schoen, Eric J.

View document: https://patents.google.com/patent/US5119475A/en

Abstract
A declarative object-oriented approach to menu construction provides a mechanism for specifying the behavior, appearance and function of menus as part of an interactive user interface. Menus are constructed from interchangeable object building blocks to obtain the characteristics wanted without the need to write new code or code and maintaining a coherent interface standard. The approach is implemented by dissecting interface menu behavior into modularized objects specifying orthogonal components of desirable menu behaviors. Once primary characteristics for orthogonal dimensions of menu behavior are identified, individual objects are constructed to provide specific alternatives for the behavior within the definitions of each dimension. Finally, specific objects from each dimension are combined to construct a menu having the desired selections of menu behaviors.

Application Number: US07/754,366

Filing Date: 1991-08-29

Issuing Authority: United States

Patent Number: US5119475A

View on Zotero