System and method for point of interest user interaction

Abstract

A vehicle infotainment system is provided. The vehicle infotainment system includes a display screen for displaying a plurality of applications and a controller communicatively coupled to the display screen. The controller is configured to display an application on the display screen. The application is divided into a first display region, and a second display region. The controller is further configured to display a plurality of categories on the first display region. The controller is also configured to receive a selection of a category of the plurality of categories. In addition, the controller is configured to display, on the second display region, a plurality of selectable points of interest associated with the selected category.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle infotainment system comprising:
 a display screen for displaying a plurality of applications, wherein the display screen is elongated in a horizontal orientation;   a touchpad for facilitating a user interacting with the display screen, wherein the touchpad is separate from the display screen; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the display screen, wherein the controller is configured to:
 display an application on the display screen, wherein the application is divided into a first display region, and a second display region; 
 display a plurality of categories vertically on the first display region; 
 determine a first selected category of the plurality of categories where the first selected category is currently selected on the display screen; 
 display, horizontally on the second display region, a first plurality of selections associated with the first selected category; 
 receive, from the user via the touchpad, a first user input of movement in a vertical direction; 
 determine a second selected category of the plurality of categories based on the first user input; 
 display, horizontally on the second display region, a second plurality of selections associated with the second selected category; 
 determine a first selection of the second plurality of selections associated with the second selected category; 
 receive, from the user via the touchpad, a second user input of movement in a horizontal direction; 
 determine a second selection of one of the second plurality of selections based on the second user input; and 
 display, on the second display region, the second selection including an indicator to indicate its selection. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle infotainment system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to display, on the first display region, scrolling in a vertical direction of movement from the first selected category to the second selected category in response to the first user input. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle infotainment system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine the second selected category of the plurality of categories based on the first user input;   remove, from display on the second display region, the first plurality of selections associated with the first selected category; and   add, to display on the second display region, the second plurality of selections associated with the second selected category.   
     
     
         4 . The vehicle infotainment system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to display, on the second display region, scrolling in a horizontal direction of movement from the first selection to the second selection in response to the second user input. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle infotainment system in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive the second user input including the horizontal direction;   determine which of the second plurality of selections is next in that horizontal direction; and   display the determined selection as the second selection.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle infotainment system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to display a third display region associated with the application, wherein the third display region horizontally displays information associated with a currently selected selection. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle infotainment system in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to display, on the third display region, one or more selectable options associated with the currently selected selection, wherein when selected the one or more selectable options activate one or more functions of the application. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle infotainment system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the application is a navigation application, and wherein the controller is further configured to:
 display a map on the second display region; and   display a travel route on the second display region.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle infotainment system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 display, on the second display region, a plurality of routes;   receive a user selection of one of the routes of the plurality of routes; and   display the selected route.   
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a user interface, the method implemented on by at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device, a touchpad, and a display screen, wherein the touchpad is separate from the display screen, wherein the display screen is elongated in a horizontal orientation, and wherein the method comprises:
 displaying an application on the display screen, wherein the application is divided into a first display region, and a second display region;   displaying, vertically on the first display region, a plurality of categories;   determining, by the at least one processor, a first selected category of the plurality of categories where the first selected category is currently selected on the display screen;   displaying, horizontally on the second display region, a first plurality of selections associated with the first selected category;   receiving, from the user via the touchpad, a first user input of movement in a vertical direction;   determining, by the at least one processor, a second selected category of the plurality of categories based on the first user input;   displaying, horizontally on the second display region, a second plurality of selections associated with the second selected category;   determine a first selection of the second plurality of selections associated with the second selected category;   receiving, from the user via the touchpad, a second user input of movement in a horizontal direction;   determining, by the at least one processor, a second selection of one of the second plurality of selections based on the second user input; and   displaying, on the second display region, the second selection including an indicator to indicate its selection.   
     
     
         11 . The method in accordance with  claim 10 , further comprising displaying, on the first display region, scrolling in a vertical direction of movement from the first selected category to the second selected category in response to the first user input. 
     
     
         12 . The method in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising:
 determining, by the at least one processor, the second selected category of the plurality of categories based on the first user input; 
 removing, from display on the second display region, the first plurality of selections associated with the first selected category; and 
 adding, to display on the second display region, the second plurality of selections associated with the second selected category. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising displaying, on the second display region, scrolling in a horizontal direction of movement from the first selection to the second selection in response to the second user input. 
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 13  further comprising:
 receiving the second user input including the horizontal direction; 
 determining, by the at least one processor, which of the second plurality of selections is next in that horizontal direction ; and 
 displaying the determined selection as the second selection. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising displaying a third display region associated with the application, wherein the third display region horizontally displays information associated with a currently selected selection. 
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising displaying, on the third display region, one or more selectable options associated with the currently selected selection, wherein when selected the one or more selectable options activate one or more functions of the application. 
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the application is a navigation application, and wherein the method further comprises:
 displaying a map on the second display region; and   displaying a travel route on the second display region.   
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising:
 displaying, on the second display region, a plurality of routes; 
 receiving a user selection of one of the routes of the plurality of routes; and 
 displaying the selected route. 
 
     
     
         19 . A computer device comprising at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device, a touchpad and a display screen, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to:
 display an application on the display screen, wherein the application is divided into a first display region, and a second display region;   display a plurality of categories vertically on the first display region;   determine a first selected category of the plurality of categories where the first selected category is currently selected on the display screen;   display, horizontally on the second display region, a first plurality of selections associated with the first selected category;   receive, from a user via the touchpad, a first user input of movement in a vertical direction;   determine a second selected category of the plurality of categories based on the first user input;   display, horizontally on the second display region, a second plurality of selections associated with the second selected category;   determine a first selection of the second plurality of selections associated with the second selected category;   receive, from the user via the touchpad, a second user input of movement in a horizontal direction;   determine a second selection of one of the second plurality of selections based on the second user input; and   display, on the second display region, the second selection including an indicator to indicate its selection.   
     
     
         20 . The computer device of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to:
 display, on the first display region, scrolling in a vertical direction of movement from the first selected category to the second selected category in response to the first user input;   determine the second selected category of the plurality of categories based on the first user input;   remove, from display on the second display region, the first plurality of selections associated with the first selected category; and   add, to display on the second display region, the second plurality of selections associated with the second selected category; and   display, on the second display region, scrolling in a horizontal direction of movement from the first selection to the second selection in response to the second user input.