selector patent

I would like to implement a "menu" selector on consoles in such a way that
the choices appear in a circle so they can be directly selected with an
analog controller or dpad without scrolling.  I thought I remember one of
the 3D art packages doing this years ago and that they were going to seek a
patent, but I have no idea how to search if it is patented or not.  Also,
for this type of thing, would the patent be on the algorithm to do it, the
layout or ???  Finally, it got me to wondering if Sony, NOA or MS has
licensed patents pertaining to these kinds of software patents or not.  If
so, how does one find out what has been licensed?  I have never seen
anything other than Dolby or image licenses mentioned in their SDKs.

I'm asking on this list because this is the best place I can think of where
somebody may have encountered this before.  If it is inappropriate, please
email me directly rather than posting as I do not want to perpetuate the
problem :-)

Thanks,
Brett
[email protected]
GameBrains




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