Menu display method and computer readable recording medium storing program for performing the method

Abstract

A method of displaying a relationship between menus and applying a motion to the display, thereby facilitating the use of a menu and attracting the interest of a user. A computer readable recording medium storing a program can be used for performing the method. The method of displaying a menu includes selecting a menu item from an upper menu, obtaining an amount of information related to a lower menu or contents corresponding to the selected upper menu item, displaying a connecting object visually showing a relationship between the upper menu and the lower menu or the contents, and displaying the lower menu or the contents and a motion moving at a speed determined according to the amount of information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional motion menu;

FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of a menu according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of displaying a menu according to an exemplary embodiment the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of displaying a menu according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A through 5D illustrate examples of stages in the method of displaying a menu illustrated in FIG. 4, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of displaying a menu according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 7A through 7C illustrate examples of stages in the method of displaying a menu illustrated in FIG. 6, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a menu comprising; selecting a menu item from an upper menu;displaying a connecting object visually showing a relationship between the upper menu and a lower menu or contents corresponding to the selected upper menu item; anddisplaying the lower menu or the contents.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining an amount of information related to the lower menu or the contents, wherein the displaying of the lower menu or the contents comprises displaying a motion moving at a speed determined according to the amount of information related with the lower menu or the contents.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the connecting object comprises displaying a line connecting the selected upper menu item to the lower menu or the contents.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the lower menu or the contents comprises displaying a traction motion of pulling the lower menu or the contents with the connecting object while changing a shape of the connecting object.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising obtaining an amount of information related to the lower menu or the contents, wherein the displaying of the traction motion comprises:determining a speed of the traction motion according to the amount of information; anddisplaying the traction motion of pulling the lower menu or the contents at the determined speed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the obtaining of the amount of information comprises calculating at least one from among the amount of data necessary to display on a screen in order to display the lower menu or the contents, the amount of data included in the lower menu or the contents, and the number of items included in the lower menu or the contents.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining an amount of information related to the lower menu or the contents, wherein the displaying of the connecting object comprises differing the display of the shape of the connecting object according to the amount of information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the lower menu or the contents comprises displaying a motion of moving a point of view to a view of the lower menu or the contents.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining an amount of information related to the lower menu or the contents, wherein the displaying of the lower menu or the contents comprises:determining a speed of a motion of moving a point of view to a view of the lower menu or the contents according to the amount of information; anddisplaying the motion of moving the point of view to the view of the lower menu or the contents at the determined speed.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the obtaining of the amount of information comprises calculating at least one from among the amount of data necessary to display on a screen the lower menu or the contents, the amount of data included in the lower menu or the contents, and the number of items included in the lower menu or the contents.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the displaying of the connecting object comprises differing the display of a shape of the connecting object according to the amount of information.

12. A computer readable recording medium for storing a program for performing a method of displaying a menu, wherein the method comprises: selecting a menu item from an upper menu;displaying a connecting object visually showing a relationship between the upper menu and a lower menu or contents corresponding to the selected upper menu item; anddisplaying the lower menu or the contents.

13. The computer readable recording medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises obtaining an amount of information related to the lower menu or the contents and the displaying of the lower menu or the contents comprises displaying a motion moving at a speed determined according to the amount of information related with the lower menu or the contents.

14. The computer readable recording medium of claim 12, wherein the displaying of the lower menu or the contents comprises displaying a traction motion of pulling the lower menu or the contents with the connecting object while changing a shape of the connecting object.

15. The computer readable recording medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises obtaining an amount of information related to the lower menu or the contents and the displaying of the connecting object comprises differing the display of the shape of the connecting object according to the amount of information.

16. The computer readable recording medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises obtaining an amount of information related to the lower menu or the contents and the displaying of the lower menu or the contents comprises: determining a speed of a motion of moving a point of view to a view of the lower menu or the contents according to the amount of information; anddisplaying the motion of moving the point of view to the view of the lower menu or the contents at the determined speed.